Supplying Supers - Ch. 18 - An Offer They Shouldn't Refuse - Beta (Patreon)

Friday June 16th, 2025 Mazuma City, Mazuma Amerika

Gunner Webb

OSDB Hero Rank: N/A - Civilian

OSDB Threat Rating: N/A - Civilian

The table was set.

Gunner stood at attention as he waited for his guests. The massive pillars and worn archways lined the length of the nave, giving the cathedral its height. Every surface was tagged with gang signs and profanity.

The painted ceiling of Divinity’s accomplishments throughout the centuries fell in small chips with each gust of wind. A towering statue of their protector stood at the apse of the interior, overlooking all who entered. Shattered glass sat in the open windows, allowing the moon to bring in natural light.

When Gunner searched for a place to hold the meeting with the team, his requirements were clear. It needed to be abandoned so that he could lease it for cheap and needed to be isolated from any major structures and civilians in the event that the meeting turned destructive. The ruins of Divinity’s Church of the Light felt fitting.

Earlier in the day, they’d brought in a long table and chairs, enough seating for ten. An assortment of steaming covered trays and silver coolers of iced wines and sodas sat on top of the white tablecloth. Each spot had a place card with each super’s alias printed on the front.

All except one. He felt it pertinent to avoid listing Yokai based on the previous evening’s conversation. He honestly wasn’t sure if she would arrive. Seeing her name would also likely scare off some attendees.

James, Franco, and Daniel set up lights and cameras around the building. They were a failsafe should the meeting go poorly. He didn’t expect it to end catastrophically, but he needed to take precaution and give the group an ultimatum of why they shouldn’t kill him where he stood.

Gunner had instructed Flux to wait at the front entrance in her office attire and guide their visitors inside. Velocity stood off to the side to act like the muscle, which was clear as she wore her plate carrier while keeping her rifle at the ready hang position. She wasn’t meant to intimidate the guests, but Gunner wanted them to assume that he paid for protection.

Assuming she was a civilian would lure them into a false sense of security, thinking they could dodge her bullets. Gunner knew Mach10 could. But he was curious to see if her Burst ability activated first, if she’d drop him before he could jump out of the way of the shot.

Over the last few days, Gunner had meticulously planned for everything. This meeting was all about setting proper expectations of what his guests would find when they arrived. He’d planned for what he’d say, what he’d look like, and all his assumed outcomes. His role was the one of the wealthy proprietor who would do anything to see his city safe again. It wasn’t a lie, but it also wasn’t the full truth, either.

Even though his invitations specifically stated this was a neutral zone and physical confrontations would not be tolerated, he still prepared for blood to be spilled. Ideally, his guests would argue and complain but eventually accept if they knew what was good for them. He was giving them an offer they shouldn’t refuse.

But if they did, they would pay the consequence. It came down to whether the dirt he had on them was solid enough and they’d believe that he’d use it. The only way to prove that would be to make an example out of someone.

Gunner didn’t want to do that, but would, if required. His goal was to have two teams of five, but he knew that was unlikely. As long as they had enough for one full team, he’d make do.

The host looked down at his watch. It was ten till midnight. Any minute now, he thought.

Hailstorm arrived first. Out of all the ones arriving, she looked the most alien. Her lithe body looked painted in a blue similar to that of a robin’s egg. Her outfit was composed of varying thicknesses of ice. Thin opaque sheets formed over her breasts and in between her legs protected her from breaking any obscenity laws.

Shards of ice floated above her head and around her waist, creating a makeshift crown and skirt. Overlapped pieces on her hands and feet gave them a knightly look of bracers and greaves. Each step she took froze the cement beneath her. Her breath blew thick smoke as if she was standing in a blizzard. When she approached Gunner, he could feel the air around them get colder.

“Welcome, Hailstorm,” Gunner said before pointing down at the chairs. “Feel free to have a seat, take part in some food, or pour yourself a drink. I’m sure you’re parched after the flight.”

“I take it you’re Mr. Webb.” Hailstorm said like more of a statement than a question. Her eyes darted around the room as she paced around, scanning for threats.

“I am.” An unnecessary response given he knew she was the type of person to do her homework.

“Then do you mind telling me why I’m here?”

