System Supervillain, Chapter 62 (Patreon)

Chapter 62 – Liberty

Eva Murphy did her best not to sigh as she crouched on the rooftop of the building overlooking the entrance to the New York branch of the Tailors. She was used to waiting. Waiting is most of what a superhero did, to be honest. Even the ones who went on patrol. The law did not let them interfere with ‘mundane’ crimes unless the local authorities asked for help, or they were witness to a criminal act in person.

She knew the reasons for it, of course. Overreliance on heroes would put too much power and influence in a small group of people, and likely lead to escalation, on all sides, as mundanes tried to ‘fight back’. But it meant that she, and other heroes like her, were forced to step back, and let things happen, when they could do so much more to help people if they could just be proactive.

Unfortunately, the closest to ‘proactive’ that they normally got to go was to go on a stakeout, like this one. Tracking a target or watching a building, hoping for something to happen. Not exactly the glamorous, high-octane lifestyle people pictured when they thought of heroes.

But, even if the laws weren’t so restrictive, they wouldn’t be able to be much more proactive, in this case. After all, the person they were watching wasn’t a villain, or necessarily even a villain’s accomplice. She was a heroine, and a member of the local superhero team, the New York Knights.

Electra had been acting slightly differently ever since her encounter with Iceblade. Some of that could, no doubt, be chalked up to the challenges of suddenly being thrust into motherhood, and not having the father around to help her. Or, at least, not being around to openly help her. Everyone knew that Iceblade was the father, after all, and none of the analysts believed that he would actually let go of Electra, or his kid.

But there was more to it than that. Eva would bet everything that Electra knew more about Iceblade than she let on. Probably had seen him without his mask. Maybe even knew where he and his growing villain team kept their base. But she kept quiet. Her team had scanned her for traces of mind control, but found no active mental influence, and she showed no signs of blackmail or coercion in any other part of her hero work. So, she was either a willing accomplice, or was under some far more subtle control or coercion, something they hadn’t detected.

Either way, Electra, and her child, were solid links that could be used to draw out Iceblade, and trap him. That wasn’t her preference, of course. She would have loved to keep the heroine, and especially her child, out of this. This kind of scheming was unbecoming, especially when directed at one of their own.

There just wasn’t any other choice. Iceblade may have quieted down after his defeat of the Dark Cabal, but that did not mean he was inactive, or that he had somehow stopped being a villain. There were a few suspicious disappearances in Korea, causing the local paparazzi to back off from the house where Blaze and White Wings lived, with their new children. A house that definitely wasn’t bought under their names. The heroines had disappeared from public life after that video of them with Iceblade came out, but clearly they’d retired from the hero life to become his mistresses. Probably paid for by the two bank robberies in San Francisco and Moscow that bore his signature.

The important thing, though, was that he was clearly still active, and still a criminal. Even if he wasn’t, he’d killed a senator on live television, on the Senate floor. There was no way that the government could let that go. Iceblade had to face justice.

Unfortunately, he was slippery as an eel, and twice as hard to pin down. In addition to his other abilities, he clearly had some means of teleportation. Which meant that he could literally go anywhere, without the normal restrictions. And since he had long had a reputation of picking his own targets, they either had to hope that they got lucky, or they had to draw him out.

She sighed, going over what was known about him in her head. It wasn’t much. No one knew Iceblade’s real identity. There were some people who claimed to have seen his face, before he donned the costume he wore now, but most of them were dead, or were less than reliable witnesses due to criminal activity or substance abuse. That’s just how it went, sometimes.

Accounts from heroes and video recordings were no use, either. Bytegeist’s final ‘recording’ had been scrubbed from every database people could get to after it showed him attempting to rape a woman, only for a man who would later be assumed to be Iceblade killed him. A heroine named Owlgirl had caught up to him on a train, just before he disappeared into the Montana mountains for a year, but she couldn’t give more than a general description, since hypothermia had caused the details to go fuzzy.

After that year in the woods, Iceblade had had a relatively successful career as a street-level criminal, but very few people saw his face. Even without a costume from the Tailors, he’d managed to keep anyone from seeing his face while working, and, after his rampage in Russia, he had gotten a proper costume, meaning that no one saw his face anymore. Or, if they did, there was nothing to connect him to his costumed persona.

Or, like her, they’d been under the influence of his powers, and anything they said was suspect, at best.

It was damned annoying, that’s what it was. And it was the reason they had to focus on following Electra, and hoping she led them to their target. She was stationed over by the Tailors so that this area was under observation, while she remained close enough that she could quickly fly to the other teams’ locations, if Iceblade showed up, or they were attacked. But, so far, there had been nothing.

