Love it? Hate it? Questions? Send them all to sigma72@protonmail.com

Superia #11: The Heist pt. 2

by Sigma

Previously, on Superia: Panopticon’s smear campaign has put the Maidens of Might on the defensive. At the same time, the mysterious hacker Mind’s Eye contacts Delphi asking for help after realizing Panopticon has found him. Veronica and Morgan go to Nova City to rescue him.

IV

The luxury sedan rolled through the streets of Nova City, a bustling east coast metropolis. Morgan and Veronica sat in the back, going over intelligence they had on tablets when the car came to a stop. Veronica looked up to see the front doors of a luxury hotel just outside the door.

“We’re here,” she said to Morgan before opening the door.

After getting out and grabbing their bags, the two of them walked into the lobby, completely bypassing the front desk. They were approached by a thin, middle-aged man in an impeccable suit.

“Ms. Chambers, welcome,” the man said. “It’s so good to have you back here at the Monarch Hotel – Nova City.”

“Thank you, Roberts,” she said to him as they walked. “Is our room ready?”

“Yes ma’am. Your usual suite. Will the rest of the family be joining?”

“Not this time.”

“Ah, a pity. They so rarely get to enjoy their properties,” Roberts said, looking around the cavernous, gilded lobby of the Monarch Hotel, one of the many, many properties owned by the Chambers family. “Well, no matter. Enjoy your stay, ma’am, and you know how to find me should you need anything.”

“Thank you, Roberts,” Veronica said as she and Morgan moved toward and elevator. She pressed her thumb to the reader and it beeped.

“Welcome, Ms. Chambers,” a pleasant, robotic voice spoke before the doors opened. She and Morgan got in and Morgan pressed the button for the suites. The doors closed and they began going up.

“I’m always in awe of these hotels when we come to them,” Morgan said. “And I can’t believe this is one of the small ones.”

“The Chambers family leaves it mark wherever it goes,” Veronica said. “But, it gives us a place to operate without being hindered, so be grateful.”

The elevator stopped and the doors opened into a massive, two-floor apartment with a window that overlooked Nova City’s glittering nighttime skyline. Veronica kicked off her heels and walked on plush carpet in her slim, bare feet while she continued looking over the tablet in her hand.

Morgan took the bags and set them down on the oak table in the dining room. They had clothes, and more importantly, disguises, including wigs for both of them. There were also fake IDs and Veronica’s Mantis costume, along with her utility belt. Morgan left the costume but began taking out the clothes for the disguises.

“Here’s what we know about Mind’s Eye,” Veronica said. “He is a male believed to be in his mid or late 30s. Real name and race unknown, but he’s highly intelligent. Delphi believes he may not be an American from their interactions.” She swiped through the tablet and put it down next to Morgan. “He said he was being pursued by this man.”

The image was of a tall, muscular man in a suit and sunglasses with a shaved head and stern look on his face.

“Cain Barrett, 41.”

“Former Black Operations for the Defense Department with 24 confirmed kills,” Morgan repeated from memory while unpacking. “Formerly head of corporate security for Wade Industries until he was tapped by Sloan Adams as her personal bodyguard.”

An image of Sloan comes up.

“Hmm,” Veronica said with a nod. “He and Sloan might be fucking,” Veronica joked.

“Actually,” Morgan said. “According to rumors I found from Wade employee emails I managed to uncover, Barrett is likely fucking Sloan’s sister, Orla.”

An image appeared of Orla.

“Those same rumors say he works as a personal fixer and hatchet man for the sisters.”

Veronica nodded. “A guy like that doesn’t come into a place like Nova City without the right players noticing, so we need to go see one of said players. Mind’s Eye went to him for protection, according to follow-up messages to Delphi that contain an address she sent me.”

“Who’s this protection?” Morgan asked.

“A local gangster named Spencer Simms,” Veronica answered. “So we’ll need to infiltrate his circle.”

Morgan began going through the tablet. “Okay, give me some time to figure out how to do that.”

“No need,” Veronica told her. “I already know how.”

Morgan looked up and paused when she saw Veronica had slipped out of the blouse and skirt she was wearing. The tall, dark-haired heroine stood there, in her lean, curvy glory, wearing only her lace bra and panties. Veronica undressing in front of Morgan was nothing new, but still, Morgan always found it impossible to look away from her boss’ toned physique. Her eyes were drawn to Veronica’s steely, six-pack abs, the perfect, perky curve of her breasts, and the lean musculature of her arms and legs.

Veronica walked toward her, with the easy, fluid grace she always carried, and put a slim hand on Morgan’s shoulder. Morgan, red-faced and suddenly warm, snapped back to reality. “I...yes, how?”

A smirk formed on Veronica’s full lips while she brushed the hair out of Morgan’s face. “Simms runs a private club in Downtown Nova city. It’s a swinger’s club, so you’re coming with me.”

