System Supervillain, Book 6 Epilogue

Epilogue – Elsewhere

Since 1943, the Superhuman Defense Initiative had been the world’s primary defensive force against rogue superhumans. Exclusively by humans, for humans, the SDI was not, officially, endorsed by any individual governmental body. However, it was an open secret within the organization that they were bankrolled by the nations that would eventually become the Atlantic Alliance.

Originally formed as a way for the Allied military to find ways of combatting the superhumans fighting for the Central Union, without needing to match them superhuman for superhuman, their early actions experimenting with advanced, but human-made, armor suits and high-powered weapons had made SDI forces stronger and more deadly than normal front-line troops, but they were not yet strong enough to take on more than the weakest supers without a massive numbers advantage.

Their technology had improved since then, and their numbers swelled. Branches were discretely opened in all Atlantic Alliance nations, as well as other key countries, such as Japan. They were still working on getting footholds in China, Russia, and most of Africa and the Middle East, but the tide was inexorable. Eventually, the SDI would cover the entire planet, and be able to defend it from the superhuman menace.

Max Hopkins knew that the general public did not believe in the threat superhumans posed, but they did not have access to the information he did, as leader of the Miami branch of the SDI. They did not have access to the raw numbers. Superhumans were on the rise. Not just mutants, but magic and supernatural types, as well.

So far, the trend line indicated that only one percent of the general population had any kind of superhuman abilities. However, that meant there were almost 79 million supers, scattered around the world! Worse, the offspring of supers were usually supers, and some supernatural types could ‘convert’ people to supers. The population of supers had jumped from 0.1% to 1% in the last forty years, as they bred true, and more supers came out of hiding.

The indications were crystal clear, for anyone willing to look at the numbers. Humanity was being replaced by mutants and monsters. Already, supers had far more wealth and influence than their population size warranted. Which is why the SDI was so important. The Superhuman Defense Initiative existed solely to ensure that Humanity, actual humanity, remained in control of their world, and didn’t become slaves to superhuman overlords.

“Director Hopkins?”

He looked over to his aide. Skye Cooke was a lovely woman, the few times he’d seen her away from the office. On the job, though, she was strictly professional, which he respected. “Yes, Skye? What is it?”

“We just acquired the unedited recording of Maria Sandiego’s interview with Target Iceblade, sir. He was masked, but out of costume. Analysts are still going through things for potential clues, but they’ve already added additional data points for our targeting list, to try and find out who he is.”

Max nodded. “Good. Do we have confirmation of any of the claims he’s made? Especially the ones about the Squadron Supreme?”

“Sources inside Squadron HQ have confirmed that the current team is all listed as dead, or compromised. A failsafe weapon was deployed to the New York warehouse where they were fighting Iceblade, but it is believed he escaped, and only three bodies were found. Skeletal records indicate Alchemy and Lucky Star are two of the bodies. Indomitable’s corpse was unharmed by the explosion, or the flames, but he suffered multiple wounds from a blade, including a fatal stab through the eye.”

“Which means Titan, Lady Victory, Foxtrot, and Pyra are missing, presumed captured?”

“Yes, sir. However, we have further reports from the Rome branch. A local supervillain with a name that translates to Lord Fate attacked a bus full of children on a school trip in Sicily. However, it appeared that this was a trap orchestrated by Iceblade, to capture Serafina, an Italian super with strong healing abilities. The students identified Targets Bloodmoon and Web Mistress at the scene, as well as Lady Victory.”

“Mark the files of all Squadron members who were not found at the scene as Targets. Elevate them, as well as Iceblade, Web Mistress, and Bloodmoon, to Kill on Sight. Add Serafina to the Target list, as well, Kill on Sight. Clearly, whatever method Iceblade has to control other supers is still in effect, with the System. With their power levels, we cannot take any chances.” He paused, and then said, “Elevate the watch levels for Electra, and all known heroes who have been in contact with Iceblade, but remain on Watch Only, for now. Send out communiques to all branches, worldwide, suggesting that they make similar adjustments to target profiles.”

“Of course, sir. Moving back to the interview, most of the questions are confirmations of things on public record, stories about some of his more famous heists and kills. He did confirm that the death of Senator Hayes was a message, due to her part in the Axis Industries plot to test bioweapons on a population of Romani descent living in the Montana mountains. He offered no hint at how he infiltrated the Capitol building however.”

“Doubt he would. Bastard probably wants to use that method again, if he can. What about the rest?”

“One new piece of information is that Iceblade declared himself the leader of a new villain organization, Devastation.”

Max nodded slowly. Villain organizations weren’t unheard of, but they were rare. Villains tended to be individualists, and didn’t work well with others. Infighting usually brought them down, if hero teams didn’t work together to break them up. Much as he hated to admit it, SDI had not yet advanced to the point where they could take on a full group of supers and win, reliably. Especially if they actually worked together.

“Roster?”

“Total roster unknown. Iceblade, Web Mistress, and Bloodmoon are only confirmed members. Lady Victory, Pyra, Foxtrot, Titan, Serafina, and Lord Fate may all be members, as well. If true, this would give Devastation high-level combat ability, with a variety of skill sets and talents.”

Max brought up the files on those members, quickly scanning them. “Titan is of less concern, given that he is reliant on his suit for most of his combat ability, and the Squadron recovered his armor before the failsafe was initiated. Serafina is the big concern, here. Her file indicates that her healing power is enough that it can be used to resurrect people, so long as their corpse is mostly intact. Make sure the files on all suspected Devastation members includes that kills should include cremation or otherwise destroying the body as swiftly as possible.”

“I’m obligated to remind you that desecrating the remains like that, even for villains, will cause significant blowback in public opinion, sir.”

“Noted. Unfortunately, if we don’t take on that PR nightmare, there is a good chance that Devastation members will be able to recapture the bodies of their fallen members, and resurrect them, again and again. And each time the opposition will be weaker, and incur more casualties. That is not a tenable position.”

“As you say, sir.”

Max considered for a moment, and then said, “Contact R&D. Inform them that their new priority is finding a way to neutralize the suspected members of Devastation. Capture, Kill, or Disable. Line forces are still Kill on Sight for those individuals, but if we can find a way to neutralize or de-power Devastation members, that would make killing them a lot easier, and potentially mean we lose fewer troops in the attempt.”