Eva:   7/10 EGO

The notice shocked her, but not so much that she did not know what to do. Iceblade was somewhere close! She couldn’t let him catch her unawares! With one hand, she touched the buckle of her belt, and cried out, “BY THE GOLDEN LIGHT OF VICTORY, NIKE, BE MY GUIDE!”

Golden light descended upon her as she held up one hand towards the sky. That light burned away the clothes she wore, though it was too bright to see anything under it. A golden belt circled her waist. From under it, an armored leotard of sapphire and gold spread to cover her body, with a skirt of overlapping weighted leather straps in the same colors falling to her mid-thigh, and matching boots and bracers covered her feet and forearms. A crown sat upon her head, with a sapphire glowing with inner light upon her brow. In her upstretched hand a sword of silver light made itself manifest, and a matching shield strapped itself to her left arm. Upon her waist, a golden lasso was coiled, ready to use.

“BY THE GODDESS’S MIGHT, I AM LADY VICTORY!”

Bored clapping brought her attention to the side of the rooftop she was standing on, where Iceblade was lounging atop an air conditioner unit. LOUNGING! As though she weren’t a threat in the slightest!

Lady   Victory: 17/20 EGO (Power Defense 35 negates Drain)

Lady Victory smiled at the blue box’s information. “Stalling for time will not avail you, Iceblade. The Goddess of Victory protects me from whatever foul magic you use to steal women’s wills. Now, surrender, and face justice for your many crimes!”

Iceblade seemed unconcerned, which only infuriated her. “Yes, I thought that was you, Victory. I recognized that lovely rear. You remember the last time we met, don’t you? We had such fun together, didn’t we?”

“Sh-shut up! You used some foul magic to cloud my head with your perverse thoughts! It wasn’t me!” Lady Victory stammered as the thief’s barb hit too close to home. “That is just one of the crimes you must answer for!”

The thief laughed, and stood up, before moving into a defensive stance. He hadn’t even drawn his sword. The bastard. He really was taking her lightly! “Tell me, pet, how did the System stat up the points between your two personas?” She flinched, she couldn’t help herself, and heard the smile in the bastard’s voice. “Ah, so it did do something, hmm? Everyone thinks of you as Lady Victory, but people don’t realize that your artifact gives you a different personality when you’re in this form. Shy little Eva goes away, and Lady Victory takes over. That’s how it goes, yes?”

Lady Victory froze, if only for a moment. Her deepest secret. Yes, he would remember that, the bastard. After he’d caught her flying back from a patrol, and controlled her with his demon magic. Made her do all those horrible, naughty, things.

Lady   Victory’s attack roll (Iceblade), OCV 13: 3d6 = 14 (Hits DCV 10) (Miss)

Lady   Victory: 56/60 END

Lady   Victory: 17/20 EGO

Gritting her teeth, she said, “ENOUGH OF THIS! DIE, YOU BASTARD!” She closed the gap between them, and her blade swung down, intending to cleave him in two. But the bastard dodged to the side, letting the blow pass harmlessly by him.

“KNEEL, BITCH!”

Lady   Victory’s modified EGO roll (Psychological Disadvantage), 7-: 3d6 = 8 (Fail)

The words were a command. Not magic, or mind control, but she knew that tone. The bastard had engraved it into her soul, once before. Before she even realized it, she was on her knees in front of him. She didn’t want to think about what the heat between her thighs meant.

His hand grabbed her by the hair, turned her face upwards, to look at him. She fought back tears of shame, as he spoke down to her. “That’s what I thought. Does the rest of your team know that your ‘heroine’ persona has been so thoroughly broken that a simple command can force you into submission?”

“N-no. Only my therapists know. They say that it is PTSD, and Stockholm Syndrome, and things like that.”

“But you always knew differently, before the System. Didn’t you?”

“Yes,” she said, trying to keep her words as short as possible, and stop from betraying herself.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Master,” she sobbed. She was Lady Victory, a strong and triumphant warrior of justice! And now she was once more on her knees in front of the man that had ruined her, in so many ways.

“Good slut. Now, look at your Status, and call up your Disadvantages. Show them to me, so I know what the System has done to you.”

“Yes, Master.” She wanted to resist. Every fiber of her being wanted to resist. But she could not. Because every fiber of her being also knew that this is where she belonged, at the feet of the one who tamed her, and broke the Goddess’s warrior. This was her place, and even the System knew it.

