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Description
The Soviet Superwoman landed in front of the simply named Angel Falls Hotel. It had been a couple of months since Gordon Martin, the Guardian known as Raging Bull, had disappeared. And although his former employer, the crimelord known as the Occupant, was the main suspect behind it, the Guardians were reluctant to confront him, since they had no evidence to connect him to it. But that wasn’t going to stop Olga. She had grown fond of Gordon, even calling him Маленький Брат (little brother), and his disappearance had also affected Polygirl greatly, so she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way to find the truth.

She floated to the level of the front door and prepared to charge forwards and smash through it, when she heard a voice behind her say, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” She turned and saw a man in a suit stand on the other side of the street. He had a pointed beard and a thin moustache as well as brown, combed back hair. His hands rested on the round head of a cane. He gave her a broad grin and said, “Besides, I’m who you want to see. I am the Occupant.”

"You flatter yourself," Olga replied curtly, "I came to see Gordon Martin. Seeing you is just an unpleasant means to that end since you the reason he is missing."

"Gordon Martin, Gordon Martin," the Occupant said to himself while stroking his beard. "The name sounds familiar, but I don't think I know him. And I certainly don't have anything to do with his disappearance," he continued in a slightly mocking tone. "And besides, he's probably getting what was coming to him, if he hadn't already."

"Well perhaps his name might ring more of the bell if I started taking this building apart brick by brick to find him?" The Soviet Superwoman threatened, her nostrils flaring. "I am not afraid of you, Occupant."

“You could do that,” the Occupant conceded without giving up his arrogant attitude. “But I guarantee you won’t find a single thing that connects me to that little turd. And anything you may find that would link me or any of my, ah, employees to any criminal activities would be inadmissible in court. Fruit of the poisonous tree and all that. Furthermore, you do that and several videos of you destroying it will be all over the news before days end. There are still many people in this city who believe the worst about you, and it would take very little spin to make it look like they’re right.

“And as for you not being afraid of me, that’s just swell. Of course, you realize that if I so chose, I could reach into your mind and erase every memory you have of anyone you ever cared about. Your family, your mentor Stalin, any lovers you many have had, your wife. All gone, and you wouldn’t even know. All you’d feel is an emptiness you couldn’t explain.” And his smile grew more predatory as he reiterated, “If I so chose.”

"You misunderstand me sir." Olga jutted a finger at the smaller man and stood her ground defiantly. "I am only interested in Gordon and taking him back home. He is my Маленький Брат and that is very important to me. I have heard all of these same threats before, much more convincingly from the Voyevoda, so you will excuse me if I do not quake in my boots. You have thus far managed to stay very well hidden and very quiet and your war with the Reich has turned many a blind eye to your operations. I am not interested in your criminal activities as of yet. I am not interested in you. The Guardians are not interested in your activities...yet."

"I am giving you this one opportunity to give him back or, between Polygirl and myself, every heroine and metahuman in the city will suddenly give you and your Canadian Syndicate their full attention. Your hands will be full and I doubt your old enemies in the city will pause to let you come up for air. All I want is Gordon."

The Occupant shrugged and said, “I sorry to disappoint you, but I can tell you in all honesty, and you probably imagine how rarely that happens, that I have no idea where Gordon is or what happened to him. And you and the rest of you heroes can bring all manner of wrath down on me, but it won’t change that fact.

“And I’m really not worried about you doing what you said. I guarantee it will backfire on you. After all, in the eyes of the public, my Canadian Syndicate has done more to drive the Reich out of the city then you and your friends have. But if you believe that it will do any good, then please, go ahead.”

Olga stood her ground and rolled around what he was saying in her head. She continued to glare at him with her cold, Siberian-ice eyes.

"Just because you have been making life harder for Ilsa Hauppman does not make you some kind of hero or patriot. You and your organization are still vicious criminals who prey on the hard-working peoples, even if you are not Nazi. Most citizens would understand this. Gordon understood how dangerous you are. Why then should I believe you know nothing of this incident? You have the most motive to revenge yourself on this man. Next you will tell me that the Reich is behind his disappearance as well, da, or that you know nothing about it."

The Occupant met her gaze with a smirk. "Really, it's a matter of perception. For example, there are some people in this city who will always believe you to be evil due to your background, no matter how much good you do. And if the Reich was behind this, believe me, I would tell you in a heartbeat. But I'm digressing. Yes, I am the person with the most reason to get back at the little back-stabber, but for the final time: I don't know where he is or what happened to him. And if I'm lying, may I be struck down from above in some manner."

