I shared a look with Slingshot. There was a mutual understanding of just how bad things could get. But with nothing to say, I returned my attention to Greenflame and the other villains.

Dreadnaught was now sitting on a desk and was curling its tail around its feet. Feline eyes staring unblinkingly at the Entrepreneurs. Greenflame had stepped towards Samurai and was concentrating on something past Samurai‘s mask. Green fire ignited under Greenflame’s veil, sending it flapping away from her face and revealing the green fires that had replaced her eyes. Samurai gave her some space.

“You, Samurai, my friend.” Greenflame’s voice had an effect to it, something underlying it that set me on edge. “You’ve travelled far. Across seas, across borders, and across identities too.”

Boss and Queue shared a glance. No doubt they were eagerly filing that one away for later.

“You were the youngest, and despite insurmountable odds you took on the role of Guardian.” Greenflame and her voice flared, and when the flames died down a tarot card for the guardian was floating in the air between Greenflame and Samurai. It had a depiction of Samurai holding a shield to protect a crowd behind him. The borders of the card were difficult to make out through the green fire that surrounded it, but it was large enough that I could see it fine from where I was.

Greenflame took a breath and continued. “In fulfilling your role, you were not successful. But you became able. You gathered who you could and fled the situation wrought behind. In a new place you carved out a new life, and a new hope, with new security. A Pilgrim by another name.”

The pilgrim card flared into existence next to the guardian. This one showed Samurai and a number of other figures at the bow of a boat, pointing to a landmass outside the border of the image.

“You shall return to the one waiting. You will accomplish the greatest goal you have, finish up your business in Graceland. Those around you will look up and be inspired by you. All you have to do is to tell me something right now.”

“What is it?” Samurai was guarded and suspicious, but there was something in what Greenflame said that had pulled his attention.

Greenflame’s voice was layered, and crackling fire roared underneath the words.

“Do you desire a Hero’s end?”

A hero card flared into existence next to the pilgrim. This one showed Samurai holding a sword to the sun. I noticed it was the only card where Samurai was alone.

Greenflame reached her hand towards Samurai. Green fire darted from her eyes, down her arm, and wreathed Greenflame’s hand in flame. “If that is what you desire, you may set yourself down that path by grasping my hand.”

Samurai looked at each of the cards, lingering on each one. Queue started shifting impatiently. I curiously glanced at Dreadnaught to see their response, only to make eye contact with the alien kitten. Dreadnaught blinked, then turned his attention to Samurai.

I shivered. Slingshot, Waterlad, and I would be screwed if the fact that we were here was given away. Slingshot was staring intently at Greenflame and the situation unfolding before us. Waterlad was muttering to himself ever so quietly despite himself, and glancing between the Entrepreneurs and Greenflame. Neither of them had noticed Dreadnaught spotting us.

Yet Dreadnaught didn’t do anything beyond looking. They merely watched as Samurai considered the deal before him.

“I accept.” Samurai gripped Greenflame’s burning hand. If the fire was hot, Samurai didn’t seem to care. The flame paused, then swiftly ran up Samurai’s arm and across the rest of his body, briefly covering him before abruptly going out.

The fire persisted in Greenflame’s hand, still basking her face and Samurai’s mask in a green light. Greenflame extended her other hand out and the fire jumped to both hands, making a bridge of green. She brought her hands together and the fires finally died down.

“This is for you.” Greenflame offered her clasped hands to Samurai, who accepted whatever she was offering.

“What are these?” Samurai asked incredulously.

He held up a knife and fork.

“Artifacts of my power.” Greenflame said. “They will help you accomplish the task you have agreed to.”

“You have given me the tools I use to...” Samurai trailed off, holding the cutlery closer for inspection.

“You see now?” Greenflame smiled. Her veil had fell back over her face when the green fires had died down, but I could still see her mouth express the smug pride she was feeling. “Nothing my power gives is ever simple. I guess I should tell you now, it’s all connected. I’ll be watching how it unfolds with great interest.”

“I see now.” Samurai nodded, inspecting the culinary equipment.

Greenflame nodded and turned to Boss, glancing briefly at Queue with disdain. “Now you.”

Queue stepped forward. “If I may…”

“Say it.” She snapped.

