Bear witness to the Empire’s fall.
As hundreds of super powered beings brutally clashed on the dark streets below, Vincent Villari watched with grim satisfactions at the consummation of years of careful planning. He let a small smile touch his lips as he considered his impending victory, even as the entire building shook from the titans’ ruinous battle.
Each shake brought a gasp from the gathered spectators on the observation platform of what had once been called the Empire State building. Vincent still found it hard to believe that so many people would risk their lives, disregarding warnings from every side of the conflict. He had to admit, however, that the battle was a once in a lifetime event–unless he needed to engineer another one.
Vincent and several dozen bystanders were gathered on a semi-circle platform that extended from the 86th floor of the restored skyscraper. While it had been devastated in the invasion, the New Global Government had rebuilt it along with countless other landmarks across the world. The NGG claimed it was important to preserve connections to the past–though they didn’t hesitate to rebrand them.
His mind wasn’t on the building though, as he was waiting for the clouds to part and reveal the Watcher. The immense asteroid was certain to be visible tonight, despite the thick green fog created by the endless radiation storm. However, everytime a flash of power came from the combatants below, Vincent was instead confronted by his own reflection staring back at him in the glass surrounding the deck.
His dark hair was mostly swept back, but some had fallen into his eyes during the night’s many trials. His pale skin was almost ghostly after so long in the city, so long with the eerie green fog blocking out the sun. When the next flash came, he stared into his own mismatched eyes for a moment, wondering if he still recognized the young man looking back at him.
At last the clouds parted, and there it was. Little more than an ominous light in the night’s sky, it was still the cause of a century of suffering–or at least the inciting incident he amended, as the city lit up in front of him. It was difficult to see all the way to the streets below, as the green fog was still thick. Instead, everywhere he directed his gaze seemed to show only two things: remnants of the invasion, and displays of loyalty to the NGG.
It made for an odd contrast. The remaining invader architecture seemed to dominate the city, towering spires of black alien metal sprouting like weeds among countless human structures, with veins of glowing green energy running through them. The New Global Government on the other hand had tried to align themselves in open opposition.
White flags with a single red star were everywhere. Most buildings flew them by mandate, with some entirely wrapped in oversized versions. They were often accompanied by NGG slogans, like ‘We’re keeping you safe!’ and ‘Report suspicious activity!’ written in block letters visible for miles in every direction.
But none were as common as the simplest, and most insidious among them: ‘You can trust us.’
Vincent’s eyes brushed past the propaganda, having been surrounded by it since he was a child. Instead he lingered on the new construction. They still hadn’t found a way to destroy the invader architecture, and in some places serpentine structures seemed to dive in and out of the ground, but the attempts to hybridize invader and human technology outstripped it all.
K-Tower rose impossibly high into the sky, looking almost like a twisted black vine, straining desperately to touch the clouds. It shared the glowing green spider web pattern of Gamma–the invader energy source–with the alien remnants, but it also had windows, and the good grace to only be built in a single direction. Was the self-proclaimed King of this city watching the excitement? he wondered.
Shouts and pointing drew Vincent’s attention back toward the streets, and he shook his head in irritation. The Heroes were doing too well. The NGG provided them with limitless Gamma injections, while the Villains had only been drawn here by their own desperate need for the drug.
Sure enough, Vincent’s K-Device was signaling him a moment later, and he answered the call. “Show me what’s happening down there, Arthur,” he said softly. His screen lit up as the Guardian directed his own KD at the fighting. It was worse than Vincent had expected.
The NGG Elites were there, black army uniforms almost lost in the green fog as they took cover behind ruined cars, though their rifle fire was little more than a distraction considering the heavy-hitters present on both sides.
Boulder came into frame first, likely because the Villain was almost nine feet tall, and just as wide, with an unfortunately tight red suit drawing the eye even more. True to his name, he barreled into the mass of NGG forces, knocking them in every direction.
The enormous man was hurled back a moment later, however, when Firestrike sent a gigantic bout of fire hurtling into him, briefly illuminating the foggy street. The Piston Twins countered by charging right into the gap created by the fire, their leather biker gear not necessary for protection as they were each nearly indestructible anyway, and they were on Firestrike in an instant.
Her fire-themed suit proved no real defense as the two bruisers went to work on her, but moments later the Heroes’ own frontlines advanced. A squad of a half-dozen massively muscled supers stormed the Villains lines. The Piston Twins were lost beneath a rainbow of different costumes, and Firestrike hobbled out a moment later.
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The camera feed panned up, and Vincent shook his head as he watched the real pride of the New Global Government make themselves known. Starbeam floated forward, bathing the Villains below in burning light. He was flanked by Gigaforce, another flier, who sent shockwaves of force rippling out to prevent any counterattack.
The Villains did what they could, but their powers were uniformly bland compared to the Government’s Heroes. Most were strong, or durable, or both. Some could fly, and a few rare ones could produce some kind of energy attack, but they were outmatched when facing the NGG–undisputed masters of raising the most deadly and versatile supers.
