Nevada: Las Vegas

"To be perfectly honest, it's probably both."

Signal clears her throat.

"I'm resurrected alongside Valencruz inside this laboratory in Who-The-Fuck-Knows, USA because, quite honestly, his brutes are ONLY good for strength and that's it. So I begin to get used to being a vampire: needing to feed on blood to survive, having perfect night vision, being able to smell blood and hear heartbeats from quite a bit of distance away, amongst other benefits like a boost to all five of my senses and natural flight; before, I could only carry myself via telekinesis and it gets tiring after a while. It turns out that I have a lot more weaknesses than I do strengths and if I do have more strengths in the end, it'll take a long while to be able to use them all. Anyway.

"As I escape the facility that I'm stuck in, trying my DAMN HARDEST to harm no one and simply take away their weapons instead, down from the sky arrives none other than Zealot, the man who saved me back in Eagle, even performing an emergency blood transfusion. And he tells me that he's SO disappointed in me becoming a vampire; the fuck was I supposed to have done, burn harder!? As a way to somehow teach me a lesson, he tears off my right arm and gives me a verbal beatdown. He then forces me to, I'm trying to remember here, I think it was him wanting me to tell him that I belonged to him or something, I have no idea, the whole thing was just a train wreck of awkward and miserable. He gets me some blood from a blood bank so that my arm can grow back, takes me to Titan—it's lovely, by the way—and then drops me off at New York so that he could go... somewhere. I still have no idea where he is, but wherever he is, he can probably hear me dissing him or whatever.

"On that note, as I was trying to figure out where the facility's exit is—sorry for suddenly shifting back to WTFK, USA—he sends me two messages. The first... I'd still rather not think about it. The second, he tells me to practice my evil laugh. So I figure, by the time I'm in NYC, to just ignore the hell out of him. Then he gives me his first serious message, his third overall, threatening lives and whatnot. I think, either this guy is bluffing or, if he's done the deed already, Zealot should be all over that, what with him loving humanity and all. Additionally, if I do go out and save those lives... where WAS Valencruz? I couldn't sense him at that time and I don't recall if he ever specified where he was. And if I left NYC, caused more damage, endangered more people, I would have the wrath of Zealot on me AGAIN.

"Like I said, even now I'm waiting for him to drop by and just... Damned if you do, damned if you don't."

Signal sits down, crossing her legs but slumped over, about ready to reach her limit in terms of stamina and just pass out. "Now do you understand? I try to be a hero, I try to save some lives, especially those who would have suffered repeatedly under his rule, and this is what happens. The world beats the piss out of me until I can't stand up and then it just kicks me instead."

With everything said, Signal falls over to her side and groans.

"..Hm...so that's how it happened." Saho, getting up to take off his cloak, puts it down on the ground and lies on it.

"I think VV should've been your number 1 priority if you were brought back; as for Zelly..." Mange stopped for a second. He'd never met Zealot, but he didn't like him. He didn't like anyone who were cruel to others or forced their own shade of morality as absolute, especially one as thought-less as him. Like a God wagging his fingers at his children while doing nothing to help. It was odd feeling of respect and dislike.

"....He's fat." Of all the things you could've- whatever.

"Anyways, I do feel kind of better about you but...ugh, I'm tired. I'll donate to help rebuild the city when I get back, and you can...

try not to break more stuff." Mange sighed. Does this count as a case solved?

"You think I can add this to my list of solved cases? Lord Signal and Eagleopolis solved. Man, that'd definitely put me in the lead over Bassycakes."

"So long as people know that I'm not a mass-murdering psychopath and just someone who's made a lot of mistakes on the path of being a hero, you can post the story. And... I'm tired, too. Maybe more than you, I dunno." With that, Signal closed her eyes and fell asleep. Whatever happens next... not her problem. Mostly because she can't respond to it.


The rioters died down, with the person mind-controlling them dead and whatnot, and anyone still alive was moved away from the city, if only temporarily. Virgie went back and found Saho and Signal. Both were lying down, but only Signal was actually asleep. "Morning, Saho." She looked up; the storm had finally stopped raining and the clouds would eventually part. "So, um, we kinda don't have a home now thanks to the riots, so do you know of a place we could stay? Especially due to how sensitive Signal is at this time of the day." She looked over her cousin; four years ago she was just a meta-human who still looked pretty pale but at least could claim that she was normal. Now? Well, at least now she's in the same boat as herself: inherently hated for reasons beyond their control.

"Well...there is my mansion." Okay, really. You have a MANSION?!

"Uh-huh." Is Basset rich too?

"Um. I dunno. I assume so." So if you have a big mansion, why do you stay in crappy hotels filled with trash? Why don't you deck out your huge mansion with maids to clean up everything and serve you 24/7?

