The Raven's Basilisk

"Did Dark Squire brief you?" Stan did bother turning as he heard the elevator land, the mechanical sound echoing about the Dark Cavern. He knew who it was, even listened to the discussion on the balcony before she'd come down. Carefully planning around the tense worry and halfhearted commitment Miss Psyis had displayed, upping Izime's threat rating even further as it seems he'd compromised his fellow League Member.

"I had a talk with Steven sure." Psyis nodded walking towards the main cause of all the problems, hoping the rest of that statement didn't need to be finished. She'd even taken the time to change before arriving in the depths below the manor, bright spotlights reflecting off the silver scales of her proper heroine attire.

If Dark Night was going to call the whole League in for one person she was going to show up in uniform, ready to have a say in the matters that involved her friend. Dark Night would of course take issue with anyone who knew his identity, that operated in a gray zone, and who absolutely didn't respect him. Izime had checked all three of those boxes easily.

Admittedly Psyis hadn't expected Dark Night to run off and rile Radiation Man up, or sending Hank to demand answers from the tribunal, all over Izime, that was all tears and spilled milk now though. Psyis was glad she'd changed, knowing she'd have looked a fool to demand answer's standing here in an old hoodie and jeans, the addition of that silver and white giving her the courage to face her senior member. Making it easier to sound like she held some kind of power in the League, trying to put her foot down.

"What's this about you wanting to drag Izime to Savior Orbital?" Psyis demanded to know, crossing her arms while she tried to match Stan's pose.

The fans of drives in the cavern clicked along in the silence. Stan's blue eyes not blinking once just glaring at the mind-reader in front of him, not the least bit intimidated by the weak-willed heroine before him. Black armor creaking with each slow and heavy breath, watching as those scales twisted a bit under his gaze. The co-founder of The League of Planetary Saviors not the least bit intimidated by whatever childishly naive notions had worked their way into his junior members skull.

"I-I'm not against getting answers," That fierce determination faltering as Stan's jaw clenched, and his brows furrowed. Psyis realizing she needed to play along with her senior member if she wanted to know anything. Dark Night was one of the reasons she had a seat, the power to act like this at all, so she timidly blew out the flame of defiance to a weak complaint. "I also want to do this right Dark Night."

"I don't plan to drag anyone." Stan nodded, finally telling a white lie as Psyis broke; it wouldn't be him dragging the magician in after all.

"I want to do this by the book, the same books Izime is using to avoid our investigations." Stan continued whitewashing his actions with the same excuses he'd fed James. If Izime wanted to act cocky then Stan would just use the biggest guns earth had in its reach on him. When Radiation Man had washed his hands of the potential leak then then Stan would find him a room in the Abyss, the perfect place for such a flight risk. "We can charge him with selling stolen goods, trafficking stolen cargo, illegally transporting sentient species to who knows where, but the main thing I am going to charge him with is forgery."

"Forgery?" Psyis' brow twitched as she tried to follow along with Dark Nights plan, not quite following just how Radiation Man was involved in charging Izime with anything.

"There's a hole in Izime's whole existence." Stan didn't bother bringing up any of the information he had copied from Savior Orbital. If Psyis had been motivated she'd know already, now he just needed to carry her weight; it was probably better she knew less in fact.

Controlling the information was the key to bringing Izime in, feeding James just enough and keeping Psyis just far enough out of the loop. Just enough so James wouldn't ask twice and little enough that if Psyis wanted to help Izime she'd have to keep guessing.

"Between Earth records and the Vidan Security Councils records he just appeared five years ago." Stan gave a rough account of the back-and-forth red tape shuffle Izime had locked the two record keepers in. The man had made it awfully easy to paint him as questionable at best, something Stan intended to use against Psyis now, "Vidan gave him clearance to be on earth just figuring we'd lost a human somewhere along the way. Something I'd consider possible if it wasn't for absolutely everything about the man, something even you've admitted."

"No human, no decent one treats earth like it's just another planet." Stan stood firmly on the statement, one of the few truths he'd spoken about Izime tonight. It was ingrained in humans to worry about earth and Izime didn't seem to have a single thought about the planet beyond it being nice picking for his scams. Dark Night using that lack of information to create a solution, he'd use the whole league to do it too. "We can force him to tell the truth, about everything, but only if we take him to court under League jurisdiction."

