Chapter 106

Unsung Heroes 12

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Theo couldn't help but chuckle at his current predicament

Once upon a time, in a past far far away, Theo once dreamed of becoming a Superhero.

With his Midas Alchemy, he would travel around the world, beating up bad guys and saving the day.

Naturally, he’ll get all the pretty girls because REASONS and have a harem, also because REASONS!

He’ll live the high life while making the world a better place.

It was a typical childhood dream of every young boy who has recently discovered his power.

Fast forward to the present day, and behold!

He was doing exactly just that, with a bit of modifications to the original plan.

He wasn't just only ‘beating up’ bad guys, he was making sure that they never ever harm another innocent life again by making sure that they were very VERY dead.

He wasn't just helping bad guys back on the ‘right path’, he was forcing them into it by making them into mindless zealots that follow his every order.

He has a harem of beautiful girls and he enjoyed carnal pleasures on a nightly basis.

He was literally living the high life while making the world a better place.

However, there was one thing in his goal he could not accomplish.

While he was doing exactly what he planned on doing, he could not become a Superhero.

He did dream of working together with Crow in solving cases with nothing more than human wit and cunning.

This dream did come true, though he and Crow were on the opposite sides of the battlefield.

He was flattered to be considered as a threat to Crow. Threat meant that he has a decent chance of winning against Crow and her group.

Unfortunately, this also meant that he was the enemy of his idol.

This was not the place he wanted to be, but he had to make do of the hand he was dealt with.

At the moment, Theo was steppin on the chest of the nunchuck squirrel while the large claw grappling hook of the Super Shotgun was securely fastened on the rodent’s face.

Theo tilted his head about 45 degrees up and spotted Crow, Vulture and Sparrow on the pipes above him.

“To what do owe the pleasure of being visited by one of the founders of the Hero Alliance?” asked Theo with his voice synthesizer on.

Crow jumped off her high ground and landed on the pipe where Theo was standing.

She looked the corpse of most of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Squirrels with a difficult face.

“The Boss...Was this necessary?” asked Crow

“Yes” replied Theo

“And the Elves?”

“They’ll follow soon enough.”

Based on the last report of the Eisenmadchens, it seemed that they were in the process of mopping up the elves.

A few surrendered but it was mostly over.

And as predetermined in Theo’s plan, they were to retreat while avoiding where Theo was and the 3 sewer experts of Jinny Bravo.

The only thing he needed to do was to stall Crow’s crew until the Eisenmadchens erase all traces that they were ever there.

“Do you understand what you are doing here Boss?! Or should I call you by your real name?” asked Crow.

Theo groaned internally.

If he was able to figure out who Crow was, there was no way a master detective like her couldnt have figured out who he was.

He could have sworn that he has covered his tracks perfectly…. But who knows what gave him away.

No matter what it was, Crow had the smarts to figure out who he was with nothing but scraps of information.

It was clear that she was using his identity as a leverage.

If he doesnt do what she wants, she’ll reveal it to Dorothy and that would ruin their relationship.

A master stroke that targeted Theo’s emotional attachment to Dorothy.

“Hmph. So that’s how you want to play it Miss Testarosa.” said Theo, much to the surprise of Sparrow and Vulture. “Fine. Let’s play”

The pasteel buckles that held his helm in place unlatched with a loud click.

While keeping his super shotgun trained at the last squirrel, Theo removed his helm and allowed his face to be seen by all.

“Gueh… damn it stinks here.” said Theo in a relaxed manner.

“N-no…. No no no. It cant be. This is a lie! This cant be true!” said Vulture/Dorothy, horrified at the fact that Theo and The Boss were one and the same.

Theo’s heart died a little inside when he saw Dorothy’s reaction.

Crow kept her face neutral but it was clear that she was a bit annoyed that Theo didnt go along with her whole scenario.

“So. Now you know. What now?” asked Theo with the cocky confidence he didn't have.

“Lorne. Why are you doing this? You know that these squirrels are superheroes too right? Not registered, but they are good people. You know this, right?” asked Crow.

“This conflict is a result of an unfortunate misunderstanding. I dont want to do this either, but I have the right to defend myself.” replied Theo.

“How can you call yourself a Superhero with that attitude? Where’s your sense of justice?” asked righteous Sparrow, much to Theo’s surprise.

To Theo’s memory, this was the first time he has ever heard Sparrow spoke. EVER.

She won't even answer news interviews.

Interesting.

