@vancexentan

VERDREHTE

Verd looked quite angry when Skull was speaking to him so badly, "Alright i got ya Jack Skellington" He quipped back hiding behind a pillar for a moment. Ripping off a piece of his costume form his shoulder, Wrapping it around his wound blocking off the bleeding for the time being. Looking over at the cops and the few other villains, Thinking and scanning the area of what he could do to help the other villains since he did not have such offensive quirks as the others. Checking the machine gun he fired at the electricity girl, Their was only about ten bullets in the magazine which would be useful for ten or so seconds.

The young villain was coming out of the pillar and aiming at one of the officer's legs, Hopefully to shot him and incapacitate him. If successful then he would run towards a few of the lone police, Breaking most of their arms or legs and or shooting them to incapacitate them and move on.

Aya gritted her teeth when the shielder covered up her wounds. "I assure you t-... That I wasn't trying to get Slash... Slashed..." Aya was honestly too beaten to get angry at the shielder's tone, and the man had just saved his ass from a profane and angry wolf child. "How are your wounds holding up? I-I can't work on the right now, but wh-when I recover... My hands wouldn't be that sssteady." While she spoke she bombarded Morri's muscles with her power forcing them to tense. They would eventually start to tear slightly as if Morri had been doing hardcore training for hours straight. Hopefully that would keep him down for a while.

"For now you. You are right... Let's g-get back to the trucks." Aya said this as she carefully got off of Morri and started slowly heading back to the trucks. Though she would keep an eye on Morri just in case, the boy had shown himself to be a tenacious foe indeed.

@Eviledd1984 The shots went through the girl's legs she was already down before but now she was bleeding out profusely. The earth girl cried out as she crawled over to her dying teammate, and tried to bandage her up after pulling off her training jacket. It was likely a futile gesture. As Skull looked over to the kid he laughed, "Congrats you killed a high school girl. I hope you know what that means kid. Welcome to the club." White Skull cackled as the other man next to Verd grimaced. "Yeah that was a bit much kid but whatever kill the fuckin' cops!" the villain shouted as he suddenly raised his hand into the air, and his finger tips burst into a bloody mess as his finger bones shot out from his fingers impaled themselves into the cops like fragments of shrapnel. They were already regrowing but it was slow, and the man was now out one hand. He cringed in pain but didn't falter. White Skull charged up to the cops quickly after finishing them off with bloody curb stomps, and the ones still on their feet were promptly shot in the face sending their brains to the ground. The boy who had projected the psionic fields of energy stared in fear at Skull probably scarred for life.

====

@LemonZest1337 "I can walk that's just about the most of it. You need to get on your feet more than I do. Hey Tiger man take her! I'll stick with the flamer." the shielder said as the flame guy came down the hill, and spit on the ground right in front of Mori's face. "Stupid little shit needs to know his place better next time. Good work team it looks like our little group performed to expectation. the flamer said as he kicked Mori in the gut. He then walked up to shielder, and grabbed him firmly. The African tiger man's voice was tired shielder couldn't remember his name for the life of him. So that's what he chose to call him at this point. The group set off towards the entrance. "Soo....what do you think is going to happen to the stragglers....boss Skull said he'd have them dealt with...but how? He sounded real confident." Flamer said with a grunt as shielder frowned. "I don't know I'm just payed to be muscle. UA, and the other academies didn't see much potential in me when I was younger...so I'm here now. Couldn't find a job as a hero. Seems to be good enough work in the opposite field. Just felt like sharing that because this felt pretty good even if it was brutal."

@vancexentan

VERDREHTE

Verd did not mean to kill her, He just wanted to incapacitate her which was a huge error on his part. He was still as a statue letting looking over the dead body of the teenager, She looked about two or so years younger then her. Kneeing down for a moment and touching her face which felt colder even with his gloves on, Some blood was stained on his gloves and behind his mask he was starting to cry. He never wanted to take another human life and especially one of a teenager, All he wanted to do was scare or injure them. Closing the girls eyes and muttering something like "Please forgive me" as he stood up, Taking a moment to compose himself and hopefully no one heard his soft sobbing.

