After Penspot had been incarcerated, Detective Jericho allowed Death Head and Shining Darkness to interrogate the crime boss and her lieutenants.

Normally, Masks wouldn’t be permitted interrogation rights over the criminals they helped capture. However, after Shining Darkness informed the detective of the magic-like ice abilities Penspot used, he and his mentor were given special permission.

|X|

Penspot was cuffed to a table within the interrogation cell, her hands trapped in locked metal boxes. Growing out of her forehead was a baseball-sized lump of purple and yellow bruised flesh. The one responsible for her injury was looming over her at the other side of the table, the Shining Darkness, while Death Head leaned against a wall.

“What is this?” Penspot asked as the Masks, presumably, glared at her. “It isn’t legal for Masks to run an interrogation! Nothing you get out of me can be used in court!”

Raising his freezer-burned arm, Shining Darkness stated politely, “We aren’t concerned with that. But, please, I’d appreciate it if you could tell me what happened. What were those ice powers you used when we apprehended you?”

Grinning dismissively, Penspot retorted, “What’s wrong? Not a fan of getting the cold shoulder?”

“That would have landed better if you’d frozen my shoulder instead of my arm. Now, please tell me what it is you used on me,” Shining Darkness replied without hesitation or a hint of malice.

Penspot couldn’t help but tilt her head at the Super Mask’s attitude.

Her eyes then slowly shifted to look at Death Head, with the crime boss asking him, “It looks like your attack dog doesn’t know the first thing about interrogations. Don’t you think you should step in, Pro?”

Diverting his attention from the ceiling, Death Head stared lazily at Penspot and said, “Nope. I’m retired. Just here to watch.”

Once again, Penspot was puzzled by the Masks’ attitudes, as Death Head elaborated, “But if I could give a piece of advice… Just give him the information he wants. Shining Darkness is being nice for now, but I never managed to get a leash on this dog. Keep what he wants away from him for too long, and he’ll see you as his next bone.”

At this point, Penspot couldn’t help but let out a laugh.

As she gave Shining Darkness a condescending smile, she asked, “Is that supposed to scare me? You aren’t going to hurt me.”

Matching Penspot’s ego with kindness, Shining Darkness pointed at his forehead for reference and said, “To be fair, you’re walking around with proof to the contrary.”

With a roll of her eyes, Sally retorted, “That was during a capture when I was resisting arrest. But now I'm in custody. If you two rough me up at all, it could throw the entire case against me into the gutter.”

“Considering we have nearly every crime you’ve ever committed on record, the best you could hope to gain from a brutality charge is dropping your sentence to three life charges. But… Ugh.” Letting out a groan of frustration, Shining Darkness pulled a throwing knife out and pointed its handle at the room’s security camera.

He then leaned forward and said, “Alright, the cameras are on loop for the next ten minutes. Now listen. The higher ups want your report of events. I’ll be giving them my own report, of course, but they need your statements on the matter too. A full rundown of the spells you used during your fight with me and how effective they were.”

All at once, Shining Darkness’ attitude had changed from saintly patience to harsh business. Penspot wasn’t the only one confused, as Death Head got off the wall and shifted his focus to his apprentice.

“Higher… ups…? Spells? What are you talking about?” Penspot questioned.

In response, Shining Darkness ran his finger through the steel table as he explained, “What do you think? Our bosses got fed up with your incompetence and sent me to take care of you. You’re lucky I was ordered not to kill you. Now, if you handle this situation well, you’ll get your next assignment somewhere down the road instead of having an accident in prison. So, answer my questions if you know what’s good for you.”

As Shining Darkness spoke, Penspot’s pupils dilated, and her jaw slowly dropped. While Sally’s face twisted with confusion, anger, and horror, Death Head rushed up to his partner and gripped his large shoulder.

“Shine! What the fuck are you saying?!” Death Head exclaimed.

Grabbing the older man’s head without looking at him, Shining Darkness pulled Death Head down with superhuman strength. Slamming the veteran’s face to the table, Shining Darkness held him down with ease. He did all this without breaking eye contact with Penspot.