“It was crushed along with the many children and elderly in the Black Bible incident. To think the criminal who slaughtered them gets to live off taxpayer’s dime while the innocent people died. How is that justice?” Said Theo in a cold manner

The Crow were silent.

To not kill criminals was to allow them to kill innocent lives in the future.

They knew this oh so much, but their morality kept them from accepting the facts.

“Do you not think that everyone deserves a chance at redemption?” asked Crow

“Someone who kills 10 people and will most likely do so again the moment they get out of jail deserves a bullet to the head. The Superheroes are guilty of allowing this cycle to continue. If you people wont do the right thing, then I will.” replied Theo

“And how does that make you any different than the criminals you kill?”

Theo reflected on Crow’s words before cracking a tired but determined smile.

“It doesnt. Eventually I will hang for my trespases like every criminal I sent to hell. But until then, I will take as many sinners as I can with me.”

Once again, Crow’s group was silent.

All of them cared for humanity and all of them will do whatever it takes to give their fellow man a better world to live in.

Aside from the killing, Theo and the Crow group was no different from each other.

After a few moments of silence, Dorothy spoke.

“Theo…. D-did you approach me so that you can u-use me against Crow?” asked Dorothy in a heartbroken voice.

And thus came the dilemma Miss Samantha warned Theo about.

Dorothy was a powerful asset and a welcome addition to Theo’s arsenal.

Unfortunately, in order to seduce her to the dark side, she needed to be at the level where her love for Theo was above her loyalty to Crow.

Theo wasnt sure if she was already at that level, thus saying things like ‘I approach you because I love you’ or similar horseshit may not work.

It pained Theo to destroy all of his work, but the badguy method has the best chance of success at the moment.

Theo wore his helm once again.

“You are correct Dorothy.” said Theo much to Dorothy’s horror. “This is also the reason why I hired your father..”

Dorothy’s legs buckled as tears flowed down her cheeks.

Not only did Theo tell her that he was using her, he also had her beloved father hostage.

This was just too much for the young teenage girl.

Theo really didnt like this method.

“Just to be clear Dorothy, I don't want to harm your father. I have grown quite fond of him and his skills impressed me to no end.” said Theo in a cold manner. “But remember this, he is disposable compared to you. You will stand there and you will do nothing. If you intervene, I will send you one of your father’s limbs along with a video of the painfully slow dissection.”

Ironically, only the first part of Theo’s statement was true.

He really did like Augustine Boreal a lot and would gladly keep him as a staff forever if possible. Naturally, he had no intention of harming Augustine in any way.

However, Dorothy didn't need to know this.

Not now at least.

“LORNE! Didnt you say that protecting the innocent was your goal?! What the hell was that?! ” roared Crow in anger.

“ ‘There will be a time where breaking your moral code is required to achieve what you desire’. I think Miss Samantha has probably taught you this lesson Evangelica” replied Theo in a rude manner. “And besides, I’m a man who keeps his word. If she just stays there and does nothing, then nothing will happen to her father.”

Dorothy remained unmoving as she cried profusely.

A natural reaction given the emotional trauma Theo just inflicted on her.

Theo did felt very guilty for resorting in such a tactic, but his hand was forced. Nothing he can do but play the cards he has been dealt with.

“Oh yeah, before I forget...” said Theo as he activated the Super Shotgun’s grappling gun.

The Squirrel was pulled until he was literally staring down the barrel of the gun. And without a moment's hesitation, Theo blew his brains all over the sewers.

“At least you can join your brothers and master in the after life.” said Theo in a solemn manner as he reloaded his Super Shotgun.

The Crow trio stared at Theo in disbelief

“Lorne…. Do you seriously not realize how indistinguishable you are from the criminals you hate so much?” asked Crow

“Of course I do. I have no illusions of what I have become and I do not shy away from the atrocities that I have commited. I am a criminal, plain and simple.” said Theo as he readied himself for a very tough battle. “But if Superheroes like you wont do the right thing and kill criminals like me in order to prevent hundreds of innocent deaths, then I will never stop till every last criminal in this world is dead.”

“And what if, by some miracle, all criminals are dead. What happens to you?”

“Like I said, all criminals will die. No exceptions. That includes me.”

With a sigh of of resignation, Crow entered into combat posture.

“Then as a crime fighter, it is my job to stop you.”

“As you should. I could expect nothing less from, in my opinion, the greatest Superhero of all time”

Thus began one of the many battles that no one will ever hear off.