A sharp, sustained turn. Fifteen seconds at the head of traffic. The steep fall off the skyway and onto the highway. Two right turns and a long left before Enrique voices, “We’ve arrived, sir.”

The door clicks open, letting sunbeams strike her eyes, forcing her awake as much as the undercurrent of Xoxia’s ever winter air. Even in the deepest recesses of Uptown’s central area there’s no escaping the one truth of the city.

Bethany blinks from her sleepless rest, breathing as she blindly snatches her pad off the seat and steps out. Enrique offers her blazer with a crinkled smile, one she returns as she squints against the glare of the sun in her eyes, “Thank you, Enrique.”

“At your service.” He shuts the door and walks up to the head of the egg-shaped M.C.U Officer official car and adds, “Will you be long today sir?”

She sighs, looking from the brisk pace of her approaching assistant to the heights of the sky-scraping tower of the M.C.U, one of the only buildings spared the high velocity traffic of whizzing vehicles Uptown. Too much of a security risk but Bethany’s always appreciated the cut of sky at its backdrop— a shimmering blue that cast a beautiful rainbow across the tower and the clouds shifting through it. Beyond it though lies another truth, one as permanent as Xoxia’s ever winter but most unknown and not so easily seen with the suns glare. It’s always better to working at night.

“Dolores seems to think so.” She lets out another sigh as her eyes adjust and she straps on her blazer, “Better take your break, I’ll call you when I’m ready.”

“Aye sir.”

“Sir!” Dolores brings her hastened steps to a halt at Bethany’s side just as she begins walking toward the busying entrance of M.C.U headquarters. The smooth blond haired woman nods respectfully as she greets, “Enrique. Sir, you’d better hurry the Commissioner’s already in, so is Officer Rick.”

Bethany nods idly as the soft, oval faced woman scrolls through her tab and the agenda for the general meeting she’s been called for. The furrows on her brow are exactly the reason Bethany thought to hire the young lady as her assistant, more out of spite for the effortless beauty and less a need for an actual assistant. Still, the woman managed to satisfy both functions, serving Bethany’s hidden envy with her tireless work and thus ensuring she remains relevant enough to attend annoyances like this meeting. Though today might be important enough to pay attention.

“Remind me again what her deal is now?” she yawns.

“Sir, given your recent operations you can’t afford to keep only cliff notes on this meeting. They’ve garnered enough media covered and indirectly ignited another outright war between the Meta-Gangs Downtown. The Commissioner will undoubtedly fix you with scrutiny.”

Bethany tosses her hair as she scoffs, “Right, all about the media loving her and the Mayor isn’t it?” Dolores frowns and Bethany forces a cherry laugh, “What? It’s the truth. And since when did it become a bad thing to put away Gamma rank villains? Metahuman criminals, whatever, this political correctness is killing me.”

Dolores sighs as they swipe into the building’s spacious interior. She waves at the reception desk where a droid glitters like Christmas lights in response, “It’s not a bad thing it’s just…how it is now. We’ve got to work with it for a better Xoxia.”

“You sound like a mix of commercials.” Bethany says, rolling her eyes, “And I can’t be the only reason she’s come down from Olympus, I was busy for fuck sake.”

Dolores smiles up at her before getting an elevator. A saucer like thing with transparent glass doors picks them up and she asks, “How were they?”

“Were? Think they’re dead already?” Bethany curses and bites her lip at that as Dolores frown deepens, “Shit, sorry. Unwarranted. They are…some are dead. Radiation tore through the cells faster than anything the doctors could help with and the others, well, they’re grateful to get off easy with a couple cancers. Treatment will take months of course but they’ll live.”

“Will they come back?”

Bethany unclenches her hands and breathes, “Maybe, I don’t want them to though, they’ve done enough.”

“Yeah, they have. TV’s right where he belongs now.” Dolores says softly as the saucer continues to carry them in silence.