Morgan’s heart raced, both at Veronica’s touch and at what she had just been told. “I...okay…” she quickly blurted.

Veronica’s fingers danced down Morgan’s chest, and she deftly began to undo the buttons on the girl’s blouse. “So, get into something comfortable, take off those glasses and put your contacts in, and style your hair or wear a wig,” she said. As she did, she gently opened Morgan’s blouse and lowered it down her shoulders and arms. Underneath, Morgan had a petite, womanly figure, with a soft stomach and perky breasts held in by a simple, white bra. Veronica ran her hands down Morgan’s shapely hips, licking her lips at the feel of the goosebumps she felt under her fingertips.

Morgan gently set the tablet down so she wouldn’t drop it and took her glasses off, putting them on top of the tablet. She breathed deep while Veronica rested her hands on her hips.

“Relax, Morgan. This will be fun,” Veronica said. “You know where the disguises are. We want every eye in Simms’ club on us, don’t we?”

Morgan looked down at Veronica’s cleavage, the perfectly unblemished curves mere inches from her own. “Yes ma’am.”

“We’ll use two of our go-to aliases. Rachel Woods for me, Haley Griffin for you,” Veronica told her.

Morgan only nodded, and shuddered when she felt Veronica grab one of her breasts, the erect nipple threatening to tear the fabric of her bra. She breathed deep and Veronica leaned in close to Morgan’s ear.

“Be ready, we might have to sell them on us actually being a couple,” Veronica said before gently biting Morgan’s ear.

Morgan suppressed a squeal, and then another when she felt a sharp slap on her ass. Veronica then spun around and walked away, toward one of the bedrooms and Morgan’s eyes were glued to her ass the entire time. When Veronica was gone, Morgan sighed and collapsed into a chair, fanning herself and trying to ignore the growing wetness between her legs.

***

The club had no name or distinct sign, and was tucked behind the walls of a low-slung, wide building painted black. It blended in with the Nova City night and had lone door up a set of small stairs with a single, suited guard posted nearby.

He kept his eyes on the two women approaching him, but didn’t move from his spot otherwise, even as they began climbing the stairs.

One of the women was a stunning blonde in a dark red strapless dress to show off her toned, athletic build. The slit running up the side revealed the tone of her thighs with every step up, and upon a closer look, the doorman noticed a hint of a firm buttcheek at the top of her thigh. The spiked heels on her feet were the same color as the dress, and she moved in them with impressive ease.

Her companion was a redhead in a blue halter dress, the fabric clinging to her petite frame and the short length of it leaving little of her legs to the imagination. She wore simple looking gladiator sandals on her feet and had green eyes.

“Ladies,” the man on the door said.

“Good evening,” Veronica said, making sure she was close enough to the guard for him to catch the scent of her perfume, a pheromone-laced concoction that she often wore when going undercover. She went into her clutch and fished out a small card that she handed him. It was a white card with a simple graphic of an owl, the symbol that served as an invitation into the club.

The guard took one look at it and took out a flashlight to scrutinize it closely, checking its authenticity. The light revealed a second, hidden image beneath the owl. The image was a set of full, luscious lips sucking a finger. He then nodded and handed it back before opening the door for them.

Veronica smiled, gave the man a gentle squeeze of his balls and went inside. Beyond the doorway was a narrow, brightly lit hallway, and once the door was closed, Morgan leaned in.

“How did you get a fake invitation so quickly? And when?” Morgan asked.

“It isn’t fake,” Veronica told her. “I’ve been here before,” she continued, and left it at that. As she did, she went into her purse and took out her phone to type and send a text message. “There, I just texted Anisa to message Mind’s Eye and let him know we’re here. We need to wait for his instructions.”

“Okay.”

The hallway emptied into a spacious bar/lounge area, dimly lit to set the mood, with pleasant, unobtrusive piano music playing through speakers spread throughout the room.

There was a small crowd of people spread throughout, many in various stages of undress. They loitered around the room, talking, enjoying drinks, and watching in small crowds as various sex acts were performed for all to see. Immediately, Veronica and Morgan noticed the people all wearing masquerade masks on their faces, and almost on cue, a woman carrying a silver tray appeared before them, wearing nothing but a collar and necktie to indicate her role as a servant. Her mask was completely smooth, its surface absent of any features, but she had no problem navigating as she paused before the pair.

“Good evening, ladies. The host requires that all guests wear masks tonight,” she said, holding the tray. On its surface rested a small collection of masks that each woman took and put on.

“Where might we find Mr. Simms?” Veronica asked while putting her mask on.

“He is entertaining guests in a private event tonight,” the girl answered. “Would you ladies like a drink?”

“Two glasses of your best champagne, please,” Veronica said. The girl nodded and left.

Veronica went back into her purse and took out two small earpieces. She gave one to Morgan and they both put them in. The devices were so subtle that they were practically invisible. Just then, her phone buzzed and she found a message.

