Chapter 42: Uncomfortably Numb
The gentle hum of advanced machinery fills the air of my state-of-the-art workshop, a soothing backdrop to the rhythmic tapping of my fingers across holographic interfaces. Sunlight streams in, casting a warm glow over the sleek metal surfaces and illuminating motes of dust that dance in the air like tiny galaxies.
Before me stands my latest masterpiece, a suit of armor that pushes the boundaries of what's possible with current technology. Its streamlined form shines under the workshop lights, a perfect fusion of form and function. The deep crimson plating is accented with gold trim, creating a striking visual that demands attention.
"Fuck, this makes me wet."
I step back, admiring the suit's imposing silhouette. The broad shoulders taper down to a narrow waist, emphasizing power and agility. Each piece of the armor fits together with microscopic precision, the seams barely visible even under close scrutiny.
"Mavis," I call out, my voice echoing slightly in the workshop, "run a diagnostic test on this thruster."
The AI's voice emanates from the suit itself, smooth and modulated. "Certainly, Antonia. Initiating diagnostic sequence now."
A low whine fills the air as the thruster powers up. Holographic readouts materialize around me, displaying data in real time. I scan the information with practiced ease, my mind processing the complex calculations as easily as most people read a shopping list.
After a few moments, Mavis speaks again. "Diagnostic complete. All parts are nominal, Antonia. Thruster efficiency is at 99.8%, exceeding previous design parameters by 2.3%."
A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth. "Excellent," I murmur, more to myself than to Mavis. "Let's see Payne Enterprises match that."
As I begin to make some final adjustments to the armor's power distribution system, a sudden flicker of movement catches my eye. The large wall-mounted screen that normally displays blueprints and schematics has come to life, its surface rippling with static before resolving into a crisp image.
My breath catches in my throat as I recognize the figure on the screen. Lady Ruin stands tall and imposing, her green hooded cape billowing dramatically in the wind. Behind her, the iconic spire of the Empire State Building stretches towards the sky.
But it's Lady Ruin herself who commands attention. Even through the screen, her presence is palpable, an aura of power and authority radiating from her very being. Her silver helmet shines in the sunlight.
"People of Earth, hear me!" Lady Ruin's voice booms through the workshop, rich and resonant. "I am Lady Ruin. You all know me as the ruler of Utopia."
"Today," Lady Ruin continues, her voice taking on a dangerous edge, "I will declare war with this planet unless this man is brought to me within an hour."
A picture of Luke flashes on the screen. I can't help but scoff at the sight.
"Really? She wants Super Star's pick-me fiancé?" I mutter, shaking my head in disbelief.
Mavis's voice chimes in, her tone carefully neutral. "I would advise against belittling the fiancé of Earth's strongest hero, Antonia. It may not be wise to underestimate his importance."
I sigh heavily, running a hand through my perfectly hair. "Mavis, how long would it take to reach Lady Ruin's location from here?"
There's a brief pause as Mavis calculates. "Approximately 5 minutes, given the current capabilities of your new armor, Antonia."
A wide smile spreads across my face, excitement bubbling up in my chest. "Well then, let's try out the new armor, shall we?"
"Antonia, I must caution you against this course of action," Mavis interjects, her voice tinged with concern. "Lady Ruin's powers have never been fully analyzed or observed directly. All we know for certain is that she created the unbreakable barrier around Utopia, a feat that even you were unable to replicate or breach with your most advanced technology."
The AI's words give me pause, but only for a moment. I wave my hand dismissively, already striding towards the new armor. "Yeah, yeah," I reply, unable to keep the excitement from my voice. "But don't you see, Mavis? This is our chance to finally beat her!"
My fingers dance across the armor's surface, activating the intricate network of sensors and power systems. The suit hums to life, panels sliding open to allow me entry. As I step inside, the familiar rush of adrenaline courses through my veins. The armor closes around me, a perfect second skin of advanced alloys and cutting-edge technology.
"With this new suit," I declare, my voice resonating with confidence inside the helmet, "I'm invincible."
*****
[Luke's POV]
The world feels soft and hazy around the edges like I'm viewing everything through a gauzy filter. My limbs are heavy, comfortably numb. I giggle to myself, because I can't stop thinking about the Konami code.
"Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right," I mumble, my voice slurred. "This is some good stuff, Dark Star."
I try to lift my hand to simulate the code but find my wrist won't budge. Frowning slightly, I tug again. Nope, definitely stuck. I roll my head to the side, blinking owlishly at the padded restraints securing me to the enormous bed.
