Pocket Realm

Von Braun Residence

07:55 PM

Leaning against one of the pillars of the Manor’s entrance, Achilles watched as Elissa and her friends left in her car, he chuckled as he remembered the events that happened earlier. The Princess was still that trouble magnet that he remembered, she had become stronger in the last two years he hadn’t seen her; now she was able to see him while he was speeding, that was a new development that pleased him to no end.

<She is growing up so fast, I even felt threatened for a second.> The speedster heard in his mind.

Achilles didn’t look behind him, this mental voice could only belong to the Dragon Matriarch who walked behind a pillar, leaned against it while watching the car depart from the clearing and exit to the road leading toward the school.

"She's a Snow, she'll be stronger than Malicia one day." Achilles said, knowing very well what this surname meant to the people of Phantasia.

The ultimate power, honor, generosity and incredible enemy to those threatening the peace of the realm.

<I am still unaware of why you migrated to Midgard, nonetheless, I will believe what you are telling me. In fact, I cannot wait to test the hatchling when she's ready.>

Achilles shook his head.

*Why am I surrounded by battle freaks?* The speedster gazed into the sky, seeking an answer that will never come.

“Achilles.”

This time the long haired man turned and found Heracles gazing at him with a welcoming smile. He wore his black phantasian armor and had his helmet under his arm; behind him was a man with a Mediterranean complexion, blond slicked back hair and grey eyes clothed in the Phantasian shadow guard armor. Seeing someone else in a familiar outfit elicited confusion in Achilles’ heart.

“Brother, you are finally here.” The speedster acknowledged his brother, holding up his fist before him.

Heracles bumped his own fist against his brother’s, the two chuckled in unison. The hero sounded harried though, as if he had to lift a mountain but still had not finished his tasks.

Achilles’ brother flashed him with a strained smile. “I had to set up a lot of things for this meeting.”

“I see,” Answered the speedster, his gaze focused on the other man behind his brother. “who is that behind you?”

The man in question walked, and placed himself at his brother’s side and held his hand to Achilles who didn’t hesitate to take it and give it a good shake. It was a firm handshake, Achilles noticed that the man before him was rather young; in his eyes, ambition and camaraderie shined like a beacon. Achilles thought that he had been like this before, eager to prove himself. Achilles pitied the man, after all when you are truly happy you will realize that there is nothing to prove to people.

“Oh, Achilles meet Ezio Andreotti, Ezio this is my brother.” Heracles introduced the two men, placing himself between them as they let go of each other’s hand.

Ezio gauged Heracles’ brother, finding the same magnetism and charismatic aura exuding from the long-haired man. “Nice to meet you signore.” He said amiably.

Achilles nodded, looked at his brother and leaned toward him as he whispered, “What’s his story, brother?”

Heracles chuckled at his brother. “You’ll have to ask him later, you are going to be his teacher.”

“Me?” shocked, Achilles stepped back from his brother who grinned devilishly.

Heracles thought that it was payback for all those times Achilles had ignored and worried him and if he could get this young man away from his beautiful wife, that was a bonus. The armored hero wasn’t born from the last storm, from the way Ezio looked at Malicia and the pheromones his body released the man was infatuated with Malicia. When his wife had told him that she got a ‘new protege’ and that ‘please, can you train him for me’ he had been seeing red all day.

He didn’t even know how she had hidden him all this time, maybe in the Sanctum? As for Achilles, he knew his brother and how petty he can get; this was clearly one of those times. His eyes drooping and making a heavy sigh, Achilles waited for the selling pitch of his brother.

Clapping his hand on Ezio’s armored shoulder, Heracles said, “Yes you, this young man has good battle sense, but I want him at the Imperial Guard level or else he won’t be able to keep up with us.”

Achilles scowled at Heracles whose smile turned into a nervous smirk. “This is a tall order, Heracles.”

“I know this, but brother it will help you as much as it will help him.” Nodding, Heracles looked at Ezio who looked happy that his training would start as the expression on Achilles face turned into one of someone who looked defeated.

Heracles leaned toward his brother and whispered in his ear. “Please, this guy is infatuated with Malicia, take him from my hands' brother,” Heracles said desperately, squeezing his brother’s shoulder.

Achilles chuckled, looking at his brother’s desperate face, then at the confused Ezio who didn’t seem to understand what was happening. The long-haired man didn’t understand what was so amazing about Malicia that men would fall for her left and right; sure she was gorgeous but he didn’t like how she thought or behaved. She was the fruit of the union between a Demon royal and a High Fae Queen and those two species always have ways of thinking that were alien.

Closing his eyes in annoyance and then pushing Heracles away, Achilles said, “Fine, I will do it.” Pointing his finger at Ezio who smiled in earnest now, Achilles gaze sharpened and a dark grin showed on his face. “You, I hope you are prepared, I am going to run you ragged.”

Ezio bowed slightly. “I will give you my best, Signore.”

“I doubt that my last student would wipe the floor with you.” This admission cut deep into Achilles' heart as he remembered who he left behind. His separation with Brianna had been stormy and sad, but he still hoped she will come through with their promise.

---

 

“No please, don’t go Chill.” Brianna enveloped him in her arms and tried to keep him in place with all her strength.

Achilles had just finished packing up, and as he feared informing his friend about it had set her off in the most incredible way.

Sighing heavily, Achilles tried to push her away. “Brie, please don’t.”

However he underestimated her determination, she clung to him even harder. It broke his heart to see her this way, with tears in her eyes and her face flushed. But he couldn’t stay, his responsibilities and morals wouldn’t let him do so. He had promised, after all. Elissa needed his help; if he had to pay the ultimate price, he would gladly do so and with a smile.

“STAY!! Why can’t you stay?!” She shouted when the man she loved disentangled himself from her crushing embrace.

The long-haired man stepped back using his speed, keeping the woman he lov- *Let’s stop there, it would only make it harder to leave.* He thought with a start.

But it was too late, it hurt even more as he realized that he loved her, his Brianna and he was about to leave her to fend for herself. As fast as he had stepped back he was on her instantly and hugged her, holding on for dear life and kissing her. The blonde didn’t even resist and gave in, kissing him. For a long moment, Achilles and Brie spent five minutes this way. Lips melded and tongues dueling while their heart stopped denying what was between them for so long.

When they stopped, they looked at each other. Achilles embraced her again, holding her as if afraid to let her go.

“I love you, Brie, I don’t wanna let you go, I don’t wanna go.” Achilles said, his voice low and dripping sadness.

Through her tears, Brianna smiled hope rekindling.“I love you too Chill, then s-” Brianna began to say.

Achilles shook his head sadly. “But there’s something I must do, it is my duty as I am oathbound and loyal to the cause.”

“What are you talking about?” Brianna’s body tensed in the long-haired man’s embrace.

Achilles’ gaze steeled, making a choice that might change everything. “I think there’s no choice, then. I will tell you everything, please believe me, what I am about to tell you is the truth.”

It took most of the night for Achilles to tell her everything while Brianna didn’t let go of him for a moment. At first, there was disbelief, but as Achilles unpacked his Phantasian armor and his magitek spear, backed with the enchanted orb of vision he brought from home; he showed Brianna pictures of his homeworld, dragons, the Imperial guard, Empress Daphne, the Fae, the Half-Demons and the Werecats.

She had no choice but to believe him.

“You must help her!” Brianna changed her tune. 

When she knew of what was going to be the fate of Elissa and his family, she became adamant about his duty. They sat on Brianna’s bed and she began to explain how she was an only girl and that she had no family left in the world anymore because the Superhuman League came too late to save her parents who were heroes and had been taken hostage by a ring of elusive villains calling themselves the Cabal. 

While she was caught up in her tale, the long-haired man hugged her tightly, he wanted to destroy those who hurt his woman. “They didn’t believe me when I told them all about what happened when I was seven years old, thinking that I was making shit up. But later I learned that the Cabal had infiltrated everywhere, even in the League.”  

Achilles gave a light peck on Brianna’s lips. “I believe you, I am happy that you are trusting me with your story.” 

Shocked by this admission, Brianna kissed him again and then told him, “You trusted me first.” 

Achilles’ hands rested on her hips “What are we going to do? I don’t want to leave you…” 

A decision was taken by the blonde woman and she grinned at her lover.“You must go help her, Chill. Your niece needs you, and you know what? I am coming with you!” 

Opening his eyes wide, Achilles shouted, “What? But-” 

But Brianna wasn’t about to give up on her decision and she made him look into her eyes with two fingers on his chin. 

“Well, I will first finish the jobs I have, then I will come to join you. Six months, give me six months Achilles and I will be there with you. You are my life, there’s nothing for me here.” 

There was nothing else to be said, Achilles caught her face between his hands and kissed her as if she was the last woman on Earth. Thanks to her super strength the blonde tore his shirt and pants and Achilles reciprocated with her top and panties; the two of them found themselves on Brianna’s bed and showing each other how much they cared about one another. It was morning when the two awakened and promised to wait for the other. Achilles left their house in the afternoon after painful goodbyes, to Seattle with his luggage in hands at Mach 50. 