"You want to use a trial to bring in Lady Shield." Psyis kept the breath she almost let out, realizing Stan was already cutting her out of the actual interrogating. Carefully keeping her red eyes from searching his face for a sign of distrust, hoping to keep some part in this plan so she could have some say in what happened to Izime.

"Evidence doesn't matter when we can force the truth out and psychic powers seem to be ineffective." Stan nodded confirming the thought Psyis was having. Dark Night was glad she'd made her own conclusions; the binding of truth would be handy if they needed answers, but they didn't. Stan just needed an excuse to keep Izime locked away from ever revealing anything, being the massive risk he was.

Blue eyes watching the psychic to see if there were any more reasonable issues, actual valid threats Izime posed. James was already on-board after hearing about Izime's attitude, activities, and that he'd known the Kansas raised Zexxian was Radiation Man. It may have taken some added assumptions like informing James that Izime knew who his wife and kids were as well. Though seeing as Izime had known about Sarah, Stan's own reformed fling, it was hardly a stretch.

"Unless you're holding back?" Adding a bit of fuel to the fire Stan posed a question to take Psyis further down her own road and away from the actual purpose behind apprehending Izime.

"I... haven't tried to directly enter his mind. Most humans are broadcasting their thoughts and," Psyis admitted she hadn't tried forcing her own mind to dive into that nothing, naturally wary of the unnatural psychic anomaly. "He's a void, like I said but I could try jumping in."

"So is the bird if I remember?" Stan continued, casually giving a slight glance towards the timer on the screen. Marking the moment Psyis started revealing information on Izime as he'd need to check for any changes between this conversation and their last talk. Cross-examining the answers she'd given last time to see if there was anything new or anything that she'd tried to leave out this time.

"Yes, neither of them reacts to surface level telepathy or basic telekinesis like grabbing." Psyis continued to reveal what she knew. Though she was careful not to spill any new information, careful to only answer specifically what Dark Night had asked about. "The bird can break down into particles so its immune. Izime is just, slippery is a good term I guess?"

"I believe the main things we need to counter are the teleportation spell and the creature." Dark Night added his own notes to the audio log he was making out of Psyis debriefing. It was best she did it while she was fresh, still a bit tipsy from the bar and willing. "Ret-borg should be able to contain it."

"If not?" Psyis tried to keep the worry from her voice, her attempt at sounding emotionless paling compared to the tone Dark Night took when talking about killing the bird. The technological creature obviously not a part of his no killing rule as he casually mentioned sending the overpowered Zexxian to swat it down.

"Radiation man can neutralize it." Stan didn't waste time on the emotional girls worries, the animal posed just as much risk as its owner. Even if it did house actual opportunity for study, that was only if it was safely neutralized and not destroyed. Stan figuring the thing had been raised or programmed to protect Izime the odds lay in the latter. "I don't want to destroy it. Its technology seems similar to Ret-Borg's so he should be able to part it out into something useful and not some flying malware."

Psyis closed her eyes, not needing to try and read between the lines of the bread recipe in Dark Nights mind to understand. This wasn't just about finding out who or what Izime was at all. Stan's goal at the end of it all still saw the man locked up. This wasn't FazzPazz, he wasn't going to try to talk to Izime and figure out what was going on in the man's head. The only reason Stan would bother would be to make sure Izime stayed locked in all that much longer. Why else would he be planning to neutralize Cradle, talking about using pieces of Izime's friend.

"Dark Night, I..." Psyis voice coming out with a slight tremble regretting coming down at all, though her mouth quickly shut on instinct as Stan came sweeping forward.

"Dark Squire talked to you upstairs Miss Psyis. I thought when you arrived down here you had already made a choice." Dark Night exhaled as he heard the weak tone, one that certainly didn't deserve a seat beside him on Savior Orbital let alone this minor mission. Still Dark Night pressed, needing the thessian to play her role, it was the best trap he could lay so he used that same seat to remind her. "When you joined the League of Planetary Saviors, I supported you, I voted on your behalf. Giving you a chance to swear an oath to uphold certain ideas, first among those was the Protection of Earth. Do you remember it?"

