The problem with plans for world domination is all the time you need to invest in them. The dozens of little things you needed to take care of. I was in both a better and worse state than Eggman had been.

Eggman was essentially free to do what he wanted. For all intents and purposes, in the dozens of multiverses, he was the closest thing to a government that those Earths had. He could dig, build, and control as he wished, as long as he was strong enough.

Julian Ivo, on the other hand, had to be more subtle. I had to be careful how much I did, where I did it, and who knew about it. My plans were all about the build up, slowly intergrating myself into a variety of organizations.

On the other hand, I didn’t have to deal with Sonic. Homelander was powerful. But Sonic and his meddling ilk were as far above the heroes of this universe as deities above ants. So long as I was careful, I’d one day have machines that could match and surpass them.

For now, I had to be sneaky.

Thus why I stole the sample of Translucent on the downlow. Vought knew Eggman was dangerous. But they had yet to realize how dangerous. Eggman could make a splash or two, but only to distract from the tidal wave coming after him.

“This material is fascinating,” I mumbled, looking at a chunk of Translucent under a microscope. I had a few more scanners going over the small piece on the table, but getting actual eyes on it was valuable. “‘Carbon metamaterial’ seems like such a rudimentary explanation for this. This material doesn’t just not let light through, it perfectly forces light to bend around it. I can do so much with that.”

“And of course,” I took a scalpel out and poked at the piece of meat that used to be a portion of Translucent’s neck, with bits of carotid artery flapping around. With the right touch, the outer skin turned from flesh to invisible carbon. Then I ran the scalpel across it.

I couldn’t see it, but I could still feel the skin repelling the blade. When I took the scalpel away, it was dull. “Nearly invulnerable.”

‘Nearly’ being the key word. Nothing is truly invulnerable of course. Still, this stuff was very tough. In fact, considering everything, his punches might have had more strength because his own body didn’t absorb the kinetic energy of his blows. When you hit someone, some of that force comes back to you. That’s physics. But Translucent didn’t have that problem.

I took notes on the composition of the material, some theories on just what I could replicate, and how useful it might be for some of my badniks.

Still, there was one big thing.

Two different displays nearby displayed a pair of samples. One was Translucent. The other was Gordon, my favorite EMP producing patient.

They were similar. The changes that Compound-V applied had some very clear markers. Like two paintings by the same artist. The paint, canvas, and the image depicted were different, but the brushstrokes were the same.

To continue that analogy, Translucent was a far more refined artwork than Gordon was. Gordon’s body had a copper rich nervous system, filling every part of his body with the material and acting as a capacitor of sorts. But it was completely garbage in terms of insulation, had no way to release it safely… It was a shitshow.

Whereas Translucent’s changes were so clean. Elegant. A true masterwork. Not rampant mutation, but focused evolution. Almost beautiful in its form.

I looked between the two displays thoughtfully. There was potential here. A way to perfectly replicate V. And maybe even go further. This compound wasn’t being used to its fullest, not yet.

Still, nothing V could do would ever outshine the potential of machinery. I’d always be able to make something better eventually. But hey, if no one else is making the most of Compound-V, it was my responsibility to show them up.

“Shame these samples aren’t going to be pristine for long,” I mused. “Maybe I can get some more?”

Hm. No. I couldn’t simply kill any Compound-V user to get more samples of brain or heart. Even if I went for the more ‘despicable’ ones, Vought would notice. Best to let this happen organically.

Translation: Follow Butcher around and wait.

For now, I put in an order for some lab rats.

As I was finishing that up, Mechelle entered the room. “Julian. We have a problem.”

I blinked. “A problem? What is it?”

“Someone is trying to claim we’ve stolen their patented technology for use in one of our computers.”

That was bullshit. I scowled. What a waste of time. “I assume Destiny is looking into it?”

“Yes.” Mechelle adjusted her glasses briefly. “Of course, they have nothing to stand on, but it will still take some time.”

“I doubt they really think we stole from them,” I snapped out, brushing at my lab coat. “This company is trying to get a look at our specs. How annoying. I have better things to waste time with than idiots attempting to steal what is mine.”

“They will not be able to.” Mechelle said. She had a stern look on her face. “I will make sure the courts shut them out.”

“I know you will. I trust you.” Mechelle didn’t respond, but I could feel her glowing with happiness at that. She was adorable that way. “Let me know one you’ve finished up.”

No need to explain further. Mechelle simply smiled.

How lovely to know I’d created such competent help.