“I think we both know why you are here. However, I do not mean to waste your time. I will reveal my intentions once we have everyone together so that I do not have to repeat myself.”

Hailstorm scowled, but relented as she continued her sweep of the area. When she finished, she strolled over to the table and looked at the names. Upon recognizing a few, her head perked up as she pointed down. “There are villain names here.”

“Yes.”

“You’re bringing villains and heroes under the same roof?”

“Yes, I am. I will remind you of the stipulations of your invitation. This is neutral ground. Anyone who breaks the neutrality will forfeit their invitation and result in an undesirable outcome for said party.”

“It takes either a very brave or insane person to blackmail a bunch of heroes and villains.”

“Maybe a bit of both,” Gunner said with a slight chuckle.

MartyrDOM and Blast Wave entered at the same time, making it seem they arrived together. The rocker woman’s body matched her occupation. It was thin and athletic except for her thick breasts and plump bottom.

She wore a tight, purple-leather top with spikes protruding from the shoulders paired with cut black jeans. Her curly hair was pulled into two pigtails. The color matched her dark skin except for the red highlights on the tips.

Her face glistened with metal piercings in her ears, nose, and tongue. Gunner wasn’t sure if the white iris in her eyes were contacts or a supernatural mutation as part of her connection to the Gale, but it complimented her look.

Blast Wave dressed simpler. A sleeveless jacket hung over a black tank top paired with blue jeans and boots. His dark brown eyes glanced down at everyone as he towered over them. The vascularity across his powerful arms and tree trunk thighs gave him the body of a god.

“MartyDOM, Blast Wave, welcome,” Gunner said before pointing down at the table. “Please help yourself to any food or drink. We’ll be starting as soon as everyone arrives.”

Blast Wave headed straight for the food while MartyDOM repeated Hailstorm’s action of investigating her surroundings. The colossal figure rubbed his hands together when he opened the cover of a thick lobster tail. After grabbing a few with tongs, he went down the line and loaded his plate with side dishes and desserts.

By the time he started eating, MartyDOM finished her search. She leaned against one of the nearby pillars and shouted out to her arrival companion. “You’re really eating?”

“Yeah, didn’t you see the spread? I’m not someone to let good food go to waste.”

“What if it’s poisoned?”

“What’s his plan?” Blast Wave nodded to Gunner. “Invite us all the way here just to poison us with food? Seems like a lot of work just to kill us.”

“I give you my word the food is not poisoned,” Gunner said, crossing his heart. “Food allergies notwithstanding.” He wasn’t sure if it was his declaration or Blast Wave’s sense that convinced the other two, but they soon grabbed their own glasses of wine before returning to their spots.

The incoming sound of propulsion alerted Gunner of Tinker Titan’s arrival. Everyone in the room looked above as the machine flew around the church. They dropped what they were doing and readied themselves for a fight.

Gunner wasn’t worried. Reacting would dilute his image of confidence. He trusted his team to protect him if needed. And so he waited patiently.

The drone made several more passes before flying through one of the broken side windows. It dropped to the ground, cracking the cement underneath it. Blast Wave was no longer the tallest.

Gunner had studied Tinker Titan’s drones before, but he’d never seen this model. It was bipedal and heavily armored. Its camera sat on top, shielded around the neck, allowing it to swivel three-hundred-and-sixty degrees. Two micro missile pods stood over its shoulders. One arm was just a minigun with a chute-fed backpack while the other had a normal robotic hand.

The camera twisted around the room before locking onto Gunner. Its body moved separately from the head as it marched over toward him and said in a fully modulated voice, “Target located.”

Gunner smiled and held up his hand. “Welcome Tinker Titan. Please be patient while we await everyone’s arrival.”

This time, the voice that spoke sounded young and more frantic. “I’m not here to wait, Mr. Webb. I want to know what all of this is about.”

“Please, my good Sir. I don’t wish to repeat myself. Everyone is expected to arrive by midnight.” Gunner double checked his watch. “You’re exactly one minute early. I’d like to give everyone till 12:05 in case of any traffic and then we shall get started.”

The camera lens shifted before the machine backed away underneath an arch and groaned like a child being asked to do chores. “Fine.”

