Arc 13 Battle of Bronson City

Chapter 5 Interlude Conflict

"Vespidian?"

"Yes?" she replied, tilting her head ever so slightly.

"You are a lot bigger than I had heard."

"What have you heard?"

"Chimera wants to recruit you. Surrender." Said Crimson Owl.

"Surrender?" She looked at them, tilting her head uncomfortably for a human to the side; it was unsettling, "Surprising, I wasn't under the impression you guys would talk to me. Here I was expecting a no holds barred brawl, what with how you people showed up breaking everything and blowing up half my fucking city. Normally, if things were not as they are, I might be civil about this sort of thing, but I don't have that luxury. I didn't come here to talk and have a tea party. The more of you I kill here, the safer my loved ones will be."

"Wait, wait, wait! We can talk about this!" yelled Moon Shadow as he felt the claws digging into his flesh.

"No. It is far too late for words." With those words, Vespidian tore Moon Shadow in half as though he were made of tissue paper. Blood and gore drizzled out as she tossed the halves behind her, where they splattered on the walls. It had happened so out of the blue that it caught the pair off guard.

"You bitch!" shouted Rapid Smasher, "Let's kill this thing. It can't be reasoned with."

She licked her fingers clean of blood, "No. We really can't. This is a very simple thing. I must protect what is important to me. As such, I will dispose of any and all threats that appear, whether that is your heroes or the villains. You came here for a fight. Well, you've got one."

Owl tapped his ears, talking, "This is Crimson Owl. We are engaged with Vespidian. It has killed Moon Shadow and Messy Shadow!"

"Do not engage; that thing is too strong for you two. Regroup at once!" ordered back Armadillo.

Rapid Smasher reacted before he could relay the order. He bolted up towards her massive leg, throwing a brutal punch. It connected, fissures formed on the carapace as her leg broke, the knee popping out as the hardened, toned fleshy muscles below protruded from the shattered carapace, only to suck back in with a wet plop, reconnect and seal within seconds. A blow that pulped a super soldier did little more than crack her carapace.

"Oh Fuck," said Rapid Smasher as a shadow loomed over him.

He dodged to the side as the massive hand punched into where he had been. It scraped along the street, dragging with open claws as it slashed up, chasing him. Rapid Smashed jackhammered his fist into the oncoming freight train of muscle behind those raking claws. Fingers broke and split, curling back, but the flat of the palm smashed into him, hurling him through the wall.

Crimson Owl had not been idle while the Vespidian had been distracted, well mostly distracted, as he soon realized. The back of her head split open as the massive eye gazed down at him. That terrible inhuman pupil glared down upon him as though he were merely an insect. He froze mid-throw, the grenade tumbled at her feet, and it exploded, creating a shrill, high-pitched noise that caused the monstrous woman to hold her head for a moment.

He darted to Rapid Smasher, hastily pulling the downed man to his feet. Shaken but not down just yet, Rapid hobbled as the pair began to retreat. They navigated through the apartment complex that Rapid had been thrown into.

The building vibrated as the claws tore through concrete and smashed the walls. She bulldozed forward, destroying anything in her way. The very real threat of being crushed loomed as she seemed to be gaining speed. Panicking, Crimson Owl hurled several more sonic grenades to slow her down. She screeched, lashing out, breaking the building around her.

"Where are you two?" crackled over the radio.

"Some apartment building, we are retreating, but Rapid is in bad shape. She is gaining on us. I slowed her down with some grenades, but the building isn't slowing her down much."

"We will be there shortly. Just get distance from her!"

"Copy."

Rapid Smasher groaned, "You should just leave me. I can slow her down a little, so you can get away."

"No. I won't leave you behind. We will get through this."

The wall leading into the hallway behind them cracked as the giant wasp woman crashed through. She pressed down, scrunching into the human-sized passageway. Limb over limb surging forward. Her mass filled the whole hallway, spilling over as the walls buckled and shattered to her approach. Cracks splitting and fissuring through the building.

Crimson Owl spilled out the contents of his utility belt, and he threw anything and everything at her. Turned away and helped Rapid Smasher to hobble away as the cacophony of light and sound erupted behind them.

"I don't think we will last long enough."

"Just Move!"