---

Sigh. His heart ached, he longed to have her with him now, to feel her body against his, the smell of her skin and feelings, her tinkling laugh. Achilles looked so miserable that Heracles put his hand on his shoulder, worried. “Brother, are you ok?” 

Achilles eyes’ found Heracles’ and he scowled at his brother. “No, Heracles I am not. I left the woman I love in California to come here.” He said bluntly. 

The long-haired man’s tone was like a slap in his face, this was not the first time it had happened today but Heracles lamented the loss of his happy-go-lucky brother; the one before his wife lashed out at him. Guilt crushed his heart at what happened. 

“I am so sorry Achilles…” Unhappiness etched on Heracles’ face. 

Breathing out, Achilles turned toward the outside, seeing that Gadhiss had disappeared somewhere. The dragon Matriarch was like a cat, independent and animated by her greed and needs, she was truly free. 

“Don’t worry she will come here when she’s finished with her job, I intend to marry her when that happens.” The long-haired man said in an upbeat way, without turning to his brother. 

He hoped that his girlfriend would come quickly, this crushing loneliness that he felt he wasn’t used to it. Achilles had never fallen in love before Brianna. Pushing himself away from the pillar he was leaning on, he entered the house, his brother and Ezio following him. The Italian man had kept silent not wanting to stop the brothers from talking; he thought about the life he had left behind and the family he planned to never see again. 

“A phantasian ceremony?” smiling after letting go of his somber emotions, Heracles was already making plans in his head to try to regain some modicum of trust from his brother. 

Achilles nodded. “Of course, I will do that.” 

Weddings in Phantasian society wasn’t a joke, there weren’t any forced marriages as they realized that people often killed each other or hurt themselves by seeking other partners while in wedlock. Hekate had chosen this solution to not repeat Greek history on her own planet; forced marriages were outlawed, when two people married on Phantasia they formed an ‘Empátheia sýndesi’ or Empathic Link that was performed by the priestess of the Goddess and let the couple bind themselves and feel each other’s feelings.  

It created a solid union; as much as it was a big decision for a couple to perform it if they were serious. Phantasians were lax in their relationships and rather amorous.  

“I will let Malicia know!” Heracles expressed happily. 

Achilles stopped and clicked his tongue. “Tssk.” 

The long-haired man resumed his walk into the corridors of the manor to then went to the second floor and entered his room. It didn’t change at all, his armor was neatly placed on a grey mannequin, there were all his posters of beautiful women that he proceeded to tear off the walls. Ezio and Heracles watched him do it, understanding his feelings. He had only one woman in his mind and as he went to California seeing swimsuit model bodies didn’t excite him in the least. 

Heracles didn’t want any fights to break out between his wife and Achilles, he chooses to be proactive and had already warned each of them that he wouldn’t tolerate dissension. “Achilles, I know you don’t like Malicia but can you…” 

The armored hero tried to say, but Achilles turned to him and viciously said, “I will do my best to keep everything harmonious, brother but keep your wife in line. Now get out.” 

---

South Carolina, Charleston

Val-tech Building

08:00 PM

 

“Is everyone present?” A severe female voice asked. 

It came from a tall and curvaceous woman with short black hair, in a tight black and red dress, her skin was fair and pale showing that she didn’t go under the sun often. Her crystal grey eyes focused on her four project managers who looked at her with different expressions on their faces: expectation, dread, excitement, and disinterest. The expression on the woman’s face altered between joy and satisfaction, the sides of her mouth forming a really sexy arc as she smiled. 

“Everyone who could come is here, Valeria.” The man on the left of the meeting table informed her. 

Valeria was the grey-eyed beauty and the face of Val-Tech her own company and the second in command of her own growing criminal organization, The Cabal, a simple name that now struck fear in the hearts of most of the world’s other organized crime organizations, families and lone warlords. Sitting at the head of the table, she took a remote out of her purse and pushed a button and the walls and the ceiling of the meeting room covered with an armored metal plate and gained a red sheen. 

It was an anti-spy-system to protect the conversation going on in their meeting and it had its use in showing anyone who was bugging the place as it fried non-hardened electronics. 

Looking stately, Valeria began to speak, “Good, I apologize for disturbing everyone from their projects.” 

“No, ma’am we know that you wouldn’t call us if it wasn’t important.” Albus Mongstrang the HR director reassured. He was an older man in his fifties with groomed short white hair and black suit. 

It was the default uniform for most directors and managers of the divisional structure of Val-tech. 

“Yeah, but still I wish to know what was so urgent? I was torturing that guy from Lian Tech to give away his passwords for the design on that new tech you wanted, boss.”A black haired man said, he had been engrossed in a bit of industrial espionage but this impromptu meeting was called in by the owner of the company. 

Seated on the right, a blond haired man rolled his eyes and said, “Stop complaining Harper, this is a really momentous opportunity that is presenting itself.” 

Mongstrang gazed at Harper who was like a deer in the headlights when he noticed that he was in the HR director’s crosshairs, he lowered his eyes and calmed down; Harper leaned in his chair and waited for Valeria to begin.  

Mongstrang flashed a smile, looked at his boss and clapped. “Go on, boss we will listen.” 

Valeria's eyes shone with mirth at his display of authority, he was the best when it was about getting everyone to toe the line. 

“Very well.” The black haired woman nodded and leaned forward putting her hand on the table, looking at her five subordinates. “My sources in the Superhuman League have informed me that Tesla and Chairman Blake had a falling out.” Valeria dropped this information that had the same effect as a bomb. 

Harper stood from his chair. “Wait, what?” 

A masked man who didn’t participate in the banter at the start exclaimed. “Really?” He was the accounting manager and needed to protect his identity. 

“Shit! Can we capitalize on this?!” The PR advisor, Daniel Long an asian man looked even more excited than earlier. 

“Of course, Tesla even gave him an ultimatum,” Valeria said smugly. 

She was proud that she could raise the spirits of the troops this easily. 

Mongstrang decided to ask her to elaborate. “Which is?”  

A predatory smile appeared on the gorgeous face of the black haired beauty. “To give all his technology back to him in two months, gentlemen now I believe we have an in into the League.” 

Harper slapped on the table, laughing like a maniac. “No joke, boss! I mean Tesla is destroying the League! So, you want to save it?” 

Harper was a really smart man, he could already guess what his boss wanted to do, but now the steps she will take to realize her goal. As for Valeria she stood up from her seat and looked over everyone, it was time to rally the troops. 

“The League is an important organization that coordinates with all the superhumans on earth, it protects them and nurtures them, so yes I will. Val-Tech is going to supplant Tesla in the role of supporter, I am sure old man Blake is desperate enough to take on this offer.” 

“That he can’t refuse, ah!” The blond man, smirked as he finished the famous quote. 

Harper was already counting his chickens before they hatch. “Boy, are we going to take it over then? The shit we can pull and everyone will be none the wiser.” 

Valeria showed a disapproving expression, this was one of the weaknesses of her organization; some of her high placed staff were sometimes too eager to prove themselves or secure goals at the expense of their own subordinates. The Company owner wasn’t someone who liked to do this kind of thing, each of her employees was a precious resource.  

“Gentlemen don’t get carried away, we certainly plan to take it over, but first we are going to eliminate some loose ends and facilitate stepping into Tesla’s humongous shoes. It won’t be easy, but we have the tech and the know-how!” Raising her voice, Valeria warned them. 

Everyone became silent, they knew Valeria Harvey was a good leader and that she will always look out for them however they first had to prove themselves to her, try to not make any mistakes, no excuses were accepted, Val-tech was a meritocracy. 

“We are with you boss!” Harper clapped. 

Valeria gave a winning smile and nodded. 

“Gentlemen you are dismissed, finish with your projects, we need to focus on this fully.” 

The four managers stood up while Valeria deactivated the EM shield around the room. Once they left, Valeria took her remote and tapped in a series of commands and a big screen appeared from the ceiling. The screen lit up and the company AI took over the process, computer science was one of Valeria’s main focuses however she had noticed that she’s a bit behind the one created by Tesla. She considered the man, a normal man at that, her rival and she intended to create more wonderful tech than him one day. 

Secure connection established, dialing… 

The call connected to another terminal like the one in the meeting room and an older bearded man wearing a black Gi appeared, he had a silver earring on his left ear and a lot of rings on his hands, all with different colored jewels. He was petting a white and black cat that seemed to love the attention. 

Valeria giggled then she lightly bit her lips and closed her legs tighter as the older man smiled at her and looked at her with a gaze full of love. “Master, everything is ready.”

---

March 27th, 2018

New York, Manhattan

Tesla Fortress

10:00 AM

 

“As of this moment, the Justicars are officially an independent team,” Tesla announced to everyone in the convention room. 

He was in full battle gear, lab coat, power armor, facing the lectern with Velia, his trusty android maid, at his side, holding his rifle in her arms. 

