. Blackbird & Countinghouse Presents: ( ) CONCLAVE OF SUPER-VILLAINS ( ) I An Academy of Super-Heroes Universe Comic I I copyright 2002 by Tony Pi with Dave Van Domelen I #23 - "VILLAIN'S APPRENTICE: Old, New, Borrowed, Blue" =========================================================================== [cover: Para Magazine, December issue. The cover shows Conflicto stepping out of the shower, with bubbles stuck in strategic locations for modesty. He scowls and points a toothbrush at the viewer. The image is wobbly, probably because it was captured as the photographer was slipping. Caption reads: "The Real CSV Exposed!" A yellow sticky note on the lower left- hand corner says "Analysis enclosed - Grind."] =========================================================================== [Page 12] FEAST FOR THE EYE by Robert Coulter I am not a diarist. (Eugene looks over my shoulder, and agrees. "You're far from 'direst', Scooter.") As always, I am your eyes and ears into the worlds that repulse you, the parahuman car wrecks that mesmerize you despite yourself. You have your worldview, I have mine; I cannot force you to change. But I can challenge your perception, show you things that may cause you to rethink what you hold to be true. After living for a month with the Conclavers, I have discovered their foibles. Do not judge us too harshly... we are human too. Mostly. Thus, I hand you a vignette of my first month as an apprentice villain, and ask that you merely observe and reflect. (Derek annotates my article here, pointing out that the observer interferes with the phenomenon being observed. "The sheep are as baaaad as the wolves," Eugene adds.) Here, then, is a photojournal of my first month as Challenger, captured by my cybernetic eye. * * * * PHOTO: A giantess strikes a small, dark and beastly creature with a collapsiron mace, who flies through the air against a jungle backdrop. He grabs at a passing vine, even as he dodges small, flying stones. There is a shimmering quality to the images, indicating a forcefield distortion as the image was taken. CAPTION: My fellow neophytes, TerraStar and Kaliban, test each other in the jungles of the Congo. TerraStar takes after her father, the twencen villain WarStar. Her specialty is the manipulation of elemental earth, and her GeoMace packs a heavy punch. Kaliban is genetic spawn from the Vivarium, a soldier with a penchant for soliloquys. He proved his worth to the CSV in a trial by combat in the courts of Ghat. Triton drops us off in the heart of the jungle, and expects us to find our way out while evading his robotic tree-crabs. During an impromptu meal of a python that Kaliban slew with his bare hands, I ask them their opinion on gifts for the blessed couple. Kaliban expresses his view poetically. Think you that Kaliban's thoughts conflict? O friend! My myriad words ascend the air As tritons sing, and spiral t'ward Terra's star! For he is Sea and she the summer Sun: The roars of seven oceans challenge her To dive and frolick fathoms deep this eve; A sultry sonnet teases him to climb World's atlantes and caryatids. He offers her tiaras made of storm and mist; Her strings of raindrop pearls she dowries him. The two stay lost in lovers' labyrinth, And vow eternal love. A ballad, then, Will be my gift, ever etched in hieroglyphs And last 'til galaxies themselves burn out! Polla brings a bit of her culture to the table. A pair of innocent- looking rocks drift over to her side at a gesture, and then the smaller of the two splits open to reveal what looks like a golden knitting needle, but without the knob at one end that keeps the yard from coming off. "A traditional bridegift from my homeworld," she explains, carefully lifting the golden rod from its rocky case. "Long ago, when the culture that was to eventually dominate my world was starting to be influenced...and enlightened...by other nearby peoples, brides started to object to the practice of sharing the bride with the groom's friends. They would often object very pointedly, in fact," she chuckles and mock-stabs with the shining object. "Over time, the bride-sharing practice vanished, but the poniard remained a symbol of bridal fidelity...no man would have her save the groom. Don't look so shocked," she says, although I don't think I do look shocked. "Your culture's wedding rings have their own dark past, conveniently forgotten by modern couples." The larger stone now splits open. Inside is a large metal plate studded with gems and