Villain Retirement

"Where did you find time to write that speech?"

"I didn't write it."

After delivering a short speech to the people, Empress once again returned to her tent, with Butcher immediately clapping his hand; but not really making any noise due to the nature of his power.

As for Empress, she just let herself fall on the nearest chair she could find; her breaths, still clearly a little amped up from all the emotions she needed to force out of her.

"Whiteking was the one who wrote the speech," Empress then shook her head as she removed the transceiver piece from her ear,

"Based on all the reactions, responses, feedback of all the people he could spy on— he told me what they wanted to hear, and I did."

"Bernard… Are we working with him from now on?"

"No," Empress scoffed, "He will forever remain in prison."

"And what about Darkday himself?"

"..." Empress only raised her eyebrow as she looked at Butcher, "You're welcome to apprehend him if you want. Bring the entire super militia with you and even the separated members of the Hope Guild."

"..."

"Even if the world knows who he is, I don't think it matters anymore," Empress pinched the bridge of her nose, "We just have to live with him— he is a calamity. A force of nature that we could only watch on the side and hopefully avoid. But at the very least; he is a calamity that can be reasoned with."

"Can he? Be reasoned with, I mean." Butcher breathed out, "The only person I know of that could talk to him and he would actually listen to a hundred percent is his sister. And I don't think she is in the right mind to talk to anyone outside of her circle, let alone his brother that was supposed to already be dead."

"Why do you think I asked him to meet me in the Academy?" Empress also let out a small sigh, "We're going to find out if Riley still listens to his sister. The two haven't reunited yet since Riley announced himself back."

"...And what are you hoping the outcome would be?"

"I honestly don't know, Butcher. I just… want all of this to be over with."

***

"Maybe… we should just stay here?"

"...Why? Your brother said he wanted to see the inside of the Academy."

"I'm… actually a wanted fugitive."

"Didn't Riley already give the three of you new identities? Elliot told me all about your life on the farm and how boring and disgusting it was that he had to watch you trying your best to seduce John every— that was supposed to be our secret."

"What!?"

"You… You betrayed me! I told you not to tell anyone!"

Back in the Paige and Paragon Superhero Agency, Paige and the others were still in the lobby. The only one missing was Riley, who was changing his clothes since his previous ones were ripped during the battle.

John volunteered to stay and guard the building with Ellie and her brother, but Riley said there really wasn't any reason to guard it anymore and that they should just go with them.

"I apologize for making everyone wait, should we go?"

And finally, after what seemed like an hour, Riley stepped out of the elevator— wearing an all-black formal suit… with a long red scarf just hanging loosely from his neck.

"Why… are you wearing a red scarf?" Paige took in a small gulp as she looked at Riley, "Isn't that… the House of Super's color?"

"Oh, you noticed that?" Riley smiled as he approached the group, "The leader of the planet has asked us to meet her, I am just making sure that I look good. And what better way to symbolize that we mean no harm than by wearing the very color of the terrorist organization that we just eradicated."

"...No?" Ellie raised an eyebrow, "I think this sends the opposite message."

"...Does it? I was hoping it would mean that there's no reason to be afraid of wearing red," Riley blinked a couple of times as he checked on his scarf, 

"Well, I'm already wearing it. Shall we go?"

"Hm," Paige quickly nodded as she wrapped her arm around Riley's, "Are you just going to fly us all there?"

"No," Riley shook his head, "John will do it."

"Hmm… We're all kinda like family now, no?" Paige giggled as she looked back at the others.

"More like we're your servants," Elliot also let out a chuckle as he walked beside Paige and Riley.

"I prefer to use the term subordinates, Mr. Elliot."

"...That sounds fancy, I like that," Elliot nodded in satisfaction as they stepped out of the building.

As for John, he couldn't really follow them as Ellie stopped him.

"...Are we sure about this?" Ellie whispered, "You, Elliot… we already have our new identities. We can just leave— we've already drowned our hands in blood for your boss, I think that's enough of a payment."

"...We actually probably can," a small smile appeared on John's face, "If I ask him now, he would probably allow us to leave."

"...You think so?"

