"I'm sure we can find you a new shirt in your size somewhere around here, Bruno. What are you, a size 42?"
"Actually I'm a 54, Head."
"Really? That's not what I'm seeing. I'd imagine that a young fit gentleman like yourself would be beating women away with a stick."
"You're too kind, Head."
Lorenzo was a charmer by habit. His flattery could be as convincing as the most obvious truth. Some may say that was one of the traits he inherited from his father. But after what Bruno witnessed, it was clear that was where their similarities ended.
Vacating the room before the floor was covered with human muck, Bruno followed Ms. Romano followed by the Head's. Vomit was still dripping from his shirt, but this was the least of his worries.
For years, everything was as business as usual for Bruno. He would go to the weekly meetings and give status reports on drug shipments and any potential problems with law enforcement and government officials. He was the perfect rat.
Even when Lorenzo V came along, nothing changed at first. But one day he was taken aside in private and given a new agenda.
"Karren?"
"No, you dope. Kharon. It's a special cargo ship that came into my possession only recently."
"I see. And you want me to babysit it, Head?"
"You can call it whatever you want, just keep anyone who'd cause a problem away from it. Cops, Heroes, N.U.C.E, even the damn wharf strays."
"Understood, Head."
"...This isn't just some small favor I'm asking of you, Bruno. This is the beginning of something big. Not just for the Family, but everyone. And I'm trusting you to play a big role in it."
"I'm honored, Head. But if I can just ask, why me? I know I have connections, but if it's that important, why not choose Carson or Willow-"
"Bruno, you were once a dedicated law enforcer and suddenly you're a rat working for the mob. Why is that?"
"Well, Head, I was given the opportunity-"
"An opportunity that came once in a lifetime, right? It was that or being shot and you had a family to consider. You chose opportunity over loyalty."
"Yes, Head."
"Well, here's opportunity once again. Only this time, you won't just be a rat, who needs to hide. Doesn't that sound nice?"
"Very nice, Head."
That was then, and now he was sure that there was a bit of human goop sticking to the bottom of his shoe, like a piece of gum.
He never held any malice towards any of the other advisers, but he also had no remorse for any of them either. Their egotism was their downfall, even from the beginning, they were drunk with power.
Speaking of power, to be able to hold every member against the table like that would by no means be an easy feat to accomplish. Most of the members at the table had the strength to bring down entire buildings. They wouldn't even be there unless they were able to resist a simple telekinetic force.
Yet the invisible force that brought them down was not only strong enough to hold all of them down with no resistance, but make them bleed.
This made Bruno curious. Almost enough to forget the queasiness he had in his stomach. The person who responsible for that performance of power was only a meter behind him.
Realizing that he never had a good look at this individual, Bruno tries to steal a glance at them, only to soon regret it.
There were only 3 individuals behind him.
First was a little girl, most likely early to mid teens, which really made Bruno uncomfortable since he had 2 daughters of his own around that age. She was wearing a white disposable face mask, a pink bunny eared hoodie, and slit jeans, looking like any normal teenage girl.
There were 2 things about her that really grabbed his attention. One was that she was carrying a violin case, which made him wonder what was really inside. The other was a necklace she wore that looked like it was made of human teeth.
Next to her was what looked like a middle-aged man, with a well built body, but long gray hair. It looked as though he carried an entire arsenal on his back and sides with all the different weapons he had. His arms and neck were also covered with black vein-like tattoos that spread throughout his entire body. His face was covered with a face-guard and sunglasses. He looked skilled by the why he moved and held himself.
But what really grabbed his attention was the person, or thing, behind them. Something that Bruno had never seen the likes of ever before in all his years in both law enforcement and the mob. Even the way it moved was unnatural.
It must have been at least 7 ft. tall. It was covered in a oversized cloak like the grim reaper. There was even smoke emitting from all over him. The gap in his hood where his face would be was pitched black from all the smoke through it, but Bruno was able to to see 2 pairs of glowing orange eyes piercing through it.
In that moment, Bruno forgot where he was and the position he was in. All he knew was that there was something that wasn't remotely human right behind him.
"Perhaps we can get you something in silk, unless you prefer a cotton-linen ble-"
Lorenzo soon noticed that the man he was conversing with was no longer next to him. He looked back, and what he saw instantly gives him a devilish grin.