attached to a short chain at two corners. "The pectoral here is likewise a symbol of fidelity," Polla explains. "The groom armors his heart against temptation. Most people use a much smaller pendant because of the cost and matters of convenience, but our leader does appreciate his pomp and grandeur, yes? Likewise, the poniard is normally baser metal plated in gold." There is a dark twinkle in her eyes, and I'm sure she's not telling everything about these wedding gifts. Maybe they're centuries removed from their original meanings, but giving a dagger and a shield to the bride and groom suggests a certain level of violence in marriages in her culture. Or maybe just honesty about the violence that enters all relationships everywhere? FACTOID: New recruits to the Conclave of Super-Villains are run through challenging gauntlets, like the Vivarium, the mutant-infested jungles of the Congo, or the heavily trapped hedge maze that surrounds the CSV stronghold. The first requirement of membership is the ability to survive under intensely hostile situations. * * * * PHOTO: Triton strikes a regal pose in front of the Citadel, at night, wearing his armor but with his horned helmet beneath his right arm. The AstroSpear is in his left hand, raised horizontally, its two tines of solar flame complementing the collapsiron central shaft and pointing to the right. The flames illuminate his face. A two-pronged trident symbol is painted on the right breast of his armor. In the background are fireworks. CAPTION: Triton leads the celebration on Christmas Day, the official anniversary of the formation of the Conclave of Super-Villains. "Merry Christmas, Coulter," says Derek. He hands me a gift-wrapped box, the size of a black-cel. I tear it open and discover what seems to be a pocket watch, but with strange dials, displays and buttons. A cybernetic link cable springs out when I tap the side. "What is it?" "It's a remote control and diagnostic for Challenger's armor. No idea where the actual armor is now, but I recovered this device from Haven last year. I had used it before to synthesize a hostile AI to invade Solar Max's armor, but the bastard survived the attack. It seems appropriate to hand it down to Challenger's successor." "Thank you." I do not know what to do with it. All it does is put more pressure on me to live up to the legacy of a megalomaniac from the last century. FACTOID: Triton has a fondness for the traditions and artifacts of the last century, before the Godmarket crisis eradicated the superhuman population. The jewels in Triton's crown are the AstroSpear and the STRAFE armor, but there are still relics from the past that he would love to get his hands on. Among these: the twin of the STRAFE armor and Challenger's armor. The STRAFE armor from this universe was presumed destroyed in Chicago in 1990, but Radner claims at least half of its pieces still exist. And Challenger's armor is an interesting counterpoint to that of the original Solar Max (which was obtained during an interstellar exile around 2000). Challenger resorted to heavy armor years before Solar Max did, thanks to the higher chances of assassination. Oddly, the two suits have many similar design elements. "Ugly thing," he says of the Solar Max design. "But either I find Challenger's or take it from JakZak's corpse. It should make for an interesting trophy." * * * * PHOTO: A chaotic shot of a combat in a breached meat locker in London. Myriad has almost completely shifted into a six-armed demoness wielding sharp meat hooks and is attacking Hotspur. The EUROPA agent has grabbed one of the hooks by the eyelet at the blunt and and is charging it with heat, while Coulter fires an entangling forcefield over Arc, who is heaving a side of frozen beef above her head. CAPTION: My first taste of pain comes when a reconnaissance-slash-retrieval mission in London goes awry. Glyph, Myriad and I are assigned the tasks of scanning Westminster Abbey and meeting Roxanna Croft there. But we discover that Sultry's mother has been placed under surveillance by EUROPA, and even as Glyph spirits Mrs. Croft away, Myriad and I are attacked by Hotspur and Arc. Only my forcefields and Myri's resilience prevent us from being incapacitated. While we manage to escape via our secondary escape route (a graffiti portal by Glyph in Trafalgar Square), Hotspur manages to melt the metal in my cybernetic hand. When I inquire as to Myriad's gift, she shrugs. "Coulter...I am entirely uncertain what