ay never thought he would be the mastermind trying to bring world-enders to his universe, but here he is. He sighs, looking at the skylight above them. He can only hope some plucky junior hero doesn't learn a valuable lesson about duty or family or some shit, and intervenes last minute to foil their plans.

Jay steps forward, his voice echoing in the massive gallery. "Are we all ready?"

"Almost! Ack! Stay still!" Razzmatazz grunts, forcing a wriggling Pixamena into handcuffs. Stygian lends her a hand, holding her still as Razzmatazz uses a colorful scarf as a makeshift gag.

Echo ignores the mayhem. "I've modified the device. It should attract less attention now with the light show, but it's still going to draw a lot of power. We'll need to be fast if we want to avoid a conflict with the Network. I'll keep a lookout for any hero deployments."

"Shouldn't we do this somewhere more isolated, like what Paradoxico did?" Gannet asks nervously.

"Paradoxico had an entire laboratory to support him, complete with cold fusion reactors. We don't have that kinda tech, and I don't want to sacrifice another club for you people."

"So I just need to add a drop of blood?" asks Jay.

Echo nods. "Anything with genetic material."

A snort from Razzmatazz. "Ewwwww."

Jay glares. "Don't be nasty, Razz. Gannet, can you help me?"

A coil of shadow hugs Jay's arm. He lifts his palm over the buzzing electricity, wincing as the tendril slices into his skin. A drop of blood falls into the light. Jay braces himself as the machine begins to vibrate with an increasing wrrr!

Suddenly, a bright orb of blue light explodes forth with blinding intensity. Jay covers his eyes to protect them, squinting as he attempts to see what's happening. Finally, a figure manifests as the light starts to fade. A few moments later, Jay is face to face with his wide-eyed copy yet again.

"Stygian," Jay growls.

Not needing any further instruction, Stygian lifts a hand, using his shadows to bind and gag the duplicate. Jay's double falls to his knees, hands tied behind him. There's no struggle.

Jay steps forward to regard the man. There's a wild glint in his eyes as he stares. Jay's double appears completely disheveled: bags have formed under his eyes, a 5 o'clock shadow covers his face, and instead of his uniform, he wears a baggy band T-shirt and a pair of sweats.

Razzmatazz giggles maliciously. "Look at you. Let yourself go, didn't you?"

"Razz, don't taunt him. He could still be dangerous," Jay scolds.

A voice filters into Jay's mind.

...I don't think the precognition worked the way you are thinking...or the way Shadowpuff assumed...

Jay narrows his eyes. He hates to admit it, but he agrees. There's something more going on. They needed to get to the bottom of it, even if bringing the doppelgänger here was risky.

...Oooohhh Jay's so smart...

Jay swallows nervously. He doesn't feel smart. He feels desperate.

Using the end of his staff, he tilts up his copy's chin roughly. "Listen closely. You're despicable. You don't deserve to live. This is your only chance at redemption. How did you kill Alphaman? What exactly is your power?"

They all wait a few moments. Razzmatazz's brow furrows in concentration as she searches the doppelgänger's mind. "Ugh, it's that damn cowboy song! He's singing it on repeat!"

"Fine. We'll do this the hard way."

Jay steps back, nodding to Stygian. He lifts the gag off.

"Speak up," Jay orders.

They wait. The silence stretches on excruciatingly. Finally, the doppelgänger breaks the quiet. He looks around the room, cold and calculating. His eyes land on Pixamena and Razzmatazz. He grins cruelly. "Haven't seen you two in a while. How are you, Alana? Faye? Still playing up the Villainesses Want Heroes trope, I see."

Razzmatazz scowls, a tinge of blush rising to her cheeks. "There's no use in stalling."

"I'm not stalling. I'm just making conversation. Don't you think it's a bit rude to drag me here and make me answer your questions? If you want something, you need to give me something I want."

The doppelgänger makes a choking sound as he's tugged forward violently by the lapels of his shirt. Jay stares him down, nose to nose. "You understand the position you're in, right? You don't exactly have the luxury of making demands, asshole."

The doppelgänger grins, insanity deep-set in his features. "Or what, you'll kill me? Do it! I don't care!"

Jay scow;s. Somehow, he knows that's not a lie.

Gannet comes closer, out of the shadow. Moonlight shines down, illuminating pale cheeks in such a way that he looks angelic. "What do you want?"

The doppelgänger stares at Gannet, face going blank. The look makes Jay's stomach twist uncomfortably. "Gannet. Don't get too close."