In the mess of Tinker Titan’s arrival, Whisper had arrived as well. He stood off in the corner, away from everyone else. He wore an all-black ensemble composed of a baseball cap, a wind jacket, and drop crotch joggers. His signature half ski mask with the painted red X on the front was pulled up over his mouth. A black travel backpack hung around his shoulders. When he locked eyes with Gunner, he gave a subtle wave.

“Ah, I see you’ve joined us too, Whisper. As I’ve told everyone, please make yourself comfortable. You may take your seat at the table if you wish, grab something to drink or something to—”

When Gunner blinked, he saw a blur out of the side of his eye. Mach10 was sprinting full force at him. When his eyes shifted to look at the approaching super and followed him, Mach10’s eyes widened. He didn’t expect to be seen. Sliding to a halt, he stopped a foot from Gunner, slack jawed disbelief.

He was shorter than Gunner by a few inches, but his tall reddish-blonde hair made him appear taller. His yellow-and-red super suit was form fitting and flexible, a requirement because of the friction of his movement. It was covered like a NASCAR racecar, full of all the dozens of companies’ logos that sponsored him. His suit covered his neck and around his forehead, where orange goggles covered his eyes.

“Mach10, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Gunner said, grabbing his hand and shaking it.

Mach10 swallowed, catching his breath as he said, “How did you—”

“Know you were coming? You arrived right on time. Please, have a seat and we will get started momentarily.”

Mach10 eyed Gunner as he shuffled over to the side where Hailstorm stood. The two whispered to each other as they stared Gunner down. He didn’t mind, and expected this. As long as everyone kept calm and played by the rules, this would be a painless evening.

It was wishful thinking.

When his watch read 12:05, Gunner whispered to Velocity to grab Flux. Once the pair returned to his side, Gunner clasped his hands together, pulling everyone’s attention.

“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” he began. “I know some of you have traveled across the country to get here. As many of you already know or have assumed, I am Mr. Webb. I’m the one who sent you all the correspondence requesting your presence today. Now, before we begin, should we go around the room and introduce ourselves?”

“How about we just get on with it,” Tinker Titan said to the agreeable murmurs of the guests.

“Very well. Several weeks ago, Murders started plaguing Mazuma City, murders that targeted supers.”

“I heard about this,” Blast Wave said, taking a bite of food. “Some kind of super serial killer.”

“Wait,” Mach10 said, holding up his hand, “So some villain is going around killing heroes?”

“Not just heroes, villains too,” Gunner added.

“Well, fuck them. Nobody cares about villains.”

“Hey!” Blast Wave shouted. “Some of my best friends are former crims. Some people make mistakes.”

Mach10 snorted. “You’re dreaming. Everyone knows once a criminal, always a criminal.”

“What about you Mr. Hot Shot? Everybody knows you’re a woman beater.”

“You better watch your mouth before hit you back to last week.”

“How about the both of you shut the fuck up?” MartyrDOM yelled. “Some of us came here to hear what this suit has to say. Not listen to either of your opinions.”

Gunner smiled. “Thank you, MartyrDOM—”

“Don’t thank me. Just fucking tell us what you want with us.”

“You’re each here because I want to put together a team to investigate these murders.”

“A job?” Mach10 laughed. “You called us all the way out here to offer us a job? What a crock of shit.”

“How much does it pay?” Blast Wave asked.

“Each of you will be put on retainer for a hundred thousand dollars a week.”

“A hundred grand a week?” Mach10 choked on the verge of laughter. “I make more than that taking my morning shit.”

“That’s not why we’re here though,” Hailstorm said, taking a few steps forward. “The correspondence you sent brought me here for a reason. One I’m guessing we all showed up for.”

Gunner hung his head and let out a sigh. “Yes. I’ve had to use an unsavory tactic to bring you all here. I sent a passphrase hinting at a secret or situation you all do not want revealed.”

“So this is blackmail,” MartyrDOM said before raising her middle finger. “I fucking knew it. Fuck you, man.”

Gunner ignored the insult and continued. “I know this investigation requires the best team, which is why you were chosen.”

“Now you’re just fucking with us. If you want the best, you should be talking to the Paragon Alliance.”

“Isn’t the SOC handling this?” Hailstorm asked.