to get. You'd get a better answer from a ball of wax. My mind changes as often as my form, because if I think about it while impersonating someone, my tastes mimic his or hers. Tell you what...let's go in on a gift together?" FACTOID: Myriad is not the first nor last of her kind. She is one of Khadam's most advanced myriform units, and her designation is Alpha-Rho- Fourteen. Myri tells me that each model in the series is numbered up to fifteen, due to a strict adherence to the 4-bit numbering system adopted by her creators. Pranir have four mutually opposable fingers...connection? * * * * PHOTO: An overhead shot of a vault containing nothing but a single blue diamond inside a glass case. A faint haze makes visible the lasers guarding the gem. Spiral pirouettes upside-down above the case, suspended by a rope tied off to a winch at the feet of Conflicto and Coulter. CAPTION: Sometimes it's easier to think of myself as Robin Hood, robbing the wealthy to give to the poor. It made me feel easier about stealing the Heart of Azure diamond from the private collection of the South American druglord, Roberto Vizeiros. Except Sultry is far from poor, and I do not have the affections of Maid Marian. But there is this one incident, aboard Skyhaven on the way back from the heist.... "Gifts?" Conflicto grimaces when I ask. "A killer gag gift!" He tugs at his hair. "No! As much as I'd like to, I can't! That was the old Eugene. I really should get them a crystal bowl, shouldn't I? A crystal bowl like a mature, serious SENIOR member of the world's FOREMOST supervillain team!" He turns and walks away, muttering under his breath. I boost my cyberhearing and hear: "Gag! Bowl! Gag! Bowl! Must...resist...!" (Good luck with that, Eugene.) But Spiral smiles and adds her own contribution. "I am already giving Sultry her present. Dance lessons. At the reception, my newest pupil will dance a steamy dance for her husband that he will never forget." She waits until Eugene is watching, then blows a kiss at me. "Nor you, Challenger." I look at Eugene. His stare stabs into me, and lets me know (even though he denies it) that he has designs on Miss Kirova. FACTOID: The biggest flaw in the redesign of Skyhaven is the lack of more than one bathroom. Some of us think that Triton has an executive bathroom somewhere, but no one has actually seen. Either it is very cunningly hidden, or it is just a rumour. * * * * PHOTO: Robert Coulter sees himself multiply reflected in a set of mirrors, appraising his black leather jacket, adorned on the back with a silver outline of an eye with an exclamation mark in place of the iris. A silver twin trident pin, the new symbol of the CSV, is in his hand. One of his eyes...hard to tell left from right...is clearly cybernetic. Coulter's face shows somber concern. Cybernetic mods are also visible on both his hands. One hand is hooked into his pants pocket. Glyph is standing next to him, waving her hand over his symbol. Her new coif is medusan, with strands weaving out arcane sigils. CAPTION: Glyph outfits me as Challenger and magicks my symbol. I forgo spandex for an Everyman look. Her real name is Zephirah Reuben, and as the Conclave's last remaining mage, many responsibilities once held by others have fallen to her, such as magical transportation and wardings. Her powers are slow compared to Labyrinthe's or Caryatid's, but as a result of her patience and planning, the CSV is no longer as impulsive as its previous incarnation. "I suppose we're expected to bring gifts?" I ask Zephirah. "Frankly, I haven't known Triton for more than a few days, and know Sultry only by reputation. What would you suggest?" Glyph shrugs. "It is not my place to dictate what you should give. A wedding gift is a symbol, in many ways. It is a concrete representation of their love, yet it also etches out your own beliefs about marriage. Put some thought into it, and make a statement about who you are." "What are you giving them?" "I've been considering options from a variety of sources. Traditions differ among human and extra-terrestrial cultures," she answers. "For instance, the Pranir have an intricate system of dowries, contracts, and auctions to consolidate each union. Their equivalent of the wedding gift involves the donation of an item to the auction, with proceeds going to the bonded ones. Naturally, the higher the fetching price, the higher the donor's prestige. In comparison, Santari marriages are grim affairs, and the Houses display their