The Soviet super-soldier nodded slowly before responding in her thick accent. "I am going to take you at your word then and tell the Guardians to look for Gordon elsewhere for now. You are correct; there are people in this city who I will never gain the trust of. It is a fact I have accepted in my heart. I am giving you a chance by trusting you, that those peoples have not given me. Do not make me look the fool."

And with that she departed upwards, flying away from the crime boss with a look of irritation. First at the situation: she still was no closer to finding out who had taken Gordon. Secondly with herself, for hoping she had not just made a serious error in judgement.

The image of the Occupant disappeared when she departed. And in the accounting office of the Angel Falls City Hall, Samuel Robert blinked his eyes. He had been lost in concentration for the past few minutes. Just then, one of his co-workers walked up to his desk and said, “Hey frenchie. Better not let the supervisor catch you slacking off.”

“I was just taking a little break,” he replied with a grin, and then pressed the enter button of his computer.” Besides, I’ve just completed my assignments for the day. Oh, and one more thing,” he continued with an edge to his voice as his eyes bored into the other man’s. “Never call me frenchie again.”

His co-worker stood there a few seconds and then said, “OK,” in a dazed tone. As the oaf staggered away, Samuel turned to his computer with a satisfied grin. That was two problems he’d taken care of this day. He didn’t know how he got along without the powers he had gained from the device he had taken from a dead alien’s hands. Still, he was glad he had them, as they had made everything he had had accomplished, as well as the billions of dollar he had gained, possible. And as for Gordon, well, good riddance. He had taken the young man into his confidence and had been betrayed for it. Of course, that problem had already been taken care of. He hadn’t lied to the Soviet heroine; he honestly didn’t know where he had gone, he merely omitted the fact that he had let the demoness Onyx take him. He chuckled to himself at the thought that everything was going his way.

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This story is set in the city of

Art by the incomparable

Polygirl is property of

Onyx is property of

Soviet Superwoman, Ilsa Hauppman, the Voyevoda, and the Fourth Reich are all property of Who also co-wrote this story with me.

The Occupant, Gordon Martin/Raging Bull, and the Canadian Syndicate are property of

Description
The Soviet Superwoman landed in front of the simply named Angel Falls Hotel. It had been a couple of months since Gordon Martin, the Guardian known as Raging Bull, had disappeared. And although his former employer, the crimelord known as the Occupant, was the main suspect behind it, the Guardians were reluctant to confront him, since they had no evidence to connect him to it. But that wasn’t going to stop Olga. She had grown fond of Gordon, even calling him Маленький Брат (little brother), and his disappearance had also affected Polygirl greatly, so she wasn’t going to let anything stand in her way to find the truth.

She floated to the level of the front door and prepared to charge forwards and smash through it, when she heard a voice behind her say, “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” She turned and saw a man in a suit stand on the other side of the street. He had a pointed beard and a thin moustache as well as brown, combed back hair. His hands rested on the round head of a cane. He gave her a broad grin and said, “Besides, I’m who you want to see. I am the Occupant.”

"You flatter yourself," Olga replied curtly, "I came to see Gordon Martin. Seeing you is just an unpleasant means to that end since you the reason he is missing."

"Gordon Martin, Gordon Martin," the Occupant said to himself while stroking his beard. "The name sounds familiar, but I don't think I know him. And I certainly don't have anything to do with his disappearance," he continued in a slightly mocking tone. "And besides, he's probably getting what was coming to him, if he hadn't already."

"Well perhaps his name might ring more of the bell if I started taking this building apart brick by brick to find him?" The Soviet Superwoman threatened, her nostrils flaring. "I am not afraid of you, Occupant."

“You could do that,” the Occupant conceded without giving up his arrogant attitude. “But I guarantee you won’t find a single thing that connects me to that little turd. And anything you may find that would link me or any of my, ah, employees to any criminal activities would be inadmissible in court. Fruit of the poisonous tree and all that. Furthermore, you do that and several videos of you destroying it will be all over the news before days end. There are still many people in this city who believe the worst about you, and it would take very little spin to make it look like they’re right.

“And as for you not being afraid of me, that’s just swell. Of course, you realize that if I so chose, I could reach into your mind and erase every memory you have of anyone you ever cared about. Your family, your mentor Stalin, any lovers you many have had, your wife. All gone, and you wouldn’t even know. All you’d feel is an emptiness you couldn’t explain.” And his smile grew more predatory as he reiterated, “If I so chose.”