“Yes, but poorly,” Gunner said bluntly. “The team created tonight is the last hope that the city has. Without it, Mazuma City is in danger. The murders are disrupting a delicate balance that must be maintained. If the balance isn’t maintained, the city will fall into a spiral that I do not believe it can crawl back from. And if Mazuma City falls, the entire country will too.”

Gunner pointed at the cards on the table. “I want to be clear. Each of you has a choice that you must make tonight. Printed on the inside of your name card on the table is the information that I have on you. Your choices are as follows: take the job, save lives, and get paid. I’ll also erase the information included on that sheet. Or you can leave now and deal with the consequences.”

A green laser shot out from Tinker Titan’s drone and scanned the document. After it dissipated, the machine roared to life, moving toward the window opening. “I’m calling your bluff, Mr. Webb. I’ve been here for the last fifteen years. I’m wanted by dozens of governments. There’s no way you know where I am.”

“Are you sure?” Gunner asked, pulling out his phone.

“Yeah, do what you need to do.”

Gunner hit send on his phone. “Okay, it’s done.”

“That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Tinker Titan’s laughter radiated from his drone’s speakers. “Wow, what a waste of time. Thanks for the joke.”

Gunner raised his finger and said, “Hold on.”

“What?”

“I’d ask that you at least stay until the end.”

“For what? No, you’ve wasted enough of my time. I’m leaving.” The drone turned around and froze. An alarm rang through the drone’s speakers as fear radiated from his voice. “Wait! What is this? No, no, no, this can’t be happening!”

The drone spun and raised its weapon. The barrels spun, sending a whine throughout the room. “I’ll kill you for this!”

Flux jumped in front of Mr. Webb and readied herself. Everyone in the room winced when the drone’s speaker played static. The machine’s weapon slowly spun down when the noise was silenced.

“What the hell happened?” MartyrDOM shouted.

“It was as Mr. Tinker Titan said,” Gunner began. “He was wanted by dozens of countries. The nice thing about some of my eastern European friends is that they’re willing to work with third parties. Like when you tell them you have the coordinates of a target’s hidden base preemptively, and they send high-altitude stealth fighters with bunker busting ordnance, ready to strike at your signal.”

The guests all looked at each other before approaching the table. One-by-one they each picked up their name card and read the back. They all reacted as he expected: wide-eyed, jaws clenched, and cursing under their breaths.

Mach10 looked around the room and crossed his arms. “You know. There’s five of us and only three of you. We could just kill you where you stand.”

Velocity raised her gun and Flux positioned herself between them as she said, “You try, you’re dead.”

“Oh yeah? What are you going to do, sweetheart? By the time your boss is dead, I’ll be back home busting a fat nut in my four girlfriends.”

“You’re not serious, Johnny, are you?” Hailstorm asked.

“Who the fuck are you calling Johnny?” Mach10 said, blurring away from her. “It’s Mach10. And yes, I’m serious. He’s a criminal trying to blackmail us. Criminals get what’s coming to them.”

“But murder?”

“Don’t try to talk him out of it,” Blast Wave said, crossing his arms. “I’ve seen heroes like him. He’s let his power get to his head. He thinks he’s above the law.”

Before Mach10 could get a word in. Gunner clapped his hand and held up a finger. “If I may. There are cameras all over this building. If they go out or I die, the information included on those papers will be released, regardless.”

“And why should I give a shit? Leak it. See if I care. The only thing I care about right now is breaking your damn neck. And ain’t nothing fast enough to stop me.”

Mach10 made it halfway across the room before he froze in midair. A circle of light etched in Gale runes illuminated underneath him. Gunner recognized the spell immediately and smiled.

Yokai’s heels clicked from the shadows behind a pillar. When she stepped forward, her enormous bosom led the way. The moonlight highlighted it in her full glory. She looked exactly the same since Gunner had seen her last.

Her Raven black hair fell beyond her shoulders, shimmering an almost blue color in the light. Her dark brown eyes looked black in the darkness. The pinkness of her lips stood out among her pale skin.

Her all-black dress was long and flowing. Slits along the side revealed her wide hips. Silver flower accents protruded from her shoulders like pauldrons.

When she spoke, her voice was soft, but exuded the age and confidence that came with centuries of life. “Did I hear you right, Mach10? Nothing is fast enough to stop you?”