wealth by commissioning a single objet d'art. Sometimes the gifts double as weapons, being symbolic of the House's confidence in the chosen family." "Somehow I don't think Derek would appreciate a gift-wrapped bazooka," I joke. But, then again, given Polla's gifts...a bazooka might not be too far out there. Zephirah puts the finishing touches on my uniform. "But to be true to myself, I may give them some magically illuminated text: an animated Kama Sutra, or perhaps a rare Simon Filius work on alchemical aphrodisiacs. I have no need for either." She smiles. "Ah, but I will not reveal the final gift idea to you, Robert. Sultry may be tantalized by the hints, but sometimes too much foresight kills the joy." Her choice of texts intrigues me. Her first appearances in the CSV seemed to indicate that she was a mousy librarian-type. But now, she is being bold with her hairstyle, drawing attention to herself. "Surely there is someone who could, ah, help you get some use out of those books?" "Twice before," she admitted. "But these days my heart belongs to neither man nor woman. I have my books. They fill the void inside me with a million worlds, instead of pain and disillusionment." She smears the Hebrew word 'emet' on a mirror with her finger. "Perhaps I'll make my own Galatea." Somehow, I do not believe her. Someone has caught her eye, though she loathes to admit it. Who, I wonder? FACTOID: Conclavers are required to wear the team symbol pin while on active duty, except on covert missions. The pin serves as primarily as a communications device. The original symbol was a golden ankh. After the Equinox, Triton adopted a silver, two-tined trident as the team's symbol, as compared to his golden version. FACTOID: "Emet" is Hebrew for "Truth". In the lore of the Golem, this is the word written on the artificial man that brings it to a semblance of life. And yes, I had to look that up. * * * * PHOTO: The photo shows the conference room in Skyhaven, with all active members present except for Sultry. Pizza boxes clutter the table, and everyone has a slice in his or her hand. On the main viewer is a picture of a woman wearing an animated suit of water, and another dressed like a clown, juggling metallic-looking balls. CAPTION: There is one question at every one of the weekly staff meetings that is dreaded above all others. Today, as we discuss the recent emergence of a pair of villains in Kuala Lumpur, Eugene asks the inevitable: "So what do people want on their pizzas?" A pizza order expands to fill a quarter of the time alloted to any gathering of minds. And believe it or not, there *is* a pizzeria in Ghat called Slyly's. It's run by an enterprising Pranir named, well, Slyly-Makes- Dough. Really! Anyways, it's a challenge each week to figure out how many pizzas we actually order, and what we put on them. Myriad will eat anything, so she doesn't count. Conflicto always asks for anchovies and pineapples, more for the shock value than an actual taste for them. TerraStar prefers meaty toppings, like ground beef, ham and italian sausage. Spiral is vegetarian, and Glyph keeps kosher, while Kaliban seems to enjoy trying different toppings while avoiding the spicier stuff. Derek refuses to acknowledge that fruit belongs on pizza, and writes. "Pizza isn't meant to be gourmet." "Why not order a pizza each?" I ask Derek as we eat. "Surely we can afford it?" "Rob! It's not an issue of money or waste," he explains. "It's the Zen of 'Za, a lifestyle! My father ran a neighborhood pizzeria in Chicago before his stroke. If it weren't for the Academy, I might still be there, slopping tomato sauce and grating cheese." He has a faraway look in his eyes. "Not that there's anything wrong with that. Just wish dad could see me now." "Would he be proud of what you've done?" Derek hesitates. "I live a better life than his, and I have Angeline's love. What more could a parent ask for his child?" FACTOID: A villainous duo in Kuala Lumpur is wreaking havoc in PROC territory. They call themselves Nereid and Jesterling. Triton decides it is to the CSV's advantage to encourage the rise of copycat villain groups. "If we inspire them beyond the standards I expect from paragangs, then we must be doing something right," he explains. "Co-opt them, if they survive. Eliminate them if they lose their respect for us." * * * * PHOTO: A shot of the photogenic Princess Ursula of Monaco in a designer Silvestri bathing suit, aboard her private yacht, _Perfect Silhouette_. CAPTION: Royalty calls me on the carpet, and it's not a red one. "Thank you for accepting my invitation, Monsieur Coulter. You have caused me and my father no small amount of inconvenience with your last article," says Princess Ursula of Monaco. "You and Chancellor Radner insinuated that I am the thief Tiara. A libel suit, if I ever heard one." "Will you demand an apology for telling the truth?" "No. What's done, is done. Since my resignation, I had hoped to resume my old habits of 'acquisition', but now, my travels abroad are too closely watched. The paparazzi, security agencies, fans and stalkers...how can I disappear when all eyes are upon me?" She seems resigned to the revelation...she knows this will likely be published, but she just confessed. Not libel anymore, that's for sure. "What, then, will you do now?" I ask. Ursula arches distractingly. "Oh, I suppose it was time to grow up. Playing at being other people...a daring masked thief, a dastardly supervillain...eventually we put away our toys, yes? The experiences were certainly diverting, and I learned quite a bit about both myself and the world around me in the process. But when all is said and done, my true role is that of princess. The glamor is still there, and the dangers as well, if more subtle than having a mad god ranting and raving a few meters over your head. I have had my mad whirl, the perogative of heirs to the throne, now I will settle into the position I was born to." "Quite philosophical of you," I note. And, hopefully, forgiving of her as well. "Oh...I've been asking everyone this question for the magazine: what is your wedding gift to the royal couple?" The princess, smiles slowly and runs a hand over the fabric of her bathing suit, in a way that clearly emphasizes the clothing and not the body underneath. "Let us just say that I have an idea of how to use the powers at my disposal to make for a happy wedding." FACTOID: When Monaco entered the Eurasian Union, it managed to gain a number of economic and political concessions that have allowed it to remain a center for luxury on the Continent. Recent events have caused EU leaders to question the merits of allowing Monaco this level of autonomy. * * * * PHOTO: In full regalia at a gala celebration, Triton extends a hand to fashion designer Juliana Silvestri, who is smiling as she reaches out to take it. Sultry stands in the near background, her expression overtly happy, but tinged with something unreadable. CAPTION: At the gala First Anniversary celebration of the founding of the CSV on Christmas Day, world-famous fashionista, Juliana Silvestri, for whom this is hardly the first brush with the paranormal scene, agrees to design a one- of-a-kind wedding dress for the future Mrs. Chancellor Radner. What will Scorch say? NEXT ISSUE: As the wedding approaches, I'm sure that the CSV will engage in more of the traditional pre-wedding events, although with their own spin on things. Oh, and I did decide what to give the happy couple, but I'm going to keep it a surprise. Like Glyph said, sometimes you don't want the bride and groom to know TOO much. * * * * S.T.R.A.F.E. Superhuman Tactical Resources and Affiliated-Field Experts From the Desk of Captain Dan Tracey Hendrick - regarding Coulter's loyalties, I believe he has not yet been turned to Radner's cause. As "Challenger", he *has* stepped up to the challenge thrown at him, and I believe he may be trying to convey secret information to us through the sole means available to him: his articles. As I commented last month, he signaled his dilemma clearly. His journalistic career benefits from his membership in the CSV, yet it also places him in a moral quandary. If he is trying to maintain his integrity, he may not be able to tell us. Likely, Radner exercises his editorial control enough to deny us any overt information. However, Coulter is resourceful: he will most likely hide a successful message through the careful selection of images, much like the CSV's first broadcast puzzle. He chooses his insignia carefully. His notoriety began with Rebus's scam in New York. The choice of the Eye is not incidental, and likely points to his decision to incorporate visual puzzles in his arsenal. While not the first in the series of cybereye captures, it is perhaps the most personal, suggesting it may be the key to at least one puzzle, if not more. Notice that in the first picture of this series, the small dual-pronged trident is in Coulter's palm. Given his wording in