"I'm fine. I can handle myself."

"It's not you I'm worried about."

The doppelgänger smiles, leaning toward Gannet. "Don't listen to him. It's okay, I can't hurt you."

"Shut up," Jay growls.

"Just let me try talking to him," says Gannet.

Anxiety is bubbling in Jay's stomach. He doesn't want this freak anywhere near Gannet. But what choice do they have? They're running out of time.

Jay steps back. Gannet takes his place. He crosses his arms, eyes narrowing. "So. What do you want for the info?"

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The doppelgänger's insidious smile finally falters. For the first time since his arrival, his expression seems genuine as a look of pure desperation crosses his face. "I want you to come back with me."

"Fuck that!" Jay yells, starting forward.

Gannet stops him with a tendril, holding him back. "Why do you even want me to?"

The doppelgänger's eyes dart around the room nervously. "Because that's how it's meant to be! We were always meant to be together!"

"You didn't seem to think so the last time I saw you. You threw your Gannet away. You killed him."

The doppelgänger's eyes drift downcast. "I just, I didn't know it would hurt him. Nothing ever could before, so I just thought, I just assumed—"

"So you killed him and now you want to replace him with me? Have you even considered what I would want?"

"You're supposed to want me! That's your purpose!" He screams.

Gannet stares with eyes narrowed, stoically silent as the doppelgänger pants, straining against his bonds. The air feels thick with an uncomfortable tension. Even Pixamena is watching with wide eyes.

When Gannet doesn't speak, the doppelgänger continues. His voice breaks, hoarse from emotion. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. I just want you to come home. Nothing will change, Gannet. I'm the same as the man you love, but with me, you'll be safe. I know that's what you want. You're scared."

"How will you keep me safe?"

"The Network is gone. Netscie too. I had to make sure they could never hurt you again. Nobody would be able to touch you in my world."

Suddenly, Razzmatazz interjects. "Because all the supers are dead, right?"

The doppelgänger glares. "All possible threats are gone—"

"Including me? Including Pixamena? Did you kill her, or did you make your Stygian do it?"

"..."

Razzmatazz's eyes flash an eerie maroon red, her voice dipping into an inhuman tone. "Go on, speak up."

"He didn't have the guts to kill her. I did it for him. She didn't care about him. We told her about the experiments the Network put him through and she didn't care."

Gannet grits his teeth. Horns sprout from his head as he becomes more emotional. "I would never want that. Even if she hates me!"

"It was never about what he wanted. It's about what he needed."

"I need my friends!"

The doppelgänger laughs cruelly. He side-eyes where Pixamena is bound. "That doesn't look like friendship to me."

"Oh, and you can give me something more? I know what you did. You used him. You're just as bad as the Network. You toyed with his mind, just like them."

"I didn't—"

"You did! And now he's gone!"

Full panic enters the doppelgänger's eyes. "It doesn't matter! He's not real! I just need you to come with me and everything will go back to normal."

"I'm not going with you. I'm not the same person as him."

Tears brim in the doppelgänger's eyes. "Then he'll come back. He has to come back. I can still feel him. He can't really be dead—"

"What you're feeling is the vestiges of Stygian feeding off your blood supply. He's dead, and if you had any love for him, you'll help me stay alive. Tell us how you killed Alphaman."

His eyes burn bright green. "No! I won't be used like this! I won't be used to write his fucking happy ending while I'm left alone! Fuck you! Fuck you! FUCK ALL THREE OF YOU!"

Jay narrows his eyes, looking around the room. There are four people apprehending the doppelgänger: him, Gannet, Echo, and Razzmatazz. Five people if you count Pixamena.

"Who are you talking to?" Asks Jay.

"Them! Fuck! Fuck you, Rowan!"

"Who is that? Tell us! Is that who killed Alphaman?"

The doppelgänger laughs. "You think you can just stop helping me? You can't abandon me, you need me!"

Razzmatazzes' eyes flash neon green. "I'm in! Shit! Ow! Your brain is so fucked!"

"Stop it! Get out of my head! Stop! Don't! I—mff!"

A tendril covers his mouth as Razzmatazz focuses. Her brow furrows

"What is it Razz? Are you seeing how he did it?" asks Jay. .

She makes a pained sound, cringing. "Fuck—he—he brought back Calamity."

Jay's heart drops. "What? How? What happened?"

