Gary’s last two months had been hell. He had a spot of fun, beating a thing that didn’t know its place, only to catch the attention of one of Brockton’s resident race traitors. He hadn’t even done anything worthy of her attention, yet she tried to kill him with a fucking dumpster, would have killed him if not for that sand nigger she called a sister. Just more stuck up bitches that couldn’t appreciate a man like him.

That was how he came to Victor’s attention. He wasn’t alone in being mauled by the bimbo, then the crime covered up. Half a dozen others shared similar stories, so Victor had arranged for them to testify when the time came. It gave him what he wanted, a position of importance within the Empire, and for that he was thrilled.

New Wave, the pretentious fuckers that they were, would crumble with his help. It made him excited to be part of such decisive action. Naturally, when Victor sent a message for all hands to assemble for an important announcement, he rushed off, leaving his class behind and made it to the rally with time to spare.

Kaiser would be speaking, and it was a rare thing that anyone in the Empire actually got to hear his voice in person. Gary felt honored that he was being recognized for all he had done for the cause. The Empire stood at attention on stage, and he recognized most of them. From Stormtiger and Victor, to the twins Menja and Fenja. Then there was Night and Fog, old members returning home now that the heat died down.

Living legends, one and all.

Still, they paled in comparison to the paragon that stood at their head, a knight of virtue and morality. Kaiser himself. He exemplified the ideal of their movement, someone that the whole world could look up to, even those that didn’t deserve the privilege. He was the white knight in every sense of the title.

The crowd was filled with the proper sort, men from all stations standing unified alongside the only group in the city that truly stood up for them. Heroes one and all, from the lowest among them to the police that lined the streets. One day the false heroes of the Protectorate and New Wave would be excised. The druggies and sex slavers would all be executed, the godless expunged, and they would turn Brockton Bay into a paradise unlike anything seen.

That was the promise they all worked towards, to see the Empire’s vision become a reality. What a glorious vision it was, too. He knew the Lord worked through them, and when God was on your side, none could stand against you, even the legions of Hell would falter before the righteousness of their cause.

He watched intently, waiting for the moment where Kaiser would grace them with his message. The people around him restless with anticipation, eager for whatever task they might be given. One often had to read between the lines, the messages spoken in a way to hide the truth from the ignorant or those that would use Kaiser’s words against him.

It was never a direct order to go kill those animals who pretended to be human, no, it was always a gentle touch, reminding everyone why those beasts needed to be put down. He would do as instructed, just as he had done before.

“Welcome, my loyal followers,” Kaiser said, and the whole crowd fell in hushed silence. Kaiser’s voice was smooth as silk yet reverberated with authority and power. It made Gary want to drop to his knees and show his respect. “The Empire has weathered many storms over the years. From Marquis and his unjust murder of my sister, Iron Rain. To the vicious butchery at the hands of the Teeth. Today, an old threat returns to try what it has already failed to do once before. The Slaughterhouse Nine, cowards that they are, attacked the Empire in our civilian lives. They are without honor, without anything decent and like we did a decade prior, we will crush them once again!”

The crowd cheered, despite the horrifying news. The Nine were no joke, and had only grown in danger over the years. That they were in the Bay, well, that was terrifying but it also presented an opportunity for the Empire.

“The Protectorate has failed to stop them for decades,” Kaiser continued, his metal glinting in the afternoon sun. “We will do what none before have done, the Empire will crush these monsters and prove once and for all that we are the true heroes. The Pretenders that they are will refuse to act, content to let the monsters run free, then try to claim credit once the true heroes have done all the work for them.”

“We won’t let them!” Gary yelled, then to his delight the crowd echoed his cry.

Kaiser let his people chant, Gary echoing his initial cry, a thousand voices joined in unison. Even the police were joining the chant, proof that there were heroes behind the badges as well. Everyone in the Empire backed the blue, because the blue backed them. Everyone that mattered knew who had their backs after all.

Kaiser raised his hand and the crowd returned to silence. “That’s right. The Empire will be triumphant, regardless of the cost. No doubt the Nine are watching now, plotting and planning for what they will do to us. What they should be, is afraid. Afraid of all the good people that will stand up to them!”

Another round of cheers, Gary suspected his throat would be sore in the near future, but he didn’t care. He was part of something bigger than himself, fighting against injustice and for truth and justice.

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“Make no mistake. We will prevail.” More cheering, and Kaiser allowed it. “We will be the beacon that shows America herself the path back to greatness! We will be the light that allows God’s will for us to shine to a lost nation! That all begins atop the graves of the Nine!”

Moments like this were why Gary had joined the Empire. The grand designs, the destined greatness. It made his spine tingle to consider the things to come. He would do his part to return America to her former glory, or die trying.