TV’s abilities make him a threat to every single human without a hazmat suit or access to immediate cancer treatments. Metahuman’s are just as affected though a lengthened period of exposure is needed to bring down the same effects his radioactive eyes bring down on normal humans in minutes. Half of the division Bethany drew up to suppress him died at the encounter itself and then half of what remained died at the hospital with a sliver escaping with possibly incurable cancers.

He deserves worse than Hielo.

The elevator dings at a sterile level and the two walk into a long and metallic hallway reminiscent of a stainless steel container with the way light bounces off of its walls. Several M.C.U Officers are present already, most Bethany recognizes and greets as she marches down with her hand behind her back, and others who clearly recognize her by their haunting stares.

Dolores giggles by her side as Bethany does her best to ignore the attention, “I think you’re on track for a promotion if this attention is worth anything.” She says.

“Or a demotion.” As strolls, she can’t resist the using her powers to skim surface level thoughts of all the muttering Officers gathered on the hall. Their immediate thoughts differ about her, some merely confirming she is indeed the one behind the Lynx operations and others growing curious about how she managed the accomplishment with a hint of envy as they subtly discuss her with their partners and assistants. Already a couple of them have drawn up her public employee files to learn all they can.

Bethany understood their curiosity, after all, she hasn’t been part of the M.C.U for two years as an official Officer and yet, she’s captured a Gamma rank villain and one that has terrorized the lower burrows of Xoxia and given the Mayor a bad name. If only they knew.

Suddenly, in the eye searing fluorescent lights of the hallway and the basks of attention and envy, Bethany’s lethargy at attending this meeting washes away. She begins to look forward to it because as Dolores says; this attention has to be worth something. More autonomy hopefully and higher clearance would be peak. She has enjoyed working under Rick but the man could be such a dull sometimes, in fact, it took too much convincing and nagging to get him to approve the second Lynx operation, one she actually feels most responsible for.

Still, she is grateful for him. Other superior Officers would have transferred a metahuman like Erich Underwood to their authority— even with the colossal workload— than let a green ear like her take the lead. Though Bethany suspects his lenient trust has something to do with his thoughts on the metahuman, ‘a bad feeling’ he’d called it and Bethany has to agree as within Erich Underwood’s mind lies a secret, a discovery that will blindside everyone in this meeting, including Rick.

“Bethany.”

Speak of the devil.

Twirling around on her heel Bethany gleams at her superior, “Rick! You look cherry as usual.”

The strong jawed man held the ever present sternness in his eyes as he huffs at his subordinate. Dressed in the same dull black suit and tie of M.C.U Officers the man represented everything governmental about the organization; even Bethany managed to escape the uniformity with her blue blazer, heels and the way she styles her hair.

“Dolores has given you the brief?” He says, getting right to it.

“Yes.” She hadn’t but Bethany would rather his attention fall on her than on her meek assistant that falls into her shadow at his presence. Bethany never bothers reading or paying too close attention to briefings or the details of documents. With her metahuman ability it would a be a callous waste of time to drool over the minutia rather than sum it all up as beneficial or as an annoyance; peeking into the minds of people in closest proximity, including Rick and Dolores did this for her.

A slight frown mars his lips, likely sensing her ability take an effect on him as he often did, “Then you’d better get ready, the Commissioner is worse than the Mayor, harder to impress and you’ve fallen into her limelight.”

“Why how are you doing Bethany? Your skin is glowing today, Bethany. Oh how are your men, Bethany, did they survive, will they recover?”

Rick stifles a growl, “More pressing matters now than the inevitable and necessary sacrifice for order, Bethany.”

Of course he’d have some rationale for his indifference, but to his point the hallway drowns in silence as the elevator dings, the transparent glass doors revealing the Commissioner and her posse before opening up. Officers line up in strict order by the walls and assistants like Dolores try their best to make themselves small and unseen beside their Officers as the Commissioner marches down the hall.