Bruno had froze in place, like a deer in headlights. This caused the rest of the group to halt with him, including the thing that was now staring back at him. Bruno's face instantly turned white as a sheet.
Even if he was no longer a devoted believer of God, with something that looked like a demon reaper staring down at him, he was ready to collapse to his knees and cry a few hundred Hail Marys'.
"..."
"..."
"...BOOO!"
"AAAAAAAHH!!" Bruno screams as he falls onto the floor. Clearly panicking he tries crawling away backwards.
Even though it was a childish thing to say, it's voice itself was frighteningly inhuman. Like the thundering sound of a million wasps buzzing.
Bruno aside, everyone seemed to be annoyed by this sudden outburst. All except, Lorenzo and the hooded figure. They were chuckling like children.
"Hilarious, dude, but seriously, don't mess with Bruno too much or he'll need a new change of pants too."
"What? He was staring at me. That's just bad manners." It said with the same cackling voice.
Though the voice was frightening, it had a childish tone. Bruno's heart was still racing, but seeing that he wasn't the only one who saw this thing, he tried his best to compose himself, pulling himself up from the floor.
"Head I-"
"Don't worry about it, Bruno. SP here is just a punk who likes to mess with everyone he meets. In fact, the only reason he's wearing that cloak is so he doesn't cause too much destruct-I mean distraction.
Huh, just now, He was going to say destruction! Just who the Hell is this guy!? and what could be worse that what he already looks like!?
Bruno sat with dangerous criminals on a weekly bases, but this group was already making that last bunch look as timid as the street punks he'd dealt with in his rookie days.
"Hey Mr. DeLuca, no hard feelings, right? " The man called SP lifted his arm to Bruno for a handshake. Only his "arm" was not a human arm. It was entirely mechanical and it looked like they were used to crush skulls, which they probably could, seeing that there was red stains all over them.
Being as smart as he was, Bruno overcomes the rest of his fear and take the hand, (mainly the thumb).
"Aaahh! Wow, you got a real iron grip there, buddy! Or is it just me? HAHAHAHAHA!! I'm just teasing."
"...Eheh."
Now that "SP" actually spoke normally, it was almost disappointing. Just from this brief introduction, Bruno could tell this guy was not only not scary, but also annoying. Judging by the arms and multiple glowing eyes, it can be assumed that he had some sort of cybernetic alterations, which wasn't rare.
"Gentlemen, please. You can make proper introductions once we're inside."
Ms. Romano had opened a door only a few feet away from where Bruno had fell. Inside was a room completely different from the last.
Instead of another confined dark conference room, it was a large lounge, stocked with a bar and home theater. The back wall was made entirely of glass, with a door that opened to a spacious balcony built into the side of the cliff. The view was spectacular, showing the valley below and the city of San Marino in the distance. Clouds covered the skies, allowing a hint of natural light into the room that made it much more welcoming than the conference chamber.
"Welcome to my private lounge, Bruno. This would be your first time here wouldn't it?"
"Yes, Head."
Bruno never had a reason to explore Heaven's Sin before, so there were many spaces he never knew about. He always figured the less he knew about this place, the better.
"Mr. DeLuca, there should be a set of clothes in the executive bathroom. Please change and discard you soiled clothes in the black bin."
Ms. Romano pointed to a door next to the bar. It was almost amazing how quickly clothes were found in his measurement, but this sort of service wasn't something that surprised Bruno. Speed was always essential in the service of the Benedetto family.
In the restroom, he found a tailored shirt and sport coat that fit him perfectly. After changing, he discarded his own into the bin and re-entered the lounge.
Everyone was sitting on couches around the entertainment center. Coming in from behind them, Bruno noticed that there was someone else who he didn't recognize, until he realized it was the creep in the cloak. He could see how the Head thought this guy's appearance would cause a distraction.
There were countless costumed characters in this world, mostly heroes and villains, sometimes vigilantes, and occasionally the straight up weirdos. So which one was this guy supposed to be?
From behind he saw a large copper colored top hat and a bushel of silver and black dreadlocks from underneath. He also wore a pack that looked like a pair of old-fashioned scuba tanks, with smoke emitting from it.