After his fall out with Howard, Tesla had begun pulling most of his assets out of the league, terminating the contract between his company and the organization; he could afford to pay the breach of contract fees, but his trust in the chairman was shaken to its foundation as he was seeing the man for what he really was now: a power-hungry politician who justified every one of his actions by thinking he was doing it for everyone. 

*Howard, Oldboy you have become what you fight. Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. Now it applies to you.* The scientist thought. 

The employees began to holler in surprise and discontentment. 

“What?” 

“Why, Mister Tesla?!” 

“This is not good news.” 

Everyone became animated at the announcement. 

“Silence please I am not finished.” Nikola leaned against the pulpit placing his two armored hands on it to support his weight. “Some of you came to work here because you believed in the work that the previous Major Freedom had done but this isn’t going to fly anymore. I invoke clause thirty-six on the contracts of the League personnel in the Fortress, you’ll be paid for the month and will receive your severance pay; as an additional bonus I will add a year’s worth of health coverage to figure your own way out.” 

“But I love working here” 

“You can’t do that!” 

It was as Nikola had expected, the livelihood of so many people was threatened by his actions. So be it. “I am sorry, everyone but my hand has been forced and I won’t succumb under the conditions that Chairman Blake is trying to push on me. If you want to blame someone, blame him. However, if you are willing to sever your ties with the Superhuman League, Tesla Industries will welcome you back, under several conditions of course. Thank you for your time, everyone.” 

Heracles looked at Nikola who entered the meeting room after his speech and the unfortunate news he had to deliver. The man looked unhappy because of what he had to do, however, he gave everyone an out and an in. Everyone was in the room now, Ezio and Achilles, Ishtar, Mercury, Ixtra, Ultra Girl and Major Freedom aka Douglas Blake who had a closed expression. Lyla Tesla was seated at the table waiting for her husband while tinkering with one of her rayguns. 

Ezio stood close to an unmasked Achilles who was discussing tactics with him, Ishtar couldn’t stop looking between Achilles and Heracles who took his Helmet off. The young woman’s eyes bulged and to the two ancient humans her confusion, arousal, and surprise were evident. The armored hero sat at the long table and put his helmet before him as he looked at Ixtra who wore a white and grey mechanical armor with her floating blades behind her; her visor retracted itself letting everyone see her pink hair, purple eyes, and beautiful face. 

Ultra Girl was an auburn-haired young woman with purple skin and a green and white leotard who just graduated from Tesla Academy. A blue and green aura shone around her, she was one of the main damage dealers of the team now. 

Mercury was a speedster like Achilles but with less martial skills than Heracles’ brother; his top speed had been registered at Mach fifteen, he possessed a natural force field that protected him from being crushed or burning like a torch due to the speed at which he moved. 

Ishtar was the odd one out as her powers were at the same time superhuman and mystical, she was the strongman type, could fly and was tough enough to spar with Heracles, her agility was out of this world. The heroine was staring at Heracles’ face with adoring and lovestruck eyes, Achilles noticed and smiled devilishly feeling that there was fun to be had. 

Tesla sat beside his wife at the head of the long table, the signal for everyone to do the same. Achilles went to sit with Ishtar and was smiling mischievously; Ezio was with Heracles. Mercury and Ixtra were a couple so they sat at the end of the table, amiably discussing what might happen in today’s meeting. As for Major Freedom and Ultra Girl, they were mentor and mentee so they stayed together. 

“Thank you all for coming here on such short notice. I am sure that you spied on the meeting with the Fortress’ personnel.” The man’s mood grew solemn. 

Nikola took off his helmet and placed it near his wife’s rayguns on the white table. Lyla took a special wipe and proceeded to take it in her arms to clean the headgear. 

“Mister Tesla,” Ultra Girl, the newcomer raised her hand hesitatingly and looked rather embarrassed to be included in this Team meeting without seniority. 

She thought herself to be lucky to have Major Freedom as a mentor to teach her the ins and outs of the fortress and their procedure. But suddenly she’s learning that the premier superhuman team in the world is now going to be independent of the League, an entity she had grown to respect. Ultra Girl saw everyone looking at her, her face colored even more purple. 

Tesla gave her a reassuring smile and with his hand, signaled her to continue speaking. “Just call me Tesla dear, you can speak your mind here.” 

Encouraged, Ultra Girl spoke. “Hum, well Tesla, sir. Are we really seceding from the League? Isn’t that the organization that helped protect us and united the superhumans for decades?” The League had saved the world on more than one occasion that’s what she learned in school. 

Nikola lost his smile and stared at the young woman who lost all signs of the good feeling she felt as she explained what the League was to her. 

“You are right, Ultra Girl. I am not denying the good that the League has done for the superhumans and the normals. It coordinates all the superhero teams in the USA and other countries, has a branch open in all the law enforcement agencies in the world. The Superhuman League has stood tall and protected us all.” Nikola extended his arm and showed his open palm, he glared at Ultra Girl and said, “Until it wasn’t.” Nikola closed his hand in a tight fist. 

The gesture made the purple young woman flinch. “What do you mean, sir?” 

The rest of the team was asking themselves the same question; Ishtar tilted her head, Ixtra and Mercury weren’t that surprised after all they had participated in illegal arrests made by the League since they were recruited ten years ago. Major Freedom closed his fists, his face a neutral mask; his grandfather had caused the Blake family to implode as those who defended him and those who blamed him for cooperating with the aliens divided the family. 

Nikola continued to speak as he stared at everyone who all had different expressions on their faces, surprise, knowing smiles and faith. The last emotion was the one Ultra Girl had on, it seemed she didn’t believe Tesla one bit. “What I am saying Ultra Girl is that Howard Blake is no longer the man he was when he created the League and that I won’t sponsor nor approve of an organization that permits itself to interfere with the legal system and do what it wants.” 

With a mental command to his CLO, the scientist shared his files with all the evidence and proof of the times the chairman abused his authority. Nikola would recognize that he had used underhanded and even illegal means to obtain those, however, it was immaterial as the Amazonian Queendom didn’t reject them as they didn’t care for a legal system that closed its eyes and clearly had rules that could be exploited. 

The Amazonian legal system was a swift and efficient machine that used empathic and telepathic machines to seek the truth. 

“Howard Blake is no longer my friend, the man has been pardoning criminals and using my weapons and technology to create his own private army. And he refused, he refused to see reason or apologize for what he has done.” 

Everyone looked dumbstruck by the news, but they were more intimidated to see the always smiling Nikola Tesla without expression. 

“As you can see in the files, the chairman has lost control of his own conscripted troops and they have been causing havoc everywhere. He manipulated the media to cover his skinny ass; since he does not want to take responsibility and step down, Queen Dorina has judged that it was safer to go through legal recourses to bring this situation before the World Council and ask for his impeachment. Also, I chose to create my own Organization, no longer tied to what the League represents. Because as you have noticed people, we are no longer alone.” Nikola explained, weary of the steps they were taking to take down a former friend. Lyla put a hand on his gauntleted arm. 

Major Freedom aka Douglas Blake went through all the files Tesla just gave them; Superhuman criminals of upper Alpha and Omega ranks, Murders of heroes, going after the families of those who imprisoned them, aiding and abetting… He couldn’t believe that his grandfather could have done this, but who was Tesla? The man never lied, he helped everyone he could with all his money. He knew that Tesla didn’t care about political power, the man was already virtually the most powerful individual on the planet. 

The scientist continued, almost done with his speech. “Dragons are amongst us and they are powerful enough to destroy countries, magical beings and users of the arcane roam the streets, this is no longer a case of normals and superhumans.” 

Ultra Girl looked in rapt attention, her world view was being utterly shattered. She decided to ask questions, “Hum sir?” 

But Nikola wasn’t in the mood for listening to her pro-league prattle. The scientist pushed a button on his right gauntlet’s integrated computer and an opaque bubble grew from the center of the table. It was the same device he had used in his meeting with Howard and the royal couple in the Superhuman League’s HQ. 

“What I am about to say doesn’t leave this room, is that understood?” 

Everyone showed a serious expression and nodded immediately, some hesitated but acquiesced. Then Tesla began to recount the same tale of his going into space with his wife, everyone in the room knew about it as it was advertised ten years ago. Nikola Tesla went on a trip with his completed spaceship and returned a year later with the ship a bit shot up. 

Tesla explained how the Vadwaur weren’t giving up on Earth and surveying their solar system. It made every member of the team react in disbelief. So Tesla showed proof through the drone network scouting the Sol system. 

“The Vadwaur have interdicted the solar system and we cannot escape, Lyla and I tried and they almost blew our ship up,” Tesla explained. 

“No honey bear, we were almost out,” Lyla interjected. 

Nikola chuckled at that. “Yes we were almost out, you are an excellent pilot after all darling.” Tesla grinned at his wife who answered him with a satisfied smile. 

The purple skinned heroine interrupted the couple’s banter, “What is the league going to do about it?”  

She was most adamant that they needed the league to sort this problem out; she didn’t notice everyone looking at her with a scowl on their face. 