"...I'm a detective. I'm not THAT rich. And I have to travel a lot to investigate stuff, so I don't really keep it staffed. And it's not that big." Oh. Well, that's not as cool then.

"Ah...hahahaha" Most people would be confused by someone apparently talking to themselves and laughing; but if you hang around with Saho for more than 10 minutes; if you can, you get used to it.

"So wait, everyone hates you because of some magic thingy. They hate Lulu cause she's a vampire AND a crappy hero, and they hate me cause....well, a lot reasons. Yeah, we should all live together. It fits wonderfully." He laughed again....then realized the magnitude of what he just said.

"....hey Siggy. You're a girl. And you're pretty." Saho? He closes his eyes and looks over to her, then, slowly, opens them.

"....ha. I'm not scared. I'm not scared. Guess after being in a horror movie; having been raped doesn't seem so bad. Yeah....yeah, let's do it. I can help rebuild the city; and you guys can live with me and-" And?

"....and, I can publish what happened in Eagleopolis. With an eye witness; so people can learn from it. That'd be nice, right? And help clear Lulu's name and..." And...?

"And....since I'm not scared anymore....I wanna be with Sigg-Virgilia."

"..." Virgilia, awash in a bunch of emotions that she hasn't felt in decades, hugs Saho, tears rolling down her face. "I would love that more than anything. Thank you."

Signal, maybe in a dream or maybe finally recognizing her pain, cringes.

"But first, I need to find something to wrap Signal in. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Better than burning up once those clouds move away."

"A hug! Haha. It feels so awesome." Saho proceeds to hug her back happily, then gets off his cloak and spreads it over the sleeping vampire.

"....ah." He takes a deep breath and exhales, looking over the battlefield of a city, already the blockades were starting to be taken down and confused and angry officials arrived on the scene. Least they take solace in that it wasn't a second Eagle.

Still, for all the deaths....Saho felt different. Maybe it was the confidence he gained as a result of it. Maybe it's because he had actual real friends for once. He didn't feel the obsessive need to try to 'impress' a bad memory that can't harm him anymore, he-

"I can take it from here. I can...move on for once. Yeah." So, what are you gonna do now?

"Well. Saho grabs Virgilia and forces her in close and-actually narrator I can't physically say this part AND do it so if you could help me out..." Saho kisses her. Is that what you wanted to do?

Virgilia returns the kiss, at first in confusion but then in satisfaction.

The clouds part to reveal an otherwise cloudless morning.

Despite all that happened, for once, everything seemed alright.


Unlike Eagleopolis, where it had to be rebuilt from the ground-up as a new city after what happened to it, Las Vegas would eventually recover. It still makes good money on its currently functioning casinos, hotels, buffets, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. The construction meanwhile provided jobs for those who weren't in the business of taking people's money. Some of the residential homes would need to be rebuilt entirely while others simply retouched, but either way any worst case scenario with this city was avoided in its entirety.

"Man, that's so awesome when nobody is making you!" Some people would disagree. Anyways; eventually a fair portion of Saho's wealth would be donated in order to help reconstruct Vegas. Saho's reputation would see a pretty positive boost upon publication of both the event that happened here; as well as the truth about Eagle. Saho even invented a new war tactic: "Throw a jet at the fucker". He finally had it all.

And then they lived happily ever after?

Depositing Sugar in his home in New York, tucking into bed and telling her a story before sleep because-fuck, ow, alright Zealot, you don't have to try and get at me through the screen. Anyway, putting Sugar to bed in his apartment and hoping she doesn't decide to destroy it too much, Zealot flies back to the upper stratosphere. Eyes closed, ears hearing every individual sound, he isolates Signal-two other heartbeats. Val...destroyed; she did it. Good. A slight twitch at the identity of the other; nothing but a joke...a simple villain. A problem.

Eyes opening in that way too fucking creepy way, Zealot looks to the area they're in and rockets towards it; Signal would probably feel him coming from inside that wrapped up blanket of hers, and Sigil might, too, I don't know. Soon enough, he slams into the ground, a light shockwave being sent out as his welcome; nothing enough to knock anyone over, but still enough to feel. Raising himself up to stand at his full height of 6'3", muscles far bigger than any human could hope to match stretched tight against the skin-hugging costume, Zealot stands with his arms to his side, looking over at the 3 from around 20 feet away. Blonde hair flows for just a moment before coming to gently pour itself like sunlight over his face. Standing there wordlessly, that awful gaze lights itself over the three, jaw clenching.

Nope.

Back in New York, 6 people are shot to death in Brooklyn.

Hey Saho, some dudes got shot in New York.