“What compelled you to move away from Canada?”

“Oh?”

“I’ve tried to figure out why you might make such a move, but haven’t been able to determine anything concrete.” Queue stepped further forward. “If you would humour me.”

Greenflame took her time observing Queue before she responded.

“The futures of the people I’ve done business with recently have been overshadowed by something I want nothing to do with.” Greenflame explained. “I’m hopeful it’s a local issue, because otherwise, I’ll be gone with the wind.”

Queue nodded earnestly. “I’m glad you decided to come through our city. There isn’t much happening here in Graceland, and I’m hopeful that your presence will attract some prosperity for us.”

Greenflame folded her arms. “What the hell are you trying to say?”

Queue hesitated, his hand moving as if he was metally calculating something. “I was merely trying to communicate that-”

“I don’t care, Psychic.” Greenflame cut him off. “Boss was the one who asked for my services. You-know who, sit on him please.”

The black kitten leaped from the desk and landed lightly on Queue’s shoulder. As they jumped, the floor buckled underneath them. Dreadnaught’s tail wrapped itself around Queue’s neck, who had frozen when Greenflame had given the direction. He started shaking.

Just like that, Greenflame had solidified her position as the most powerful person in the room. Boss was unfazed. After all, his power allowed him to summon literally anyone he wanted, or evacuate in the blink of an eye. His lack of reaction made me wonder how much he valued Queue, though.

“I’ve been looking forward to this with great anticipation.” Boss confessed. “It’s intriguing to think of which future you’ll see.”

“Yes.” Greenflame agreed. “Disagreeing would be lying.”

“Is there anything to do before you start?” Boss checked.

Greenflame thought for a moment. “We skipped the pleasantries. I’ll give you a chance to make up for starting on the wrong foot.” She daintily reached her hand forward, palm down.

“Of course.” Boss clasped her hand and kissed it. “Your personality is much more colourful than was conveyed in our correspondence.”

“How should I take that?” Greenflame asked, bemused.

“As a compliment, what else?” Boss straightened up and pressed his jacket down. “Shall we?”

Greenflame took a step back, green light flickered from behind her veil. “Allons-y.”

The green fire of her power ignited. “You came from an average place, originally. Then tragedy struck and you were placed among two others where you lived the life of an Urchin.”

Like before, a card wreathed in the green flames of Greenflame’s power appeared. It was titled the urchin, and depicted Boss in a place of squalor with two others, each in poses like that of a beggar's.

Greenflame’s mouth tugged itself into a half smile. “Then you found something, a skeleton in the wardrobe. Then you found more. The power, the ability, the means to make something. You followed through. You were rewarded. You were the tip of the spear. You are the Seeker.”

A card flared into existence, depicting the three figures from the urchin card with Boss opening what looked like a closet. The seeker was its title.

“What you want is clear, and coincides with what I can offer.” Greenflame continued, her voice becoming more layered. “We could have your coronation here and now. You can be King.”

The king card erupted next to the seeker. This one depicted Boss on a throne, a crown on his head and a sceptre in his hand. The sun framed Boss’ head, and various figures were depicted in worship of Boss.

If Greenflame’s power could honestly do that... I shivered at the implications.

“Like I said. Intriguing.” Boss commented.

Green flame spread from Greenflames hands and rushed to the top of her head where it burned in a circle. No. A crown. She reached up and slowly pulled the flaming crown off. It’s form persisted. Greenflame held the flickering green crown before her and bent her knees, her head tilted forwards in respect.

Boss paused.

Greenflame spoke in her fiery voice. “All you need do is claim your crown.”

Something clicked in Boss’ body language. “I decline.”

“What!?” Queue exclaimed. Dreadnaught lazily flicked its tails in front of the man’s face and Queue froze once more.

Greenflame was thrown for a loop, and took a moment to respond.

She said. “Are you sure? You’ve already paid for my services. I’m not in the business of refunds.”

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“We’re well aware of that.” Boss nodded. “But unfortunately, I do not want to be king. The offer is much appreciated, mind.”