“I have no idea, I lost faith that Chairman Blake is able to coordinate defense and I don’t plan to help him in any way as I know his organization is going to go down the drain in the future. When I told him about the alien allies I made who can help us, he asked to see them and check them out. I refused.” 

“Why? This is a valid rea-” 

“That’s because the aliens in question are members of my family.” Heracles interrupted the prattling girl. 

Ishtar opened her eyes wide, like most people around that table who weren’t Tesla or his wife. Achilles and Heracles stood up and went to the couple’s side. 

“My family and I are from a world called Φαντασία, but in your language, it’s spelled Phantasia. Eleven thousand years ago, through a Dimensional rift, humans from this planet were abducted or offered to migrate to Phantasia by Hekate our Patron Goddess. Yes, Gods exist let’s move on.” Heracles said as he was seeing skeptical eyes around the table.  

A golden shower of sparks appeared at his side, Malicia in all her ethereal grandeur, black catsuit and her glamour off held his armored arm and stared at everyone who was already holding weapons or in a fighting stance. 

"I like them, Cles." Malicia said smirking at him. 

"Who's the horned broad, Spartan?" The silver costumed Mercury asked, his eyes roving over the catsuited Malicia. 

Spartan was Heracles’ codename, a silly thing that the sorceress didn’t care for. The Dae frowned at him, then looked at her husband. "Correction I like the others, but not this one." Malicia pointed her finger at the silver speedster. 

"Aww." Mercury looked sad. 

Ixtra elbowed him in the ribs and scowled at him. He had the good grace to look apologetic. 

"This is my wife, Malicia. She's-" 

"YOU'RE MARRIED?!" The beautiful brunette named Ishtar shouted. 

The brown haired heroine stood up, her eyes were full of shock, her gloved hands on her chest. 

"Oh, is that a broken heart that I sense? Thanks for the rare treat." Malicia said to Ishtar as she devoured the negative emotions coming from her. 

Ishtar felt herself being drained and sat heavily on her chair. The sorceress looked at her husband and sweetly asked, "Is there something you aren't telling me, dear?" 

Heracles stayed silent and looked afraid as a sheen of sweat began to appear on his face. Achilles smiled at his brother’s trouble, for once he was the one on the receiving end of Malicia’s dark mood. However, he was saved by an unlikely ally. 

"No, it's not his fault, I have been trying to seduce Spartan since I got here but he has always rebuffed me or ignored my flirting. I am sorry, Mrs. Malicia." The young woman felt like an eel, but silently she began to curse the armored hero in her heart. 

Malicia looked between the two of them and her gaze settled on her husband. "Why couldn’t you tell her you’re married?" 

"That's because I kept everything about us a secret, only Nikola knew about you and the kids," Heracles explained, he didn’t want to get too cozy with everyone here after all. 

*He had pushed all those people away.* Malicia knew her husband, the man was a sweetheart but a rather too practical man at times. He was still young compared to her and she thought that she had to show him the way. 

"Oh, then you should apologize to this poor young thing, it wasn't nice to lead her on. I want you to do the same to those people you rebuffed for all those years, it’s been four years Heracles. You cannot be part of a team and not give it a bit of yourself, I thought that you were aware of that as the Captain of the Imperial Guard." 

Heracles tried to say something. “I am-” 

Malicia put a hand on his armored torso and interrupted him. She stared into his eyes, her eyes glowing gold to show her irritation with him. 

“No Cles, we need those people and you can’t continue to play lone soldier here.” The sorceress said firmly. 

Heracles closed his eyes, sighed and saw that Malicia wasn’t going to budge on this; turning his head toward Ishtar he saw how sad and heartbroken she was. “I am sorry Ishtar, I should have at least given you a reason. I kept treating you like dirt and I hope you’ll be able to forgive me. That goes for everyone in this room, I have been unfriendly, trying to consider attending this team and saving people as just a job. But obviously this… is not ok.” 

The brunette looked at him with an awkward glare, crossed her arms and said, “This-I need a bit of time to wrap my head around all this.” Ishtar answered. 

“So, Spartan what’s your real name? Now that you’re unmasked and all, can you tell us how you came to Earth?” Ixtra asked as she deactivated the attack mode of her armor and her flying blades rearranged themselves behind her. 

Heracles smiled and his allure aura flared making all the women in the room pay attention to him. “Of course I can tell you now. My real name is Heracles Mikos, but my family name changed on Earth and I am called Heracles Von Braun here. Like I said earlier, we came to this planet via a transdimensional portal.” 

The armored hero was about to continue his tale when he was interrupted yet again.  

“We should work with the League, we need everyone to fight the Vadwaur!” Ultra Girl shouted. 

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her. She looked panicked as her eyes and the blue-green aura around her shone frenetically. “We need… we need to know that these aliens here are truly with us.” The purple skinned heroine said pointing her trembling hand at Malicia. 

She was afraid, as that woman gave her a bad vibe and she looked like a demon. It was as if reality and the energy around her got distorted by her mere presence, Ultra Girl’s special senses permitted her to know that much. 

Nikola shook his head, “Is every one of the same opinion? Despite the evidence I put forward, I mean.” 

The other heroes shook their heads too and sat at the table, forgetting the panic they had when Malicia made her entrance. 

“Girl, take a seat before I turn you into a frog.” Malicia threatened.

She didn’t have the patience for children that weren’t her own, and she had felt the upswing of negative emotions coming from the purple-skinned young woman. Everyone was watching the show, Heracles’ wife didn’t look like someone you messed with. 

“Don’t tell me what to do, you demon!” Ultra Girl shouted, her eyes blazing menacingly. 

Malicia sighed and stared at Nikola who grinned at her impishly. “Do we have a religious nut here, Nikola?” 

To everyone from Phantasia, zealotry was disgusting, Hekate had a cult but she didn't enforce a way of life or thinking on her faithful. Seeing this happen in the heart of the Fortress wasn’t a good sign at all. 

The scientist nodded. “It’s in her file, she’s from Alabama.”

“Listen to me!” The girl shouted and was about to fire a beam at Malicia who waved her hand and turned Ultra Girl into a frog. The change was instantaneous, dumbfounding everyone as the frog began to jump on the ground, trying to flee. 

Malicia leaned against her husband and said, “I mean what I say, and I say what I mean.” 

“Oh, the poor dear!” Lyla chimed in as she stood and joined Major Freedom in trying to catch the frog. 

It took a moment for them to capture the transmogrified Ultra Girl, Malicia took pity on Mrs. Tesla who made puppy dog eyes at her to change the young heroine back. Ultra Girl looked harried as she hugged Lyla as if she was a big teddy bear warding her against some monster; she didn’t try to attack Malicia again as she was flat-out scared of her now. 

Now that everyone had calmed down, Malicia proved that they were truly from another planet by transporting everyone to the Sanctum and showing them the same thing as Tesla and some trinkets from there. Ultra Girl stayed silent but Malicia subtly used a mental domination spell targeted at her mind to make her subservient to her. The cloud of negative energy around her dissipated and the subtle fear she showed in her body language melted away leaving a relaxed young woman. 

Malicia wasn’t saddened to have used a subordination spell on the young woman, but better safe than sorry, she didn’t want to borrow trouble. Intense negative energy smelling of fear is often a sign that someone was about to do something bad in the long run. The blind allegiance Ultra Girl had that made her not even question it even though she had evidence that Blake is bad, had shifted in Malicia’s favor; unless she did something bad, it won’t ever be shaken. The sorceress sent everyone back to the meeting room but stayed in the sanctum as she had other things to do in her school. 

Achilles looked at Ishtar, the woman hadn’t said a word since Malicia was revealed to be Heracles’ wife; he put his hand on Ishtar’s shoulder, the woman didn’t look good. 

“Hey, are you ok?” Achilles’ arm was rebuffed as the brunette shrugged her shoulders. 

Ishtar didn’t look at him, hiding her eyes behind her hair bangs. “Yeah, I’m fine.” 

The young woman’s voice cracked a bit, her feelings smelled acrid and her emotions were gray surrounding her like a cloak. 

Achilles’ voice became soothing, he also used a bit of his aura to project camaraderie and good feelings to pierce her gray cloak of emotion. “You don’t look like it, Ishtar.” 

It worked as she finally looked him in the eyes, even though the unhappy expression she had on Achilles noticed how beautiful she was. Certainly as much as Brianna, his heart shook as he thought about her as well; until she was in his arms he thought that he will always feel this way. 

“So, you’re an alien?” Ishtar said to change the subject. 

Achilles chuckled at the obvious deflection, but let it slide. “I am a human from another planet, an ancient human, that is what we call ourselves.” 

The differences between Ancient Humans and the vanilla kind were like night and day, they had powerful synesthesia, intelligence and regeneration, and a body comparable to superhumans; yes they were all superhumans when they triggered between seven to twelve years old. 

“Oh, sorry then.” Ishtar’s mood began to dip again. 

Achilles put a hand on Ishtar’s. 

“There’s nothing to apologize for.” The long-haired man said.  