“What the Hell are you-?!”

Before Death Head could finish his sentence, the Shining Darkness told him, “Be quiet, you senile old idiot. I have real business to attend to with Penspot. So shove your thumbs up your ass while she and I talk.”

Trying and failing to push himself free, Death Head growled, “You… I’ll yell for help!”

“I’ll have your helmet off and my hand over your mouth before the first noise can escape your lips. Besides, most of the police stationed here are under my direct employ,” Shining Darkness dismissed.

Still not taking his glowing eyes off Penspot, Shining Darkness told her, “Now, Penspot, give me a rundown. I’ll be on my way, and you’ll get to keep your worthless life.”

Gritting her teeth with anxiety, Sally yelled, “Hold on…! If you are who you say you are, what’s the code phrase?”

Narrowing his eyes at Penspot, reading her expression, Shining Darkness replied, “Are you stupid? I can’t use any of our language in front of the rabble. If you need proof about who I work for, who do you think could have given someone powers like mine other than the higher-ups?”

Shaking in her seat, Penspot stuttered, “But… That’s… No! Mr. Ravage would never do this! I did everything to his specifications! What did I do?! Why send Masks after me?! And why destroy everything I built?!”

His composure unflinching, Shining Darkness said, “Your operations had gone so far downhill that they felt it best to tear it all down. Using Death Head as the face of the operation just made it that much easier to turn public opinion against you as part of the punishment. But that’s all I know.”

Struggling to free himself again, Death Head yelled, “Bastard! I’ll-!”

Before Death Head could say anything else, Shining Darkness pressed his head harder against the table and told him, “Quiet, or I’ll crack your skull like an egg.”

Jumping back into the conversation, Sally screamed, “What do you mean, that’s all I know?! If you’re the operative they sent for this mission, you must know the details of your mission!”

“Must I?” Shining Darkness asked with a hint of mockery. “As an agent, my job is to get the assignment complete. The reasoning behind my missions is on a need-to-know basis. Even from me. Are you going to keep stalling, or are you going to answer our bosses’ questions? If you don’t cooperate, I can assure you your time in prison will be short. And we only have five minutes left for you to tell me what I want to hear.”

Just like that, Penspot went silent. She stared at the box her hands were trapped in as she began sweating with anxiety.

Swallowing her fear with an audible gulp, Penspot said, “Alright… Let’s get this over with.”

|X|

As fast as she could, Penspot explained the events of the day from her perspective. She went over the various meetings she’d had, both above and below board, the files and data she had to sort through, and finally, Sally explained her magic tricks.

|X|

“Lastly, as for the magic that I used today… To attack you, I used the second-tier spells Ice Breaker and Flash Freeze. Both of those spells were supposed to be capable of instantly killing any Human on Earth… And yet they hardly hurt you.”

Nodding, the Shining Darkness replied, “Thank you. I’ll be sure to get all that back to our bosses. Also, my creators will appreciate the evaluation of their work. As for you…” Lifting his hand from Death Head’s head, he told the older man, “Our partnership is concluded, fool. If you want to leave this building in one piece, I suggest you not throw a tantrum on your way out. Let’s go.”

Standing up shakily, Death Head put a hand to his dented helmet as Shining Darkness started making his way toward the door.

Trembling with rage, Death Head straightened his posture and yelled, “I’ll ruin you for this! The public is never going to trust you!”

With his hand on the doorknob, Shining Darkness retorted, “After that heartfelt endorsement just earlier today while admitting to your own decreased abilities? Half the public will call you senile. As for the rest, with my abilities, I’ll be able to play the role of a hero too effectively to be doubted. Now move it.”

Opening the door, Shining Darkness gestured for Death Head to step out. However, the old man didn’t move, instead clenching his fists and glaring at the traitor.

Sighing with impatience, Shining Darkness marched toward Death Head and grabbed his arm.

“Get off me, you lying piece of Hell’s trash!” Death Head shouted as he tried and failed to pull himself away from the superhuman.