“Mantis, hello. Mind’s Eye here. I am in Simms’ private wing. You will have to find your way in.”

Veronica showed Morgan the message. “Okay, here’s what we’ll do. I’m going to find a way to get us into that private area, you keep an eye out for Barrett. He should be easy enough to pick out, even with the masks.”

“Yes ma’am,” Morgan said.

The two of them split and Morgan began circulating the room as Veronica vanished. She weaved through the crowd, a bit nervous at first, as she noticed eyes on her while she moved. Many of them were older couples, and others were people closer to her age, but their stares felt hungry all the same.

At first, it put Morgan on the defensive, and she instinctively used her arms to cover herself, suddenly conscious of how much skin she was showing with her dress. She never understood how Veronica, Naomi, Cindy and many of the others so freely ran around in costumes that were essentially bikinis and she had always been jealous of the confidence that let them do it.

As she moved through the space, trying to ignore the lustful gazes and keep an eye out for Cain Barrett, she nearly jumped when someone grabbed her wrist. It was an older woman with blonde hair slowly turning gray. The passage of time had somewhat done its works on her naked curves, but the woman was still fit and toned, and she took Morgan’s other hand and pulled it away so she wasn’t covering herself.

“Oh, come now, dear,” the woman said with a warm smile beneath her white mask gilded with gold highlights. “No reason to cover yourself. Let’s have a look at you.”

Morgan turned bright red and tried to look away.

“Mmm, yes, delicious,” the woman said, licking her lips. She took Morgan by the chin and made her face her. “It’s your first time, isn’t it? Don’t worry, I think everyone’s nervous the first time. ” She gently cupped Morgan’s breast in her hand. “Don’t be nervous, we’re all friendly here.” She then slid her hand up Morgan’s dress, caressing the skin on her thigh, and she leaned in and kissed the girl, taking her by surprise.

Morgan jumped, startled at first, but quickly accepted what was happening. She lost herself in the softness of the woman’s lips, in the feeling of the woman’s erect nipples against her own, and she found herself putting a hand on her hip as they continued kissing. Morgan gasped when the woman began kissing her along her neck, and before she realized it, the two of them had an audience as men and woman gathered around them in a semi-circle. Morgan felt the woman hike her dress up and slide her fingers into her panties. She whimpered lightly as the woman’s fingers brushed her erect clit while playing with her folds.

Morgan’s heart skipped a beat and her stomach tightened as warmth radiated throughout her body. Her breathing became shallow and rapid and she wrapped an arm around the woman, whose finger slid inside of her while she continued kissing her neck and chest.

Morgan moaned and gasped in pleasure, losing herself in the heat of the moment when she looked at the masked faces watching the two of them. She then locked eyes with one man, tall, bald, and solidly built with a tailored suit on. Next to him was a tall, stunningly beautiful dark haired woman who bit her lip watching Morgan and her partner and then whispered something to her companion.

The man nodded and kept his eyes on Morgan, and it took a few minutes before realization set in.

“Barrett…” she whispered.

The woman paused and looked up. “Did you say something?”

“Oh, no. No,” Morgan breathed, swallowing to lubricate her dry throat. She looked again and saw Barrett and his partner exchange words, shoot her another glance, and then vanish into the crowd. Morgan let out a sigh and looked at the woman pleasuring her. “I’m sorry. I have to go,” she breathed.

The woman pouted and kissed Morgan on the exposed skin of her chest. “I understand. Come find me later,” she said with a wide smile.

Morgan, flushed, nodded and quickly hurried off while keeping Barrett in her sights. She was stopped by the masked serving girl, who presented her with a tray with two glasses of champagne.

“Here is your champagne miss. I’m sorry, but I can’t find your companion.”

Morgan quickly grabbed both glasses. “I’ll get it to her,” she said before running off. She downed both glasses, one after another, to cool her down, and continued after Barrett and his partner. “Ms. Chambers, I have him,” she said into her earpiece.

“Good work. I may be able to get us into Simms’ party. Stay on Barrett. I’ll come find you.”

It was a short chase that led to one of the area’s three bars, and Morgan found an empty seat next to Barrett’s companion. She was a disarmingly beautiful woman of about 5 foot 10, with sharp, model-quality features and pale skin. She wore a backless, gray dress that clung to her generous curves and she had piercing, icy blue eyes that regarded Morgan from behind the black and gray mask the moment she sat down.

Morgan gave her a reserved smile in return and the woman propped her head up with her hand while watching her.

“Quite the show back there,” the woman said.

Morgan chuckled nervously. “I...It just sort of happened.”

The woman’s smile was somehow both welcoming and predatory at the same time. “Are you new here? I’ve never seen you.”

Morgan nodded in response.

“Well, don’t be nervous. You fit right in. My name is Reva,” she said, holding out her hand.