Taking in a few deep breaths still holding the gun that killed her dropping it on the ground, Taking in a few more deep breaths when suddenly the crying and sobbing became laughing. It was soft at first before becoming louder and louder, "I wonder if we get any jackets for this club" He asked himself chuckling this time at his quip. Looking over at he police firing at White Skull and the others, Running towards them as fast as he could.

Once he would get close to them he would jump high in the air landing on one policeman's shoulder, Trying to break his neck and grab his gun so he could shoot at another in the head. He was going to try his best to get them all down.

Aya simply listened to the conversation going on between the fellow villains, interestingly the Shielder had been wronged by UA an interesting fact if anything. Though Aya couldn't say she was proud of what she'd done, she honestly didn't think that the students would be put off from their hero loving ways. But this would at the very least be a hit to their confidence in the dependability of heroes, even in a drawn out fight like what had just happened they were left alone to face off against the villains. She counted that as a success at least, damage the confidence of the next generation and make it prone to collapse.

While Aya had lost a lot of blood she was able to continue back towards the vans, though she could still hear the sound of gunfire as the cops were obviously still fighting white skull and his lackeys. God I was so careless, guess I deserve these wounds then... Aya wasn't pleased with the amount she'd screwed up on this mission. She was supposed to be the medic and yet she'd gotten herself into a state where she'd not be able to treat herself let alone anyone else.

"Yeah they're usually striped, and orange shit head don't get over confident! And keep your head down!" Skull said as the last of the cops started to take cover forcing Skull himself to back down less he get opened up by blind fire. The men with him sat next to him what they said was drowned out by the sound of rifle fire from the thugs. "Where's our back up!? Do those little toadies think they're going to just sit down, and die while we struggle? Skull wants results we best give it to him before he does us in!" one of the other thugs growled as he looked out afar and noticed friendlies coming in. "Looks like we got our wish! 'bout time!" growled the henchman. When Verd charged in to get one of the stragglers he was promptly forced back immediately but thanks to one of the men following Skull, the one who could spit hard substances, he was able to get back into cover before any harm was done.

===

"This is bad...can anyone of us take on those cops?" growled Shielder as he stopped moving with the flame villain who frowned and looked up at the ceiling. "Think I can do it. Need some cover though. Lion dude should charge 'em." the flamer told him before Zion glared down at him with disgust the flame villain charged his power. "I'm not goin' to set your pubes on fire Lion-o SO DO IT GET IN THERE!" Flamer demanded Zion gave him one last considerate look before he charged in and was promptly forced to engage the cops who were distressed. The teacher fainted from blood loss at this point, and the other students were rendered useless by their wounds at this point. The cops scattered but were set on fire by the flamer villain scattering, and burning them badly. As the group with Zion regrouped with Skull he looked at them and spit. "You let a group of HIGH SCHOOL students do this to you? For shame...no wonder why you're here today." grumbled Skull as he looked at Aya, and then to shielder. "That doesn't matter right now though as long as you got your job done." it wasn't a question by Skull as Shielder confirmed they had defeated their group. "Why not kill'em sir? Said you didn't care about what happened to them?" Shielder asked as Skull walked over to the group of kids and grabbed the other girl who was sobbing she froze at the sight of the walking corpse of a terrorist as he pulled he forward, and threw her in front of shielder. "Because shit kids like these sheltered boy/girl scouts won't likely do anything more after this. This was meant to send a message. Don't fuck with us." Skull said as he spit on the girl's sobbing face. He laughed cruelly as he raised his hands. "Kids aren't safe...cops aren't safe...and if they cover it up...all the better."

@vancexentan@LemonZest1337

VERDREHTE

Verd was pushed onto his ass after taking down a few of the cops, Lucky for him he was pulled back into cover by another thug. "Damn it why did you do that? I was on a killing streak" He asked the thug that had pulled him to safety, Looking around for any sort of weapon he could find to fire at the police and reminding heroes. Scanning his surrounding area seeing that their was no guns for him to use, Looking over at Skull and meeting up with Zion and Aya. "Hallo fräulein Aya!!!" He yelled out loud enough for her to hear him. "Give me a weapon homo sapian" He asked in a rather demanding tone of voice.