“Very well.” Greenflame let the fires die out. The three cards vanished into the air. “I do believe that’s all I’m here for. Gentlemen, it’s been wonderful dealing with two of you. And Boss, I’m staying in Graceland for the next few weeks. I will be making deals with your underlings, though they must find me by their own means. You can contact me like you did before if you change your mind.”

Dreadnaught purred and jumped off of Queue. The villain visibly relaxed and took a huge breath.

“Your offer is most appreciated.” Boss stepped forward. “Allow me to send you off with courtesy.”

“I’d love to stick around, but you’ve managed to make quite the mess around here. I can feel it.” Greenflame cocked her head and snapped her fingers. “Victorious is back and but two floors away, and I’m not a stickler for mess.”

The blue mist from before erupted next to Greenflame. Filling the space much more quickly this time, and stabilising after only a few seconds.

“I have no issues with you conducting business in Graceland, seeing as we were the ones to invite you here.” Boss inclined his head. “You will have a grace period of three weeks, then we will have to negotiate territory. Until then, you have free reign in territory occupied by the Entrepreneurs and their shell companies.”

Greenflame briefly curtsied, holding beads in the place of an actual dress. “So formal.”

Greenflame waved goodbye and blew a kiss at Samurai and stepped through the portal first. Dreadnaught followed after it gave each party present another drawn out stare, looking at us first. That sent a shiver down my spine. The portal collapsed moments later, though the supervillains seemed to have somehow not noticed us.

“Good day.” Boss said to Samurai. “I’ll leave my employees in the tower for another fifteen minutes. After that, you’re on your own.”

With that, Boss and Queue vanished in a dark flash. After a moment Samurai walked out, thankfully not walking where he could see us hiding in the meeting room. I stood after he left, making sure he was legitimately leaving.

“He’s gone.” I announced.

Slingshot sighed, letting out a breath she’d been holding for who knows how long. Waterlad collapsed against the wall, dropping his trident for the first time.

“I’ll need a moment.” Waterlad’s head fell back, banging wetly against the wall. “I’ve got a void where my stomach is supposed to be. Bad feeling.”

“Who was that?” Slingshot asked.

“That was Greenflame.” I explained. “She is, or was based in Canada. Has a power that lets her see the lives of people, even going into the future. I think she sees many possibilities, and what we saw Samurai just do was lock a particular future in. She’s like a businessman that deals in fate.”

“I’ve know of her.” Waterlad said. “Every so often you’ll find someone that took a deal with her. Normally, they seem fine. But there’s something about them that’s… off putting. They normally don’t talk too much about it.”

“But they do talk about it.” Slingshot checked nervously.

“Only the basics. They’ll normally tell you they got what they were promised, but won’t tell you how. From what I’ve seen they got disturbed by the whole situation. Seems Greenflame gives them more than they bargain for.”

“Well, we just saw her give Samurai a knife and fork.” I commented. “She was talking about how he wanted to meet someone that was waiting again, and that he would accomplish his greatest objective.”

Slingshot nodded. “So who is the person and what is the objective?”

I shook my head. “No. I’m more curious about how exactly a set of silverware enables him to do that. Actually, that explains the plate. Anyway, should we be expecting the Rising Sun to turn vigilante? Because I don’t see it happening.”

“If it’s anything like the other ones.” Waterlad picked up his trident and turned it over in his hands. “It’ll be contrived, and it won’t be good. It’s a good thing Boss didn’t take the offer. A king? That wouldn’t end well.”

“But America might adopt the metric system.” I realised. “Could’ve been a silver lining. But you’re right. Better that he didn’t.”

“Something about that bugs me.” Slingshot said. “Greenflame was really vague when she was describing that future, but specifically said two things to Samurai to get him to take the deal.”

I followed the line of thought. “She could’ve been promising anything with that deal.”

“If she has any interest in Graceland, she could use those deals to her advantage.”

“No, not really.” I frowned. “Actually, it depends on how much information she gets from her power. How much does she really do?”

“Who knows?” Waterlad exclaimed. “Why the hell was the cat here!?”

“Yeah, I didn’t get the cat.” Slingshot agreed, more from ignorance than anything. “Why is it so important?”

“Dreadnaught is one of the strongest things in the world.” I recalled. “Up there with Kinetic and Victorious, and even Hope. Greenflame is clearly keeping it around for protection, and then there’s the portals that they used to get in and out. How did those work?”

