Or, they should be, but they rarely actually do take any precautions. If there's one thing to be grateful for though, is that it usually all turns out okay, somehow. There's always some deus ex machina waiting in the wings to save the civilians under the massive crumbling skyscraper, wayward laser beam, or falling kaiju, and always some lucky punch, power, or circumstance to save the hero.

Unfortunately, that rule doesn't apply to villains, so Jay can't help but let out a somewhat girlish scream as they plummet over the side of the overpass. Thankfully, while Jay panics, Razzmatazz takes action. Out the window she goes, morphing in a cascade of color into a giant winged creature that invokes the image of something between thunderbird and big bird. Large talons grip the sides of the van, bending metal with a screeeeech!

They glide down until the tires are just a few feet from the ground. Razzmatazz drops them suddenly, tumbling down into a heap of rainbows.

The van comes to a skidding halt a few paces after, just barely avoiding tipping over. As soon as they're stopped, Jay exits, running to razzmatazz.. "Razz! Are you okay?"

Razzmatazz sits up. One of her eyes is drifting down her face, like her skin is made of melty play-dough, "I'm okay. Gimme a moment to remember what people look like."

Taurrage helps her up with an extended hand. "Okay, so now what do we do?"

Jay looks around. They're in a subsection of undeveloped land, rare for Neo Houston these days. Forest surrounds them on all sides, filling the air with the sounds of rustling leaves and distant traffic, only unbroken by his phone buzzing yet again.

Looking down, Jay notes that his GPS has opened up autonomously. A mysterious unknown marker blinks on the map. That must be their destination.

"Let's go."

Jay leads the way through the forest, Taurrage and Razzmatazz trailing after him. Once under the canopy, the lights of the city are completely obscured, forcing the party to rely on their phone's flashlights. Jay peers through the oppressive darkness, unfamiliar to him after years of living in the flashy glow of streetlamps and neon signs.

"Is that a fence?" Taurrage asks.

Jay squints. "Looks like it. From the sound of that hum, it must be electrified."

"How are we going to get over it?"

With a strange squelch sound Razzmatazz shifts into a very uncanny, organic-looking ladder. Jay shudders as he climbs on, trying not to think too hard of how‌ his life choices got him here. Once on the other side, they walk about fifty paces before they see it: a giant, completely unlit, industrial compound. Jay's heart jumps in his chest. How did such a massive complex go hidden?

Taurrage huffs, growing in size as his bovine traits begin to take over. "Hey, brave leader, this is your mission. What are we doing?"

Jay looks down back at the GPS. The red light marking the map moves subtly. "I think this is leading us to Frame. We need to get to her as quick as possible before making our way out. Echo, are you there?"

"Yes," A fizzly voice answers.

"I need you to direct us to somewhere we can enter. Taurrage will go the other way to draw attention away from us."

"Got it. The camera's are already on a loop and the door unlocked. Go east until you see the red light."

"Okay, let's go. Taurrage, start the diversion when Echo notifies you."

Jay follows the directions, jogging with Razzmatazz around the building until they see the light. Cautiously, they approach, opening the door slowly. They're greeted with a cold, white hallway, lit by buzzing fluorescents.

Jay steps inside, trying to muffle his footsteps as they hurry down the corridors. The GPS on his map glitches to show an internal layout of the building, complete with roaming green dots. Guards and employees on patrol, Jay assumes.

The silence is suddenly broken by a sudden boom that startles Razzmatazz and Jay.

"That must be Taurrage, let's hurry," Jay orders.

The map leads them to a dead end with two sleek metal elevators awaiting their arrival.

"Floor -3" says Echo.

Jay presses the button. The metal doors shut with a metallic hiss. As they start to descend, his stomach flutters with anxiety.

As if reading his thoughts, Razzmatazz speaks. "Jay, what do you think we're going to find down there?"

"I don't know."

"Are you scared?"

Jay thinks for a moment. He is, but not for the reasons he should be. He's not that worried about getting caught, or even failing. What's really preoccupying his mind, is learning just what the Network is doing here. The public was informed Frame was receiving rehabilitation at the Lone Star Psychiatric center, the only reason to lie and keep her here instead would be if there was something malicious afoot.

"No," he lies.

Ding!

The elevator comes to a halt, doors sliding open. Tentatively, they step out into the underground level. Things seem colder here, quieter. Jay can't help but picture the walls caving in, cold dirt surrounding them at all sides.

They walk down the dark corridors together, footsteps bouncing off the sleek tiled floors.Jay shudders at the sound. If the ground level had felt barren, this level feels downright sterile. Even the smell is off, like astringent was poured onto every surface.

Finally, they come upon what they're looking for. A row of cells, all sealed shut but grated metal. Jay speeds up, looking in each one. Empty, empty, empty, empty—

Wait...