Lorenzo was chatting next to him while everyone else was sitting across from them in reserved silence. But as soon as he saw Bruno come out, he turned his attention towards him.
"Looking good, Bruno! So, how'd they fit?"
"Very comfortable, Head. Thank you?"
"Good to hear. But do me a favor, will ya? Stop addressing me as Head in every sentence. In fact, just never call me that ever again."
This wasn't too big of a shock to Bruno. Lorenzo never demanded anyone to call him that, but it was tradition. And seeing as of today, tradition was thrown out the window, it was only his own habit to keep this formality.
"I... understand He- Sir. I will do my best to keep that in mind."
"First off, we'll start with introductions. You all know me, of course, as Lorenzo the V, former Head of the Benedetto crime family. I look forward to working with all of you."
Next to Lorenzo was the freak called SP, now completely visible. Like the rest of the group his face was hidden. He wore a full copper mask that had a bloody red streak across it that resembled a mouth and eyes made of orange goggle lenses. He had a pair of goggles around his hat that gave him the impression of having 4 eyes earlier. Both arms and legs were mechanical. The rest of his attire was trench coat covered in grease stain and a copper vest/ white collar neck/violet ascot combo. Overall, completely ridiculous.
Clank, clank, clank, clank!
When Lorenzo had finished his introduction, He claps his mechanical hands together in applause. Being the only one clapping he quickly stops.
"I guess it's my turn."
The mechanical man stands up and gives a curtsy bow.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is truly an honor to be here on this momentous occasion. Though I never had what you would call a birth name, I am known across the globe by many given, but I prefer the name Steam'D Punk the most. Until recently, I worked it the business of Hero Felling, but now I have found a greater calling among your ranks. My expertise involve hacking, demolition, torture, an creating mass chaos. Thank you!"
He vows again when he was finished, but no one claps for him. He doesn't seem to care though.
Hero Felling is a is a mixture of villainy and vigilantism. Those who do it carry a twisted sense of justice. They hunt down heroes using everything they have from exploiting their own weakness to digging up whatever dark secret they hide. Even the world's finest heroes have fallen over night from becoming victims. In most cases, it's a fate worse than death.
"Thank you, SP. Next we have our other guests, but I'll introduce them since their not much for talking."
Lorenzo got up and walked to the couch where the others where sitting.
"First off, this young lady here is Nikki Machiavelli, an old friend of mine from my exile. She's young, but she has one of the greatest minds the world has to offer. She specializes in conspiracy and corruption and was the sole orchestrator of the insurgency in Dubai 4 years ago."
Bruno didn't know if he could believe this last bit of information. The event in question nearly destroyed a nation from the inside out if it weren't for fast action. This girl would only have been in middle school back then.
As though she could see his thoughts, she glared at him with what felt like murderous intent.
"She's also an adorable little ray of sunshine."
Saying that, Lorenzo pulls a sweet from his pocket and hands it to her. She quickly grabs it, but instead of eating it, she opens her violin cause, hiding the content from the people across the room and places the sweet inside.
The entire time, she still glares at Bruno, as if he wanted her candy. After she quickly closes the case, she reaches up and grabs the waistline of Lorenzo's shirt while she shyly stare down at the floor. Lorenzo pays it no mind and continues the introductions.
"And finally we have Emmett Jorgens a.k.a. Mr. Dependable. He's a former N.U.C.E. Black Ops, now a wanted fugitive with a kilometer long hit-list. He's killed hundreds of heroes, villains, politicians, and religious leaders who were said to be untouchable, but before you ask, it would better for you to just not think about it too hard."
Jorgens nods a quick hello to Bruno, who nervously nods in return.
"Then there's Miss Bianca Romano who will also be a part of our new operation, but you know her well enough as my personal secretary. Everyone else here is already inform about your role, but if you'd like you can make a formal introduction."
Looking around the group, no one was really paying him any mind, so any words from him would only fall on deaf ears.
"That won't be necessary, sir. I trust your judgement on my part to be enough."
"Great. Now that we put an end to the formalities, we can begin the real fun."
"So what is the plan, sir?"
Bruno, who sat still most of time finally had the gull to ask the question he'd been itching to ever since he heard of the Kharon.
"It's simple, really." He said kicking his feet up on the coffee table. "We're going to commit the worst crime of all and save this world."
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