Without another word, the Shining Darkness threw Death Head out the door of the interrogation room, following directly behind him. In their wake, they left behind a mortified but thoroughly convinced Sally Penspot.

|X|

Once they were far enough away that there was no risk of Penspot hearing them, Shining Darkness collapsed against a wall in despair.

Grabbing at his masked face, Conner exclaimed, “I am so, so sorry, Death Head! I couldn’t think of any better way to get her to talk.”

Rubbing the indent Shining Darkness had left on his helmet, Death Head replied, “You couldn’t have taken it easier on my aching bones…? Actually, I guess the fact that nothing’s broken means you did go easy on me. But, still. That was-.”

Suddenly, Flint was cut off by the sounds of people shouting and rushing down the hall they were in. Rushing toward them, the Masks saw Detective Jericho and a squad of other cops.

“What the fuck were you doing in there?! Whatever you used to try and mess with the cameras, it didn’t work!” One of the cops yelled accusingly.

Folding her arms, Jericho gritted her teeth and said, “Sorry, you two. I explained the deal about our code words to my men, but these ones wouldn’t listen.”

“You expect us to believe that was all just an act?!” Another officer exclaimed.

“Yes,” Death Head stated bluntly. “The phrase, shove your thumbs up your ass, is our code phrase for, follow my lead.”

Recomposing himself, Conner added, “Indeed… Ugh. Torture wasn’t a real option, and I could tell that trying to throw her off with a straightforward good cop routine wouldn’t work in the long run. Convincing her that we worked for the same person was the only viable method I had left.”

Raising an eyebrow, Detective Jericho asked, “I do have to ask. How did you know Penspot had a higher-up that she answers to?”

“And how did you know her powers were magic, partner?” Death Head added.

Rolling his head to relieve some stress, Conner admitted, “I guessed.”

Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.

“What?” Death Head, Jericho, and a few others asked.

Elaborating, Shining Darkness told them, “The idea of Sally having a superior she answers to was the only thing I could think of that would get her to admit anything to me. And I’ve suspected recently that all major criminal organizations in the USA answer to one unified figurehead. So I gambled. And the idea of her powers being spells seemed like a better guess than any other at the time. At least a fifty percent chance. Honestly, I got the idea from you calling them magic, Boss.”

Turning to one of the officers who had yelled at him, the Super Mask told him, “And I used one of my knives, acting as if it had a hidden device within it, to pretend that I messed with the cameras. That way, I could make Penspot think we were working on a time limit. The idea was to not allow her time to think of the logistics of what I was saying and to add more pressure so she’d crack more easily… Apologies, everyone, for the risks I took.”

Understandably, the detective and the veteran Mask were flabbergasted and frustrated by the Super Mask’s explanation. So, for the next few minutes, Conner was forced to endure reprimanding from Jericho and Death Head.

However, after the yelling tangent was complete, the veteran Mask admitted, “That’s stupidly risky, Shine…! But I’d be lying if I said your gamble wasn’t fruitful.”

Rubbing her brow to relieve her anxiety, Jericho said, “That’s… Ugh! Okay, fine. I can’t argue with the results. But if we’re going to be partners, then you can’t just wing things and run off assumptions like that going forward. Understand?”

Raising his left hand as he crossed his heart with his right, Conner replied, “You have my word that such behavior will not become a habit of mine.”

Giving Shining Darkness a hesitant glare, Jericho sighed and said, “Ugh. Fine. Onto related matters, Parker Lewis came to while we got your interrogation room for Penspot ready. The first thing he said was that he wanted to talk with you two. Are you boys willing to hear what he has to say?”

“Huh,” Death Head muttered as his posture tensed up. “Do you think we should, Shine?”

Recomposing into an attentive posture, Shining Darkness answered, “I’ll go talk with him and see if there’s anything of value to be gained. But you should stay here, Boss.”

“Hrm?! Where do you get off saying that?” Death Head growled back.

“My handprint is still in your helmet,” Shining Darkness replied. “If Parker sees that and can put two and two together with Penspot’s people in jail, then she’ll figure out everything I said was a lie, assuming she hasn’t already.”