“Mor...Haley!” she quickly corrected herself, hoping Reva didn’t catch the near slip-up. At the same time, Barrett was regarding his drink in front of him with a seemingly detached indifference.

“Nice to meet you, Haley,” Reva said, sliding closer to her. Morgan stared at the pale smoothness of her thigh as she crossed her legs and then froze when Reva put a hand on her leg. “So what brings you here?”

“My…” Morgan cleared her throat. “My girlfriend, Rachel. She said she could get us in here and convinced me to come.”

“And where is Rachel?”

“Uh, restroom. She’ll find us!” Morgan said with a laugh.

Reva chuckled and touched the side of her face. As she leaned over, Morgan looked down the cleavage of her dress, where Reva’s seemingly perfect breasts hung freely. “This silent lump next to me is Cain,” she said.

Barrett simply looked at her and nodded.

“He’s nice, once you get to know him. So much better than the other gentleman who buy my time.”

“Buy your…” Morgan started. “Oh, you’re a pros...shit! Sorry, you’re an escort!”

Reva smiled. “Good recovery, Haley. And yes.” She traced her finger down Morgan’s chest. “A shame, if you slipped up, I would’ve had to spank you. I guess you miss out on that now.”

Morgan swallowed a lump in her throat, her nervous energy palatable. Reva simply smiled at her and leaned in close, and Morgan noted the alluring, almost intoxicating scent of the perfume the woman wore.

“Still, I think you and I can have some fun, can’t we? Cain can join us too. I want to make sure he gets his money’s worth,” Reva said.

Morgan looked past her at Cain, who turned and eyed both women. She then nodded. “What the hell am I doing?!” she asked herself mentally. She shuddered when Reva kissed her, her full lips wet and warm, and then felt Reva take her hand.

“Haley, darling, you’re shaking like a leaf!” Reva laughed. “Don’t be so nervous. I’ll be gentle.”

“O...okay…” she squeaked. She then nearly jumped out of her skin when slim hands touched her hips and someone rested their chin on her shoulder.

“What’s this, Haley? You’re setting up a play date without me?” Veronica said, coming to the rescue.

“Oh, thank god!” Morgan breathed a mental sigh of relief. “Rachel! There you are!”

Veronica chuckled and kissed her on the cheek. She regarded Reva for a moment but kept her gaze on Cain, who stared back at her. “So what’s going on here, Haley?”

“Uh,” Morgan quickly said. “Reva and Cain and I were just talking, and they thought that maybe we’d like to join them.”

Veronica wrapped her long, lean arms around Morgan’s shoulders, taking extra care to slide a hand down Morgan’s chest and letting it rest on the girl’s stomach. She held Cain’s attention and saw the gleam in Reva’s eyes. Morgan’s nipples were rock hard in her dress and Veronica could feel the heat of her assistant’s body as her bare cleavage pressed against Morgan’s back. “That sounds like fun,” Veronica cooed, nibbling on Morgan’s earlobe. Morgan shuddered as her heart skipped a beat.

Cain leaned in and whispered something to Reva and Reva turned in her seat. “We have an invitation to Mr. Simms private party. We’ll need to see about getting you two in.”

“No need,” Veronica said. She deftly fished a small, golden card from her purse and held it up between Reva and Morgan.

“Oooh,” Reva said. She licked her lips and slid from her seat. Cain finished his drink and got up too. “Then let’s go.” She hooked her arm in his and they walked off.

Veronica kept her arms around Morgan. “Sorry I’m late.”

“Where did you get that card?”

“From one of the guards,” Veronica said. “I was late because I was washing my mouth out.” She let go of Morgan, who got up from her seat.

“Are we going with them?” Morgan asked.

“We have to. Mind’s Eye is back there. Come on,” She took Morgan’s hand and led, though she kept her distance and leaned in to whisper. “Listen. That woman, she’s dangerous.”

“How can you tell?” Morgan asked.

“The way she walks. The way she moves in general,” Veronica said. “She’s no escort.”

“What do we do?”

“Follow my lead. I’ll handle it,” Veronica told her. They followed Cain and Reva down a long, bright hallway in the back of the building and Veronica showed Morgan her phone. As Morgan read the messages on the screen. Mind’s Eye is in an office in the southern part of this back area of the building. He’s alone and not being guarded.

Reva looked back at smiled and Veronica flashed a smile back before she whispered to Morgan. “When we get back here and settled in,” Veronica said. “You’re going to say you need a bathroom. Make your way toward Mind’s Eye. I’ll distract Barrett and Reva. He’s going to text me when you’ve made contact. Stay in that office with him. I’ll come get you.”

“I don’t know if I can do this, Ms. Chambers…”

“You can,” Veronica said. “I’m counting on you, Morgan.”

“Ms. Miyazawa doesn’t put Chiyo in these situations.”

“Because Asa acts like Chiyo’s mother sometimes.”

“Well, what is this we have?”