Is that her?

Jay breaths come fast. There's a person, maybe a woman, laid out in a medical cot. Ominous monitors buzz and beep, hooked up to her at various spots across her body with long, tangled wires. She looks nothing like the flamboyant young villainess Jay remembers. Her eyes are sunken in, hair shaved off, and most horribly, one of her arms is completely black.

"They're trying to replicate it. Aren't they?" Jay whispers.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Replicate what? Jay, what did they do?"

"They tried to replicate what Stygian did for me."

"How is that possible? I mean, it's not like Stygian came here and cut her arm off!"

"I have my theories but It doesn't matter. Help me with the door, please?"

Razzmatazz' arms shift into two giant fuzzy paws tipped with neon green claws. She grips the edge of the door, grunting as she pulls it off its hinges. It clatters to the floor with a crash of tearing metal. Alarms begin to blare as Jay sprints into the cell, carefully removing the wires to Frame. He prays they're not keeping her alive as he lifts her off the bed. When she continues to draw breath, Jay heads towards the door.

"Okay Razz, let's go!"

Razzmatazz leads the way, guarding the front as Jay follows. They forgo the elevator this time, taking the stairs. But as they ascend, a new threat emerges. Shots are fired without warning as three armed men spill down the stairs, rushing towards Jay. He ducks to the side, narrowly avoiding a bullet as Razzmatazz launches herself forward. A rugged looking man in the front screams like a little girl as Razzmatazz morph into a massive spider with a human-like face on the abdomen. All three run in terror as the jaw splits in two, revealing rows and rows of sharp teeth.

Jay grins, running forward. "thanks, Razz!"

"Don't thank me yet!"

They make it to level -2, -1, and finally, 0. Jay's heart is pounding as they run through the corridors. They're almost there, almost outside. Then they can fly away and escape this horrible place..

Razzmatazz kicks the last door down, removing the last barrier between them and freedom. They did it! They're out!

Jay's phone buzzes. Echo speaks up. "The Network just deployed a hero. I don't know who, but you should leave fast. Taurrage is already at the car."

"Jay, give her to me. I can go faster."

Jay nods, handing her over. Razz sprouts two large wings, soaring faster than Jay could ever run towards their car. She's nearly there when something in the sky catches Jay's attention.

Shit shit shit!

Jay unholsters his gun, shooting at Alphaman. The bullets ricochet off him harmlessly as he soars through the sky like an angry red comet. He lands with a boom, sending a cloud of dirt into the sky and sending Jay stumbling back.

There's a moment of oppressive silence as they all wait for the air to clear. Suddenly, Alphaman steps forward from the dust, dangling Taurrage, Razzmatazz, and Frame in the air Jay swallows hard, taking a step back.

"Oh, now you're afraid. Didn't see that while you were trying to kidnap that poor doctor," Alphaman laughs, "where are you keeping her?"

"I guess I should've expected to see you here. Hiding the Network's dirty little secret, Alphaman?"

"Wow, sassy. Very bold, for a no-name villain. Can't say I'm not impressed you chose this as your debut though, that takes guts. What's your name?"

Jay grits his teeth. "Is that what you really want to ask?"

"You figured me out. Where is Stygian hiding? He must be holed up somewhere to lick his wounds if he's sending his lackeys out to do his bidding."

"Alphaman, we don't have to fight. The Network is—is using you. It's using all its heroes to do horrible things!"

"I know. I don't really care. Now answer the question."

"Fuck you!"

Alphaman laughs. It's crazed and high-pitched, and—and Jay can't help but recognize the manic sound. Alphaman's wings stretch wide, ominously blocking out the moon with their size. "You want to fight, little man? I could use the exercise."

Alphaman surges forward, fist flying toward Jay's face. He ducks, but isn't fast enough to stop Alphaman from grabbing him by the fabric of his hoodie. Jay yells as he's flung like a ragdoll, tumbling to the ground with bruising force. Jay scrambles to his feet, ignoring his aches and pains, just in time to have a cold metal hand wrap around his throat.

Jay chokes, attempting to shove the hand off. But it's no use. Alphaman laughs again, leaning in. "I was hoping since you were a villain I didn't recognize, you'd put up a little more of a challenge. Seems like you're just another low-level loser like the rest of them. Do you think that if I held you hostage, Stygian would come save you?"

"He won't!" Jay grunts.

'I think he would. He's an idiot—did you hear about him and that sidekick? If you want my opinion, it wasn't all a ruse like he wants the world to think. Can you believe it? Why is the only class-S villain a fucking fag—"

Animal rage burning in Jay, his fist flies forward. He expects the punishing crunch of bruising knuckles, but instead, he's shocked to see both metal and glass fracture and warp under his hand. Alphaman drops Jay and the others, hands flying to his face. Just then, Echo joins the battle. Jay's van rushes forward and hits Alphaman head-on with a screech of metal, trapping him underneath.