"I do. I made that promise with every intention of upholding it Dark Night, bu-" Psyis exhaled trying to hold her ground once more under that hard gaze. Understanding more now why those insane criminals easily cracked under this man and not her own powers, he made sure he held the advantage. Everything from guilt to near blackmail as Stan lofted the position he'd helped her attain.

"There are no buts Miss Psyis. Izime is not just a risk, he is a complete unknown. A wild card that is transporting some of the most devious creations our enemies have produced, selling them across the galaxy. With information on Radiation Man, Green Ring, myself and even you." Stan walked forward, tilting his head as he looked at Psyis from under his brows. Filling every word with his firm belief in justice, "Izime is going out of business, I've got a cell in the Abyss waiting for him already."

"Constantinople?" Psyis asked one final question, wondering if there would be anyone left on Izime's side after tonight. Wishing she could be shocked at the Leagues reaction. As nice as Izime seemed that was a mountain of evidence for forcing some answers out and a solid reason to keep their own asses safe. The abyss was a bit much though, Psyis wondering just how deeply the space faring man would hate being locked away from even seeing the stars.

"I let him take that toxin, it should buy us some time to move on Izime." Stan brushed off the mock worry, giving the psychic a look. One that clearly indicated that if Constantinople showed up there would only be one person he pointed the finger at, and it wouldn't be Izime.

"Izime is already planning for you to make a move," Psyis warned Stan not wanting him to jump the gun if the salesman was one step ahead.

The heroine torn between hoping Izime just left Voltham and hoping he'd fall into Stan's net while she was here. There was zero reason for him to leave, and he'd already said that the trip was planned through the new year. Now, even if he didn't show it was just a matter of time until one of the League members encountered him and called it in.

If she wasn't there then who knows what might happen.

"To force him off-world I heard, that wouldn't be very smart considering all of our secrets would leave with him. Steven bugged you," Dark Night nodded with a wave towards Psyis hoodie in explanation. Stan quickly added that it had been at his order, not wanting the two to fight further. "At my request. Sometimes justice is a hard thing to grasp Miss Psyis. Don't let the technicalities Izime's using cloud your decision making, that's his motive. Making you forget what your job is turns you into an opportunity for him, nothing else."

"The man's running a better con than Constantinople." Dark Night added mortar to the bricks, building a wall in Psyis mind between her and the space conman.

Taking chunks of Psyis resolve that she'd foolishly built around her feelings and tearing them down, reconstructing those few brief moments into something sinister in her mind. Stan continued confidently gas-lighting the psychic against her own gut intuitions, bringing her mind back to an entirely separate but adjacent topic. One that would only serve to support that wall turning it into a form of mental bunker against any good intentions.

"This is the first time you can't read someones mind, its hard you you to get a read on him. I heard it myself; you have no idea how the man even feels let alone thinks." Stan reinforced the wall in Psyis mind the same way he had with James, lying. "Izime could easily mislead you and likely has been, so I stepped in; don't blame Steven."

"Whats the plan to bring him in?" Psyis clenched her jaw, knowing what Dark Night was trying to do and sadly unable to refute him with any real truths; Izime hadn't given her any after all. Izime could easily, no he had easily played around with her tonight in his own way. Flirting then back to an almost sterile friendliness, cocky then embarrassed; he'd been all over the place. Psyis now unsure if it's been so innocent, regretting playing into it.

Almost regretting going at all until she considered she'd only ever be used either way. Either Izime making her complacent to use her in some way, or Stan had just used her to get to Izime.

"We let him come to us, he's confident in his ability to vanish but that ability is tied to his hand." Dark Night finally used the computer, pulling up a plan for forcing a showdown with the villains during tomorrow's patrol. It was risky and certainly hastily crafted, but still a solid plot. "If we can render that ability useless then we only have to worry about the bird, the one with actual combat skills."

"Ret-Borg and Radiation Man, but how are we going to get close enough to Izime t-" Psyis quickly tried to point out a flaw until she realized why Stan was so intent on having her help. She even been foolishly hoping she could get some say on what was going to happen by forcing alterations to the mission through her own suggestions; she was the key to the whole thing.

"Izime has appeared twice now within our effective combat ranges." Stan kept his disappointment to himself as Psyis had already forgotten just how useful she was going to be for bringing Izime in, rushing to interfere in the whole thing.