He's mood was dapper and calm, His eyes if they could be seen though his burlap sack mask were glazed a bit. His tone of voice sounding cold and distant from everyone around him.

Aya very much didn't appreciate the spit from Skull nor his condescending words. "Thank you f-for the criticism. I'd not quite gotten enough of that y-yet." She honestly wanted to flip the dude off, but she lacked the energy. That and she felt this psycho fuck would just put a bullet in her head, and she quite liked having a brain.

Aya slid down behind some cover when she heard Verd call out her name. He was different. At least from the other time she'd seen him, he was far less bouncy and excitable. Perhaps that's just how he copped with the stress of combat? "N-no, I don't carry a weapon." Aya cringed as a sharp stab of pain ran through her, her body reminding her of how badly she was wounded. "Unless... You count a syringe as aaa, a weapon." Aya slowly tipped her medical bag onto the floor next to her, a few small needles and a scalpel rolling out onto the floor.

@Zelosse

Dieselpunk rushed over to catch up with Midnight, who was in hot pursuit of the archer. Fortunately, Midnight wore armor, so it didn't seem like the boxing glove arrow left any permanent damage. Still, chasing down the little fucker was probably going to be more effort than it was worth.

"Hey Midnight, I think 'Time's Up', she said, referring not only to the mission, but also to the encroaching limits of her own quirk. "We should get back to the trucks. Shame we didn't get more of these kids, but seriously, these White Skull lackeys were pretty useless. Let's hope Zion, Verd, and Doc had more success." She wondered if the plan had succeeded? At least on her front, she could see the media spinning it in such a way as to portray that the archer, winged girl, and speedster fended off an army of villains; that despite being fledgling students, their minimal heroic training had given them the ability to fight off hardened criminals. Wouldn't this go counter to the expected effect? Wouldn't this give people more confidence in the necessity of hero society and hero schooling? In the end, she had to hope the others had a better time of it.

Dieselpunk got down on all fours and a car door opened up in Midnight's direction, with makeshift steps leading into a driver's cabin located in a conspicuous hump on her back at the base of her neck. "Hop in and let's ride, partner!"

@Eviledd1984@LemonZest1337@Stern Algorithm As the group got together Skull brought his fingers up to malformed ear, and asked what was up when he got his reply he frowned, and spit in the ground pulling up a flare gun he shot it into the air. "That should catch people's attention. I didn't specify a flare but if they don't get here soon we're pulling out. A hero patrol got called in. Apparently these bozo clowns didn't call in at the right time...probably because we jammed cellphone signals. Get in the back, and await further orders...or don't, and just stay here to die like the rest of the people who haven't pulled in their dues today. You're lucky." commented Skull as he pushed his guns into their holsters, and began to walk away in another direction to where he could clearly see some villains laying hurt on the ground. He told his goons to hurry up, and rally up people that they were leaving in ten. As the group from Midnight, and diesel's raid came back they found the kids tied up by one of the grunts. A few of the villains were hurrying back with recovered guns. Apparently group 6 had failed to complete their part of the mission, and a few kids were running around the White Skull ordered them all to ignore the idiot survivors they didn't matter anymore.

@Stern Algorithm@Zelosse@vancexentan

VERDREHTE

Verd without a word followed the orders of White Skull's order, Moving so he was now standing beside Midnight and Dieselpunk. Their was blood on his costume, Some of it was his own but most of it was others. Humming some sort of tune that was boisterous and loud in his head (This is the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8KL63r9Zcw), Breathing softly pulling out his dagger letting his tongue lick the back of the blade. Licking of the blood savoring the taste of the blood on the knife. Mentally preparing himself for what was to come next, What had happened with the cops was just a warm up, This was going to be the main event and he was damn excited for it.

His blood was boiling he was ready for another fight, And this time he wanted it to be more challenging and gruesome. He hoped the heroes would be more fun then fighting cops and children, His humming becoming a bit louder but not loud enough for anyone to notice.