He leaned to whisper in her ear, “Girl, don’t worry, no one will judge you for what happened with my brother.” 

“But I feel like I did something bad! That I was…” Ishtar answered back, her voice low. 

Achilles chuckled throatily, staring at her with an impish grin. “You wouldn’t be the first, the same problem happened to me in my younger days.” 

Ishtar smiled, it was a sad expression but she smiled and it was good enough for Achilles. 

“Thanks for trying to comfort me.” The beautiful brunette said. 

“We are going to be working together, that’s the least I can do.” 

Ishtar smiled at him, touched that the man would go this far for someone he just met. Completely different from his brother who was rather cold, Achilles was his antithesis. She was intrigued. 

Clapping his hands, Nikola said, “Everyone, can I have your attention?” 

“Good, now that we have everything out of the way we must speak about the clues we gathered about this ‘Cabal’ that is responsible for slaughtering and capturing the newbie heroes.” Nikola’s speech had begun with his voice’s neutral inflection and it slowly gained an edge that everyone noticed. 

Today was full of firsts for the members of the Justicars, they met their first aliens who didn’t wish to kill or enslave them, saw a bit of magic and even went into another dimension. But seeing Nikola Tesla not being his jokester self was hard on them. Ultra Girl was even more interested in the case Nikola was putting forward as it concerned her alma mater; she had heard that even some of her friends who graduated had been caught or killed, her eyes and aura blazed around her in fury. 

“I see that I have your attention now, Ultra Girl. The academy staff and the superhero teams have been thinking that we had really bad luck at the time and some of your peers have either been kidnapped or killed. This is because of my negligence for not noticing the trend right away.” 

“No, sir this isn’t-” Ultra Girl began to say. 

Solemnly looking in the purple-skinned girl’s eyes Nikola said, “It is my fault when I founded the Academy I pledged to protect its graduates as they joined the hero teams. That is why I created the CLOs and affordable body armor.” Then he averted his gaze from hers, clearly ashamed, “but it wasn’t enough.” 

Nikola slapped his armed hand on the table, making it shake. His eyes were full of anger and resolve, everyone was waiting for the end of his thoughts to be expressed. 

“I refuse to let this… Cabal get away with this. Now I am- we are going all in, these people aren’t just small-time villains with delusions of grandeur or who want to blow up cities. No, those people are organized. Their methodology is complex and from what we learned from catching one of their spies, they are used to infiltrating and breaking into servers to then market the information they obtain. And all of this leads me today to one particular corporate entity.” 

On the long table, a series of holographic construct appeared. 

“They had hidden their trail very well, even used decoy supervillains that my army of maids had to mow down to get at, but they couldn’t erase everything. Everything led to Val-Tech, my direct competitor; the owner is Valeria Harvey. She’s registered as a superhuman tinker and her tech power centers on weapon creation, computer science, new energy and maybe some other domains I am not sure of. For now, I am not sure of anything yet, it could be another false trail.” 

“How are we going to determine if they are this ‘Cabal’ you speak of, Sir?” Ultra Girl asked. 

She wasn’t interested in mowing down innocents for a ‘hunch’ she wanted to be sure that those who did attack the new recruits paid for it. 

“Good question.” Ixtra the armored heroine gave a thumbs up to her new teammate, the purple-skinned girl smiled at that. 

Nikola’s face lost its solemn expression, a predatory smile replacing it. “This my dears is how it’s going to happen.” 

The scientist began to tell them about his plan and when he finished Achilles was already sweating as he was the one who would have to enact it as the fastest speedster in the room.

---

South Carolina, Charleston

Martlaw Supercenter

03:23 PM

 

A tall athletic woman with a powerful muscular frame, blue skin, and shoulder-length silver hair strolled between the aisles of the hypermarket; she wore a tight sleeveless white short top showing off her midriff, a pair of painted on tight black leather and black and brown combat boots. The tool belt was the crowning accessory of the lot as it contained everything the heroine Belle ‘Starshine’ Williams needed to get through her business. 

The blue-skinned woman was looking for clothes, the superhuman specialized ones that Martlaw sold and were affordable, Belle began to fill her shopping cart with shirts and jeans agreeing with her complexion.

*Too yellah, yuck this top is a puke green color.* She put it back each article in the rack. 

Then she found a beautiful purple coat and a sturdy short black top that she put in her cart, in fact, she took the same short top in a number of different colors and nodded satisfied with finding something with her build in mind. 

Belle sighed, she went through clothes too fast, she couldn’t even afford to buy one of those super armored suits that Tesla sold everywhere. 

*If the effing League didn’t blacklist me for killin’ those rapin’ gangbangers, aah would be able to afford rent and not live with gran and mooch of her.* Anger coloring her thoughts. 

The blue-skinned woman was finally happy with the contents of her cart, she had everything: pants, t-shirts, short tops, and her favorite Angel Cakes. She could eat tons of them. Her phone rang and she took it from her pocket to see who might be calling her; on the screen, the notification showed that her gran tried to call her but the call was cut short. 

*Weird.* She frowned. 

Belle called back but it went directly to voicemail, that worried her; her gran never let her phone out of her reach and always called back. While calling she went to the self-checkout machines at the entrance of the hypermarket; the blue-skinned beauty processed her purchases, using the digital wallet app. Once finished she loaded her cart again with her purchases and went out of the supercenter to load them into her black Chevy Truck.  

It was a 1972 Classic electric powered truck made by Chevrolet in conjunction with Tesla industries for a clean Earth; combustion engine vehicles were going more and more out of fashion as time went on. This was one of the first electric models, bought by her gran when she was younger and could still work around the house in Ashley Heights. 

Climbing into the car she still tried to reach her gran on the phone, no answer. Belle was well and truly scared now and thought that something happened. She started the car and left the supercenter and drove on Ashley Phosphate road for ten minutes and turned right on the state road and ended up on rock street. While she drove into the neighborhood she could see people on the street acting panicked and running. 

*Shit, did something happen?* She asked herself. 

The more she approached where her and her gran’s home was, the more worried she got. It was downright scary when she saw the flashes of the firefighters truck and her home going up in flames. Belle braked hard, got out of the car and ran with all her might when she was almost to her house a fireman tried to stop her but she batted him away violently and he crashed into the red truck. 

Belle plunged into the burning house and saw many collapsed walls, destroyed furniture, and her gran’s favorite curtains were being eaten by the flames. 

“Gran!!” Belle shouted as the smoke began to make her choke. 

She didn’t care about herself burning as she had regeneration and a healing factor, any room that didn’t collapse Belle visited it. 

“Gran where are you?!” Belle hollered. 

Tears streamed from her eyes, she coughed non-stop and snot began to run from her nose because of the smoke. “Gran answer me!!” 

No one answered she could hear the firefighters hosing down the house with their superhuman water manipulator. After staying in the burning house while seeking her only remaining family member Belle came to the conclusion that she wasn’t here. The blue-skinned woman’s clothes were ashes, leaving her naked with her fire-resistant combat boots on and sturdy Tesla-made tool belt around her waist. 

Exiting the house, everyone assembled saw Belle’s naked form as she walked before them not caring that they were all looking at her. What mattered to her was her gran and she was clearly not in the house, so she looked at the people here behind the cordon made by the firefighters. She couldn’t find her gran amongst them.  

Walking to the cordon, Belle was stopped by a tall black fireman; he put one of those high tech thermal covers on her shoulders to hide her body from the bystanders. “Ma’am put on this.” 

“Thanks.” The cover morphed to form a cloak around Belle as she put it around her shoulders. 

Belle turned to look at the house she grew up in with her teenage mother after her dad died under the influence of Marijuana in a car crash. She had loved it here, having tea with her mother on the porch and discussing the neighbors and their antics. No more cookies and milk by the ton for the weekend while watching movies with her gran, her home was gone. 

The young woman was interrupted by the fireman at her side who looked empathically at her. “Did you find anyone, inside? The fire had already engulfed the whole house when we arrived, I didn’t let anyone go in because we didn’t have any tough strongman on the roster today.” 

He spoke in proper English without that southern twang that everyone in Charleston used to express themselves. 

Belle stared at him briefly. “This is my house and my gran was supposed to be here; she called me earlier but the call was cut short and when I tried to call her back it went directly to voicemail.” 

Theories and scenarios were created and taken down inside her head for what just happened, Belle also felt that her gran was still alive and kicking. Was she with a friend or out of town? But the call she had given her that stopped right away bothered her; something wasn’t right. 

The loss of her house had hit her hard and was impairing her instincts at this moment, the fireman asked her a question that made her lose her train of thoughts. 

“How old is this house?” The black man asked. 

Her thoughts went into overdrive breaking through the shroud of loss, an idea and a totally more plausible scenario were going through her head right now. Belle had been cracking down a lot on the black market, drug dealers and superhuman flesh market. After going through informant to informant she had found a disturbing trend: they didn’t speak anymore as they feared something or someone more dangerous than her. 