"Both times when I was at risk of encountering fear toxin." Psyis shook her head, wanting to make excuses for Izime; though Dark Nights earlier insinuations were messing with her own views of Izime's motivations, "He's not worried about me, it's about what would happen if I was under its effects, the damage I would cause."

"It's a logical outcome," Dark Night nodded, following along and slightly course correcting Psyis own assumptions. Painting Izime in a profiteering mindset as everything pointed towards the man being wallet minded first. Stan not wanting anyone to think their target was concerned about the public's safety. "You would likely destroy the area and demolishing his products and his sales."

"That's..." Psyis trailed off as she considered Constantinople's multiple warnings and worries about Izime being too focused on his gray market. Not mentioning the more personal warning and worries he had dumped on her, dismissing Izime's warning in the alley, "That's a reasonable assumption, even Constantinople warned me he was entirely business minded."

"It will be a delicate operation to pull off with all the moving pieces involved, considering Izime has already involved Crusher that makes a three-man team of villains." Dark Night hit the play button, the map pieces moving in a 3-d space as various components came and left, the entire operation playing out flawlessly in a digital world. "So, I'm going to call in help, we'll sweep the board tomorrow night with a five-hero squad."

"Radiation Man, Ret-Borg, Yourself, Dark Night, and finally myself. I'll holding off on contacting Ret-Borg as it would be traced so Steven will send an emergency broadcast when the chance comes, Radiation Man is already waiting up at Savior Orbital for the signal." Dark Night was glad that Psyis wasn't arguing with her role, bait was the best spot for her. He certainly wasn't going to leave the now so easily swayed Psyis in control of sending the signal so that was left to Steven. Hopefully the two could sort themselves out after this, Stan hoping that this Izime's using the young woman would help her see that his young trainee wasn't so incapable.

"If Zythomia decides to take Izime's side?" Psyis didn't bother having any real hope that the rarely bothered Tribunal would make any big moves to save a small-time smuggler. They had much larger concerns like maintaining the cosmic balance and order of the emotions their Ring Bearers used and weren't so big on batteries.

"Hank's going to have a difficult case to plead by the time he gets back, worst is we allow them to extradite him to Zythomia and Izime can enjoy a life sentence with the Ring Bearers." Dark Night shrugged as he considered doing the same red-tape tango Izime had in order to keep him Earth-bound. "Best case their tribune dumps the issue on Hank as Earths Ring Bearer and Izime is locked up in the Abyss regardless."

"What exactly do you need me to do." Psyis finally stepped up, shoulders held back as she looked at the map of Voltham. Willing to do her duty tomorrow as difficult as it might be, Izime would come in and listen. She'd fight to keep him out of the Abyss, but he'd have no choice but to give up his business. When everything settled, maybe he could walk free and hopefully live a better life than homeless, someday maybe?

~~Breaking Rules~~

Pulling at his ear Izime eyed the situation nervously, that idle hand working its way up to pull at his hair in frustration. The scene below him the opposite of his first night in Voltham as the silence of the night was cut with the sounds of battle. Gun shots cracking and echoing against the sprawling bricks and concrete amid the sounds of yelling and threats. Both occasionally cut with a buzzing hum as a ricochet went wild or a short cut scream signaling the end of some goon.

Psyis holding point, the psychic hovering at street level battling Crusher and FearForm at the same time, was she just getting cocky just because he had stepped in a few times? Dark Squire was there sure, but it was as if she had relegated him to pure mob control. That or there was something else going on, as he was only occasionally bothering to get a hit in on one of the leading villains. Maybe they'd fought or Steven had cheated again and Psyis was trying to prove some odd point? Because other than not battling an actual super-villain Dark Squire was being forced to do double time trying to knock out or disarm individual goons as fast as one well trained man in a super-suit could.

Something Dark Squire would have been capable of if it was any other night Izime was sure, but it wasn't just any other night. Everything about tonight was off, from the heroes to the villains and even how both were using their abilities. There was Crusher's Synth-Squad, who were already double ripped on some modified toxin and synth-roids. Then FearForm had brought in some twisted new skeleton suits he'd called Nightmare's: citizens the villain had trapped in exo-suits created by The Quiz.