@Stern Algorithm

Midnight didn't bother dealing with the archer boys arrow, the projectile flying wide as the living energy being merely letting it fly beside his head without a care. It woukd need to hit something. To detonate much like the others had and so was given no further thought.
The Archer himself was a coward and Midnight merely shrugged at their departure as if it did not matter. Truthfully, it didn't. Not to him at least. When Dieselpunk rolled up and transformed, he tucked himself into the passenger seat and sat in silence.

Rolling up to white skull and the rest of the gathered Black Tree villains, Midnight looked at their various injuries with something akin to disdain. Lacking any facial expression beyond the eerie glow of purple that represented his eyes it would be impossible to tell his true thoughts.

"Calm yourself, Verdrehte." The flexible quirk boy was eager. Blindingly so. That much was obvious at a glance and no doubt with a hero squad on the way, with the groups injuries, the fight would be one-sided failure on their part.

Addressing White Skull, Midnight crossed his arms and continued. "I take it we are departing. Be on with it then."

As Skull finished rounding up the stragglers he smacked the side of the giant truck, and as they started to run he got into the one with the main group. As Skull sat down it was clear that his other agents were stationed in the other trucks, and while there were villains still in there with them it was clear that there were definitely less. As the trucks rolled away from the building Skull crossed his hands, and laughed as he took a head count. "Depending on what happens you may very well consider yourselves less lucky than the poor smucks who didn't get to ride with us." Skull said cryptically as he wandered over to the medic girls before looking over her. "I don't know what the fuck you did to this girl. Or whatever happened but she's goin' to die you know that right? Lost a lot of blood, and the bullet got pretty deep. I'll leave it to you all what you wanna do with her. She's dead either way, and I don't got the medical supplies to save her." commented The Pale Man as he ran his head over his disgusting chin. It was a few minutes before he got a call. "What is it? Heroes....? Fine whatever send squad T after 'em. I don't got the man power right now. Apparently kids are too much for some grown ass villains." grumbled Skull as he hung up his phone. As he looked around he smiled a very eerie smile. "So I got good news, and bad news for all of you!" commented Skull as he stood up, and smiled and rubbed his gloved hands together. As he looked over the group he clapped his hands. "Let's start with the bad news because I love bad news! The bad news is you're all basically walking dead right now...in the next....what eight minutes you're going to die?" he said eagerly as he walked around. "To prove that exhibit A!" the pale monster pulled out a small bottle, and waved it around before smashing it in Zion's face. It did nothing. The angry lion man went to try, and strangle him before the lion started choking, and gagging very quickly afterward as if the act of merely breathing hurt as he started to flail in pain Skull watched with sadistic glee. Zion tried to stop before grabbing towards Skull who backed off. "THAT was an accelerate! Wonder how? Well why the fuck did you think I burnt down the fucking warehouse? I put parasites in the air that are triggered by talking once they get into you. Those insects were produced by me! Fire kills them in the air but once they get into the body not even a flame quirk can kill'em!" Skull said as he laughed heartily.

"BUT BUT BUT! WAIT A MOMENT! No need to get salty! Especially you kid I've seen the shit fit you're prone to throwing! I got good news too!" Skull said as he went over to the side of the truck, and smacked it with his fist revealing a bunch of syringes, and some bottles of brown liquid. "You all get to live because you passed the test! You're actually able to fight! Congrats! Just inject this into whatever part of the body you want, and it'll kill the parasites in roughly...two minutes? I made it so that it projects a hormone that kills the bloody pests. Don't worry I've worked it out in the middle east really well. Those poor Taliban never knew what hit 'em....or rather poisoned them. And if you all rush I'll shoot you so take one carefully. I don't wanna drag your corpses over to the boss to explain ya'll died because you never learned elementary school manners! And killing me puts you all on the boss's kill list because despite being clearly fuckin' insane I'm actually pretty god damn useful. Now go on take your drugs kids, and feel a bit better. We'll be at our destination soon."