"Oh yeahhh," I drawl, memories filtering hazily through my drug-addled mind. "Suicide attempt. Bummer."
Despite the gravity of the situation, I can't seem to muster up much concern. Everything just feels so... floaty. Nice.
I let my gaze wander lazily around the room. Warm earth tones, plush furniture, state-of-the-art tech seamlessly integrated into the rough stone walls.
"S'nice," I murmur approvingly. "Like a fancy Hobbit hole."
Looking around again, my eyes land on Dark Girl and Dark Star, their forms silhouetted against the flickering light of the TV. They sit rigid, bodies tense as they stare at the screen with wide, disbelieving eyes. Curious, I let my gaze drift to see what's captured their attention so completely.
The TV displays a scene of shocking violence. Lady Ruin, resplendent in her flowing green cape, stands atop the Empire State Building. Before her, a figure in gleaming red and gold armor, Steel Star, I realize hazily, from the all the hero wiki reading ive been doing, hovers defiantly. With a motion almost too fast to follow, Lady Ruin's hand shoots out. Her fingers close around Steel Star's helmet, and with a sickening wrench, she tears Steel's head clean off.
Steel Star's headless body hangs suspended for a moment, sparks and fluids spraying from the ragged stump of her neck. Then, like a puppet with cut strings, it plummets from view. Lady Ruin remains motionless, Steel Star's severed head dangling from her grasp as the armored corpse disappears into the streets far below.
A distant part of my mind registers that I should be horrified by this grisly spectacle. But the drugs coursing through my system have wrapped everything in a cocoon of dreamy detachment. Instead, I find myself oddly fascinated by the play of light on the blood-slicked surface of Steel Star's helmet.
"Hey," I call out, my voice a slow, syrupy drawl. Dark Girl and Dark Star turn to me. "Is it, like... normal for people to rip heads off like that? 'Cause I saw my wife do that too."
Dark Star's brow furrows, a mixture of concern and confusion. "No, Luke," she says firmly, her voice tight with tension. "That is definitely not normal."
I nod sagely as if she's imparted some great wisdom. A dopey grin spreads across my face as memories of Skye's strength filter hazily through my mind. "Strong wife," I slur proudly, my head lolling back against the pillow. "So strong
Dark Girl leans in close to Dark Star, her eyes wide with fear. "What the fuck are we going to do?" she whispers urgently, her voice barely audible over the TV's ongoing broadcast.
Dark Star's jaw clenches, a muscle twitching beneath her mask. She turns to face her protégé, her expression grim but resolute. "We're not giving Luke to Ruin," she says firmly, her tone brooking no argument. "No matter what."
Dark Girl nods, swallowing hard. The weight of the situation settles over them like a heavy blanket, the air in the room thick with tension.
I blink lazily at them, my drug-addled mind struggling to keep up with their hushed conversation. "What's goin' on?" I slur, curiosity piqued by their serious expressions.
Dark Girl's head snaps towards me, her eyes widening slightly. "Nothing," she says quickly, her voice pitched a little too high to be convincing. She forces a smile. "Do you want something to eat?"
Before I can respond, a commotion from the TV draws our attention. The camera pans wildly, following a blur of motion streaking across the New York skyline. My heart leaps as I recognize the figure, even through my hazy vision.
"My wife!" I exclaim.
Super Star bursts onto the scene in a blaze of light, her long brown hair streaming behind her like a banner. She comes to an abrupt halt before Lady Ruin, hovering in midair with her fists clenched at her sides. The news camera zooms in, capturing the fury etched across her beautiful features.
The TV camera zooms in, its high-tech microphones picking up every word of the confrontation unfolding atop the Empire State Building. She flashes a weird look at Steel Star's head as Lady Ruin drops it. Super Star refocuses on Ruin.
"Why are you looking for Luke?" Super Star demands, her voice carrying a tremor of nervousness beneath its usual strength. "What do you want with him?"
Lady Ruin's silver helmet gleams in the sunlight as she tilts her head, studying Super Star with an unsettling intensity. "You!" she exclaims, her voice rich with a mixture of triumph and disdain.
Before Super Star can react, Lady Ruin's hand shoots out, fingers splayed wide. The air between them seems to ripple and distort as if reality itself is bending to Lady Ruin's will. An invisible force seizes Super Star, wrapping around her body like spectral tendrils.