The Commissioner, Severance Gail Matilda, is a tall, rigid dark skinned woman that makes Rick’s stoic up tightness look like a teenager’s pale imitation. A respectable white suite curves around her hips, contrasted by a dark shirt and blood red tie. A single earring, long diamond and mithril encrusted dangles from her left ear— knowing the Commissioner the jewellery couldn’t be there for aesthetic reasons alone. Her lips and eyelids are dyed black with shimmering blue specks dancing over them.

Clasping her hand behind her back Severance stiffly walks down the hallway flanked on the side by two her favoured M.C.U Officer, Dawn, and her personal droid, B3-50.

Dawn is one of those metahumans you can identify at a glance. An aura of orange and yellow exudes from her skin, lighting her pristine features up in a perfect and permanent sun bath. She falls a head and a half short compared to the Commissioner, but struts through with equal confidence, not even sparing her supposed colleagues a glance. Her metahuman light is smothered underneath the vantablack blouse and skirt, a blood red cloak flutters behind her.

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B3-50 struts beside her master, darkened servos and browned skin exposed for all to see. Behind the cool beaming blue eyes of the droid is a fully functioning conscience, albeit one that Bethany couldn’t read but testimonies of science and the very law could. Droids are as sentient as humans but ever bound by their birth programs and laws. While it isn’t against any established law to have your droid exposed in such an unseemly manner, the majority of Xoxia and even the M.C.U considered it appropriate to afford the machines that sliver of ‘luxury’ as the Commissioner would say. The droid marches by, smooth as brand new and wearing the visage of a young twenty something brunette caucasian girl— nude and free of genitalia.

Bethany resists the scowl that always threatens to crawl unto her face at the sight. Severance’s cold heart could give Xoxia’s outskirts serious competition. Besides the hints of AI maltreatment, Severance, Dawn and B3-50 pair together for an unreadable trio. Dawn she could read if she managed to get closer, enough to touch and feel her neurons jostling about in her skull. B3-50 is a droid, artificial and so no matter how hard Bethany tries there simply isn’t a thought to glean from her. Even though she believes in their sentience it seems her power doesn’t work that way.

Severance, however, no matter how hard she tries or how close she comes— she had the privilege of a handshake more than a couple times and even a hug when she pushed it— Bethany couldn’t peek a word of her thoughts or emotions. Of course, Bethany has met more than her fair share of metahumans resistant to her powers, but that’s just the word— resistant not invulnerable. The Commissioner unnerves every fibre of her being.

As she and her pair march down the hall, Severance stops short of the doors heading into the meeting room the Officers have all gathered for. She spares a glance at Bethany and its only thanks to years of studying human linguistics and communications that she notes the slight, upward tug of her lip as well as the dangerous shadow in her eyes— though that seems to be a permanent fixture for Severance.

She enters and one by one Officers file in after Dawn. There aren’t as many Officers gathered, though the hall is deceptively full of people, half of them are assistants or trainees that remain. Dolores snatches Bethany’s hand a squeezes it reassuringly, a gestures she’s more than grateful for as her chances for at a promotion seem to plummet with each second.

Bethany follows after Rick before he can leave her behind. The conference room is a spacious hall with a roundtable and a black sphere as its main features. There’s a sliding white board behind the Commissoner’s head at the table but B3-50 tosses it aside as she takes her place hanging over her master’s shoulder rather than sit in any number of the unoccupied cream coloured, ceramic-esque swivel chairs.

Of the seven Metahuman Officer Suppression Units or MOSUS—fondly referred to by trainees and the ever criticizing public as MOSES— only four units occupy their ranked seats, the most favoured taking their place at the Commissioners right. The arrangement is said to be arbitrary but you couldn’t switch seats without someone trying to chew you out, unless you’re brought forth by the Commissioner herself of course.

Seven Officers take their places in a scattered, inefficient scramble that leaves gaps of double spaces between Officers. Rick seats three places to the Commissioners right, placing Bethany at the fourth by default. Thought each superior personnel should have a subordinate Officer, Dawn has yet to pick hers out and selfishly stands closest to Severance with an everglow shining through the darkening room. Of all the times Bethany’s been in here the curtains have always stayed shut, not a ray or beam of light from the world to be spared. The only source of light beyond the cheeky lamplight of an Officer would be the dull red-yellow light shimmering above the dark sphere at the centre of the roundtable.

