The Ferraday Public Library was busy. People searching for information on ancient artifacts, physical copies of famous works, or using the public computers to search an even larger database of information. He dutifully ignored the three red faced pre-teen boys in the far corner.
Libraries had gone through a bit of a renaissance in the past fifty years, after a few small-time heroes, one with plant growth powers and the other the ability to replicate small inanimate objects, bought formerly forested land and regrew the forests. With a single sheaf of paper, they created an advertisement for physical writing that blew up, as it simultaneously slammed world famous heroes with similar and much stronger powers for not doing what they did sooner, and the showed off the power of the written word.
Needless to say, several death threats were uncovered, heroes fell, and libraries became popular again as people experimented with creativity. The reason he was here however, was for the private, sound proof reading rooms. He made sure to pick up a book, a fiction based on humanity's greatest traits being OP in the wider alien universe, and knocked five times on the farthest reading room from the entrance.
There was a click, and the door opened. Entering the small room, he couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief. “Now don’t do that,” a weary but not unkind voice came from the older man who opened the door. He closed it gently, making sure to lock it before turning to him. “It gives away that you were nervous about something. Alone, that means nothing. But if you wish to be a part of the world of villains and maintain a cover, it’s best to get into the habit of keeping such actions in check.”
With plain clothes and an appearance that he would honestly forget instantly if walking down the street, it was clear that Division practiced what he preached… aside from the fact that there were two of him. The one that opened the door seemed to suddenly stretch and bend towards the one in the chair, obviously drawn to him before snapping out of existence. “Now then,” Division waved a hand towards the seat across from him. “Let's talk, then I have this lovely novel I would like to finish.”
He did so, and gave Division a smile of his own, “Nice to meet you names-”
“No,” Division interrupted. “We are in private, but it is still best to only use codenames, just in case. While you are still new, have you decided on a name? Spreading it will be the least I can do after this job.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle, “I have, call me Mage Hand.”
Division let out a snort as the corners of his mouth twitched up, “The media is a pain in the ass, but I’ll give them one thing, they can come up with some decent names. Pleasure to meet you Mage Hand, I, as you most likely already guessed, am Division.”
“So,” Mage Hand wavered a bit, not really knowing how to breach the topic but decided to just go for it. “Why did you want to meet in person?”
“Good,” Division nodded. “Always ask that, although you should start asking yourself that question rather than the person wanting to meet. I wanted to meet you to give you some information that you would consider useful as well as to gaige you with my own two eyes. My powers are great, but there is no subtlety to it or nuance, unlike yours. The hero Taxion is the one who is creating the oblivion mask, and he is… quite the micro-manager. It’s why I know that you won’t find anyone before the unveiling who would be able to give you any information, as he literally tracks his employees location and actions every second.”
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“Fuck,” he rubbed the bridge of my nose. No wonder Codex told him it would take a while. The proud AI really didn’t like not knowing something once he put his mind to it. “Is he in charge of everything?”
“Sadly yes,” Division nodded grimly. “Except financing, it's the one area that he knows that he can’t have any control over. While the oblivion mask is his baby, it is a commission for the North American Hero Association. Which is why I want to get my hands on the prototype. If they want to be able to have heroes who wouldn’t normally be capable of operating in the vacuum of space, it’s only fair that us villains can do the same.” Division showed him a toothy grin. “For a price of course.”
Mage Hand just chuckled, villains come in all shapes and sizes, but almost all of them were honest about their desires. “So instead of Taxion, I should start working the NAHA finance department.”
“Exactly,” Division nodded emphatically. “They have to keep their finances open to the public, especially after the Orsium Incident. Their investors wouldn’t be happy with them if they hid anything. Now, that is all that I have for you, unless you have anything, I believe we should sit back and enjoy our stories.”
“Actually I do, the lair for the reward, where exactly is it?”
“Guess I should have expected that one,” Division stared off into the distance for a moment before shaking his head. “Sorry, one of me was just found by Star Major and had a hole punched through him. The lair is in this city, beneath an old pawn shop.”
Mage Hand blinked, “Farraday is… a hero hotspot. How have they not found it?”
“Easy, I’ve owned the property for ten years, and thinking like you did, never made it my main hidey-hole. I went for the dramatic, top floor penthouse looking over the city. It ended up being my downfall, because despite the amount of security measures I had in place, someone figured me out. I can’t stay in this city for long periods of time, maybe a few days, before Star Major tracks me down.
“So, when you popped up, I thought, ‘why not give the next generation a chance?’ It is already partially renovated and the pawnshop has decent stock, I’ll give you the deed to both the land and the shop if you complete the job. If you fail, well, you haven’t done anything heinous so you’ll be out in a few years.”
“Then consider it done,” he waved his own book. “To quote one of the greats, ‘I believe we should sit back and enjoy our stories.’”
The Division's laughter filled the room, “Hahaha! Cheeky brat, you’re damn right. Good choice by the way, the authors really did their research on human nature and the about-”
“Spoilers!”
“Mage Hand, I’m a villain, what did you expect?”
“There’s villainy, and then there’s evil.”
“That is… a very good view of things honestly, and one that new bloods like you usually don’t learn until it’s too late. Glad you’re one of the smart ones.” Division opened his book, and Mage Hand finally got a look at the cover, Roses and Cloves… a romantic cooking comedy? Huh, I should probably not say anything.