"You misunderstand me sir." Olga jutted a finger at the smaller man and stood her ground defiantly. "I am only interested in Gordon and taking him back home. He is my Маленький Брат and that is very important to me. I have heard all of these same threats before, much more convincingly from the Voyevoda, so you will excuse me if I do not quake in my boots. You have thus far managed to stay very well hidden and very quiet and your war with the Reich has turned many a blind eye to your operations. I am not interested in your criminal activities as of yet. I am not interested in you. The Guardians are not interested in your activities...yet."

"I am giving you this one opportunity to give him back or, between Polygirl and myself, every heroine and metahuman in the city will suddenly give you and your Canadian Syndicate their full attention. Your hands will be full and I doubt your old enemies in the city will pause to let you come up for air. All I want is Gordon."

The Occupant shrugged and said, “I sorry to disappoint you, but I can tell you in all honesty, and you probably imagine how rarely that happens, that I have no idea where Gordon is or what happened to him. And you and the rest of you heroes can bring all manner of wrath down on me, but it won’t change that fact.

“And I’m really not worried about you doing what you said. I guarantee it will backfire on you. After all, in the eyes of the public, my Canadian Syndicate has done more to drive the Reich out of the city then you and your friends have. But if you believe that it will do any good, then please, go ahead.”

Olga stood her ground and rolled around what he was saying in her head. She continued to glare at him with her cold, Siberian-ice eyes.

"Just because you have been making life harder for Ilsa Hauppman does not make you some kind of hero or patriot. You and your organization are still vicious criminals who prey on the hard-working peoples, even if you are not Nazi. Most citizens would understand this. Gordon understood how dangerous you are. Why then should I believe you know nothing of this incident? You have the most motive to revenge yourself on this man. Next you will tell me that the Reich is behind his disappearance as well, da, or that you know nothing about it."

The Occupant met her gaze with a smirk. "Really, it's a matter of perception. For example, there are some people in this city who will always believe you to be evil due to your background, no matter how much good you do. And if the Reich was behind this, believe me, I would tell you in a heartbeat. But I'm digressing. Yes, I am the person with the most reason to get back at the little back-stabber, but for the final time: I don't know where he is or what happened to him. And if I'm lying, may I be struck down from above in some manner."

The Soviet super-soldier nodded slowly before responding in her thick accent. "I am going to take you at your word then and tell the Guardians to look for Gordon elsewhere for now. You are correct; there are people in this city who I will never gain the trust of. It is a fact I have accepted in my heart. I am giving you a chance by trusting you, that those peoples have not given me. Do not make me look the fool."

And with that she departed upwards, flying away from the crime boss with a look of irritation. First at the situation: she still was no closer to finding out who had taken Gordon. Secondly with herself, for hoping she had not just made a serious error in judgement.

The image of the Occupant disappeared when she departed. And in the accounting office of the Angel Falls City Hall, Samuel Robert blinked his eyes. He had been lost in concentration for the past few minutes. Just then, one of his co-workers walked up to his desk and said, “Hey frenchie. Better not let the supervisor catch you slacking off.”

“I was just taking a little break,” he replied with a grin, and then pressed the enter button of his computer.” Besides, I’ve just completed my assignments for the day. Oh, and one more thing,” he continued with an edge to his voice as his eyes bored into the other man’s. “Never call me frenchie again.”

His co-worker stood there a few seconds and then said, “OK,” in a dazed tone. As the oaf staggered away, Samuel turned to his computer with a satisfied grin. That was two problems he’d taken care of this day. He didn’t know how he got along without the powers he had gained from the device he had taken from a dead alien’s hands. Still, he was glad he had them, as they had made everything he had had accomplished, as well as the billions of dollar he had gained, possible. And as for Gordon, well, good riddance. He had taken the young man into his confidence and had been betrayed for it. Of course, that problem had already been taken care of. He hadn’t lied to the Soviet heroine; he honestly didn’t know where he had gone, he merely omitted the fact that he had let the demoness Onyx take him. He chuckled to himself at the thought that everything was going his way.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This story is set in the city of

Art by the incomparable

Polygirl is property of

Onyx is property of

Soviet Superwoman, Ilsa Hauppman, the Voyevoda, and the Fourth Reich are all property of Who also co-wrote this story with me.

The Occupant, Gordon Martin/Raging Bull, and the Canadian Syndicate are property of