“We’re partners, Morgan. You can do this.”

She breathed deep and nodded. “Yes, ma’am!”

Veronica smiled and Morgan yelped when she pinched her butt. “Good girl.”

At the back of the hallway was a heavy steel door. Reva knocked and the door opened. A tall, muscular guard in a too-tight suit poked his head out and took Reva’s card when offered. She turned and motioned to Veronica, who gave her card. The guard scanned both and then opened the door for the group.

Beyond the door, just down another hall lined with private rooms, was a smaller, lavishly decorated room with plush couches, centered around a circular stage, on which two impossibly chiseled men spit-roasted a blonde woman. While some of the room’s occupants watched, many more were occupied in their own acts of sex. Pairs, duos, and trios were spread out in all positions on the furniture, their moans the collective body heat heavy in the air.

Cain Barrett loosened his necktie while Reva squeezed his arm and giggled. Veronica simply chuckled and nodded in approval while Morgan stared in astonishment.

“Reva! My dear!” a gravelly voice called out. The group turned to see a man, perhaps in his 50s or 60s, with tanned skin and gray, shoulder length hair, coming toward them with arms open and a drink in his hand. He wore a fine silk robe over a toned body that was nevertheless beginning to show its age, and an impressively long, flaccid member hung between his legs.

“That’s Spencer Simms,” Veronica whispered to Morgan.

Simms and Reva held hands and exchanged cheek kisses. “Spencer, Darling,” Reva said. “So good to see you. I’ve brought you gifts,” she motioned to Veronica and Morgan.

“My, my, my,” Simms said, walking around the two. Veronica squeezed Morgan’s arm so she wouldn’t make any sudden moves, and when Simms smiled, Morgan was stunned by how blindingly white the main’s teeth were.

“Haley and Rachel,” Reva introduced them.

Simms put a hand to Morgan’s chin and then looked her and Veronica up and down. “Delicious, Reva, dear. Very delicious.” He grabbed Veronica’s right breast with his free hand and molded the tender flesh. “I assume you and your partner will be playing with them first?”

Reva walked over and moved Simms hand. “Of course. You can have them later, Spence.” She then flashed a looked at Veronica. “If I leave any for you, that is.”

Simms chuckled, raised his glass, and walked away. As he vanished, Reva took Veronica’s arm in her hands and led her and Morgan away. “Come. We’ll go somewhere a little quieter.”

They moved to one of the private rooms in the hallway and Reva closed the door once the party of four was inside. The room was decorated with a large, King-sized bed, with a large couch similar to those in the main area on the side of the room. There was a counter in the room with drinks, and a large table with sex toys neatly arranged.

Barrett took of his jacket and tossed it aside, along with his necktie and mask. He revealed a stone-like face, seemingly frozen in a grim expression. Reva slipped behind Veronica and began undoing her dress, sliding the garment down her slim shoulders. She began kissing Veronica on her neck and shoulders, and as she did, Barrett moved behind Reva and started undoing her dress after taking off her mask.

Morgan stood back and watched, clutching her purse close and unsure what to do. Veronica glanced back at her, motioned her eyes toward the door, nodded and mouthed ‘Go’. Morgan bit her lip and nodded.

“I...I’m going to the bathroom!” she announced before hurrying out.

Reva chuckled as the door closed and her own dress fell to the floor in a pile. “That girl. So much nervous energy. We’ll fix that,” she breathed.

Veronica stood naked, her flawless body on full display as Reva and Barrett began to kiss. Veronica removed her mask and pressed her naked body against Reva’s. She leaned down slightly, licking the skin of Reva’s tits and biting on her erect nipples. While doing that, she slid a hand down the side of Reva’s body, and to the moist lips of her womanhood. Reva let out a light, subdued gasp as Veronica penetrated her and began gently playing thrusting in and out of her while using her thumb to play with her clit. She felt Reva’s slim fingers running through her hair and she felt Cain’s large, meaty hand slip around and grab her ass to squeeze it.

Their three bodies were sandwiched together, grasping hands exploring warm, waiting flesh, awash in ecstasy as they became lost in each other. Before Veronica knew it, she was on her knees, in front of Cain with his pants down around her ankle and his stiff rod in his hand. She opened wide and it pushed deep, going to the back of her throat before she began bobbing her head back and forth on his rock-hard length.

Cain grunted and moaned while Veronica licked and sucked and used her fingers to play with his tight balls. He gripped and pulled her hair and she grabbed his thighs, pushing her face deeper to take in as much of his cock as she could. Out the corner of her eyes, Veronica watched as Reva reclined on the couch, long legs in the air and spread, with most of a bright pink vibrating dildo vanishing down her snatch. She moved it in and out in a slow, steady pace, gasping with each push and pull. She looked up at Cain, and saw his head lean back in ecstasy, his muscular body straining the fabric of his shirt as if he was fighting to restrain the sensation he was feeling.