“Good morning everyone.” Severance starts polite though everyone remains silent, not returning the greeting as she hates being interrupted, “We aren’t fully assembled, as is the case most times, but I’ve already relayed briefings to our Officers out on the field of my intentions. And B3-50 will record these sessions for their sakes; they won’t be missing out.”

Severance voice carries throughout the room in far relaxed manner than you’d expect from someone with her…peculiarities. She scans the room’s faces from her least favoured to her left— the Unit Three and Five who couldn’t stop seem to stop themselves from losing subordinates in the field each year— to the middle where Unit Seven sat, middling in her concerns and then to Unit Four, made up of Rick and Bethany, along with every metahuman asset the Unit has laid claim to with or without their individuals.

Her eyes narrow at Rick, making Bethany wonder if it was truly she Severance smirked at outside. Severance taps the table before crossing her fingers over it in a diabolical nature as she orders, “Let’s get on with it then shall we?”

B3-50 attaches something to the table and the dark sphere in the centre whirls to life as the red-yellow light above it dims and filters out photons onto the device. It manifests a sequence of photos and videos all sliding through simultaneously, each of them depicting some kind of metahuman criminality and disaster after the next.

One image progressively outgrows the others until its rotating for all to see. The image finds itself on every Officer’s individual pads as well as a brief introduction on the topic, not that anyone present is unfamiliar with it.

Purple powder, fluid, tabs and capsules. Vie. Bethany swipes through the images on her tab, skimming through the texts accompanying each version as Severance continues speaking, “These are all true Vie that our teams have confiscated about the streets of Uptown and Midtown burrows in the past month alone.

“This is a new month and it’s ridiculous that our facilities and resources are snatched off their transports and even straight from production lines. Don’t get me started on the knockoffs spiralling through the lower burrows, those will find their time as they’re all spawn from the same source, gangs.

“The Mayor is incensed by this amongst much more these gangs are responsible for and so, with my advice he will be issuing the order for XCPD to work in tandem with M.C.U Officers and personnel to squash these thefts and put an end to this epidemic before the year is up.”

At the last part the captains of Unit Three and Five share a wary look. If Severance noticed she doesn’t pay them any mind.

“Unit Three, you’ve worked longest against the Invincibill gang, they’re the most notorious and complicit in these thefts. I consider their success your failure.” She says turning a narrowing gaze at the Unit.

Their Captain, a shy looking man with unreasonably long hair shrinks under the pressure. Bethany felt remorse for him; going up against a criminal organization that organized would certainly present recurring losses, especially as desperation for an inch of progress grew on.

“You will have full access to the XCPD surveillance, records, troops as well as resources from the M.C.U. If you need anything more to put down this annoyance don’t hesitate to ask. Failure to put through will not be tolerated as leniently as I have in the past.” Severance turns her gaze to the gathering and adds, “If any of you have insights to Unit Three’s mission, share or act on it with their supervision.”

B3-50 wordlessly swipes and the images and videos of Vie factories and vans getting hijacked recedes as a broad image of corpses takes its place. Dismembered, disfigured, burnt to a crisp, crushed, torn in half and even some videos of unfortunate men and women screaming their lungs out as they fight unseen terrors.

“Hell is back.” Severance says, her voice chilling as she grits her teeth in anger. “They’re terrorizing Uptowners again, sometimes making it into Midtown to exact special horrors on our more fortunate citizens. We’ve called in Doctor Plague but everyone and I mean everyone needs to look over their shoulder until Hell is contained or pursued once again.” She sighs, the weight of the devilish metahuman’s presence weighing on her more than any given her close proximity to the Mayor’s many demands.

Bethany, like other Officers knew Hell wouldn’t or couldn’t be contained no matter what. The metahuman creature defied all they’ve ever thrown at her…him…it.