Tilting his head as Jericho and the police exchanged glances, Death Head replied hesitantly, “That’s… actually a good point. Alright, I guess you’re talking with Powerhouse alone.”

“Thank you, sir,” Conner replied. “Is there anything you want me to tell him for you?”

“Ha! Yeah, that he’s a disappointment…!” Death Head immediately exclaimed dismissively. Just as fast, though, the old man’s posture turned contemplative as he started looking at his feet.

Reading his teacher’s body language, Shining Darkness waited patiently. But after a few moments of silence, he asked knowingly, “Boss?”

Letting out a heavy sigh as he rested his hands on his hips, Death Head looked up and said, “Yeah… Tell him… He made his own choices, but tell Parker I’m sorry I didn’t do enough to keep him on the straight and narrow. Tell the bastard that… that he could’ve been so much more.”

Folding his hands behind his back, Shining Darkness nodded and replied, “Yes, sir.”

Suddenly walking past Shining Darkness, Detective Jericho gave Death Head’s chest a love tap as she said, “I never thought I’d see such a soft-hearted side to Death Head, the one-man army.”

Once Jericho made her remark, Death Head and Shining Darkness noticed the other cops snickering and making hushed comments.

While Conner rolled his glowing eyes at these attitudes, Flint puffed up his chest and replied, “You know what…?! Well, I’m retiring tonight, so it’s not going to kill me to relax a bit and let my heart soften… Hehe… Hahaha!”

Recoiling at Death Head’s laughter, one of the police remarked, “What was that noise? It’s like something out of a nightmare.”

Letting a chortle out of his nose, Shining Darkness addressed Jericho, “While my boss terrorizes your men, can you show me where Powerhouse is being kept, Detective? I assume you want to be there to watch my conversation with him.”

Nodding with an amused grin, Jericho said, “Yes, actually. He’s being kept in the prison’s medical wing for the number you did on his arm. Follow me.”

Thinking back to how John had to remind him to hold back, Conner grimaced behind his mask.

Shaking off his emotions as quickly as they came, Shining Darkness said, “Right… Lead the way, Detective.”

|X|

While Detective Jericho and several police guards stood outside the room, the Shining Darkness towered above the hospital bed Powerhouse was cuffed to.

Looking at his fallen foe, Shining Darkness felt a swirl of emotions in his gut. Seeing the brute’s arm already sealed in a cast, the Super Mask's heart was caught in a mixture of satisfaction and disgust at once.

This bastard… He killed me! If it wasn’t for whatever gave me my powers, I would have died that night… But, still… Looking at him like this, knowing I did this to him… I feel sick… Will his arm ever fully heal?

While Conner processed his feelings, he subconsciously got his first good once-over of what Parker Lewis actually looked like under all his armor.

The man was as big and bulky as ever, but his face, which was normally under a helmet, was shockingly youthful. Conner had expected a grizzled and scarred killer. Instead, his brown hair was well-kempt, his face was unblemished aside from a few acne scars, and his vibrant green eyes looked sad and defeated.

It had been several minutes at this point, and Powerhouse had yet to say a word. Instead, he just kept looking at his feet, clearly trying to avoid eye contact.

Shining Darkness stood stoically, from Parker’s perspective, with his arms folded behind his back during this time. Unfortunately, Conner’s patience for this particular man was explicitly thin.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Shining Darkness told Parker, “You asked to see me. Are you going to speak anytime soon, or do you expect me to start?”

Vocalizing his first words of this encounter, Parker still avoided looking at the Super Mask as he asked, “Incognus… What happened to the kid? Do you know?”

Conner couldn’t help but be taken off guard by this question. Not only due to his connection to identity, but the fact that his well-being was Powerhouse’s first priority was baffling.

Looks like our hopes were right. So long as I’ve got my costume on, my body and voice are too different for anyone to recognize Incognus and me as the same person, Conner thought, somewhat satisfied.