The guests gasped and cursed as they all shuffled into one group away from the new threat. Blast Wave raised his fists. Snow flurries swirled around Hailstorm’s arms. Whisper tugged his face mask down, revealing his Maori tattoos. And MartyrDOM flipped out her butterfly knives.

As Yokai approached Mach10 from behind, he strained to say, “What did you do to me?”

“You didn’t answer my question,” Yokai said, annoyed.

“I don’t know.”

“You said nothing is fast enough to stop you. But here you stand, frozen in place. Do you now know what’s faster than you?”

“No.”

Yokai pouted her lip. “I weep for your prodigy. Hopefully, they get their mother’s intellect.” She walked up to Gunner and placed her hand on his chest. “Maybe you can help him out, Koibito.”

“Light,” Gunner said with a smile.

“Exactly,” Yokai said, spinning on a dime. “Light. And that is why you’re stuck in this trap. Now, what to do with you? Any suggestions?”

“Let him go!” Hailstorm commanded from across the room.

“Oh, it’s much too late for that. See, back in the eighteen hundreds, I spent a lot of time in the uncivilized lands of the western United States. I became a fan of something called frontier justice. Mach10 is a known woman beater who has yet to see the inside of a cell. But worse than that, he just tried to kill someone dear to me. So, no, I won’t be letting him go.”

Yokai extended her hand and spoke an incantation. The circle of light disappeared along with the suspended super.

“What did you do to him!” Hailstorm shouted.

“I sent him somewhere close, but also far. There, he will work to survive. If he is strong enough, he will and thus earn his chance at freedom. If not, he will die the coward that he is.”

“That’s not your decision to make.”

“Are you really arguing for someone who hits women and just attempted to murder Mr. Webb and his companions?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s not a supe’s decision to decide someone’s fate.”

“Even when the justice system has already failed the women he abused?”

Hailstorm hesitated before saying, “Yes.”

“Hm. I commend you for your convictions. However, I did not expect you, of all people, to be so naïve.”

“Not to interrupt this conversation,” Gunner said, stepping between the two. “However, I do not want to waste any more time for those of you who want to choose to leave.”

Whisper stepped forward, rummaging in his bag before pulling out a magnetic etch-a-sketch. He scribbled on it before turning it over and displaying it for everyone to see. It read, “I’m in.”

Seeing Whisper’s declaration, Blast Wave waved his hand and said, “I’m onboard too. I’d already agreed once I knew about the money. It could help a lot of kids.”

“Good to know,” Gunner said. “However, I wanted everyone to be on a level playing field to make it seem like I was playing favorites.”

“Even her?” Hailstorm asked, nodding toward Yokai.

The pair looked at each other before Gunner responded. “Yes, even Yokai was given an ultimatum.”

It wasn’t a strong one, but he knew they’d ask about it. Showing that he blackmailed the most wanted supe in the world proved his conviction and own power. Now was the time for the others to decide whether everything laid before them was sufficient enough to join him.

MartyrDOM crossed her arms and shrugged. “I guess I’m in too. But we’ll need to get this done soon. I’m preparing for a tour.”

“It is my goal to see this resolved as soon as possible,” Gunner said. “The more efficiently we work together, the faster I’m certain that we’ll get this done. Just a friendly reminder, this is a good thing we are doing here. We’re helping to stop a murderer.”

“Murderers stopping a murderer,” Hailstorm snorted. “Isn’t it ironic?”

“Okay, Atlantis Morrisette,” MartyrDOM groaned, rolling her eyes. “Are you in or not? I want to get this show on the road.”

Hailstorm twisted her lips as she thought for a moment before looking up at Gunner and nodding.

“Wonderful,” Gunner said before picking up a briefcase from the ground. He set it on the table, opened it, and pulled out a stack of papers. Everyone received their own stack and a pen before he said, “This is the employment contract. You’ll all become employees of Webb Investigations as probationary private investigators who are working to obtain the license. This is just a formality to protect us legally as we investigate.”

“Shouldn’t our SOC registration cover this?” Hailstorm asked.

“Yes, it should, but given not all of you are heroes, this just dots the i’s and crosses the t’s. There’s also a confidentiality agreement that states anything you see or hear during the investigation going forward may not be discussed with anyone.”