They clambered through the corridor, the exit door of the lobby in sight. All at once, the floor shifted. Tilting as the scenery outside moved up abruptly, the clear blue sky parted by the occasional tracer and laser beam. Even farther up, the tendrils of the Spore slowly waved as the building lurched. Crimson Owl stabbed into the floor as the incline became sheer, and they dangled. Below, Vespidian's face strained as her muscles rippled through her carapace, cracking it with grotesque noises. She breathed in and pushed up with all her might, her little arms snapping like twigs as she threw the building.

The wind screamed as the pair held on for dear life. Parts and pieces broke, revealing more of the world around them. Something big and black flew up over the building as it reached the height of the arc, just as it started to lose upward momentum. Vespidian slammed down on the concrete elbow dropping the building, and the impact sent the mass careening down at an angle.

***

Armadillo led the way as Retro Robo, and the others hastily made their way through the oddly quiet street. The Kraken operatives had retreated or at least gone to the ground. As to be expected of villainous scum. Crimson Owl and Rapid Smasher would need help bringing down the Vespidian; even with all of them here, Armadillo was unsure if they could take her out. She was quite durable; it was a bad match-up for him. If Light Fly were here, things would be different, but that thing was smart and targeted her the last time they had fought.

In the distance lay the reddish brown brick-designed concrete apartment complex. Loud bangs and flashes of light emanated. Through the glass windows of the lobby, Retro could vaguely see a lump moving, blob-like. The Evening Star amplified it, seeing the familiar duo of Crimson Owl and Rapid Smasher. They, however, were not what her lenses focused on; it was the bone-white mask of a face rupturing through the wall behind them.

The ground shook violently. Crumbling brick and mortar filled the air as the apartment complex before them tilted, lifting up and then hurtling up into the air. The massive wasp woman kicked off of the concrete and darted up with the structure. She floated above it briefly, the many eyes gazing down upon them. The eyes moved between them and the building then back. A twisted, diabolical smile spread, cracking her face and revealing the mandibles below the facade of humanity.

All at once, Evening Star's systems blared, "WARNING DANGER IMPACT IMMANENT. Catastrophic damage projected evasive maneuvers required."

Vespidian flew into the building, elbow-dropping the mass of metal and brick, smashing it, the blow altering its course. That crazy wasp just hit a building at them.

"DODGE!" Roared Armadillo readying himself to take a building head-on for the second time, thanks to that wasp.

Retro took the sisters and father holding them in her machine's large, capable hands. Evening Star lit up the jump jet, boosting backward and to the left, diagonally accelerating away from the impact point. Electric Arrow and Dr. Voiceless Seer were a good distance away, making for the safety of an alleyway. Dr. Voiceless Seer lagged a bit behind as the shadow grew deep and dark rapidly. Bits and pieces were already crashing down before the bulk of the structure came thundering down, crushing the street below it.

Armadillo took the hit with a stride. The building parted like the sea. Splitting in two where it smashed into him, behind him, a clear section safe from the storm of debris. Red smeared across his helmet, tinting the visor as a wet plop resounded for a moment amongst the screams of metal and stone. The mass came to a rumbling stop strewn about the sides of the street and caving in several business fronts.

The grumbling of shattered material quieted into the heavy thuds of the Vespidian's footsteps. She stalked over the pile. Her antenna flicked about smelling out someone in the rubble. Vespidian's hand smashed down, crushing him under it. The pavement cracked and cratered from the oppressive blow as she lifted up her hand, leaving the broken man crumpled up below. She had a look of pity on her face.

"Weak. What are you guys, the C team? This is just… sad. I feel a little bad for you. Why are you here if this is the best you have? Though you guys picked this fight, I suppose you get what you deserve."

She strode over the ruins stomping heavily with a squish, a pop, red juices spurting out like an overripe grape. Surprised, she lifted her foot in disgust as the tattered remains of Crimson Owl's costume wetly sloughed off. Scraping it off on the jagged rubble as one would do after stepping in dog shit.

Her many eyes squinted down at Armadillo as he shook off the haphazard wall and rose to face her. He glanced down at the blood and gore-soaked mass that had been a hero moments ago. It was impossible to tell where the costume ended and the man beneath began; they were mashed together.

"You will pay for this." Said Armadillo in a cold rage.

She mocked him, flapping her hand as though it were talking in a condescending voice, "You will pay for this."