“Fifteen years old, the electrical and fuse box and the gas tubin’ were changed last year by Tesla energy,” Belle answered the fireman who suddenly wore an angry expression, but she felt that it was not directed at her as he suddenly looked at her burned house.

The man took off his helmet, he was in his thirties and definitely a superhuman as his eyes were ancient compared to the youthfulness of his body. Water manipulators always found great jobs with the firefighters or jobs pertaining to the ocean, the Mermaid Kingdoms paid top dollars for them to maintain their cities or to come to live there and find a mermaid wife to settle down with and share superhuman genes. 

“Ma’am, I am Captain Mills and I am sorry to not have been able to save your home.” Captain Mills looked apologetic and disgusted by something. He then turned his eyes to the house still smoldering and smoking. “Ma’am with how fast the fire spread and your grandmother missing… I am afraid that this is not a freak accident.” 

He had arrived at the same conclusion as her, this was something done with evil intent. “Should have seen it comin’ aah reckon to have been crackin’ down on Wando and Clearview for my heroin’.” 

“You a cape?” Captain Mills looked at her more closely, he had guessed that with her silver hair and blue skin that she was superhuman and when she got back naked from the fire still eating the house that she was really resilient. 

Belle nodded. “Yes, sir aah am.” 

A really angry expression appeared on the man’s face, he scratched behind his head and then said, “Then it might be that they have your grandmother and burned the house as a message.” 

Belle’s expression morphed into a scowl, her body changing and getting even more muscular as she let her anger fill her. It was one of the effects of her ability, she grew stronger the angrier she got. “They will die for that.” She promised. 

Captain Mills believed her and he couldn’t deny that he would’ve done the same. 

It was later in the day when her phone rang while she salvaged things from her house to put in her truck. It was an unknown caller, she didn’t hesitate for even a second before accepting the call. Putting the phone to her ear, Belle waited; it was after long seconds of hearing the breathing of the man, yes it was a man and he sounded winded and fat, that he finally deigned to speak. 

It was a harsh voice, that began without preamble. “You have been a pain in the ass for the last two months, you disturbed our drug supply chain, freed our whores and pissed off the black market’s owner. This was just a message if you want to save your sweet grandmother surrender yourself.” 

Belle inhaled and after a moment said, “Aah don’t know who you are. But I will tell you this, if you let gran go now, that’ll be the end of it. Aah will not look for you, ahh will not pursue you; God knows how much ahh should hunt y’all down for burning my house; but if you don’t, ahh will look for you, ahh will find you, and ahh will kill you.” 

After a long pause the man chuckled and said, “Good luck with that, I will make it easy for you sweet pea and send you the coordinates where you can find us. But I warn you, no heroes, no super cops or the old bat gets it.” 

“Y’all be dead when I come to get you.” It was not a threat, but a promise. 

The man hung up, and then her phone rang yet again; she received a text that combined with her GPS app and showed her the way. There was no sign of outward anger on Belle’s face or body, but cold and calculating wrath oozed from her mind as she kept it at bay only wishing to unleash it on those guys who thought they could mess with her family. The blue-skinned woman put her phone in her tool belt pocket and looked in the ruins of her house.  

“Yes, my closet is still intact.” She said as she rummaged through it, all her clothes were intact. It was a miracle, so she began to dress. 

Once done putting on her outfit, she took the entire closet and went to place it in the pickup, worried that she might not get anything else. Belle didn’t care about the TV or other appliances, in her closet, she had all her identity papers and her gran’s as she had always been taking care of everything in the house for her. The young woman looked a last time at her burned house, then climbed into her truck. 

*They will all die for that, aah’m fixin’ for a fight.” She said as she started the car and drove to someone she thought she would never have to ask for help. 

---

Charleston

Val-Tech Warehouses & R&D

08:50 PM

 

Belle checked herself over again, she was wearing a black Tesla skinsuit armor, her usual tool belt around her waist and her combat boots. The armor was new as well as the hand cannon strapped to her thigh; it was a class of primary weapons, recently developed against superhumans to be able to pierce their naturally armored skin, it was capable of dealing heavy precision damage at close range, but was incredibly inaccurate at longer ranges. She loved it though since tonight her fists wouldn't be enough. 

This new gun was given to her by the Dark Angel of Charleston, a man who cared a lot about the little people but didn’t blink at dishing out some payback on some bad guys… but he had a mean streak and stopped at nothing to do what he considered his calling. He was an old boyfriend of Belle’s, who had her helped with her powers when she triggered. His family was killed by a criminal group that he kept fighting in the city and since then kept going after them, assets, goons, pushers; but he has never been able to pierce the veil of mystery around them. 

When she went to Randy Hopkins’ secret lair this afternoon she had remembered how she lived most of the time here having sex with him between operations and their sudden break up when she confronted him about why he was so controlling with her. It all boiled down to him not feeling man enough to take her in bed, she had endless stamina, and she was insatiable and stronger than he was. He had tried to compensate by controlling her life and her decisions. 

They had a bad break up and she came to the conclusion that Randy was a little man, in more ways than one. The blue-skinned woman remembered how she arrived like a tornado in the man’s lair. 

Coming back to his lair in North Charleston was a blow to her pride, but what was her pride compared to her gran? The black haired Randy didn’t take it well when she strode into his basement slash man cave and was about to shoot her when she shouted that she needed his help. 

She had told him everything she knew and when she was done he first berated her for not using a disguise to do her patrol, that it was bound to happen while doing that Randy had begun going into his lockers and took out a packet that he threw at her and she had caught midair. 

“This was supposed to be a present for you before we broke up, it’s a Tesla skinsuit armor. I intended to give it to you anonymously now that we ain’t together anymore…” The man continued to ruffle through the lockers and took out a gun, more precisely a hand cannon in its holster. 

“Aww, so sweet,” Belle said as she began to take off her clothes and put the armor on. 

“No biggy, I am coming with you, Belle. You can’t go alone to fight those assholes, they will kill you, you know that?” Randy began to do the same as her, gearing up as he was sure at this point that Belle’s enemies were those he wanted to take down. 

Belle’s face darkened, a ferocious sneer startling Randy as he unconsciously stepped back. “Aah knows, but aah will git them first.” 

He had forgotten that this girl was certainly a sweetheart and the kind of woman you want to bring back to your mother, however, this blue woman was also a terrific warrior that he had personally nurtured; the sweetness hid all this ferocity. 

“Damn, I missed you,” Randy whispered, but her senses were really sharp so she heard it. 

Once she was out of memory lane, Belle noticed that Randy had gotten out of her truck he had his mask and armor on, a battle rifle in his arms, cutlasses strapped to his thighs and a heavy gun and god knows what was in all those pocket; the man was geared for Kaijuus. 

“This is the place?” Randy gazed at the concrete walls and the visible and hidden cameras; he was already sure that there were some security drones too. 

This was beyond the means of small-time drug pushers and Randy didn’t like that one bit. He put on his multispectral tactical goggles and what he saw told them how much they were fucked: electromagnetic shield, laser motion sensors, hidden anti-grav drones. 

“Yeah, the GPS says it’s here.” 

They were before the warehouse district outside Charleston, all of this belonged to Val-Tech a company that put roots down in North Carolina ten years ago and was now one of the direct competitors of Tesla Industries. This company tried to be on the same fields as Tesla but pandered more to the military and law enforcement. 

“How fucked are we now?” Belle still knew when Randy was startled by something, he always bit his lips like now. 

Her fists crackled as she closed and opened them, ready to enter this seemingly impregnable private storage facility. 

“I don’t think we can sneak in here, B.” Randy’s voice began to tremble, he wasn’t used to being outgunned this way. 

Belle scowled at him and got into his face, “What?! Aah need to, they have gran!” 

She couldn’t believe it, Randy was bailing out on her when she needed him the most? How typical. The man took off his goggles and looked at her sadly. 

“I know…” He said looking down. 

Belle was about to tell him to get out of her way when a light breeze ruffled her silver hair and a voice interrupted her. “Maybe I can help you?” 

“Who?!” The blue-skinned beauty turned toward the voice like lightning in a fighting stance. 

A man wearing black armor with a spear in his hand smiled at her, he had long red hair and a well-groomed beard. Gem-like green eyes looked back at Belle’s own amethyst orbs and suddenly the young woman felt attracted to the man.  

He opened his mouth and told her, “Calm down beautiful, I am a friend.” 

“Brother, this is not the time.” An exasperated voice said. 

A man with a black coat hiding the same kind of armor as the first appeared. Randy took the safety off, pointed his rifle at the two men and prepared to shoot them. “Who are you guys?” 

“I heard the conversation while we were cloaked, someone kidnapped your grandmother?” Achilles ignored Randy who scowled at him under his mask. 

“Yeah, what is it to you?” Belle was still on guard even though a cutie just landed in her lap. 

“Maybe we can help each other, I am Achilles and this is Spartan my brother we are with the Justicars.” 

“What is the premier League superteam doing here?” Belle asked, not at all reassured by their affiliation. 