Cain’s whole body stiffened and moments later, Veronica felt a warm load filling her mouth as Cain let out a loud, abrupt grunt. She gagged, and was forced to swallow much of his cum. Her cheeks swelled to the point where some of it spilled out and onto the carpet. Cain then pulled his cock out of Veronica’s mouth and what was left spilled out and onto the floor, forcing her to fall to her hands and knees as she coughed and sucked in air. She took a moment to try and collect herself and as she did, Cain pulled his pants up and buttoned them. He looked down at Veronica without a word while buckling his belt. He then looked over in Reva’s direction and Veronica swore she saw him give a light nod.

Cain Barrett then turned around and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Veronica tried to follow, but gagged when she felt fabric quickly wrap around her neck and pull tight. She looked down as best as she could and saw Cain’s necktie and she pulled at it, trying to force it free.

She felt naked breasts with rock hard nipples against her bare back and she felt a chin rest on her shoulder as she struggled and gasped for air.

“Who the fuck are you, bitch?” Reva asked, her tone dripping with venom as she pulled tighter.

*

Morgan moved through the winding halls, checking various doors and finding empty offices and storerooms. She checked her phone, seeing no new messages, and resolved to keep at it. Before long, she reached a room and tried that door. Inside, she found little light except for what was given off by a bank of computer monitors stacked in front of a lone person with his back to the wall.

The screens all varied. Some had message boards, some had social media feeds, some had scrolling code, some had cameras of the building interior and exterior, and one had a old sci-fi show playing with the sound muted.

Morgan froze and quietly closed the door behind her.

“...Mind’s Eye?”

The person in the chair shifted a little, and then spun slowly to face her. He was an Asian man, seemingly in his 30s, wearing a simple button down shirt and slacks, with short, jet black hair. For all intents and purposes, he looked completely unassuming.

“Ms. Mueller, hello,” he said with a pleasant tone.

She approached him carefully. “You’re Mind’s Eye?”

“I am,” he nodded. Morgan noticed an accent for the first time. “But...you can call me Wei Kang, if you’d like.”

“That’s your real name?”

“Yes, Ms. Mueller,” he said. “Pleasure to meet you.”

“How do I know you’re who you say you are?”

“Ah,” Wei said, holding up a finger. He fished a small notepad from his shirt pocket and flipped it open. “Morgan Kelsey Mueller. Age 25. Born September 4^th. Parents are Arthur and Diana. One brother, Adam. Your roommate is Satya Korpal, who is ardent conspiracy theorist and you have been in the employ of Veronica Chambers, the Mantis, for four years, but you only knew about her life as Mantis after two years. You graduated from Delta City University with a bachelor’s degree is business management. Your hobbies are the guitar, puzzle games, and you play recreational soccer.”

Morgan stared at him, stunned. “...All that stuff is on social media. You could’ve…”

“You write erotic fiction under the pseudonym Hannah Silver. Hannah was your paternal grandmother’s name and you two were close. Your latest work features a new main character, a voluptuous black woman named Alexandra Austin.”

Morgan stared at him and her knees buckled. She quickly steadied herself against the wall.

“I always wondered, is Alexandra a stand-in for Naomi Grant’s friend Alexis Adelson? They seem very similar…”

“Look, we’re not talking about that right now!” Morgan blurted out, her face bright red.

“Apologies,” Wei said, putting his notepad away. “But I understand your skepticism.”

Morgan found another chair and sat down. “How do you know all of that stuff?”

“As a boy, I showed certain aptitudes that caught the attention of government officials in my home province. I was taken from my parents and raised in a facility with others like me, and we were made into analysts and agents who gathered intelligence on enemies both foreign and domestic,” Wei explained. “In my first memory, I was six years old and in the facility I had 11 friends who I lived and worked with. But we were targets because the agency that raised us was a rogue agency and we fought other agencies. By the time I was 19, I only had three of my friends left. We escaped the facility but the guards chased us and shot at us, and only I made it out. I used what I learned and escaped here, to America, where I could vanish.”

Morgan slid closer to him. “Wow…”

“I used my skills to make money and help people who fight injustice. That was when I met Delphi and we have worked together ever since.”

“Wait,” Morgan said. “Did you figure out who Delphi is too?”

Wei laughed. “No, she is too good at what she does. Delphi is a woman, yes?”

Morgan smiled and nodded. “Well, for what it’s worth, she never figured out who you were either.” She took his hand. “So, you’ve been here in Nova City the whole time?”

“No, I move around twice a year. I have been all over America, and yet never to Delta City. I suppose now is the time.”

“Well, we’ll be happy to have you.”

“I look forward to meeting everyone…” He started to say something but hesitated.

“What is it?” Morgan asked when she noticed.

“...I…” he started. “I would especially like to meet Ms. Lea Timu.”

“Bombshell?” Morgan asked. “Why her?”