“I need to break something.” I grumbled. “Hm. Well, it has been a bit. What’s a good place to rob in New York City?”

“Someplace with diamonds.” Mechelle said. “Those are simpler to pawn.”

I hadn’t expected a real answer, but that was helpful. “Alrighty then. The Eggman is going diamond shopping!”

“In the middle of the day?”

“He’s a beautiful man, he deserves some sunlight.”

More cheered at the prospect of some classic villainy, I went off towards the booth that held my other persona.

----------------------------------------

For the job, I wanted to go with a variety of bots. However, after some thought, I went with my Egg Pawns. They’d work for multiple reasons. One of them being that I could market more toys of them later. The Egg Pawns were adorable.

[https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/R22MfvoDn-7n0o7wqqqQkV5HoT27gM_Xu_4mMJG9FAr4_JzIocgtgNVLJKzr4rg-snG9CqYi1-BHMRoz8_nXAOKIq9F5jKAGtGH6UgoSfUodwnfTtMPf5NGFeHReOevYN3h__-P_3w9JosC5mCwZ1bA]

They were also useful. I equipped them each with a weapon. The Badniks based on animals were great, but there was something to be said for opposable thumbs that could grip weaponry and pick up loot.

Then we piled into a rental van and zipped off. Yes, a rental van. I had my own Eggman vehicles, but I was still going with the idea of slowly escalating. Rental vans, then a custom vehicle, then an Eggmobile, until one day I could finish processing Mercury into the new Death Egg.

Well, that wouldn’t be an endpoint, but it was something for the future.

So yeah, we piled into the van and sped off into the city.

New York City had a small army of jewelry stores. Of course it did. Any big city did, but New York was an old hub of culture, with plenty of stores to supply a ravenous populace. It was the third biggest industry in New York. 90 percent of diamonds passed through NYC, and the Diamond District was home to over 2600 jewelers.

Two thousand, six hundred. A ridiculous number. Hell, the GIA, or Gemological Institute of America, was mere blocks away from my target. Truly, the industry of rocks was alive and well.

In truth, I was not a fan of the jewelry industry. Treating a potential resource like diamonds and gold as big shiny baubles to be worn, rather than making useful technology from them? What a waste!

In a way, I was doing the world a service!

After fighting through a full thirty minutes of New York traffic (thank god I could watch youtube videos in my base while controlling the Eggman body), my van full of Egg folk pulled up to the front of the jewelry store in question. An upscale place near the center of town by the name of Egon Olsen Diamonds.

“Well that’s an ironic name,” I mumbled. I turned to the Eggpawns, one in the passenger seat and the others in back, all giving me wide grins. “All right boys! Let’s head out there and steal some stuff. Make daddy proud, huh?”

“Beep-beep!” they intoned cheerily. Then one kicked the back doors open. I stepped out of the driver’s door and watched the Eggpawns step out onto the sidewalk. A fancy looking woman in a black dress looked up in time to almost run over one of my boys. She screamed in shock, nearly falling over.

I caught her, spun her around with a twirl, and gently guided her to stand straight once more. “Apologies, my lady. They’re eager boys,” I looked at the one who had almost tripped her. “Apologize to her, 5009!”

The Eggpawn in question somehow managed to look embarrassed. He held up a sign. On it were the words, Sorry miss, I’ll be more careful!

“Awwww, now isn’t that sweet!” I turned back to the lady. “Now, you have a wonderful day.”

I turned back to the store, jauntily walking forward with one of my boys holding the door open for me. As I did, the woman stuttered out.

“W-Where did the sign come from?”

I entered the store and panned my eyes around. I’d already infiltrated the security and gotten some blueprints, but having fresh robotic eyes on things was helpful. The Egon Olsen Diamonds layout was very simple. A cashier on the wall, podiums displaying different forms of useless baubles, necklaces, and jewelry.

“S-Sir, you-” a poor employee said, the man looking around at the Eggpawns strolling in with shock.

“Ah, my good man! Congratulations!” I grabbed him around the neck. “Hahaha! You are my hostage! Don’t worry, you’ll get interviewed after this.”

Pulling the horrified man along, I ignored the sounds of people screaming and glass shattering as the Eggpawns broke the glass podiums open and began pouring diamonds, silver, gold, and platinum into their mouths.

A security guard finally got over his shock and raised a gun.

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He was instantly tazed by three different Eggpawns, one of them running over and jumping to land elbow first on the security guard as he fell. A sign flipped through the air with the word ‘Piledriver!’ emblazoned on it.