She had bad blood with the League and didn’t trust the heroes they sponsored. Achilles titled his head, grinned and said, “Oh dear, we aren’t with the League anymore. It is still confidential but fuck it, the Justicars are seceding from the League, our boss is Tesla. He plans to create this new organization called the Assembly, we are here because we suspect Val-Tech is the cover for a powerful criminal entity called the ‘Cabal’ and they are bad news.” 

“Achilles! Don’t you remember what operational security is?!” Heracles hissed at his brother, exasperated as his bad habits were resurfacing yet again. 

Achilles rolled his eyes. “Look at her, she’s so beautiful! Tell me you don’t want to tell her everything.” 

Heracles grunted and began to point his CLO at the two of them, meanwhile, Belle blushed furiously when Achilles said she was beautiful and began to play with her hair as she looked at Achilles. As for Randy, he couldn’t believe they met with superheroes like this and one of them would immediately begin to flirt with his ex. 

Heracles pressed a finger to his helmet and spoke as if he was talking to someone. “Watchtower, we have two unknowns who barged in on the operation, what are your orders?” 

Someone was clearly answering as Heracles grunted in ascent. “I understand. So, you need to rescue someone in here?” 

Crossing her arms Belle said, “Yes, they have my gran! Ahh’m not leaving this place without her.” 

Heracles nodded at her, took his mace strapped at his hips and began to prepare. Giving a silent command to Watchtower to prepare to put in place the jamming and silent screen around the entire facility. When it was done, the armored hero stared at Belle. 

“Very well miss Williams, we will help you.” He said using her name after receiving the data on her identity that he just received on his CLO. 

Belle stepped back, shock written all over her face at the man knowing her surname. “How do you…” 

Heracles walked towards her and Randy who still didn’t lower his rifle at all. 

“I scanned Mr. Hopkins and you so I know who you are and what you do. What I know is that you are a solo heroine with a known vigilante about to bust into a heavily guarded and secure facility with only the two of you. This is suicide.” 

The vigilante was flummoxed that his identity was discovered just like that and it scared him to know that they already knew about his activities. A mask seemed to not be enough to hide who he was. 

“But-” Belle tried to say. 

A smiling Heracles oozing with confidence interrupted her. “However I loathe people who break the code, you don’t target the families of known heroes. Even though we are no longer tied with the League, we are still bound by the legislation it has created. Section A-28 of the Deputized Heroes Act of 1950, concerning the targeting of the families of any law-abiding and deputized citizen enables them to call upon a team and permit them to exact rescue or reprisal.”

“Miss Williams or can I call you Belle?” The armored hero decided to build a rapport with the woman, who knows maybe she will be useful. 

“You may.” Belle nodded. 

“We will go in there and take your gran back.” Achilles said putting his hand on the blue-skinned woman. 

Belle felt that they had a good chance to succeed now, Randy stayed silent as he didn’t want to say anything that could crumble the blue-skinned woman’s mood that was suddenly lifted. 

It was ten minutes later that they began to raid the facilities. Heracles just walked into the wall as if it were cardboard and created an entry point that the rest of them used to penetrate inside the warehouse level. The alarm began to resound everywhere and armored troops were dispatched from the security outposts at each cardinal point they swarmed the team in seemingly unrelenting waves; however, they were mowed down by Achilles’ spear by using its ranged kinetic laser that severed them all at the waist. 

The long-haired man ran and skewered a guard who was preparing to pepper them with automatic railgun fire, Randy changed clips on his rifle as he protected Belle from being dogpiled by a group. 

“Watchtower, we are in! Where is the hostage held?” 

<Scans of the entire facility show that there is an underground complex under it, there are multiple thermal reading.> 

“Achilles! Go scout this underground lair we found.” 

“Make an entrance for me, brother.” 

Sigh. “Very well.” 

Heracles used his CLO to superpose the map of the underground complex with his vision and there he found something akin to a hatch. It was located in a building thirty meters away from him, easy peasy. Heracles tightened a fist, cocked his arm and punched the air. The burst of force generated a controlled wave of air pressure that traveled to the building, shattering it with a close-range punch. The debris turned to dust. 

“Thanks, brother.” And Achilles disappeared into the hole in the ground that was somehow created by his brother destroying the building where the elevator leading to the complex Watchtower spoke about was. 

Belle tried to follow him but was stopped by Heracles who held her firmly and shook his head. She couldn’t believe that he stopped her, even normal strongmen could barely hold her when she moved or used her strength. 

*That spartan guy is stronger than me. With what he just did to that building I am not even in his weight class.* She thought a bit afraid. 

“Don’t go yet, he will find your grandmother and protect her that is what he does best, infiltrate. For now, let’s kill those bastards.” Heracles said. 

The armored hero took his mace, jumped on the weaponized vehicle that tried to plow through them and smashed it with it. As for Belle, she decided not to argue with the guy and joined him in eliminating the guards in those weird futuristic armors. 

“Come here y’all, time to die!” 

---

R&D underground Complex

 

Achilles slid down the elevator shaft, running at high speed intermittently to not fall off, then he noticed the elevator cage and landed on it with a PANG and this is when it got interesting. Achilles came under fire from the people in the elevator firing through its ceiling, he didn’t move and let high-velocity slugs hit him absorbing their kinetic energy. The slugs got deflected or just stopped and fell from his armor. Once they were spent and ceased firing, he pointed the blade of his Magitek spear at the roof as he reduced its power to slice it open at high speed. 

Four armed men looked at him for just one second and then he landed in the cage while speeding, attacked the first man by planting the spear in his heart, killed the second by breaking his neck with his gauntleted hands, crushed the spine of the third and killed the fourth by separating his head from his body using his dagger. Not stopping to look at his handiwork Achilles ran in the corridor of the complex at superspeed, entering every door that wasn’t closed. 

What he saw sickened him, there were other people here experimenting on superhumans, people with cybernetic limbs or sleeping in health tanks being experimented on by scientists in white lab coats. Achilles sped even faster as he went deeper into the complex and found a room with ten men around an old woman, they were pointing their guns at her. 

Weirdly, she wasn’t afraid in the least and ranted at them that they were going to hell and that they will suck dick in its deepest part. Achilles smiled at that, this woman reminded him of the blue beauty he met earlier so it must be her grandmother. Suddenly one of the men slapped her and this is where the speedster decided to take things into his hands and kill everyone in this complex. 

Achilles body surrounded by a dark energy like fog as he focused on the scene and people and everything around him froze, his body and awareness had sped up exponentially making everything slow around him; walking toward each man, he deeply slit their throats with his dagger, took their weapons and placed himself in front of the old woman and let time flow back normally. Everything sped up, the men looked at each other and then suddenly touched their throats, gurgled and fell on their knees trying to breathe and all died in synch. 

The speedster looked at Belle’s grandmother and said, “Hello Mrs. Williams. I am a friend of your granddaughter and I’ve come to rescue you.” 

She was at least sixty years old, with fine powdery white hair and he doubted she was a normal person at all as her eyes were purple. An enhanced human was more plausible; Achilles began to free her from her bondages and the old woman simply kept silent as she stared at him. 

“Where’s Belle?” Her voice was feminine, old but wizened. 

The woman didn’t look worried, just stoic as she squinted down at Achilles who simply smiled at her as she tried to look mean and commanding. 

Achilles said, “She’s on the surface with my team, can you walk? I need to free the other people imprisoned here.” 

The woman touched her right knee through her green dress. “Bad knee, sorry young man.” 

Looking at her with compassion Achilles took her hand in his. “Don’t be, I know someone who can change that once we are done. Are you willing to let me carry you?” He asked as he stared her in the eyes. 

Achilles could see something in this old woman’s eyes, something like approval and respect. She put a hand on his face and asked, “You killed all those men?” She said as she looked around her. 

Achilles nodded. 

A smile blossomed on the old woman’s face. “Good, my Belle won’t have to do it.” 

With a serious tone, Achilles told her, “I am going to kill everyone here who isn’t a prisoner, is it going to be a problem Mrs Williams?” 

The old woman’s face regained her stoic mien and then she shook her head. “Call me Teagan, young man.” 

“Sure, let me get you out of here Teagan.” Achilles knelt, made her get on his back and she put her arms around his neck. 

Achilles covered Teagan with his inertia shield to avoid her getting crushed by the speed at which he ran and sped to all the cells and labs that he found in his earlier run and liberating and killing the scientists and guard he found on his way. He didn’t let a single one escape and was quick about it, no vengeance or taking his time to kill them even thought it was what he wanted. 

First, he freed a naked young girl strapped to a machine in a room full of ice, She tried to fight him when he let her free but Teagan explained things to her and Achilles told her that he was with the Justicars team; she began to readily cooperate after that admission. Teagan told Achilles to give the young girl a lab coat to cover herself. 

“Okay girl, I’m going to save the other prisoners and subjects, can you protect Mrs. Teagan for me?” Achilles asked her. 

She nodded and took her lab coat off to cloak herself in fire, only showing off her human form; she was a fire manipulator. 