Wei did a poor job of suppressing a smile. “I’ve never seen a big woman like her. She is...rather impressive.”

Morgan laughed and squeezed his hand. “I’m sure we can make that happen.” She then took out her phone. “Let me message Ms. Chambers and let her know I found you.” She typed a text and sent it. “So what do you know about these Panopticon people?”

“Ah, yes,” Wei said, turning around to his station. “I have been working to uncover as much as I could. The Adams sisters are behind it, and were working toward something like it before they ever came to Delta City. I traced their activity back years. It started in their hometown of Somerland, Georgia.”

Morgan rolled her chair up next to him.

“I am not completely certain of the details, but they somehow captured an amateur superheroine named Daydream.”

Morgan looked up the file on the screen. “Casey Allen...huh, never heard of her.”

“Much of her information is sealed away by Sentinel, and I haven’t been able to access it, but she had the ability to detect other people, and I think the sisters used her to find other superhumans. They were in New York City for some time, and were persons of interest in two murders that occurred during their time there.” As he explained this, he brought up news articles and police reports. One focused on the death of a gangster named Preston and some of his associates. The other spoke of a hermit named Al Hollins across the river in New Jersey. (Note: This was covered in Superia 9, pt 2) “From New York, they ended up in Delta City.”

“Why?”

“I do not know. They have a mysterious benefactor whose identity I haven’t been able to uncover. I discovered digital traces of them following my tracks, no matter how well I hid them. I paid Simms for a place to lay low until I could resolve this.”

Morgan thought. “You don’t think it’s Lord Viper, do you?”

“I did at first, after Viper re-emerged, but no, I’ve ruled him out,” Wei explained. “There’s someone else, and I’m not entirely sure Lord Viper knows about it.”

“Do you know who Lord Viper is?”

“I have suspicions,” he explained. He brought up photos of various members of Wade Industries’ board and leadership. They were all older men. “These people all fit what little description we have of Lord Viper. It could be Richard Lowe, the CEO, or someone else you see here. That isn’t the most troubling thing, however.”

“What is?” Morgan asked.

“Viper has a long history and an even longer reach in Delta City’s criminal underworld. As such, there are sympathizers and sleeper agents throughout the city, from common gang leaders, to officials in key positions.”

“Oh, shit…” Morgan gasped.

“But, sadly, I have not been able to uncover any of their identities. That is the thing I plan on working with Delphi on first.”

Morgan leaned back. “So...we have a mystery man, or woman, backing the sisters, a missing superhuman, and Viper might be hiding an army…”

“This life is never uneventful, Ms. Mueller.”

“No, it is not, Mr. Kang.”

There was a sharp knock at the door and they turned around. “Oh, that must be Ms. Chambers,” Morgan said before getting up. She opened the door and immediately tried to slam it shut, but it was kicked open, knocking her back and onto the floor. Wei jumped from his seat as Cain Barrett walked into the door and cracked his knuckles.

*

The private room was a mess, Veronica and Reva, their naked bodies sporting fresh bruises from the fight that turned the room upside down, sized each other up. Reva wiped a trickle of blood running down her nose and licked her finger. Veronica, her wig long torn off, flexed her fingers, feeling the sting on her bruised knuckles.

“You one of Barrett’s black ops buddies?” Veronica asked.

“We slit a lot of throats for Uncle Sam,” Reva said. “Now, I just do it for money. He thought he might run into interference, so he asked me along since this is my town.”

Veronica looked down and saw one of her heels on the floor in front of her.

“After I kill you, I’m gonna find that little girl you were with and skin her alive,” Reva promised. Veronica kicked her shoe at Reva, who growled and blocked it on instinct. Veronica then ran across the room and assaulted Reva with a flurry of punches and kicks. Reva was on the defensive until she managed to grab an empty water glass and smash it across Veronica’s raised forearm.

Veronica stumbled back, toward the table with the sex toys, and she grabbed a two-foot long paddle. She spun around and deflected Reva when Reva attempted to stab her with a shard of glass. She turned the next stab attempt aside and smacked Reva hard on her bare ass, making the assassin cry out in surprise. Veronica then hit her in the back of the head, forcing her toward the wall.

Reva spun around in anger, then gagged and clutched her neck when Veronica punched her in the throat. Her eyes watered up and her legs gave out. She then gagged again when Veronica choked her with a leather collar that she managed to tighten around her Reva’s neck. Reva flailed and tried to fight, but Veronica locked it shut and fixed a chain to the back. She then pulled Reva in and punched her hard in the kidney.

Reva screamed at the shock of blinding pain and fell to her knees, clutching her back. Veronica ran across the room, dragging the naked Reva behind her, and tied the chain around one of the legs of the bed, looping it around several times before tying it off. Reva ran at her, but the limited length pulled her back and made her fall on her ass. She screamed and lashed at Veronica, who stepped just out of reach.