No matter how badly Izime wanted one just to see what it could do he couldn't stand the sight, those poor people trapped inside forced to fight, it was gut wrenching. The devices drilled and mounted through some cruel hardware so their victims couldn't escape, at least their faces had been hidden behind those ventilating masks. Though who knew what kind of horrors those poor people were experience inside them.

Now The Quiz's best taught Students were piling in as well, the added aggro was forcing Psyis to repeatedly pull Dark Squire's ass out of the line of fire. Try as he might Steven could keep all the goons at bay and the Students were obviously experts in close quarters combat never missing a chance to open up with their guns. Izime knew even if the bulletproofing was better than his own vest those shots still had to hurt, hopefully she'd managed to stop the majority with her powers.

"Where the fuck is Dark Night?" Izime stood eyes getting a bit wet as he watched another enslaved civilian take an unnecessary hit. They might have lived, but after Crusher had used their limp body to try and club Miss Psyis it was certainly going to be a different kind of life. A horrible simulation of what they might have had if only someone had been there to save them. Izime unable to completely shed the burden of his past life's mistakes and responsibilities. If he jumped in though, Izime thought of the pistol he had with him, it certainly would not go over well with either of the two down there.

It was one thing to kill the goon the other night in the middle of that mess when the bodies had already been stacking; the goons down there weren't already shooting one another. There was no chaos to mix into, let alone how obvious it would be if he just started shooting people. Izime's usual go-to for non-lethal was useless as well. There were too many goons and not enough battery packs, besides those would only be useful on those exo-suits.

They might technically work on a living creature, but the pistol was more humane at that point.

Izime's mind trying to work through other potential solutions and drawing a blank. Finally pulled free from his planning as a explosion rocked the street below, looking down to see the remains of a car still blazing as they were held suspended in a purple haze.

The battle between the massive force that the Villains had brought to bear was turning this into a not so minor showdown. With Dark Night's failure to show, Psyis had been forced to take the main role in Voltham. Izime tried to focus better on the two heroes, who'd senselessly pulled up short.

Psyis and Dark Squire battling the villains who had combine their powers and gangs. The resolution was fuzzy, but Izime could clearly make out the potent looking mixture of orange that was flooding into Crusher's new up-armored roid-pack. Watching as FearForm retracted a hose, having just pumped the wrestlers powers up to new levels with that same modified toxin that was ramping up the goons. An entirely new mixture Izime had never seen and that was saying something, its effects apparently quite potent.

The thought actually giving Izime reason to pause; a new power and a new fear crossing Izime's mind: was this his fault?

He had downed Crusher during their last battle after all and there should be very few things in this world he would recognize if a major player was using it. Had the villains planned on his assistance assuming that another hero was around, even designing a new formula to combat him.

If so, it wasn't the hero's lacking it was that there was a no show on the hero's side and it was Izime. The entire thing could be explained if the villains had planned on a fourth hero. Well, Izime wasn't one he had just needed to keep the people safe around Psyis a couple times is all. It was just solving a problem, right? That's all he had done was keep things from getting out of hand, kept people from getting hurt senselessly, and disappeared into the night. That was just problem solving, nothing heroic to it!

Izime felt the excuse fall flat in his mind even as he uselessly thought it. Two hands working away at his hair now Izime reached out for Cradle trying to get some kind of reassurance, a time on Dark Nights arrival, anything at all. The bodies of innocents weighing heavily on Izime as more marks were added on his already scarred tally sheet.

Cradle where's Dark Night? Five, Ten minutes?

Shit is bad here; Villains are big winning.

The Quiz. Sorzaro.

Dark Night. Busy

Cradle we might have to make a move

Some really big problem solving.

No Fight. No Fight.

Dark Squire's got the roles reversed.

He's put Purple in a bad spot Cradle.

No Psychics! No Fights!

Rules Rules! All Problems!

No Rules? No Problems!

They've got this Izime tried to convince himself, watching as Dark Squire flipped over two goons, refusing to respond to Cradle's thoughts about ignoring their rules. Tracking those Dark-a-Rangs flying out, watching them slam into the joints of at least five suits which halted their attacks. It was a nearly perfect throw with only a few misses, Dark Squire had easily stopped five goons with one move. Though Dark Squire caught a kick from FearForm just as he'd landed that sent him flying into a wall hard enough to crack the bricks.