the articles, I believe this is an attempt to draw attention to items in people's hands. Considering this and looking back at the first two pictures of the series, we have two held objects. TerraStar's mace, and Triton's trident. But note carefully that Coulter reversed the image of Triton. Why? To make the trident tines draw out the letter E. Following the Rebus motif, we can combine MACE with E. I suggest this calls attention to Macy Graves, a.k.a. the New York paragang supplier, Gimble. Given Coulter's loyalty to his friends, likely he is concerned by Triton's interest in them. He may be trying to trade their safety for further information. Considering Coulter's psychological profile, this scenario is highly probable. I recommend that we begin our own search for Hoekstra and Graves, though they must have covered their tracks well to evade the Conclavers. Not all of the photos contain prominent held items, but the next three that do are a remote control, the eye of a hook, and slices of pizza. Either "remote" or "control" would fit into a rebus, and "eye-pizza" could be the island of Ibiza. "Hook-pizza" or "hook-slice" don't suggest anything useful, nor does "eye-slice." It is possible Coulter has stumbled onto a plan to control Ibiza, or one that simply involves a remote base on Ibiza, and is trying to warn us. There is also a chance that the first two puzzles are linked, and he thinks Gimble and Hoekstra are on Ibiza. Or even that "Macy and Hooks" are somewhere related to pizza...or Radner's father's old restaurant? My gut tells me Coulter's not being so tricky, though, and that the two puzzles are unrelated. [Aside: Yes, I know the natives don't pronounce "Ibiza" with a z sound, due to the infamous Barcelonan lisp. And I suspect Coulter knows that as well. But just about everyone on this continent doesn't. Also, Ibiza has been particularly storm-shy since Hurricane Newt, making it trivial for Sultry to help them clear it of witnesses with a minor show of power.] If you look closely at the hand Juliana Silvestri is not extending to Radner, you can see that it is in a loose fist with the thumb and little finger extended. This is not a natural hand position, and it is possible Coulter asked her to make it for the picture as a further clue. While the position has a number of meanings depending on context, I believe it is meant here to be the "Call me" gesture popular in the 1990s, indicating Coulter wants to be contacted so that he can impart information that he is unable to work into a puzzle. This is reinforced by the reference to keeping things from Triton in the "Next Issue" blurb. I suggest we send Kleinvogel and Fadeaway to attempt to make contact with Coulter and determine what else he is trying to tell us. If nothing else, they could get some clarification on whether this entire issue is one puzzle or a series of several smaller ones. This leaves two segments that are not part of the "handheld" puzzle, the diamond heist and the interview with Princess Ursula. At the risk of reading too much into this, it may be that Coulter is suggesting that these elements are getting out of hand. It's also notable that both involve burglars...the diamond theft is the sort of thing Tiara would have done before her "retirement". Perhaps there is a level of conflict between Tiara and her former teammates that Triton does not wish to be made public, despite his promise of "warts and all" last month? Assuming, of course, that these pieces are not simply there for the overt information contained within them. Coulter's playing a dangerous game here. Unfortunately, Doublecross is taking up too many of our resources right now to give the reporter much help if things drop in the pot. I sincerely hope he survives this experience... without becoming someone else for us to hunt. - Dan Tracey ============================================================================= Next Issue: A surprise party, in more ways than one! ============================================================================= Authors' Notes: Dave - There will be a hiatus of uncertain duration, while Tony works on a novel. We'll be sure to let you know if it gets published, so you can all rush out and buy it! Meanwhile, I've pitched in to finish off a couple of incomplete scenes, since it would be unfair to post ASH #38-40 before CSV #24 (given that the ramifications of Juliana's appearance here are delved into). Tony - Tony doesn't have anything to add at this time.