Villain Retirement

"No… I've never really met Alice before? I might have occasionally run into her due to your father, but… yeah, no."

Diana's hum echoed long and soft throughout the house; her face, truly showing that she was thinking long and hard about whether or not she and Alice met with each other.

"It's really tragic what happened to her," Diana sighed, "But whatever the case is, and no matter how much of a bitch I might sound… I am truly glad you're here with us, Riley. You're my son and nothing would change that."

"Hm," Riley only nodded as he drank the glass of milk that Diana got for him. Diana also prepared a glass of water for Megawoman, completely forgetting that she was actually unconscious.

"Why are you even believing the stories of the people from prison?" Diana's tone then slightly changed as she shook her head, "They are in prison because they are bad people who made the wrong choices, Riley. And most of them would lie just to get what they want. Ugh, I swear. Do you know how many months it took me to finally be able to sleep at least an hour when they placed you in that horrible place?"

"When did you meet father?"

"We actually knew each other back when we were just about your age," Diana once again answered Riley's question without any hesitation, "We weren't really that close since, well… Bernard has always been Bernard. He always lived in a different world."

Diana took a sip of her coffee as she stared at the table; her eyes, almost glimmering,

"Then we all separated ways, and the next time we met was when he was already dawning his costume," Diana let out a long and heavy sigh as she once again shook her head, "Your father wasn't particularly handsome, no. But I knew he was going to be rich so I married him… oh, and of course, I fell in love with him as well."

"You're not a super, mother?" Riley asked.

And once again, Diana answered with another sigh.

"No. If I was, then my life would have probably been a whole lot different than it is now. I'd probably even be in the Hope Guild with how tenacious I am…

…or maybe even a villain," Diana then smiled and chuckled as she looked at Riley… trying to replicate his wide smile but failing to do so as her cheeks quickly started to tremble.

"So, you're not a super?"

"No."

"You're not hundreds of years old?"

"...With this kind of youthful face?"

Riley looked at Megawoman, and then back to Diana.

"N… no, I'm not."

"You didn't work at the Super Max Prison before?"

"No."

"..."

"..."

"You don't have questions anymore?" Diana smiled as she once again opened the photo album on the table, "Then why don't we–"

"I have to go, mother."

But alas, before Diana could even turn a page, Riley and Megawoman stood up, "Will you be fine here by yourself?"

"..." Diana once again looked at Riley straight in the eyes, before also standing up and once again letting out a loud sigh that seemed to be directly targeted at Riley,

"This is the problem when you're surrounded by heroes," she breathed out, "It's fine, you can go ahead and save people's lives. I'll be fine." Panda Novel

"Are you sure, mother?"

"Hm," Diana nodded before forcing out a chuckle, "It's just an alien invasion, I've been through worse. Starslayer, Darkday, that Lady Divider chick… Did you know I've been a hostage once?"

"..."

"And besides, everyone seems to just be going on with their lives since the government hasn't really issued an official lockdown– I was even able to buy groceries," Diana laughed as she pointed at the bags of groceries she dropped earlier when she suddenly saw Riley.

"...Okay," Riley nodded, "Megawoman and I shall take my leave, mother."

"...Take care out there, okay?" Diana breathed out, "And when your father and sister return, tell them not to come home for a few days, okay? They think they can just go to space without even telling me!? The one that actually does everything in this house and– Oh my, I'm not angry at you, Riley."

"..." Riley only blinked a couple of times, before nodding his head and walking out. Diana did not really follow him out– as almost a tradition in the house; Diana never says goodbye to Bernard as his job… meant that he might not come back home one day.

And now that Riley was also officially a hero, Diana only stared at her son's back as he closed the door.

As for Riley, he stood in front of the door for a couple of seconds, before floating in the air along with Megawoman… and immediately landing on the roof of the house.

"Riley."

And right there, was Katherine; wearing casual clothing with her silver hair flowing with the wind.