“Be gentle boys, he’s a 9-5 worker. The backbone of our world!” I clutched my new friend close. “Now, Dave-”

“How do you know my name?” he asked, more terror in his voice.

“Why, Dave, we’re friends! Friends at least know each other's names!”

“Wha-We’ve never met!”

“And yet, I feel like we’ve known each other our entire lives. Now, Dave, while all these useless baubles may interest a more pedestrian sort of person, no offense Miss,” the woman in question squeaked when an Eggpawn jammed a gun into her back, moving her to join the other customers. “You and I? We are men of culture! Even back when you went to the GIA Institute, professors praised your eye for the art of grading gems of all kinds!”

Every word from me seemed to drop Dave deeper and deeper into horror. It paid to do research on the store and its employees before doing this.

While we walked towards the back, a bigger male customer decided to try grabbing and throwing an Eggpawn.

He couldn’t have known they weighed around three-hundred pounds. The unimpressed Eggpawn grabbed his arms and casually Judo threw the man back to the other customers. He flipped a sign around. ‘Hehehehe!’

Dave and I reached the back door. I kicked it open, revealing a fancy looking office. A fat man with a shotgun in a business suit roared, ready to fire. He was hit by a taser shot that sent him sprawling to the ground.

“Luke!” Dave shouted in concern.

“He’ll be fine. Thank you,” I said to the Eggpawn who had shot him.

‘Yer welcome boss man,’ his sign replied.

“Where do they get the signs?” Dave asked, his voice weak.

“Dave, Dave! These questions aren’t interesting! Focus on the fun ones. Like what is in that safe!?”

I pulled him over, stepping over ‘Luke’ and bringing Dave along. “Now, Dave my friend. What you need to think on is what is of value to a jeweler? True value. Not the stuff in the front, no! This. THIS is gold.”

A safe. A Franz Jäger safe. One of the finest in the world. “Ahhhh, look at you.”

I ran my gloved hands across her. “The engineering of this. A mark 25. People have tried to break into these for years. They have a contest for it! To date, only six people have succeeded. Classic construction, made with modern sensibilities. A true model of innovation!”

“You can break into it?” Dave asked, looking as harried as ever.

“B-Break into it!?” I stared at him, horrified. “Dave! You think I’m a madman!?”

“You have robot versions of you…” he said weakly.

“I’m not breaking this beauty. I want the whole thing!”

I snapped my fingers. A pair of Eggpawns walked in and lifted the safe together, moving in perfect unison together. Dave hiccuped. “Oh man. I’m so fired.”

“If you are, you can complain to the labor board. What were you supposed to do, fight me to the death?”

I laughed, the thought genuinely tickling me. “Ah, Dave. In all the time we’ve known each other, I forget how you make me laugh.”

He gave me an exasperated look that only made me more amused. Dave was fun to tease.

We left the store, ignoring the sound of sirens in the distance. Please. As though mere police could stop me. The Eggpawns loaded the safe into a metal sphere in the back of the van, others tossing jewelry into the same sphere. The orb in question took up most of the back, being about a foot taller than the Eggpawns.

“Huahahahaha!” I laughed proudly, flanked by my small army of Eggpawns, their red coats shining in the sunlight. “What a gorgeous day for crime!”

I looked over at Dave. “Too much, you think? Should I tone it back?”

Dave swallowed, sighing just a bit. As I held him, my eyes caught the glint in the distance. I reached past him.

When the rifle round landed in my palm, it was with a sound of metal exploding against metal, like a car smashing into a pipe factory.

“EEEEEEE-” Dave reeled, staring at my hand. His scream cut off when I opened my fist to reveal the intact rifle bullet resting in my gloved palm, scorch marks surrounding the point of impact.

Dave crumbled, passing out.

“Ahhhh, Dave. You really need thicker skin. He aimed for your shoulder,” I was moving even while talking, hopping into the back. “Load up boys, we got a real threat on us!”

One of the Eggpawns was shot in the face, his eye cracking. He stuttered, before the redundancies kicked in to keep him moving. We piled in, one of the Eggpawns moving into the driver’s seat, and the van burst forward. The sound of rubber popping was followed by the whole vehicle shuddering, the distinct sound of metal on asphalt following.

“Seriously, what kind of crack shot is this guy?” I mumbled. I knew from the show he had good aim, but this was ridiculous. “Eggy, step on it!”