Dismissing his own excitement instantly, Shining Darkness explained, “I never met the boy myself, but Death Head told me about him. He survived the mauling you put him through, but he had to retire. He was too damaged, mentally and physically, to even think about continuing as a Mask.”

His face shooting up with grief and joy, Parker stared directly at Shining Darkness as he exclaimed, “He’s alive…?! He’s alive…! But now he’s…”

“Yes. You get the idea,” Shining Darkness cut in as he examined the conflicting feelings battling across Powerhouse’s face.

Shifting his focus to the Super Mask’s chest star, Parker asked, “So… Who or what are you? What kind of deal with the Devil did Death Head have to make to find a freak of nature like you?”

Sighing with frustration, Shining Darkness said, “For reasons I hope are obvious, my origins will remain a secret. I can tell you that Death Head and I met each other shortly after Incognus’ retirement.”

“Fair enough,” Powerhouse replied. “Speaking of the old man… Was he too disgusted with me to talk?”

Nodding, Shining Darkness answered, “Essentially.” But before Powerhouse could reply in any way, the Super Mask elaborated, “There were a few things he wanted me to tell you, though.”

With genuine surprise and mirth, Parker replied, “Really? What’s that?”

Frowning underneath his mask, Shining Darkness answered, “That, first and foremost, he’s disappointed. You could have become so much more.” While Powerhouse started to avert his gaze again, Shine went on, “But he also wanted you to know that he’s sorry. Sorry that he couldn’t do enough to make you achieve the potential he saw in you.”

Returning his focus to Shining Darkness, Parker said shakily, “Wha-...? I, uh… Uh…”

Unfolding his arms, the Shining Darkness put a hand on the head of Parker’s bedframe and asked, “Now then. Since I’ve answered so many questions for you, could I ask some questions of my own in return?”

Almost pouting, Powerhouse looked away and said, “Sure. I can’t promise that I’ll have answers.”

Is he serious…? Okay, stay composed, Conner thought as he nearly tightened his grip enough to embed his fingers into the bedframe.

“Alright. I’ll try my first question, then. Do you know anything about the ice magic Sally Penspot used against me?”

“Wha…? I… Uh, maybe I do, maybe I don’t,” Parker answered shakily before glancing at the Super Mask’s freezer-burned arm. Grinning at Shining Darness’ wound, Powerhouse asked, “Heheha! What’s wrong? Did she do that to you? Are you scared of Ms. Penspot now?”

“So you’re just as in the dark as I am? Understood,” Shining Darkness replied sternly while ignoring the taunt.

“What?! How did you know?! I didn’t even say that!” Parker yelled with widened eyes.

Good Lord, this guy’s dumb. I was just guessing, you spazz… No wonder he thought working for Penspot was a good idea, Conner critiqued internally.

Removing his hand from the bedframe, Shining Darkness straightened his posture and stated matter-of-factly, “It seems you’ve come to rely on your helmet too much in conversation. Your poker face is terrible.”

Gritting his teeth as sweat slicked off his forehead, Parker stared with unmistakable anxiety at Shining Darkness. With that look alone, the Super Mask confirmed with himself he could get any information out of this man he needed just from reading his expressions.

|X|

Ten minutes later, Shining Darkness strutted out of Powerhouse’s holding room, his thumbs hooked on his belt.

Immediately, he was approached by Jericho, who asked, “Well, did you get anything from reading his face like a book? Or was that another of your bluffs?”

Pulling one of his hands free, Shining Darkness rubbed his head and answered, “No, I was being serious about that. And… Not really. It seems Penspot never trusted him with any sensitive information. But after speaking to the man myself, I can understand why… Seriously, was it really just his bulk that Death Head saw in the guy?”

Frowning, Jericho folded her arms and replied, “I agree that he doesn’t seem too smart. However, you understand his veins are flowing with painkillers, right? We had to give him those with how badly mangled his arm is. He’s not exactly in the best mental state.”

His glowing pupils dilating slightly, Conner replied through his embarrassment, “Oh, right… I’ll be sure to keep that in mind if I ever see him again.”