"Thank you for coming so quick, Silvermoon."

"..." Katherine only nodded before her eyes moved like magnets towards Megawoman,

"It's… really her," she then said as she took a small gulp. Her eyes, almost watering the longer she stared at Megawoman. But after a few more seconds, she closed her eyes and looked to the side… almost as if in shame.

"Beautiful, is she not?"

"Like the sun," Katherine breathed out; a hint of a smile growing on her face.

"..."

"..."

"What did you find out, Silvermoon? Did my mother lie throughout our conversation?"

"No," Katherine shook her head, "Not even once."

"Hm," Riley only looked to the side as he heard Katherine's answer. And after a few seconds, he nodded his head, "Thank you, Silvermoon. You may go now, Megawoman and I have some aliens to kil– neutralize."

Riley's feet left the roof, but before he could float even 3 inches away–

"She was too calm," Katherine said; causing Riley to once again return to the roof.

"Diana has always been the calmest in the family, Silvermoon," Riley said, "She has been through worse situations."

"This… is different," Katherine sighed, "I didn't detect any lies, and I also didn't detect any stutter in her heart, not even once."

"She has always been the calmest in the family."

"In front of Megawoman?" Katherine said as her eyes once again landed on Megawoman, "Even now, I could feel myself almost fainting just from looking at her… but your mother… don't you find it weird that she didn't even seem to mind?"

"Yes, mother is a very interesting indivi–"

"She was even calmer than you."

"..."

"Almost to the point that I could hear your heartbeat more than hers," Katherine continued, "That has never happened before, Riley. Your heart has always been the most still in every room you've been in, but not earlier."

"Maybe–"

"And it wasn't because you were beside Megawoman."

"...Interesting," Riley placed his hand on his chin; his eyes, slowly squinting. But after a few more seconds, he just nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders and started floating along with Megawoman,

"Anyway, Megawoman and I have prior plans. I will see you later, Katherine."

And with that, Riley flew away, leaving Katherine on the roof, sighing heavily.

She rushed to get to the residence on Riley's orders to spy on Diana… but now that they somewhat have something on her, he just leaves?

"..." Katherine then looked towards the sky; closing her eyes and taking deep breaths as she did so. And with her 6th breath, she snapped her fingers– her casual clothes, suddenly fluttering into some sort of orange streaks as she did so, almost like butterflies flying away from a tree and fully revealing it.

Her superhero outfit was now clad in white; a long white coat accentuated with black linings– she was also wearing a full black suit beneath it, completely contrasting and complimenting everything.

Even if she was now Riley's subordinate, she was still free to save as many people as she could. She was not trying to atone for her crimes and sins, no. No matter how many people she saves, she knows that she will no longer be forgiven. She knew in herself that… she was too far gone.

She was just doing this for her. To at least lessen the guilt that has been eating her every day… even if it's just an illusion.

Save as many people as she could– were now the only thoughts Katherine had in her mind as she flew away to the opposite direction where Riley disappeared into.

"!!!"

She almost stopped flying, however, as she saw someone waving goodbye at her on the ground; smiling at her before returning back inside–

…Diana Ross.

"What…

…is wrong with this family?"

***

"We… we need back up here!"

"All non-supered individuals, please stop running outside and just hide! Dios mio por favor!"

"Where do they keep popping up from!?"

Somewhere in South America, several B and C Grade superheroes were trying to fight the large blue-skinned aliens. They seemed to be faring well since no supers were lying dead on the ground yet; however, the exhaustion exuding from their faces could no longer be hidden.

Just one of the giant aliens was enough, but they had to fight off 3 or 4. And with them just being individual and solo heroes, there really was nothing much they could do in terms of teamwork.

But finally, after a few more grueling minutes of battle– they seemed to have vanquished all the aliens within the area.

"F… finall–"

But alas, almost as if mocking their triumphant cries that have not yet flourished…

…a silhouette of something colossal landed on the ground without even any warning.