“Take this fucking thing off!” Reva raged. She swung again but Veronica grabbed her arm and slapped her in the face, bringing her to her knees. She then grabbed the dazed Reva’s other arm and held both wrists in a firm grip.

“Don’t ever threaten me or my partner again,” Veronica breathed.

“When I get out of this, I will find you, cunt!” Reva promised.

“When you get out of this, you’re gonna need help wiping your own ass,” Veronica told her. She smiled when she noticed the confused look on Reva’s face and then twisted both wrists. There were two wet snaps and Reva let out a bloodcurdling cry and fell to her knees. Tears filled her eyes and both wrists bent at unnatural angles with her fingers limp.

Reva fell into a fetal position, crying and trembling. “My wrists!! You broke my fucking wrists you whore!!”

Veronica gathered her dress and quickly put it back on. She then grabbed her purse and took off out of the room to find Morgan.

*

Morgan struggled uselessly in Cain’s iron grip, kicking at him and hitting his shoulders with her fists to try and break free while he lifted her off the floor.

Wei pulled himself up on his desk, his busted nose dripping as he looked for something to use as a weapon. He found a pen on his desk and palmed it, before turning and yelling as he charged at Cain. He buried the pen in the big man’s leg and got a big fist across his face that put him on the floor.

Tears welled up in Morgan’s eyes as she felt the fight leaving her. Desperately, she clawed at Cain, any words dying in her contracting throat. She then saw movement behind him as the door opened, and a moment later, Cain grunted and fell to one knee. Morgan fell in front of him, sucking in air as his hands let go of her neck.

When she looked up, she saw Veronica extend one long leg and nail the kneeling Cain in the side of his head with a powerful kick.

Veronica moved around Cain and got between him and Morgan without looking away from him. “Are you okay?”

“Yes,” Morgan nodded and coughed. “Thank you.”

Veronica glanced to her side. “Is that Mind’s Eye?”

“It is,” Morgan said while crawling to him. She shook him and he stirred. Cain groaned and stood up, shaking his head. Veronica moved away from Morgan to pull his attention and took a fighting stance. She glanced down when she saw a glint and noted the knife that appeared in his hand. The two then charged at each other and began fighting.

Wei sat up with Morgan’s help and they watched as Veronica gracefully weaved and dodged Cain’s expert stabs and slashes before responding with her own punches and strikes that staggered him. “So that is the Mantis…” Wei whispered. “Incredible…”

“Are you hurt?” Morgan asked.

“I am fine,” he told her. “But…” he went back to his computer and began typing.

“What are you doing?”

“Purging the system,” Wei told her while he typed on the keyboard. Within moments, a progress bar appeared, signaling a full system deletion, and Wei then plucked a small drive from a slot and put it in his pocket. “For Delphi,” he said with a smile while patting his pocket.

They were distracted when Mantis grunted out loud and turned to find her with Cain’s extended, knife-wielding hand locked in her arms. She grunted and twisted his arm, forcing the knife free, before shoving him back and putting him down with a flying knee.

The floor shook when Cain went down and Veronica bent over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath. “Are you two okay?”

Wei and Morgan both nodded.

“Good. Let’s go,” she said. She moved to the door and grabbed her purse but watched Cain and made sure Wei and Morgan were out first before she slammed the door behind her.

Out in the hall, they looked to see everything was clear.

“We shouldn’t risk going through the front door,” Morgan said.

“Agreed…” Veronica said, breathing heavily as sweat matted her dark hair to her forehead.

“Back exit, this way,” Wei said, leading them. “We can…” He then looked down and saw red on the floor before looking at Veronica, who clutched her side with a bloody hand.

“It’s a scratch…” she said, obviously in pain.

“Oh, no!” Morgan said. She ran over and tore a piece of fabric from her dress to pressure the wound. She then helped Veronica stay on her feet.

“Come!” Wei said, running down the hall.

*

The back door led into a lot behind the building with several parked cars. Wei tried several doors until one opened and looked at Morgan and Veronica. Morgan looked at the car and then at Wei.

“Hold her,” she said, handing a fading Veronica to him. Morgan went to the car, knelt down and got under the steering column. Within the moments, the car rumbled to life and Morgan looked at Wei. “Stay in the back with her, keep pressure on the wound and don’t let her close her eyes! I’ll drive.” She then got in the driver’s seat.”

Wei simply nodded and helped Veronica into the back of the sedan before closing the door behind them. The car began moving and Wei pressed the torn fabric to Veronica’s wound. Veronica grunted and tried sitting up.

“Since when can you hotwire a car?” Veronica asked.

“Morgan was arrested for stealing a teacher’s car at her high school when she was 15,” Wei said.

“Why didn’t I know that?” Veronica asked. “How does he know that?!”

“He’s Mind’s Eye, Ms. Chambers,” Morgan said, moving out into the streets of Nova City with her grip tight on the wheel.

Next: Breaking and Entering