Super Star's eyes widen in shock and fear as she finds herself being inexorably drawn towards Lady Ruin. Her muscles strain against the unseen grip, veins bulging in her neck from the effort, but to no avail. The most powerful woman on Earth is rendered helpless, pulled closer and closer to her enigmatic foe.
"What... what is this?" Super Star gasps, her voice tight with panic. "How are you doing this?"
Lady Ruin's grip on Super Star tightens, the invisible force drawing her ever closer. The two women now hover face-to-face, barely a foot apart. The contrast between them is stark, Super Star's vibrant costume and flowing hair a splash of color against Lady Ruin's somber green and silver.
"You killed Luke," Lady Ruin says, her voice dripping with disgust. "And then you revived him and tried to cover it up."
Super Star's eyes widen, a flicker of shock and guilt passing across her features before she schools her expression. "It's... it's complicated," she stammers, her usual confidence wavering. "But what does that matter right now? He's still missing!"
Her voice rises, filled with a desperate plea. "Please, we need to find him. He could be in danger. He could be hurt. I can't... I can't lose him again."
Lady Ruin remains motionless, her silver helmet betraying no emotion as she stares at Super Star. The seconds stretch into an eternity, the entire world seeming to hold its breath as it waits for her response.
Finally, Lady Ruin speaks, her voice low and measured. "I gave you a chance, Super Star," she says, each word deliberate and weighted. "I accepted that he chose you. But twice now, you have shown that you are unable to protect him. And from yourself, of all people."
Super Star's eyes widen in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly as she processes Lady Ruin's condemnation. For a moment, she looks small and vulnerable, her usual larger-than-life presence diminished in the face of Lady Ruin's implacable judgment.
Then, something snaps.
A primal scream tears from Super Star's throat, raw and feral. Her eyes blaze with an almost manic light, tears streaming down her cheeks as she thrashes against Lady Ruin's invisible grip.
"YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT!" Super Star shrieks, her voice cracking with the force of her emotions. Spittle flies from her lips as she continues her tirade, each word dripping with desperation and rage. "ONLY I CAN PROTECT LUKE! HE'S MINE! I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO UNDERSTANDS HIM, WHO TRULY LOVES HIM!"
Her chest heaves with each ragged breath, her entire body trembling with the intensity of her outburst. "I CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT HIM!" she wails, her voice taking on a keening edge. "DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND? HE'S EVERYTHING TO ME! EVERYTHING!"
As I watch this unfold on the TV, a warm flush creeps up my neck, spreading across my cheeks. Despite the gravity of the situation, or perhaps because of the potent cocktail of drugs still coursing through my system, I feel a flutter of excitement in my chest. "Aww," I slur, a dopey grin spreading across my face. "She really does love me."
On-screen, Lady Ruin remains motionless throughout Super Star's frenzied outburst. As Super Star's screams fade into choked sobs, Lady Ruin slowly raises her hand.
With a casual flick of her wrist, an audible crack echoes through the air. Super Star's left arm twists violently, rotating a full 360 degrees. The sickening sound of grinding bone and tearing muscle fills the air.
"Feel that?" Lady Ruin asks, her voice cold and detached. "That's pain, Super Star."
Super Star's eyes go wide, her mouth opening in a silent scream of agony. For a moment, she hangs suspended in Lady Ruin's grip, her body rigid with shock. Then, as if a switch has been flipped, she begins to writhe and thrash, her screams of pain echoing across the New York skyline.
"AAAAARRRRGHHH!" Super Star howls, her voice raw and guttural. "WHAT... WHAT IS THIS? HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?"
Suddenly, as I watch Lady Ruin hurt my wife, a wave of anxiety crashes over me, cutting through the drug-induced haze. My stomach churns violently as I watch my invincible wife get injured. Before I can even attempt to turn my head, I vomit all over myself. The pungent smell fills my nostrils as the warm, chunky liquid soaks into the sheets beneath me.
"Shit!" Dark Girl exclaims, her eyes snapping away from the TV. She rushes to my side, her youthful face etched with concern. With gentle hands, she lifts my head, supporting me as best she can while I'm still restrained.
"Is... is Skye going to be okay?" I ask nervously, my voice trembling. The words come out slurred and garbled, partly from the lingering effects of the drugs and partly from the bitter taste of bile coating my tongue.
Dark Girl's eyes dart to Dark Star, seeking guidance or reassurance. Dark Star's face, usually a mask of calm determination, has gone deathly pale. Her lips are pressed into a thin, tight line, and a sheen of sweat glistens on her forehead.