Kaiser stepped back, letting the crowd chant, his posture unyielding as he stood at the head of his warrior capes. Gary wished he could be up there with them, but powers only came to those worthy of them. The Pretenders tried to discredit the movement with lies and fake news about their capes. He believed none of it.

Crusader murdered, Rune kidnapped. Krieg sacrificed himself heroically in the face of a cowardly chink. No, he believed none of that shit. He would stand with the Empire to the very end, because nobody else would stand with him and fight the good fight.

Victor stepped forward next, and began to outline what he expected. The man was a skilled speaker, but he lacked that raw energy that Kaiser had about him. Gary was tuning it out, sending messages to those friends he knew were supportive of the cause, even if they weren’t true believers. Not everyone was in a position to help after all.

“Those truly loyal, step forward. I have special assignments for you, fraught with danger but offering equal reward.”

Gary’s attention refocused on Victor, and he felt something stir within him. Another chance to prove himself, and there was none more loyal than him. He made his way through the crowds, about a dozen had stepped forward, less than he expected, but it was the Nine they were dealing with, not the niggers and chinks that plagued their fair city.

“Good,” Victor said. “This is of the utmost importance. You’ll be working with Stormtiger, Night and Fog for this.”

Gary nodded, already excited at the prospect of working with some of his personal heroes. He sincerely hoped it would let him spit in the eye of that blonde cunt that broke him, or shank that slut that covered up her crimes. The three capes stood near, listening but alert, watching the skies and crowds. Were they expecting trouble?

“Now, on to the business at hand,” Victor said, clapping his hands together. Two of those that came forward flinched. Victor reached over and grabbed a crate, when he opened it, Gary had to hide his excitement. “Each of you grab a rifle. We’re going to be hunting the Nine, and in the event they have some way to detect Parahumans, we want trusted men that aren’t openly in our rank and file. There’s a chance any one of them might have been compromised.”

Gary frowned, looking the expensive German made weapon over. What was the promise that none of those in the crowd had been just that and decided to come forward anyway? He was about to say just that when he felt an itch in his nose. The resulting sneeze startled half those around them, including Stormtiger.

The others glared at him, but he refused to shrink back. He finished the check of the rifle and stood at attention. Another sneeze felt like it was building, but he did what he could to hold it back.

“The biggest danger is Bonesaw,” Victor said once everyone was composed. “You may think that to be foolish, but that would be the death of you. The Butcher has the reputation, Jack the prestige, but Bonesaw has the body count. In six years she has more kills attributed to her than the rest of the Nine combined.”

Gary swallowed, his throat a bit dry and scratchy but he refused to cough. The little blonde would have fit right in with them, had she just been born in Brockton. A pity, but the Empire wouldn’t bow to the whims of a child no matter how terrible the brat might be.

“I say this in warning. I am familiar with her past actions and the many terrible things she has done.” Victor stepped forward, and walked past each of them, inspecting those that would be his troops. “Remember this, and we shall prevail.”

“Fuck yes!”

Everyone turned to the man who had said it, down near the end of the line. Victor moved in front of him, leaning forward towards the man even as someone else coughed. “No swearing.”

Gary blinked. Why would Victor care enough to say that? Sure, it was unprofessional, but it didn’t hurt to show some enthusiasm, did it? Kaiser and the rest of the Empire capes weren’t nearby, and seemed involved with their own plans. He wished he could shake Kaiser’s hand before they moved out. Maybe he would get the chance.

Victor sighed, stepping back in front of them. “That warning about Bonesaw is not to be taken lightly. She is, after all, quite crafty. She could infect all of you with a flesh devouring plague without you even noticing. It would start as a light sinus irritant, coughing or sneezing.”

As if on cue, Fog sneezed.

Victor cleared his throat. “If that were the case, only Panacea could save you by then.”

Gary sniffed, snot trying to run down his nose. That didn’t work so he reached up to discreetly wipe it away. His hand came back red. His eyes widened as he looked up, Victor hadn’t missed that, watching him intently.

“Yes, once you start bleeding from your mucus membranes, it’s quite late in the infection stage. You have only seconds left to live.” Victor took his mask off, a wide and inhuman grin stretched across his face. “One might say that isn’t very nice, but you’re not exactly nice yourself, now are you?”

Gary tried to lift his rifle in panic, but his arm failed him. Pain erupted from every part of his body and he tried to scream but nothing came out. He watched his flesh practically melt from his arms, felt his face slipping away, an eye dropped from its socket. Pure agony enveloped his entire being before light flashed.

He was whole again, looking up as Victor pulled the mask off, grinned, and his flesh began to melt anew.