@vancexentan@Zelosse

VERDREHTE

Verd hearing showing a example of the parasite, Zion trying and failing to struggle White Skull. Watching him fall to the ground and collapsing into the ground, "Who's the weak root now, You stupid son of a bitch" He said smirking underneath his mask. Kicking Zion in the stomach a few times laughing softly. Moving backwards and looking over at Midnight, "Sorry" He said in a almost incoherent mumble. "You can't threaten us or poison us without us retaliating, We are not afraid of you" The last part of his sentence sounding more menacing.

"If no one else minds, I can take the first shot doctor" He said standing right in front of White Skull. Once he saw the many needles hidden in the truck, Grabbing a nearby gun and using the butt of the rifle to smash all the syringes and bottles of brown liquid. "You think poisoning will get us to compile so easily, Like scared rats? But we're not rats we are the wolves that roam the forest. And you are nothing but a rat in wolves clothing" He said in a menacing manner staring Skull down.

Skull laughed hard standing up he faced Verd, and shook his head at the boy, and then without so much as a flinch he shot his shotgun point blank at Verd's left sending him to the ground. It wasn't even a quick draw the maddened criminal shot through his own holster and "Frankly you dumb shit I don't fucking care. Because not only do you not have a knee but now you don't have a chance at surviving aside from licking the fucking goop off the ground. Well there is one syringe you missed but I think metal girl deserves it a lot more than you." Skull said as he turned to Midnight. "And you I don't know what you plan on doing, hell I don't even know if that body of yours is capable of hosting the parasites. You can try to kill me. Vaporize me whatever you wanna do. But make no mistake I get my assignments directly from the big man. The Black Hand who can rob big banks, kill politicians, and ruin an entire country just by making a few phone calls to his boys. And I'm a pretty popular boy given my methods of terrorism, and violence. Makes me a good target for countries that wanna know the big boys are here. Wonder what happens to boys who kill the really useful folks? Put a cap in my head." Skull said kicking Verd in the face hard enough to break his nose and he grabbed the gun and emptied the magazine from its place in the gun.

"Now there MIGHT be a chance to save him but old Shady is your boss right? Well we'll be able to get you to him soon enough to stop the bleeding. If you think I was joking about the poison though you're not correct. I did in fact sentence you all to death by way of genetically altered parasites. So you better get to lickin'... Why would I do this you may be thinking? Why would I do this you're probably going to ask next? The Black Hand wanted to cull the herd. Anyone who couldn't handle a few heroes, and a teacher wasn't worthy of the big man's time. He didn't have time to waste on incompetents. This world is on the path to change, and those who can't help that change are worth less than my boots." commented Skull as he sat back down.

"A traitor in your midst was seen during the last bank heist you all were assigned to, the reason Shady got off the hook was because he's the boss's man. He's the real 'OG' by your kids' words. However those who fail to get the job done...Sakura King, and Elephantus getting away for example...and nearly fucking up a bank heist? Like that brawny dude who let a civilian get away, and almost got rocked by the cops? Well boss calls that liability. The others failed drug runs, and or weren't competent enough so that's why they're choking their last breaths back at the stadium, or they're in the other trucks healin' up. In other words this is a simple run of the mill way of getting rid of losers. Except...I'm a bit less lenient than others. Boss left it up to me to decide your fate. So don't you go pissin' to Shade Walker, or the boss's advisers saying they're scum, they are but that's a different matter entirely, as I'm the one solely responsible for the choice to feed you all the my little pets. To me liabilities are as good as rusty chains you proved you had some skill so there. You should've all had a free ride but the kid here wanted to try, and talk trash to a mass murdering, biological weapons manufacturing, town burning, psychopath that is myself." Skull stopped his long winded speech and simply spread his hands out. "This was a business matter nothing personal at all. I don't know any of your names I just got the papers from suits who put your names on the list." Skull said he waited for any responses but it was clear whatever happened next he couldn't care less he had spelled out killing him was a death sentence, and that the broken syringes weren't a joke. His dead eyes revealed little other than boredom at this point.