Vespidian smiled, "Well, well, well. We meet again…" her words hung out into awkward silence, her little arms cracking and twisting back into proper positions as they regenerated. They came up and scratched her chin in thought. Finally, she pointed at him in confidence, "Ball Boy!" seeing the perplexed and ever-growing anger on his face, she became uncertain, "No? Blue Balls? Bouncy Ball. Right? Something about balls. Balls of steel?"

"Armadillo. You deplorable creature." He grits back.

"Ah. Right. Anyway doesn't matter. You are dying here. I wonder if you would survive an impact with that shield around the Citadel?"

He held back his anger and spoke in a cold calm voice, "Despite what you have done. I have been told to offer you clemency for your crimes. Surrender now. If not, we will deal with you as the rest of the filth in this city."

"What do you mean you are giving her clemency?" asked Retro Robo as her machine arrived through the smoke weapons drawn. Father penance and the sisters trailed behind it.

Vespidian eyed the Evening Star. It was a bit taller than her. She bristled, getting ready to fight the giant robot.

"Stand down." Roared Armadillo, chopping the air between them with his heavy arm.

"Give me a good explanation as to why this sinful creature deserves not to be purged." Said, Father Penance.

"Chimera."

"They should do their dirty work rather than leave it to us. This is impeding our progress."

"Unfortunately, we have to try at least. Have to get it on the record at least."

"How dreadful, speaking with this creature. I suppose it has a soul to be saved in there somewhere. Get it over with. You do not have my blessing, though."

"I never asked." Armadillo faced Vespidian, "You should surrender before things get nasty. You are outnumbered and outmatched."

She paused, astonished. Glancing up at the sky and the space jellyfish looming through the stars, she slowly looked back down at him. She wagged her claw at him, "Oh, how thoughtful of you. Let me guess, just life imprisonment where I am tormented and experimented on like an animal? Other than that, a lifetime of forced dangerous missions doing your dirty work as Chimera's lap dog? No, thank you. I already made that mistake, joining your side, that is. Nightmare taught me all I needed to know about the Hero League and Chimera. From my standpoint, you people are the villains. Attacking, destroying my home, torturing and killing my friends."

"You are blaming us for things a rogue agent did? By that logic, we can tie you to everything that Kraken has done."

"I have it on good authority that it was very much sanctioned. Either you are blind to your organization's corruption, or you are in on it. There is very little difference between you and Kraken. I only do what I do out of necessity, and I know damn well Kraken is up to no good."

"You can think as you like. The offer is here. Take or leave it."

She laughed, "This, this right here. The fact that you are willing to look past the crimes I have committed and willing to absolve me, with no remorse on my end, says a lot about your organization. I am a murderous villain, a monster. I have killed three of your little friends-"

"Five." He interrupted.

"Three." She reasserted.

"Five." He growled.

She tilted her head away, giving him a long side glance, "You give me too much credit. I have only squished three of you furry little grapes known as people."

"You have killed five. That we know of."

"Who? I have only killed shadow man, the bird man, and that boxer guy. Enlighten me on who I am forgetting. I may have killed someone and not even noticed. You are all so small and squishy."

"Messy shadow."

"Ninja guy. Oh no, he was dead when I got here."

"You want me to believe that?"

"Why would I lie? I don't particularly appreciate being slandered. Unlike some people, I own up to my mistakes. I don't care what you think. I would tell you to ask the shadow man, but he is in pieces at the moment. So who else are you accusing me of killing?"

"Light Fly."

"Killed her? Where did you hear that? Why would I kill such a lovely Incubator? That one is, most useful."

"She is alive?" his coldness broke a bit with genuine concern.

"Yes. Though she has been…" Vespidian trailed off, thinking of the right way to put it, "repurposed. She is perfectly happy and healthy, and she is ecstatic with her new purpose."

"What have you done to her?"

"I will leave that to your imagination. Just know she is not the woman you knew anymore."

"Vesper." Said a new voice from behind her. A blonde synthetic nurse with glowing red veins made her way through the rubble, stopping beside the wasp's leg, patting it, "What have I told you about monologuing?"

Vespidian smiled, laying a large hand on the much smaller robotic woman, "There you are, my love. What took so long?"

"We were getting set up. You dodged my question."

"You told me to buy time. Have I not bought time in abundance? Look at these idiots. They have been chatting away for a while now."

"You are lucky they are stupid."