“I’m guessing there were three of them.” Waterlad nodded. “What’d Boss call them, the Vardotrio? It’s in the name. So that’s Greenflame, Dreadnaught, and whoever is opening those portals.” He paused. “Fuck, she’s a chaos factor.”

“No, Greenflame is a person who wants something and she’s going to screw everyone else over to get it. Be that money, control, or whatever it ends up being.”

Slingshot had drifted over to the corner Samurai had walked past.

“Ardent’s orb is gone.” she announced. “I think we should move.”

“She’s right.” I turned to Waterlad. “We need to split up. I can’t be seen with you again.”

He waved dismissively. “Just leave, then. It doesn’t matter where I go. Boss is summoning me in what, ten minutes anyway.”

I couldn’t disagree. “Well, we worked together.” I trailed off and things started getting awkward, so I walked away.

Slingshot and I stopped in the lobby. We hadn’t stuck around after dealing with Ardent and Beefcake, so I hadn’t seen what Beefcake had done with the elevator door. The door he’d pulled open had indents I could probably fit my hand in with room to spare. That was true for each depression his fingers had made. Aside from the massive warping, the door was stuck half closed.

As an afterthought, I looked at the distance between the elevator and the desk Beefcake had thrown me into. He must have slapped me halfway across the room by my guess. I’d be dealing with bruises again once this was all over.

“So what do we do now?” Slingshot’s question made me refocus.

“Good question.” I thought for a few seconds. “I don’t think we should stay here. Orcus, Zephyr, and Victorious will be on their way and they’ll have questions about how we got here first.”

“Right.”

“Then there are the villains that’ll be running from them. They’ll make it here first, if at all.”

“So should we head back to Muffle then?” Slingshot asked. “He’ll be worried.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” I admitted, rubbing my head. “There’s still the fight going on downstairs, but Boss said he’s pulling his men out in about ten minutes now. We can let the others clean that up.”

“Clean it up.” She repeated, then shook her head. “Up the elevator?”

“Okay.” I opened the door Beefcake hadn’t ruined, making enough space that Slingshot could get through first, and we made the journey back up to the eighth floor. Lucidity’s hoverboard was where I left it in the elevator, and I used that to make the ascent. I was much slower that Slingshot, who seemed to be able to fly as naturally as I walked. Though she slowed to my pace for the journey. Whether to keep me safe in case I fell, or because she didn’t want to be alone, I was grateful for the company.

One elevator door later and we were done. Soon I was saying hello to Muffle, who hadn’t moved much since we had left. He gave us a long, drawn out look before turning to face us fully and signing some things I didn’t understand.

“Sorry, I don’t know sign language.” I told him.

“Me too.” Slingshot piggybacked the statement, then felt the need to elaborate. “I mean, I don’t know sign language either.”

Muffle visibly and silently sighed, then pulled out his phone and started tapping out a text. After half a minute Slingshot was reading a message on her phone aloud.

“What happened? Did anything go wrong? What happened to Waterlad? why did you do it?” She said.

“Well, that’s a lot of things to answer.” I commented. “First: we went down to where Boss and Samurai were and saw the exchange that went down. The green flash and carpet were for Greenflame, who made a deal with Samurai for a hero’s end.”

“Yip.” Slingshot nodded. “And on the way we were found by two villains. One was Beefcake, and what was the other one?”

“Ardent.” I supplied.

Muffle had stiffened.

“No, we didn’t get into a fight.” I made a calm down gesture. “Waterlad talked them down and we were allowed to pass.”

“They were helpful, if anything.” Slingshot agreed.

“That’s almost everything. I feel like I’m missing something.”

“The cat.” Slingshot supplied.

“Right, Dreadnaught.” I said.

Muffle took a step forward. I still wasn’t able to hear anything he said, but his body language said “What!?” in a very alarming tone. The step also brought Muffle’s area of influence to where I was standing.

“It’s not here anymore.” I continued, heeding the absence of my voice. It made speaking feel weird. “He left with Greenflame through a portal. Boss, Queue, Ardent, Beefcake and Waterlad are also gone for that matter, they teleported away.”