“That’s the spirit! Anyone who isn’t brought in with me, kill them.” 

“Okay.” Her voice was younger than Achilles expected. 

“Kill them all Achilles and bring back everyone,” Teagan said. 

The speedster took his dagger in hand, and then nodded to the old woman; he sped off and killed, the alarm finally resounded through the speakers of the complex’s corridors and rooms. People tried to flee but Achilles didn’t let them. It was gruesome and disgusting work but he did it, the people funding this place, Val-Tech he was sure now that they were this Cabal that he heard of from Brianna and Tesla. 

<Achilles report.> The voice of Heracles interrupted his little killing spree. 

The speedster put a finger to his ear pushing on the subcutaneous communicator he was fitted with before the mission. 

“I am in the complex brother, tell miss Williams that I already secured the hostage. I am proceeding to free all the prisoners, I think I found the superhumans recruits kidnapped that Tesla spoke about. I am killing my way through the corridor right now.” 

Achilles walked to another room that closed shut before him and placed himself before the door, with a swing of his spear he cut through the metal and he kicked them open. 

<Leave the one directing this operation alive for me. I have a crystal to store his memories in.> His brother’s voice grew harsh, Achilles could hear explosion and screams in the communication. 

“Understood.” 

The room was all white and people in health tanks could be seen floating in the water, some had masks on and others were clearly dead. Achille found a supercomputer at the end of the room and went to it, finding a scientist hidden under it. He seized the woman and made her stand on her feet. 

“You, free the people who are alive.” Ordered the speedster. 

The woman was clearly scared but she must have found some backbones as she refused. “N-no.” 

Achilles scowled at her and placed the blade of his spear under her chin. “Do it or I kill you.” 

“You will do it anyway.” She shook her head. 

He nodded at that and told her, “You are right, however, it can be painful or quick, choose.” 

She chose the quick option and freed the subjects in the health tank, it took some time for everything to happen. When it was done, Achilles simply decapitated the female scientist. As fast as he could he assembled the unconscious subjects and placed them in the room where fire girl was protecting Teagan and proceeded to do the same for everyone he released from their bondage.  

There were thirty-six people in all that he freed after scouring the complex, his CLO helped him to hack in the complex’s mainframe through one of the computers in the safe room and he discovered where the big baddie was cloistered.  

Achilles contacted Heracles with his communicator. 

“Brother, I found where the one responsible is but you better be quick there’s some sort of evacuation tunnel he can use to flee.” 

<We are already in the complex, Achilles; miss Williams is saying she owes you dinner for saving her grandmother.> 

Achilles chuckled at that. “Tell her I will collect soon.”

---

Belle was happy that her gran was safe and sound, as she crushed the life out of a man by breaking his neck; she entered the complex through the well-concealed vehicle entrance in the ground. The guards tried to stop her and Spartan who was like a tank taking everything they threw at him: energy weapons' fire, railguns, superhumans with energy manipulation; they killed them all. 

Randy followed, using Belle and the armored hero as the vanguard. The vigilante had all the fun he could have by playing it safe and disabling the weaponized drones that security threw at them with superhuman precision. They were in a gigantic parking lot with all sorts of vehicles with wheels and what seemed to be anti-gravity. 

“There is a door there, it will lead us to sub-basement 01,” Spartan said pointing to his right with his arm. 

Randy killed a lightning manipulator with one of his special guns and the man’s head was vaporized in a bloody mist. Heracles didn’t care for anyone and simply advanced toward the entrance not caring about the heavy fire the remaining guards dished out; Randy grabbed one of his grenades and simply threw it at them. A big explosion later there was no one firing at them anymore, but the cries of pain and people asking for their mommy was prevalent. 

“Be careful, Miss Williams this entrance might be more heavily guarded.”  

Belle agreed with him and placed herself behind him while Randy took point behind her with his rifle while changing a clip. 

The vigilante said, “Almost out of ammo.” 

Belle took one of the energy guns of the dead guards and gave it to Randy who took the pistol version too and followed the two tanks. They found an elevator and miraculously it worked. It took them two minutes to arrive at the complex and what waited for them were not guards, but superhumans in the concrete corridor. Heracles cocked his arm and killed the less resistant foes with his air pressure punch, the energy manipulator and strongmen survived. 

The blue-skinned woman charged a kinetic beam user and smashed in his face while Spartan one punched the rest, Randy covered them with energy weapon fire; however, he got done in by a woman with telekinetic powers who shoved his weapon out of his hand and broke his arm. 

“Fuck!” He cried. 

Belle took her gun and fired at the woman while she lunged at her, the bullets were deflected but when the blue-skinned beauty swung her fist the noise of something shattering could be heard. It was the psionic shield of the enemy woman that broke. Then. Belle proceeded to kill her with a punch that pierced her body. Taking back her arm she let the telekinetic’s body slump on the ground, she turned toward Spartan who was just finishing off everyone left. 

It was carnage, there was blood and guts everywhere on the ground as he eviscerated everything with one punch; Belle was happy that this guy was a hero or else everything would be different when they met. 

“Achilles forwarded a map of this complex, he has already saved everyone he could.” 

“Where’s the big poobah?” Belle asked. 

Randy came between them and looked at Spartan’s work and stared at him with fear, he was thankful that he hadn't fired on him earlier when he and his brother revealed themselves. Belle asked him if he was ok with his broken arm but he played tough guy and told her it was ok. Ruffling through his pack, the blue-skinned girl made a splint with the belt she salvaged from the enemy.  

“Done?” Spartan asked when Belle finished treating the vigilante. 

Belle nodded, as for Randy he felt inadequate here compared to the big man before him one punching every enemy he met. He didn’t know that such a guy was a hero, why didn’t he hear of this Spartan guy at all? He was invulnerable and with the way, Belle deferred to him, stronger than her, and there was no one like that in Charleston. 

“Good, we are going to put an end to this.” Nodding to his left, the armored hero walked toward the end of the corridor. 

The blue-skinned woman followed him and said, “Swaat. You’ll let me kill the bastard who took my gran?” 

She sounded eager, and Heracles felt that this woman was holding a lot of anger in herself as she walked, she couldn’t hide it from him.  

“As you wish.” Spartan grinned at her happy to see that she wasn’t one of those goody two shoes heroes like he had expected, Belle was earning his respect by her action and the way she carried herself. Not letting anger take charge and charging like a bull in this operation. 

It was ten minutes later that they arrived in the deepest part of this underground maze and Heracles busted the doors of an office. Here was Achilles with a blonde man and a fat normal human that he threatened with his spear. 

“Ah finally, you could have been faster.” The speedster lamented. 

“Some of the guards put up more of a fight than I liked.” explained the Spartan. 

“You won’t get away with this!” The fat man shouted, his voice getting higher as he saw even more heroes enter. 

The blond man threatened them. “Release us or…” 

Belle’s head whipped toward the fat man as she recognized his voice and she walked toward him and took him by his lapel. The man began to tremble, he knew who that was and now he regretted ever messing with her. 

“We spoke on the phone hours ago. I told you I would find you. Now, what do you have to say for yourself?” Her voice became cold and her eyes glowed purple even more. 

She lifted the fat man from the ground. 

“I- please don’t kill me.” The man soiled his pants as he urinated from fear. 

Belle looked at him with disgust and said, “I always keep my promises, that’s what gran taught me, asshole.” and she punched him in the face with all her strength and decapitated him. She let the fat body fall on the ground and finally let go of the tension that she had felt since her house was burning. 

The blond man sat and looked at each of the heroes, he had not expected that his operation would be discovered and terminated this way. He reached for something on his desk and Achilles who was distracted by the scene of Belle killing the guy who kidnapped her grandmother didn’t notice. The blond man found the remote he was looking for and pushed on three buttons at the same time. 

“I will take you all with me, heroes.” The blond man whispered. 

Lights in the whole complex turned red and a deafening siren resounded, Achilles killed the blond man by piercing his head with his Magitek spear. He fell over dead. 

This facility will self destruct in 60 seconds. 

“Fuck, this isn’t a comic book! They have a Self destruct button.” Randy shouted as he scrambled, taking the laptop from the desk of the blond man with him. 

Heracles looked at his brother. “Achilles, where are the prisoners?” 

Holding each of his hands to Belle and Heracles the speedster said, “Hold my hand brother, miss Williams hold Mr. Hopkins’.” 

The armored hero took his brother’s hand and Belle did the same; Achilles covered them all in his inertia field and sped to the safe room where everyone was, Belle jumped at her grandmother and hugged her fondly. Some of the other prisoners were conscious and fire girl was panicking as she heard the countdown for the complex’s self destruct. 

“Malicia I need you!” Spartan shouted. 

The sorceress appeared in a shower of golden sparks, she was in her human glamour and in her catsuit, in her arms she had her black staff and focus bracelet whose ruby shined with an inner light. Malicia looked at everyone and willed for a portal to engulf them, not caring that she was taking the computers and lab furniture with her.

Explosions shook the complex and caught the safe room just as Heracles and Malicia were the last to enter the portal.