Jay stands up, hands shaking. Looking down he sees dark black veins retreat down his arm from his palms and fingers. Shit. There's no time for a freakout about new powers right now.

"Razzmatazz, Taurrage! Get up!"

Razzmatazz staggers to her feet. "Is he dead?"

"No, definitely not! We need to fight!"

"How are we going to fight him!?" Says Taurrage.

Jay's mind is racing. Without Stygian here, they don't stand a chance. If they can't defend themselves with strength, they'll have to turn to other methods."We need to get inside his head. Razzmatazz I need you to—"

Jay is cut off as his van is crushed by black shadows and flung into the distance. Alphaman stands from the ground, laughing insanely. Jay's heart drops at what he sees next: Alphaman, with half his face revealed. There's no mistaking it, despite the fine lines and gray hair, he looks exactly like Stygian.

There's no mistaking it, despite the fine lines and gray hair, he looks exactly like Stygian [https://img.wattpad.com/f67df91a5e8934a6f07d3835d861f9d2e7eda91d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f2d342d48424f642d35774b6241773d3d2d313433373537383739322e313763346639363763623537643865343735373836313835303734342e706e67?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]

"So you do have some fight in you. Super Strength, what a surprise."

"Holy shit," Razzmatazz croaks, "holy shit holy shit!"

"God forbid," Taurrage whispers.

Alphaman smirks, advancing with murderous intent burning in his eyes. "Too bad for you, that was a fatal mistake. I was going to let you live but now, now I have to take action."

Jay clenches his fists. "What, you don't want your relation to Stygian getting out? That would be news."

"You don't seem too surprised by this development."

"Because I already figured it out! You call Stygian an idiot, you're the biggest idiot of them all!"

Alphaman freezes. "What?"

"You're both S-class, shadow-wielding, short-ass supers! Of course you two are connected, anyone with half a brain would see that!"

"I'm not short."

"You are 5-fucking-8."

"You have some nerve. Do you have a death wish, little villain?"

Taurrage snorts, adjusting his hold on Frame. "Now that I think of it, it is asinine. Wouldn't it be better to just be honest and tell the world you failed as a father? It's going to come out eventually that your kid is a villain."

"He's not my kid!"

Jay steps forward. "He's a clone, isn't he? The Network cloned you because you're dying. They're replacing you because your powers are turning against you."

Sharp shards of darkness begin to swirl around them. "Yeah and look how that turned out, he's nothing like me! They'll never replace me! Nobody can!"

"Of course he's not like you, he's better."

"I'll kill you, you little—!"

"Killing is all you can do, isn't it Alpha?"

Alphaman jolts, eyes wide as he whips his head toward Razzmatazz. She's taken on a new form: a muscular male frame, a dark red, hooded trench coat, and cold green eyes obscured behind a blank, black mask. Calamity.

For the first time, a twinge of fear enter's Alphaman's eyes. "Don't call me that! You're dead, I made sure you died!"

"I am dead, because you murdered me. Alpha, why didn't you stop it?"

"You bastard you had it coming—" Alphaman's tone suddenly shifts, shadows writhing faster and faster, "he made me! I didn't want to!"

"If you had listened to me this would've never happened. You should've integrated with Griffin, like I told you to."

"I tried! I tried—Stop it! I know you're not him! He was making me weak! He was trying to ruin me!"

"You should've saved me Alpha! You were my hero!"

Alphaman, no, Alpha stares, eyes wide. Suddenly, he bows over, screaming as the spiraling shadows start to grow in size. Jay looks up to observe that, to his horror, the entire sky is growing dark, to the point that even the moon is eclipsed.

Razzmatazz shifts back, brows creased and mouth gaping. "Shit shit shit! He's going to blow! Run!"

Not sparing a moment to hesitate, the trio sprints for the overpass. They make it just in time to the safety of the concrete just as the forest is swallowed in a sinister shimmering-red darkness. Jay braces for impact when suddenly—the entire bubble erupts with concussive force. A deafening roar rings across the city, shaking buildings, shattering windows, and toppling trees.

Minutes after the explosion, Jay pants, ears ringing with the sound of car alarms and people panicking. He looks back at where he stood moments before. Now, nothing but a smoldering ruin remains. Even the earth is stained black, cratered, and pockmarked like a nuke was dropped. In the middle is Alphaman, hands covering his face.

Razzmatazz tugs on his shoulder "Jay, let's go before Griffin gets control again!"

Picking himself off the floor, Jay absconds into the night, not daring to look back as he runs.