Despite all of this shortly after the truck stopped, and one of the men in the suits opened the door they were in a large parking lot behind a big facility. "Sir what's wrong I heard a shot." the man said as Skull pointed at the broken vials of the cure, "You know this kid really doesn't deserve this but here copy this Six." said the crime boss as he threw the last remaining syringe at the soldier who caught it, and without question he began to use his quirk. The syringe began to multiply, and then there were four in a quick succession. As the man got in Skull pointed at the kid, and the man knelt down, and injected the syringe's contents into his arm, before tying up the shotgun wound, and then handing one to Diesel but Skull stopped him from giving one to Midnight. "He's energy; don't need it. Get back to driving I'll ride shotgun so move over." Skull said as he walked out the back of the truck, and stopped. "Never say I don't have some sort of humanity kid. And remember yelling at guys like me in The Black Tree doesn't end well. Shade Walker may be lenient to newbies but I'm not." Skull said shutting the door, after putting on his mask.

@vancexentan@Stern Algorithm@Zelosse

VERDREHTE

Being shot in the side of his body, Sending him on his ass once again with blood squirting out of his mouth. "Ah damn it" He cursed seeing the blood flowing out of his torso. "Looks like you call the "Shots" here eh" He said laughing softly as he was administered the antidote, "Thanks doc" He said to the villain with the multiplying quirk. His mindset and mood going back to be happy and annoying, Slowly walking over towards Diesel and Midnight holding the crudely tied bandage around his torso. "Not a good idea guys, Shame Aya-chan had to go" He said with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Looking over at her fresh corpse feeling bad because he liked her but more as a nice person to him, "Well that's the business, And gotta say that was nice shooting Gary Busey" He said to White Skull before we left. "Shall we head out?" He asked the others in a oddly happy tone of voice. Leaning on DieselPunk mostly for support as they headed out towards the truck.

It took some more time afterward but the group managed to dodge the cops, and the police long enough to get to The Stray Sheep. The boys up front opened the door, and ordered everyone out. Having them out of it they informed them they were taking Zion's, and Aya's body to a local morgue run by Black Hand's hired doctors. The bodies would be taken care of by them. As East walked outside he saw Skull, and the two immediately locked eyes, Skull laughed, "Hey pretty boy you don't look so good. How's it feelin' to be working with the guy who killed your partner all those years ago?" Skull openly mocked East who looked ready to destroy the whole truck. However he noticed Verd's leg, and looked at Skull was disgust, "What the fuck did you do?" East demanded of him as Skull cackled. "My job you fucking tool. Now get back to attempting your pathetic meandering that's amounting to getting yourself killed. If you ever actually want to go all the way you know where to find me." Skull said before driving away once his men funneled back into the truck, and drove away. "What the hell? He let you get shot? Whatever get inside I'll call in the doctors upstairs they can get you fixed up. May need a cybernetic prosthetic." commented East as he picked Verd up with one arm, and forced him in doors.

As they entered the bar Shade Walker was talking on the phone with someone. He still had his mask on but something was different. Other than his usual crass tone he was a bit gentler. "-I'll see you later then. Have the other kids make sure they keep their manners for Tatsumi. And make sure there's no more fighting. I'll see you all later." Shade said before he hung up, and turned his attention to the group. He looked at them and sighed. "So then your teammates failed whatever assignment they got assigned to? I don't know what happened but I apologize that I couldn't tell you. Other than that congratulations with your skill you managed to prove yourself capable of staying within the organization. Let this be the standard that shows The Black Hand expects success, and failure is paid for in due time. I recommend getting some rest we're off the job for the next few days. Another group is on the hot seat at the moment before we can properly get assigned jobs. However due to the lack of numbers I may need to assign East to your group. He is your sub-commander but he is not above the low-man jobs we're assigned to."