Muffle’s head turned to beside me, so I followed his gaze to see Slingshot talking without sound. I stepped away to listen.

“-ss is supposed to be teleporting the other villains out any minute now.” Slingshot finished.

I nodded. “What was the last question?”

Slingshot fumbled to check her phone. “The last one was why.”

I looked back at Muffle, who had crossed his arms expectantly.

“Whole number of reasons really.” I said. “But mostly because Waterlad’s actions deconstructed the stigma surrounding him and because his offer lead us to something even the Sentinels- even Aegis weren’t able to get. I want to prove myself, but Zephyr has been making that real hard for me. No one’s even taught me the power classification thing. But despite all that, even with unscrupulous help, I was able to spy on a meeting between Boss and Samurai.

“I’m good enough in a fight. Good enough to give Blinker pause when fighting me. And good enough to incapacitate two villains: Clotheline and Killer Kage. Killer fucking Kage! He came at me with a sword and I broke his arm with a keyboard. Spinnerette tried to lock me in a room, but I got out anyway. And I killed what, seven of her spiders. Some of them with goddamn toilet paper. There’s only one person that’s been halfway decent to me, and that’s Orcus. You know, the creepy guy who everyone thinks has anger issues. He gave me the chance to do something, and that’s the whole reason I joined up. So I could do something. I. Did. Something.”

Slingshot paused before speaking. I glanced to see her looking at me, her green eyes the only colourful thing on her face. They communicated concern, which was fair, given my outburst.

Muffle’s arms uncrossed at some point during my rant.

Eventually Slingshot said “To protect Lock from getting hurt.”

I let out a laugh. Then smoothed my demeanour after getting a look from Slingshot. Muffle was looking evenly at us, his arms now folded again. Eventually he visibly sighed and sat on a desk leaning against the wall, his fingers started earnestly tapping a message out on his phone. Slingshot and I waited for him to finish, and he beckoned us over once he was done.

The message was deceptively long, considering the small screen. It read:

Don’t tell anyone you worked with Waterlad. Their wounds are still fresh and if it got out that you were working with a villain you could get put away. At the same time you should come up with a story about how you managed to watch what happened without getting caught. The Sentinels are going to want to know what you saw.

I frowned and stepped away from Muffle to hear myself speak. “No.”

Muffle shifted his weight, suddenly becoming threatening.

I raised my hands passively and took a moment to pick my words. “It would take a while to go over it all, but there’s a lot the Sentinel needs to know. Greenflame made a deal with Samurai, which has huge implications. And Boss is giving her free reign in his territory, which also has huge implications. It isn’t something I can have both ways.” Kathrine’s words repeated in my head. “If I get put away, I tried.”

Muffle signed something, then went back to his phone. Soon Slingshot was reading out another message.

“Fine. But leave me out of your explanation. I was downstairs when Waterlad approached you?” I suspected it wasn’t a question, just a quirk of Slingshot reading it out loud.

Muffle nodded.

I frowned. He was just covering his ass. That was hardly upstanding heroic behaviour. But then again, I’d knowingly cooperated with a villain. Who was I to judge?

Muffle and Slingshot suddenly cocked their heads, listening to something I couldn’t hear. Eventually Slingshot turned to me and informed me of what I missed.

“Boss just evacuated all of his people.” She told me. “Zephyr wants us to go to the ground floor to meet with her and the rest of the team. She wants to allocate teams for cleanup.”

“What about the Rising Sun?” I asked. “Boss can’t teleport them out. Maybe some of them got caught. Actually, wasn’t Headache knocked out one floor down?”

“You’re right.” Slingshot realised.

Muffle nodded, and started making his way down the staircase Hully had made. He gestured at us to stay close.

Headache was leaned against the bottom of the stairs, hands cuffed. Muffle hoisted her over his shoulder and pointed at the door leading to the fire escape, having detained her while Slingshot and I were downstairs. Victorious must have hit Headache hard because she was still unconscious.

I glanced at Slingshot, who was looking around the ruined room with an impassive look in her eyes. She was looking at the spot where Clothesline had punched her sunglasses in. I really wanted to say something, but didn’t. We followed Muffle downstairs in voluntary silence.