Vincent watched for several minutes before Arthur’s voice sounded. “This same thing is happening to teams all across the city. The Heroes aren’t holding anything back!”
“I’ll take care of it, we only need to buy a little more time,” Vincent responded, minimizing the feed and quickly keying in a different contact.
Vincent had to force himself not to tap his foot as he waited, but finally the K-Device connected. “Vince, are you kidding right now? This is not the time.”
“Warden, a large cluster of your Heroes are situated in streets directly below the NGG State Building. They should look up.”
“Look up? Vincent what the hell are you–oh please don’t do this, man,” the voice cut out as he carefully stepped backward off the observation platform. He’d been prepared for this, of course. The Villains were desperate but the Heroes were legion, and they were better trained as well as better supplied.
The platform was a bold piece of engineering, and extended almost thirty feet off the side of the building, supported by massive metal beams arching outward from beneath. With a thought, Vincent activated his contingency, and those beams were suddenly as malleable as clay.
At the same time, he leaned out to place his hand against the glass dome that covered the platform, sheltering its occupants. A tiny ripple of green spread from his touch, and the glass shattered into dust. The dozens of people who had been gawking only a moment earlier were suddenly looking around in horror and confusion, as there was no longer anything between them and an eighty-six floor drop.
They had no time to move, however, as the platform abruptly bent beneath them, as if on a hinge. Then they were falling, and their screams filled the air, though they faded as the long drop took them.
Vincent leaned on the remaining wall, watching impassively as the people flailed and spun, slowly disappearing into the green fog below. He was already dialing a new contact before the sounds of terror had faded.
“Vincent,” came an irritated female voice from his KD. “The Gamma levels still aren’t optimal, your little action figure brawl needs to escalate.”
“How close are we?” Vincent asked, eyes turning back to the Watcher. The invasion ends tonight, he thought, willing it to be true with all the conviction he possessed.
“Over seventy percent,” she answered, “Is it time?” Vincent quickly swapped feeds on his KD, and watched as Arthur showed him a dozen Heroes desperately trying to catch a mass of shrieking, falling people. The Villains shamelessly used the opportunity to counter attack, and all at once the battle shifted, Gamma energy bursting in every direction as the two forces clashed.
“It’s time. The largest group is fully engaged, but we need to keep the Villains in the fight at all secondary locations. Do it,” he said, and though the Tech didn’t respond, she didn’t need to. The bombs answered for her, as the orange light of fiery explosions began to appear all over the city, Gamma pipelines rupturing with precise timing.
Vincent watched the city burn, while he did his best to remember patience. So many years, all for this. He could let a few minutes tick by. He looked back up at the Watcher. Tonight, he thought, tonight we prove the New Global Government’s been lying for a century. Tonight we prove the Prophet’s words, and redeem–
“It’s working,” came the Tech’s voice. “The pipes are venting as planned, and secondary fights are breaking out all over the city. I can’t believe how many Villains were drawn here.”
“Veridicus’ broadcasts have been getting a lot more effective since Lucia started working with him. She adds a…charm he’s been lacking,” Vincent replied.
“Where is your sister, by the way? I know her friends are supposed to be here, but I haven’t gotten any reports.”
“If they’re here, they’ll be making sure no one knows it,” he answered, trying not to think about Lucia. “Don’t worry about them; focus on the device. Is it ready?” Vincent asked, watching the last explosion fade, leaving numerous fires in its place.
“I’m telling you, Vincent, it will never be ready. The Gamma levels are almost there, but I’ve been over every circuit of this thing, and I promise you it doesn’t do what it’s supposed to do–”
“We can’t know that. It’s specifically designed to interact with invader technology. Who truly understands how that stuff operates?” Vincent said, not interested in having this conversation again, and certainly not now.
“I know! What do you think I’ve been doing for the last year! I’m telling you that it won’t–”
“Then prove it!” he said, fury finally slipping into his voice. “Enough talk, enough debate, enough theory. Press the ‘on’ button and we’ll find out together.” The call was silent for a long moment, but finally the Tech responded.
“Understood. Gamma levels at ninety-three percent and rising. It’s almost time,” came the small voice in a supremely professional tone.
“Thank you,” he responded, his composure restored. He glanced at his KD, and saw that Danny was sending him a string of furious texts, but this wasn’t the time. He looked back out over the city, his eyes falling on the unassuming building where they’d set up the device, and watched the telltale glow of Gamma gathering around it.
This was finally it. This was what they’d worked for, what they’d sacrificed for. All the close calls, all the compromises, all the lost and ruined lives, all for this moment. Finally they would succeed where the others had failed. Finally they’d end the NGG’s reign of terror and lies. Finally his life’s purpose would be fulfilled.
Vincent Villari looked up at the Watcher, barely more than a bright light in the sky. He was going to witness the empire’s fall.