Razzmatazz closes her eyes. "Frame. The chimeric potential—he talked to Calamity and found out—" tears start to run down Razzmatazz's face. "It's hard—there's too much—"

Jay suddenly gasps as a sudden wave of pain lances through his mind. All at once, several things happen:

Jay stumbles to the ground, gripping his head as a voice bounces around his mind.

...I'm not ready to give up on this story, Jay...!

Razzmatazz cries out. "I've almost got it—wait, who is that?"

Echo suddenly flashes red, tensing.

"Alphaman has been deployed! We have five minutes! Quickwit, go right!"

Stygian loses focus, kneeling beside Jay. The doppelgänger suddenly tenses, dark veins shooting up his face. He breaks free from the hold around his wrists and arms. Jay stands with Stygian's help, immediately going for his gun and attempting to dodge to the right. He's not fast enough.

The doppelgänger doesn't even flinch as two bullets embed into his chest. He lunges for Jay, grabbing him by the throat. They tumble to the ground violently. Jay chokes, eyes wide. His neck burns as his vision goes blurry.

A long blade of shadow spears the doppelgänger through the side. He curses as he's violently yanked off Jay and thrown into the wall. He falls to the ground with a crash, toppling over several Greek-style statues in the process. Stygian manifests fully, tail thrashing as he summons several sharp daggers of black and flinging them with deadly intent. They hit their mark, embedding into the doppelgänger's chest. Even still, he stands, red leaking from his mouth as he stands with a deranged look in his eyes.

Stygian bares his teeth, irises narrowed to pinpricks. "I don't have time for your pathetic tantrum. You can go back or I can kill you here. Your choice!"

Echo calls out, voice panicked. "We need to wrap this up! We have three minutes!"

The doppelgänger's eyes glow. He clenches his hands, shaking with rage. "If you won't go back with me, he can't have you either!"

Stygian grimaces with disgust, opening his stance as he summons his strength. A serpentine coil of black the length of a small bus manifests, charging at its target with terrifying speed. With inhuman agility, the doppelgänger evades the shadow, dodging left and right until, finally, he's cornered. Even surrounded by darkness, though, he refuses to yield. The shadow rushes fourth, and with a swift motion of his hand, the doppelgänger severs the shadow like he's parting a dark ocean. Stygian gapes at the action. Nobody except Alphaman has ever countered his attacks before.

Still determined to win, Stygian throws all he can. At his call, several blades of black rain down like daggers. The doppelgänger is still unaffected, however, either neutralizing them or letting them spear through him. Fed up, Stygian lets out a frustrated roar, violently binding his shadows around his enemy in a whip-like fashion that tears into skin and cloth alike. The doppelgänger cries out in pain as Stygian clenches his fist, squeezing, but again he breaks free with a flex of his arms.

Stygian takes a step back, panting with wide eyes. He looks to Jay, uncertainty in his expression, just as the doppelgänger picks up a small bronze idol from a pedestal. Jay calls out a warning, But Stygian reacts too slow, falling to the ground with a crash as the artifact hits him square in the face. The doppelgänger takes the chance to advance.

"Stygian!" Jay cries. Kneeling down, he unloads his gun clip into the doppelgänger. But even with several injuries, he's unphased. His expression is almost demonic now, like he wants to watch the world burn. Fuck! This was a mistake!

Just before the doppelgänger reaches Jay and Stygian, though, Razzmatazz comes to the rescue. With a fluid motion, she slides out in front of them protectively, shifting into a new form. Her features shift to resemble the other Gannet, smiling serenely.

The doppelgänger freezes, grimacing. His voice trembles with rage. "That won't work on me. I know you're not him!"

"Jay. It's okay. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. Right? You love me. You told me before I died."

A tear leaks from the corner of the doppelgänger's eye. "Shut up! I was going to tell him. I didn't realize—I didn't know!"

"It's okay. I forgive you."

"Shut up! Shut—"

The doppelgänger chokes as, suddenly, a weighted net shoots out and wraps around him. He falls to the ground, writhing, until a long, bright zap of electricity finally puts him out. The doppelgänger goes lax, unconscious.

Jay stares in shock as he helps Stygian to his feet. Who...?

Stygian groans in relief, leaning against Jay. "Fuck. Good shot, Faye."

Jay stares. In the corner is Pixamena, hair frazzled and expression shocked. The shackles around her wrists have come undone, allowing her to hold a purple bolo gun with shaking hands. Jay tenses, waiting for her to turn it on them.

She pauses. The muzzle droops to the floor. Jay takes a deep breath.

A red shadow passes over the skylight.

"Take cover!" Echo cries.