Upon reaching the trucks, Dieselpunk's machine body collapsed as she stepped out of the slag, holding out her arm in a practiced motion, catching the trenchcoat that Midnight tossed at her, allowing Dieselpunk to cover up. As she climbed into the back of the truck, at first she simmered in rage at how much of a hard time three students had given herself and Midnight. Then she was slightly put off by Verd's unusual behavior. Then she was shocked when she witnessed Aya's dead body, followed by Zion dying. Her mind went blank when White Skull admitted to having poisoned all of them and for using this event to cull them. Then Verd suddenly destroyed the antidote and White Skull shot him in the knees.

Dieselpunk trusted Black Tree, and she was in no position to fight back. She didn't even notice when she had been given the antidote (now multiplied). She had misgivings about this mission, about this White Skull, but she hadn't allowed the thought any room to grow. Before she knew it, they were deposited back at the Stray Sheep. Dieselpunk hadn't realized how tightly she was clinging to Midnight's jacket. Walking through the doors as if in a haze, she was no longer Dieselpunk, but Osameru Kyouran. She used to be part of a biker gang. They trusted each other with their lives. Shade Walker's words washed over her as she meandered over to a booth and collapsed into it.

"...Shade Walker...?" Kyouran asked weakly, "What does Black Tree stand for? What are our principles?" As she lay there, her body shook, her eyes on the verge of tears.

@vancexentan

VERDREHTE

Verd was feeling a bit woozie from the blood lose form being shot and the battle before that, "If that cybernetic cannot contort with my body then i'm useless, So can the cyber stuff a last resort" He said being lead towards a booth to get the bullets out of his leg. Verd was not feeling so hot right and he was jonesing for a little payback to White Skull, However he knew this could happen again so he would have to suck up to him and the big wigs for the time being. He was also thinking he would have to find a away to join another villain group that was looking out for the members, Although he didn't think their would be such a thing and it was wishful thinking on his part.

Waiting for his leg to be worked on singing "La vie en rose" by Édith Piaf, His voice was soft and filled with sadness thinking about Aya and that teenage girl he killed.

Shade Walker was a bit taken back by the sudden change of tone. He himself had never had a reason to question the matter but the mask on his face hid any actual emotion he may have felt from being shown. "The Black Tree is a means to an end. It will become the world's tree if the boss has any say in the matter. While he is strong enough to mount the whole of the country on his wall as trophies of battle he seeks to come to that conclusion only as a last resort. The Black Hand originally viewed this organization as the means to which he can grasp the world, and make it better. His own version of Utopia. A world in which the strong ruled, and the weak were lifted up only when the proved themselves strong." Shade Walker stated as he then pointed towards East.

"However down the line that changed I would assume. Elements from rogue sections of the dark industry we find ourselves in changed. We let in more zealous criminals. We let in washed up heroes. However the goal is still the same as it has ever been to my knowledge. A world where your own abilities decide your fate. Where loyalty, and strength are the measure of one's ladder. If you have the strength to lift yourself to power you will earn it, if you fail then you failed yourself. The Black Hand wants a singular entity to rule the world where the only threats to unity are urban terrorists. There will never be peace. Never be a conflictless world. Strife is a part of the human experience. However gone will be morality that chains those who have strength. Morality is a human construct that limits us. No longer will self glorification of today's heroes be a fad." Shade Walker pointed towards the outside. "How many times have you seen heroes rewarded for playing up to the peoples' values, and had them discarded in favor of the newest flavor of the week?" Shade said this time a bit angrier than he had been.

"I myself am tired of the same people getting rewarded for 'antics', and their flawed ways of thinking that only the good guys have a point. Only those with charisma have a right to get heard! The Black Hand will wipe the slate clean things will be orderly, and ruled by merit. You're your own ladder climb it to see where you go, and how far you can reach. We are not Yakuza. We are not bound by honor, and morality. We simply are. A singular being capable of overcoming the shallow pond that the heroes have made of our new society. There is nothing super about them, or the people they are worshipped by. We shall prove that might makes right."

Captain East took the chance in the lull in Shade Walker's speech to whisper to Verd, "You fail to grasp the Black Tree's cybernetics division's true ability. They can make it contort to a point to match your quirk. It won't be the same but it shall allow you to walk without limping. You won't be able to make that climb up the ladder if you don't have your leg." East assured Verd.