A sign with the words ‘Already on it!’ went flying past me. The rest of the Eggs cocked their weapons. I grabbed a big laser pistol, one I’d designed to look like the raygun from Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies. The Eggpawns held more boxy style weapons, designed to be generic looking so that one couldn’t track where they’d been made.

I kicked the back doors open. “Rattle em boys!”

The target was leaping off of a roof, holding his rifle to his eye. The Eggpawns and I opened fire, unleashing a storm of green energy bolts.

“MUAHAHAHA!” I laughed as the van swerved through the streets, firing wildly. One of my shots smashed into the black figure aiming at us. He responded by hitting me in the sternum.

“Carbonweave, you fool!” I crowed even as I was sent back on my ass. I couldn’t help the wide grin on my face.

Black Noir didn’t respond to that. Instead, he landed from his five story drop, hopped on a motorcycle, and pursued us.

“Well, look at that!” I got to my feet and brushed off my shirt. “Guess we’re making things interesting!”

Black Noir closed in, zipping back and forth through traffic. He pulled out a submachine gun and began firing while approaching. His bullets slammed into the van, bouncing off the metal sphere, shooting out another Eggpawn’s eyes while destroying a different one’s laser rifle.

“What boring weaponry!” I taunted. “Show him something interesting, boys!”

‘Mecha-shifting!’ A sign bounced off of Black Noir’s head, followed by the Eggpawns pressing buttons on their guns. The boxy looking lasers shifted and moved around, stopping into a variety of configurations.

As if I’d be so boring as to stick to lasers alone.

One Eggpawn fired his new gun, now shaped like a cannon. A giant set of cords came fluttering out, snapping together to form a net. Black Noir twisted aside, the net wrapping around a man on the street and sending him into a storefront with a scream. The Eggpawn kept firing nets, Black Noir pulling out a katana from a sheath on his bike to begin slicing them out of the air.

Another Eggpawn fired a gun now shaped like a hose, the blast coming out as thick green goop. Black Noir moved his motorcycle aside, then leaped over a car with it, allowing the stuff to flow over the asphalt. A car behind him ran into the stuff, and came to a squealing halt as the thick material wrapped around the tires, gumming up the works. More cars slammed into that one, causing an immediate pileup.

Black Noir dived around the cars, hopped on top of another one, zipped to his left, and sliced another tent out of the air.

I had to admit, I was impressed.

“It's a shame you don’t talk, cause I would love to get thoughts from a hero who actually works hard at their job!”

Granted, his job was assassination most of the time, but he worked hard at it.

“Well, maybe I need to change things up a bit more,” I turned and walked over to the metal sphere. “I am, after all, a student of the Art of War.”

The metal sphere opened up. I entered, adjusting my collar as I sat down. The sphere closed, Black Noir’s bullets bouncing off it just before I lost sight of him. For just a moment, I sat alone in darkness. Then lights shone across the inside, showing the wide array of buttons, switches, and levers, a single screen in front of me.

“Time to rock!” I pulled the lever in front of me. The sound of engines roaring filled the air, before the sphere rose up, smashing through the roof of the van. The top of the sphere slid open, revealing me to the world.

The sphere finished transforming, a single glowing light on the front, a windshield just tall enough for me to duck behind. A series of rockets burned under it, lifting me into the air, with two wings on either side.

“Well Black Noir! Time for you to face the first ever EGG MOBILE!”

I turned my vessel to face him and started firing. The bottom of the Egg Mobile opened. Unseen, 3D printers and stores of chemicals formed large black orbs within, then dropped them out of the bottom. They exploded on the street, erupting into green goo, white foam, and smoke grenades.

Black Noir stopped shooting, and instead focused entirely on his driving. The black clad mad lad dived through smoke, zipped around patches of green goo. He almost went into the foam, but ended up seeing a minivan enter the foam first.

The minivan came out the other side with large portions of it getting eaten away, the foam creating holes as it chewed through the non-organic material. Black Noir leaped over the foam, ignoring the stunned family inside the van that was becoming swiss cheese.

“Hmm,” I stopped laughing for a moment.

He wasn’t stopping. I’d assumed this was going to be somewhat easier. But Black Noir was going to become an issue. If I wasn’t careful, things would go from fun to problematic.

“Very well, Black Noir. Follow me then! Let’s see how far you’ll go!”

I spun the Egg Mobile around and headed deeper into New York City, bringing up a map. We didn’t have too long before we’d end up crossing my escape route. Just a few blocks.

A bullet bounced off the Egg Mobile. I sped forward just a bit and led Black Noir along by the masked nose. This would be great.