Silently, Rick glances at Bethany and even without her powers she knows exactly what he’s thinking because she’s thinking it to. Erich Underwood. Besides Doctor Plague he could be the only other person capable of immobilizing Hell, though Bethany wouldn’t dare volunteer the young metahuman to go up against such a vile thing. He’s far too inexperienced with his powers not to mention he hasn’t fully come on board the M.C.U either.

Though, that gives her a thought. The boy did ask for a goal, a clear and direct mission and end that would guarantee the M.C.U keeps its end of the deal with him. It wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Severance has begun moving on to the next agenda and her eyes linger on Bethany and Rick, “Next, we have the gang war raging Downtown. Unit Four is indirectly responsible for this as I understand.” Unsure whether that’s a question or a statement both Rick and Bethany continue listening on with rapt attention, “I congratulate you both on the capture of Lynx, though the controversy around that and happening events is becoming…an annoyance. I’m charging you with putting an end to the war before it spreads further into the burrows.”

“Sir?” Rick voices. The first person to speak aloud in the room besides Severance herself. He flinches as she looks up at him but takes the lack of immediate scolding as a sign to continue, “One of my assets has confirmed that Letharguy and his crew may well be involved already.”

Bethany cocks a brow at this. She respected her superior’s mind and himself enough not to glance beyond the surface but still, for her to have missed this entirely means he intentionally hid it from her.

“Letharguy?” Severance hums, sitting up as other Officer’s glance back between them.

“I’ve faced off with him before, albeit when I had a partner.” Dawn says out of nowhere, glowing brightly by the Commissioner’s side. “If it’s alright with the Commissioner I can bring some of my focus to dealing with him again.”

“No.” Severance says flat out, “You’re needed at the walls, no one can replace you there.”

At this some relief washes over Rick. Stoic as the man is he’s equally as ambitious as every other Officer, “The asset in question has experience with Letharguy as well, it’s only a matter of strict preparation. Unit Four will quell the gang struggles before it expands any more than it has.”

Severance doesn’t look impressed. Crossing her arms she leans back and eying Bethany says, “I’ve read your reports on your latest operations against the Lynx. It’s unfortunate you couldn’t capture the Genomancer but given the testimonies about this new asset of yours, Bethany…it shouldn’t be a problem calming the brewing storm with both of you on the job, should it?”

At last! The que she’s been waiting for. Bethany straightens in her seat, wearing a polite smile she says, “The one in question wields a powerful ability, yes, I’m even considering how his would interact with someone like Hell.”

The Commissioner leans in, brow raised as she adds the inevitable, “But?”

“He’s young and from what I’ve gleaned of his mind, scared. Frightened of his power even more so than the oppressors we’ve freed him from. I’ve drawn up an endless contract for him to sign into the M.C.U after a year training and learning at Yelnats, but he saw through it and demands a clearer goal. I figure capturing Hell, implausible as it may be would be a good enough one for him.”

Severance scowls, “Yelnats…that woman there, Cleo. Hmm. I suppose it would be an ideal environment. Of course, you’ve made him understand that he can be recalled at moment’s notice?”

“Yes, given the nature of his powers, they need to be studied on field to provide any true benefit…”

Severance blinks, “There’s more. What is it, Bethany? What did you see?”

A chill runs up her spine at the Commissioner’s words. How easy it is for Severance to see through her without even wielding a power like her own. Glancing about the room Bethany considers, “It might be better said in private.”

Dawn scowls immediately, marring her pristine features as her glow takes on a heat, “You’re among friends…family even. You can tell us.”

Severance doesn’t build on her words and only stares at Bethany, either indifferent to the plausible fallout of there being a spy, someone doing something very stupid or simply confident in her authority to dominate MOSUs.

Rick spares a short glance and nods, as if he has even an inkling of what she’s about to say— which he doesn’t. But better for him to be in the know than be an ignorant superior.

Gulping, Bethany spits it out, the words that must find her a place in the M.C.U’s rising hierarchy of power, “Xerai Black, the architect and engineer. She’s his mother.”