My eyes go back to the TV as Dark Girl wipes me down. The camera zooms in tight on Lady Ruin and Super Star.
Lady Ruin brings Super Star closer, their faces mere inches apart.
"You aren't even worth my time," Lady Ruin says, her voice as cold and unyielding as arctic ice.
Before Super Star can respond, Lady Ruin's wrist flicks again. Through some unseen force something smashes into my wife. Super Star's head snaps back, her eyes rolling up in their sockets. For a moment, she hangs suspended in Lady Ruin's invisible grip, limp as a rag doll.
Then, with a casual gesture, Lady Ruin releases her hold as she throws Super Star's unconscious body far away. Discarded like a piece of trash. She hurtles through the air like a rocket, her limbs flailing limply.
The camera struggles to follow her trajectory, the image blurring as it pans rapidly across the New York skyline. Super Star becomes a small speck against the backdrop of skyscrapers.
Lady Ruin turns away from the direction she flung Super Star, her gaze sweeping across the New York skyline. The wind whips her green cape dramatically, the fabric snapping and billowing like an emerald banner against the clear blue sky.
"People of Earth," she bellows, her voice carrying an otherworldly resonance that seems to shake the very air. "Apparently, you are not taking me seriously enough."
The camera zooms in on Lady Ruin, shining in the sunlight. Though her face is hidden, there's an undeniable aura of menace radiating from her imposing figure.
"Bring Luke to me within 30 minutes," she continues, her tone brooking no argument, "or I will turn this entire planet into a wasteland like I will your precious New York City right now."
As the words leave her mouth, Lady Ruin raises both hands before her. The air between her palms begins to shimmer and distort, reality itself seeming to bend and warp. Motes of light coalesce, swirling faster and faster until they form a pulsing sphere of pure energy.
The orb grows rapidly, expanding until it's nearly as large as Lady Ruin herself. It thrums with barely contained power, casting eerie shadows across the rooftop.
With a gesture of cold finality, Lady Ruin thrusts her hands forward. The sphere of energy launches from her grasp, streaking across the sky like a miniature sun. It leaves a trail of distorted air in its wake, the atmosphere visibly warping as it passes.
The energy ball arcs gracefully over the city, its brilliance forcing the camera to adjust its exposure. For a breathless moment, it hangs suspended over the heart of Manhattan, a harbinger of unimaginable destruction.
Then, with a flash of light so intense it overloads the camera's sensors, the sphere detonates.
The TV screen flickers and goes dark, replaced by a pattern of colorful vertical bars. The sudden absence of sound is jarring, the silence in the room broken only by our ragged breathing.
Dark Star gasps. Her eyes are wide behind her mask, filled with a mixture of disbelief and dawning horror.
"What the fuck is going on?" I slur, my drug-addled mind struggling to process the abrupt shift. The world still feels hazy around the edges, but a creeping sense of unease is starting to penetrate the fog.
Dark Star doesn't respond. Instead, she lunges for a nearby datapad, her fingers flying across its surface with frantic urgency. The soft blue glow of the screen illuminates her face, casting eerie shadows that accentuate the tension in her jaw.
For what feels like an eternity, the only sound in the room is the rapid tapping of Dark Star's fingers against the screen. Dark Girl and I watch her in tense silence, the atmosphere thick with unspoken dread.
Suddenly, Dark Star gasps again. The data pad slips from her trembling fingers, clattering to the floor with a sound that seems impossibly loud in the quiet room.
"What?" Dark Girl asks. She takes a hesitant step towards her mentor, one hand outstretched as if to offer comfort.
Dark Star's head snaps up, her eyes locking onto Dark Girl's. When she speaks, her voice is hollow. "New York City has been vaporized," she says, each word dripping with disbelief. "There's... there's nothing left."
The weight of her words hangs in the air, almost tangible in its horror. Dark Star's face is ashen, her lips trembling slightly as she continues. "The readings... they're off the charts. The energy signature is unlike anything we've ever seen before."
Dark Star finally recomposes herself, drawing in a deep breath as she straightens her posture. Her eyes, visible through the slits in her mask, are steely with determination, the shock of moments ago replaced by grim resolve. She turns to Dark Girl, her cape swirling dramatically with the motion.
"Prepare the Dark Jet," she commands, her voice steady and authoritative once more.
Dark Girl blinks rapidly, her young face a canvas of conflicting emotions, fear, confusion, and a desperate desire to rise to the occasion. "What are we going to do?" she asks as she stands up.
"We're going to save the world."