Izime could appreciate the skill, but it was obvious that Dark Squire was in way over his head, the man was no Dark Night and even then, Stan would have likely made for a tactical retreat at this point. That or called in some heavy hitting back up like Radiation Man or Miss Psyis; the woman who Izime was currently observing hopefully from a top the skyscraper.

She's got this, Izime bit his tongue, eyes leaving Dark Squire who was struggling to rise. Teal eyes zoomed in looking at Psyis who was trying to manage both major league Voltham Villains and the entire mob safely. The Thessian needing to limit her powers, so she didn't just turn the humans that were attacking her to paste. Izime's worry pouring into his mental connection alerting his eyes in the sky to the decisions he was considering. Cradle pressing once again of Izime to make up his mind on if he intended to help the stupid crow.

Rules? No Rules?

Dark Night. Busy.

Izime's mind played out the fights, mentally fast forwarding the one below while simulating the outcomes between Sorzaro and Dark Night; it was going to be a while considering Dark Night didn't even believe in magic. The fight below would certainly have more bodies than those already on the ground by the time it was over considering the dog-pile.

Nodding as the added villain only further confirmed Izime's suspicions, they'd stacked the deck for him after all. A magic user had joined in last night on the hero's side after all, bringing in an evil sorcerer was all too logical. Sorzaro wasn't absurdly powerful, the glorified street magic paled in comparison to Constantinople. Izime even figuring he could hold his own if he was pressed, sure his magic wasn't as showy as Sorzaro's bizarre fun-house enchantment's. Fireball was always a pretty neat party trick though, especially when you could calculate the rate of hydrogen fission and throw tiny stars instead.

Rules? No Rules?

Cradle I-I don't know.

Izime popping his knuckles as he looked down at the scene below which was only getting worse by the second. Dark Squire finally taking an equal role but far too late, unable to firmly peel only one of the villains away he'd been caught unaware. Psyis being forced to throw several goons, their bodies flying into walls, denting cars, and smashing through shop windows.

FearForm quite literally catching one and sending them into Dark Squire. If Psyis hadn't only selected the goons wearing those new exo-skeletons then Dark Squire might have been alright. She had though, the force alone was sure to have broken a few bones. Izime watching as Dark Squire tried to roll for even more distance after the fall, slamming some sort of syringe into his leg before standing.

Rules?

No Rules?

Izime finally asked the question back, still unsure of an answer. Leaving the growing need to do something about the situation down there dripping into the bond. It was bad, people were getting hurt... to the point that even some of this world miracle cures couldn't save them. Even if they could it would put their families in debt. Even if they weren't harmed the trauma of this night alone would last for the rest of their lives.

Cradle Fight Good?

No Rules. Cradle Fight Good!

Izime took a short jog back from the edge of the skyscraper, his mind locked on that spot just down the street from the fight. Stretching for a moment letting all the tension pop out of his often-underutilized joints before turning and making a choice. The feeling of the soles of his boots pounding against to roof disappearing and the wind picking up as Izime leapt from the roof. The adrenaline starting to fill his veins as he pursed his lips casting orders to his bond, letting his speed gather before snapping down into the fray.

Cradle turning pulling its gaze from the building where Dark Night was battling The Quiz and Sorzaro, a loud humming whistle tinged with binaric ringing out. The tone carrying through the concrete jungle miles away where Dark Night had fallen stupidly into Sorzaro's trap.

The note full of Izime's orders and advice; tips on spells and counters as well the directives to help Dark Night. They would collect their prizes after they had finished solving problems like they had the rest this trip. Cradle cocking its head, a bit doubtful in Izime's confidence that tonight would go as planned. This whole trip to Voltham had been one broken rule and one problem after another and Cradle knew that combination came with consequences, though those consequences usually came from Izime.

Hopefully Izime was right, and they were just solving a problem and not flying into one, Cradle trusted in its bond as it dove into the magical insane world of Sorzaro to assist Dark Night. The magical maze Sorzaro had summoned wasn't exactly something that bound itself to logic, easily trapping Dark Night. The near cartoon-ish powers rivaling even Cradle's own reality bending ones, the bird almost certain things wouldn't go so easily.

They were breaking a lot of rules, and they weren't even Cradles this time, the raven trusting that its nest program still new best though it briefly wondered who brought consequences to Izime.