Calling out from down the hall, Death Head’s voice exclaimed, “Also, to be fair, the main reason I recruited you was because you seemed tough too.”

Turning to look at Death Head alongside Jericho as he approached them, Shining Darkness responded, “Huh…? Huh. I suppose that’s true. Being good in a fight is what’s needed most to be a Mask.”

“No. That’s not right at all,” Death Head replied immediately. “Knowing how to throw a punch is what’s needed to get you into this field. But then you need to learn to care about others above yourself. That’s what makes someone a real Mask. And it’s something Parker failed at, while you’ve excelled more than anyone I’ve seen before.”

Heartwarmed by his teacher’s words, Conner smiled softly behind his mask and replied, “I appreciate that, Boss. But I still have some ways to go on the selflessness front, I think.”

Letting a chuckle out of his nose, Death Head said, “Well, let’s agree to disagree there.”

Tilting her head with a light smile, Detective Jericho asked, “Wow. You really are getting softhearted, aren’t you?”

“Hahaha! Seems that way… Looks like it’s still scaring your men, though,” Death Head commented while gesturing at the police guard outside Parker’s room. Each one was sweating at the sight of him laughing.

Grimacing at her forces, Detective Jericho yelled at them, “Would you worthless punks grow a spine already?!”

Walking past Jericho and toward Death Head, Shining Darkness said to her, “Not to be rude, but unless there’s anything else you need from us, Detective, we need to get going.”

“You do?” Jericho asked while looking back at the Masks.

Whispering to Conner once he was close enough, Flint also asked, “We do?”

Responding at equal volume, Conner told him, “I’ve been doing my best to hide it, but my arm hurts like Hell, and I think I have broken ribs. I need medical attention, and I can’t get it while transformed.”

“Ah… Right… I think I might too, actually,” Death Head responded.

|X|

Although Conner’s powers were invaluable for his job, there was at least one drawback.

He had learned through accidentally injuring himself in training that his transformed body was too strong for any modern medical tools to help him. Admittedly, he healed slightly faster than he would in his normal body, with cuts and bruises vanishing in a day. But that was nowhere near enough to replace proper treatment for broken bones or torn muscles.

|XXX|

Watching the Masks whisper to each other, Detective Jericho understood there was some sort of private matter that needed to be addressed.

Nodding with a sharp exhalation from her nostrils, Jericho said, “Alright, well, there isn’t anything else we need either of you here for. Get going if you really need to.”

Turning back to face his new partner, Shining Darkness told her, “Thank you, Detective.” His tone was knowing; clear he understood she understood.

Heh. Smartass, Jericho thought with amusement as her most trusted partners walked off to lick their wounds.

|XXX|

As the Masks speed-walked alongside each other to reach the roof of the police precinct, Flint asked sarcastically, “You want to grab anything to eat on the way back, Maggot?”

Opening the door to the roof, Conner replied dryly, “Doc first, food second. And besides, I’m not sure I even need to eat when I’m like this.”

Following his apprentice outside, Flint said, “Heh, yeah. Lord knows you don’t seem to sleep. So long as you stayed like this, you never stopped during training.”

Stretching his legs while taking aim for their hideout, Conner said, “That’s not true. I would get tired after a week or two.”

“Yeah. And sleep for… What? An hour?”

“At most. It was usually just twenty minutes, actually,” Conner corrected in a smarmy tone.

Folding his arms, Flint joked, “Just keep making me jealous, why don’t ya…? You ready?”

Taking a knee so Flint could climb on his back, Conner replied, “Ready to go when you are, Boss.”

Climbing to ride piggyback on Conner once again, Flint told him, “Let’s go before anyone sees me like this, then.”

“You don’t need to tell me twice,” Conner said as he lept away.

However, while traveling through the air with his teacher on his back, Conner began talking to himself.

John hasn’t spoken to us since the mission ended. I hope he’s alright… Conner, he’s on break. You know that. I know Carl slipped through your efforts to help him, but that’s not a reason to panic over your friends’ every little action… Just focus on getting your ribs put back in place.