"Yes, heroes are stupid. That would be one of the only things I learned from being one of them. Shall we eradicate them?"

"No, we should be going." Said the rogue robotic nurse, "We are finished here."

"I thought we were killing them?"

"Normally, yes, but Nitro has other plans. Come, we have done more than our share for this round, and let's get out of here before we get caught up in said plans."

Whatever the said plan was it was clear that the wasp woman had not been informed from her puzzled look.

"So we are just leaving?" asked the wasp to her much smaller counterpart.

"Yes," replied the robotic, already walking away.

"Damn, this is worse than getting edged. Here I was, looking forward to killing them. Ah, I forgot to get a hostage."

"Don't worry about it; we have-" Started Neon Nurse her visor filled with numbers, "30, 29, 28… little time."

"Oh, OH, it is one of those huh." Replied the Vespidian giving Armadillo and the rest a final sneering glance.

The usually sassy AI of the Evening Star flickered distorted, "Analyzing speech patterns. Threat implied. Retreat advised, reassessment of the situation required."

Retro Robo backed away, not liking the ominous countdown, "We should retreat," the Evening Star jetted backward, propelling itself away.

"Where do you think you are going?" shouted Sister Merciful Raven. "Why would we let it run, attack!"

A pillar of fire slammed into the wasp woman, making her falter for a moment. She turned back to the group of heroes staring them down. The stench of burnt flesh filled the air as she ripped off the smoldering wings. The many eyes squint with disdain.

"Typical do-gooders backstabbing."

"15," coldly said the robotic nurse.

"Just one."

"No time Vesper."

She grumbled, "Fine."

The wasp spat on the ground and crouched low, her massive legs kicked, and she rushed away with the nurse in tow, scuttling away as a cockroach would when the lights turned on in the kitchen.

"Coward!"

"We will deal with them next time." Said Armadillo.

"You guys should start running. Villains and countdowns are always trouble," Called out Retro Robo.

They turned to find the mecha pilot a good distance away from them and still accelerating away She was a good three streets away.

"Retro stop, we need to stick to-"started Armadillo as the ground below them rumbled.

That was all it took for the Heroes to break and flee. For some it was far too late. Cracks formed in the pavement as yellow ichor gushed out of the street as though it were bleeding. It spurts out onto the still-burning wings that the wasp had left behind. All at once, the world went white, then black.

Retro watched in horror as the city block they were fleeing from evaporated. The deafening sound cracked the viewing monitor and damaged the sensory equipment aboard the Evening Star. What windows in the area that had survived up to this point shattered. Smoke and dust rose from the cratered street.

"This is why you always listen to what the villains say; they give their plans away." Sighed Retro. "That is like Hero 101. I suppose it is a good thing I didn't get attached to any of them. Ugh, now I gotta do more repairs."

Incompetence, as always, frustrated Retro. This sort of thing kept the heroes on the back foot. Anyone with a brain would have been cautious if the villain had a countdown.

Though it was unlikely, there could be survivors. Retro approached the crater. What had happened became clear. Nitro had filled an area with her blood. Amongst the broken piping and rubble of the sewers below, movement shifted. Someone had survived. Lowering a cable down, Retro dragged back up Armadillo. It wasn't the most outlandish thing; he had a history against Nitro, so he had likely been blown up a few times already.

More surprisingly, Father Penance, Sister Merciful Raven, and Sister Gentle Spirit were perfectly fine. The same could not be said for Electric Arrow and Dr. Voiceless Seer. There wasn't a trace of them.

"I get Armadillo, but how did you guys survive that?" asked Retro.

"The Lord answered my prayers for protection," replied Gentle Spirit, rather serenely.

"Lucky you. How often does that happen."

She thought on it, her face veiled below the black and white hood, "Fairly often. I go where his Grace needs me. I, his loyal servant, am girded in his holy light."

"Good to know," said Retro vaguely. "Glad you guys didn't die."

Father Penance repositioned his small-rimmed glasses; they had been slightly disheveled, "Of course not, so long as heretics and demons are dirtying the world, we have no time to rest."

"Rest or not, we need to regroup and analyze our mistakes. I need to do repairs, so I will return to the Citadel. Unless you have some other objective, I recommend returning as well."

Armadillo was singed and battered but overall fine, besides perhaps his pride. He gazed where Vespidian had retreated, "We will return."