“Why?” MartyrDOM asked.

“That means whatever is killing these supers is likely some corporate or government secret,” Hailstorm said, signing the papers. “I’ve seen documents like these before. The SOC’s forms are twice as thick.”

“This is just to protect you and I the best we can from any legal troubles that may arise from this investigation. I promise it’s my way of keeping your best interest at heart.”

“Says the guy, blackmailing us.”

“That I do not deny. But please understand, I love this city, and I will do whatever it takes to maintain the stability. Even if that means bringing you all together in such an unorthodox circumstance.”

Once everyone signed their forms, Gunner gathered them up and swapped them with keycards. He handed one to everyone, then said, “These are keys to your rooms at my hotel. It’s the Lighthouse. As long as you stay at the hotel and make use of the facilities, all of your accommodations will be taken care of. It’s as simple as billing everything to your room. All that I ask is that you do not abuse my kindness. There are four restaurants and a convenience store if you’re hungry or forgot to pack something. There is a pool, jacuzzi, and spa on floor four. The Olympic gym is on nine, which should be able to accommodate even your strength Blast Wave.”

“Damn, this sounds better and better,” Blast Wave grinned.

“Make no mistake, though. This investigation is dangerous. You’re expected to be able to respond within a moment’s notice. Should anyone get injured, we have an on-call physician on staff, and I will take care of any needed medical expenses.”

“How do we keep in contact with each other?” MartyrDOM asked.

“Great question,” Gunner said, retrieving another briefcase. After opening it, he handed everyone a phone and the familiar earpieces he’d used for Millie’s rescue. “These phones are on a private network. If you need to make a call or text, you will use the Webber app, which creates an encrypted message or call only the caller and recipient can receive. Your number is labeled on the back of your phone. The earpieces are for when we’re onsite. You use them just like a radio. Hold the button on the side to communicate or double tap for live transmission.”

“This is some James Bond level shit,” Blast Wave said, sliding the earpiece on.

“You’ve never done any joint ops before?” Hailstorm asked. “This is all pretty standard stuff.”

“Nope. I’ve never never really lived the super life. My grandma kept my nose pretty clean, but helping others is still my jam. I own a youth services non-profit to help keep the youngin’s out of trouble. It’s getting harder everyday though.”

“Oh, that’s… sweet,” Hailstorm said.

“Yeah, anything to keep those kids out of DV or, worse… Level 9.”

“Oof, I’ve heard Death Valley is no joke,” MartyrDOM said.

“You’ve got that right. That shit is inhumane. The only outdoor time you get is limited because of the heat. Then you’re locked up in an underground facility where you’re always freezing. So you go from one extreme to the next. If you crack, which most people do, then you’re on a one-way trip to Level 9. And you know, no one comes back from there—”

“That’s not true,” Velocity said, a look of disdain on your face.

Everyone in the room turned, surprised at the sudden outburst. Blast Wave asked what everyone was wondering. “Are you saying you got out?”

“No—I… it’s just not as impenetrable as everyone makes it out to be.”

Blast Wave snorted. “Unless you know something that I don’t, shit… that’s news to me.”

Gunner watched Velocity’s jaw tighten as she lowered her head. He placed his hand on her shoulder, brightening her appearance with a stern nod. He knew she was counting on him keeping his promise, which he aimed to keep. Her subtle smile showed she understood.

Gunner looked at the rest of the team and asked, “Are there any other questions?”

“What happens if we resolve this earlier than a week?” Blast Wave asked. “Are we still getting paid?”

Seeing an opportunity, Gunner smiled. “Better. If we resolve this completely, then I’ll pay you a one hundred-and-fifty-thousand dollar bonus on top of the hundred grand owed.”

“What are we waiting for? Let’s get to work, then!”

“Would you like to? I know many of you have been traveling. I figured I’d give you all a night of rest to get acclimated to your hotel.”

MartyrDOM shook her head. “No, I’m with Blast. Let’s get this done. If you’ve got leads for us, then let’s jump into this.”

As the rest of the group nodded with a mixture of excitement and agreement, Like a magician, Gunner pulled out his third briefcase from underneath the table. “All right, gather around and we’ll get started.”