"I know so, but…" John looked Ellie straight in the eyes, "...What will we even do out there? Become normal citizens?"

"...You're right," Ellie let out a sigh, "People like us can't have a normal life. We already had it on the farm; we honestly could have stayed. Normal life is…

…boring."

***

"Empress, it's been a long time."

"Not long enough. I was hoping not to see you again because that usually means trouble."

"You seem to have taken care of the trouble, no?"

Right in front of the gates of the Academy, Bulwark welcomed Empress as soon as she arrived. There wasn't really anyone else besides them and Butcher; after all, why would the three of them even need a security escort? And also, they really no longer had any staff to spare as the entire Academy was busy helping the refugees.

"Riley Ross took care of the problem," Empress scoffed, "We just cleaned it up."

"Hm," Bulwark closed his eyes and smiled, "I suppose you're here to check on the people? The number of survivors we have rescued now surpassed a million."

"...No."

"Hm? Are you here to check up on V, then?"

"No," Empress shook her head, "But how is she?"

"She needs us— she needed us," Bulwark let out a long and deep sigh as the two of them started to walk, "Her condition is not getting any better. And with the news of Riley alive, I think there might be a chance that she would regress."

"..."

"If you're not here for the refugees and you're not here to check up on V… What exactly are you doing here instead of out there?"

"I invited Riley Ross for a meeting here."

"Ah…" Bulwark blinked, "Of course. Should… I call for all the people that should be involved in this… meeting?"

"I assume Hannah is still here?"

"She's with the rest of the Baby Crew, helping the survivors."

"...Call everyone that you know who knows of Riley's true identity. I've already called for Hera and Temp—."

"What's with the reunion?"

And before Empress could even finish her words… a man suddenly appeared in front of them, wearing a polo shirt, shorts, and a pair of flip-flops.

"...Tempo."

"Holy shit, why are the two of you dressed like that?" Tempo quickly said as he looked at what Butcher and Empress were wearing, "...Is there a press conference or something?"

"Why are you dressed like that?" Empress raised an eyebrow.

"...Stop judging, it's hot in my country."

"Shouldn't Hera be with you?"

"No, she was in Canada when all the shit happened. But she should be here any minute now…

…what's the occasion?" Tempo then looked back and forth between Bulwark and Empress.

"I have the same question myself," Bulwark breathed out as he turned his focus back on Empress, "What are you planning?"

"Well…

…I'm just trying to find a way to prevent the end of the world, old friend."

It didn't really take that long to gather the people that knew of Riley's identity— after all, those who knew already were mostly in the Academy in the first place. Even V, who was just told to rest, was also there— her eyes, sunken as she looked at all the people around her.

Empress, the Baby Crew, Charlotte, Bulwark, Butcher, Hera, Tempo— and even the Pope and Angela were there.

Most of the eyes were looking at Empress, wondering why they were suddenly called there. Some, however, were looking at V— whose eyes were almost sunken and dead.

"What are the two of you looking at?" V then immediately snarled as she noticed Hera and Tempo were looking at her, "Fucking useless duo."

"..." Hera couldn't really say anything as she just looked to the side. Bulwark… called her a year ago about V's condition, and Hera ignored it thinking that V just needed some time; but seeing her now… Hera felt slightly guilty that she didn't even visit.

"Why did you gather us here, your highness?" V then said as she smirked at Empress, "I assume this is about that fucker? Are we finally thinking of a plan to kill him once and for all? The people here are the ones who know his true identity, right? Is that it? Are we finally going to kill him?"

"Can you just fucking wait and let her talk?" Hannah also started to speak up.

"Oh fuck, why is the sister even here? Are we using her as a hostage?"

"You…" Hannah stood up, "Just in case all of you are forgetting— I killed my brother, me. Not any of you sitting here right now."

"Killed? Then why is he out there right—"

And before V could finish her words, the door of the conference hall very slowly slid open— something which it shouldn't be doing. And very soon, a voice seeped into the edges.

"I apologize we're late."

And very soon, a silhouette revealed itself— Riley Ross.

No.

Darkday... in his full outfit.