Disadvantages

Cost

Disadvantage

15

Distinctive Features – Tangible Sexuality (Not   Concealable, Noticed and Recognizable, Detectable by commonly-used senses)

Lady Victory is a beautiful   woman, in her normal form or not, but in her true form, she shines with an   almost divine beauty and sensuality that makes everyone notice her, and want   her.

5

Distinctive Features – Embarrassing Tattoo (Easily   Concealed, Noticed and Recognizable, Detectable by commonly-used senses)

While under the influence   of Iceblade’s control, Lady Victory got a tattoo on her crotch, declaring   that she is “Property of Iceblade”.

15

Hunted – Stepford Manor 11- (Less   Powerful, Has a Public ID or is otherwise easy to find, Capture)

The villain Stepford and   his servants of Stepford Manor are always looking to capture Lady Victory, as   there are a great many individuals who wish to purchase her as a Stepford   Bride.

5

Hunted – Super-Human Defense   Initiative 8- (Less Powerful, NCI, Has a Public ID or is otherwise easy to   find, Watching)

The SHDI watches all public   heroes, but especially those amongst the most powerful, the members of the   Squadron Supreme.

10

Hunted – Groupies 14- (Less   Powerful, Has a Public ID or is otherwise easy to find, Watching)

As a superheroine with the   looks of a supermodel, Lady Victory always has groupies and paparazzi after   her.

15

Psychological Limitation – Heroic Persona (Very Common,   Moderate)

The mantle of Lady Victory   changes the personality of Eva Murphy to the point where she and her alter   ego are truly two different people.

15

Psychological Limitation – Assertive (Heroic   Identity) (Common, Strong)

While in her heroic persona   as Lady Victory, she is very assertive, even aggressive, when dealing with   problems.

15

Psychological Limitation – Competitive (Common, Strong)

In either persona, Lady   Victory is a very competitive person, who hates to lose. While she is not   completely obsessed with winning, she would not have been chosen by the   Goddess of Victory if she did not seek to win in all cases.

10

Psychological Limitation – Shy and Nebbish (Normal   Identity) (Common, Moderate)

Eva Murphy is a shy and   reserved woman, in part because as Lady Victory she is so outspoken and   assertive. While no less driven to win, she is not as likely to take center stage,   if she can help it.

15

Psychological Limitation – Submissive to Iceblade   (Heroic Identity) (Uncommon, Total)

Iceblade broke Lady Victory   in ways she did not think possible, beyond just using her body as a toy. That   kind of domination has left its mark in her heroic psyche, causing her to   have more trouble resisting his commands in her heroic persona.

15

Reputation – Iceblade turned her into   a sex pet, 14- (Extreme, Known only to a small group)

Iceblade used his mind   control powers on Lady Victory, this much everyone knows. But few know (or   suspect) the depths of depravity he drove her to while she was under his   command. Those who do know, however, often hold her moral failings against   her.

10

Rivalry – Professional (Iceblade,   Rival is as powerful as her, Rival aware of rivalry)

Since her defeat at the   hands of Iceblade, Lady Victory has been vehement in erasing that stain from   her honor. Naturally, Iceblade knows of her desire to defeat him.

10

Social Limitation – Conservative (Occasionally,   Severe, Not limiting in some cultures)

In both her personas, Lady   Victory is known for her very conservative views, especially when it comes to   traditional family values, religion, and sexuality.

10

Social Limitation – Public Identity   (Frequently, Major)

As a member of the Squadron   Supreme, both her heroic and private identities are known to the public,   making it easy to find information on her.

10

Social Limitation – Sex Object (Frequently,   Minor)

Unfortunately, for all her   conservative posturing, her beauty and inherent sensuality means that images   of her (real or not) feature extremely prominently on the seedy side of the internet.

10

Vulnerability – 2xEffect from Mind   Control (Demonic sources) (Uncommon)

A lingering effect of her   prior enslavement, before the System, Lady Victory is twice as vulnerable to   the effects of mind control whenever it comes from a demonic source, like an   incubus.

30

Vulnerability – 2xBODY from Silver   attacks (Uncommon)

As a creature empowered by   mystic forces, Lady Victory is weak against Silver weapons, taking twice as   much BODY damage from such attacks.

Total   Bonus

200

She hated showing him that. She hated even more the way that her body clenched when he stroked her face as he spoke. “Good girl. I’m glad you already know your place, even if you try and fight against it. Even the System knows that you belong to me.”