"Oh no. What an unnatural event. I'll go investigate that right away. Go away, I wanna make out with my magic girlfriend." Also, your anti-thesis is here.

"Oh. GO AWAY. I WANNA MAKE OUT WITH MY MAGIC GIRLFRIEND. I BEAT A DAMN VAMPIRE, I DESERVE THIS." You can take him. You're Batman to his Superman. You got a plan for this, right?

"Not really." Oh...what do you have?

"I....don't have superpowers? HEY. I DON'T HAVE SUPERPOWERS." Hmm. Still, you're 'kind of like' Batman.

"I am....Sahoman."

Virgie looks at Saho. Who was he telling to shoo?

She turns around and sees Zealot. oh. That's who.

All color in her face is drained. Oh. It's Zealot. Every villain and reformed villain's worst nightmare.

"...uh...Saho, maybe this is just my intuition speaking, but we should run. And take Signal, too."

Her eyes roll to look at Signal's body (she notes that the stump of a hand/wrist has been further burned...how is that even possible?) and then to Zealot. What did he want with her cousin?

"Run? Why? We saved the day, didn't we? Big Bad's gone, everyone's safe, and it didn't become Eagle MK. II. And I got over my issues, this is a great day!" Mange happily tells Sigil, seriously....you uh, you're gonna want to detective something up fast.

"I'm not scared. If he's so great, where the hell was he?"

Tilting his head down for just a moment, eyes close and a distinct sigh looses itself from his lips. Head raises back up and tilts to the side, slightly, a smile on it-the only smile he can manage to make, that of a crazed slasher trying all too hard to appear perfectly normal. Bringing his foot forward and stepping towards them, he shakes his head, grin only continuing; gently, his gaze sets itself on Sigil, and he doesn't even bother to look at Saho.

"Well, then...I'd have to ask you to step back. Adults are speaking."

Sallying forward towards Sigil, utterly massive in scale; whether this is caused by him being a particularly large humanoid or simply the intimidation that he seems to give off is difficult to say. Muscles surge, and he's...well, obviously prepared to do something nobody would find very enjoyable.

"You know, I would think that people would learn how difficult running from me is to do. How angry it makes me. Maybe after the first few hundred-but no. They keep going, keep...edging along, like mice in a wheel. I want to release them from that silly, circular existence, but...sometimes, you're a bit too rough. Sometimes, the mouse's skull gets crushed. If only he hadn't run away."

"...." Saho trembles, it's okay, man....Batman can only do so much.

"......" Hey, you're not in any danger. First of all, you're not a super. Second, you went above and beyond for a human. Even Zel wouldn't do anything to you.

"......." It's okay to be scared, alright?....Saho?

"PPPPPFFFTTTT HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!! Who does this guy think he is?! HAHAHAHAHAHA OH GOD MY SIDES. AHAHAHAHAH!! 'HOW ANGRY IT MAKES ME. GRR.' HAHAHAHA, are you kidding me? Oh god....oh god...ah....ah...okay....PPFFFT AHAHAHAHAHAHA AND THAT SPANDEX, OH MY GOD COULD HE BE ANY MORE DESPERATE? HAHAHAHAHA '. I want to release them from that silly, circular existence, but...sometimes, you're a bit too rough. Sometimes, the mouse's skull gets crushed. If only he hadn't run away.' HAHAHAHAHHAHAH!!! WHO SAYS STUFF LIKE THAT?!" .....Yup. Saho is insane.

Virgie looked at Zealot straight on. Even if they were more powerful, bullies are bullies. Here, she put on a voice she hadn't used in a long while; it was practically dripping of the South.

"Isn't it understandable, though, that one would run from someone who shows enough power to end their life in an instant? Not everyone can face their mortality and say that whatever happens, happens. Yes?"

There was something odd about this man. Aside from that godforsaken glare, of course. And the fact that everything about him screamed "power." If he were a little more affable, and if this were a different time, she may have considered wanting to be courted by this man. But, no, he's just a brute. A good-looking brute, but...

"The mouse knew what it was getting itself into by running. Maybe it accepted its fate, maybe not. What do you think?"

But upon hearing Saho laugh and jest at Zealot's appearance, she turned around to quickly rasp, "What are you doing? This man could kill you without even thinking!"

Shrugging as he hears Saho's laughter, Zealot simply continues his walk towards Sigil.

"Had a shitty childhood, now throwing a temper tantrum at the world. Want to kill yourself, but far too much of a pussy to do it; not going to do your dirty work, you're just not worth my time."

Continuing on until he is directly in front of Sigil, he shrugs.

"Also, probably want to fuck your mother. How neat. As for you, tiny girl, it doesn't really matter whether the mouse wants to die or not. Humans need to rise above base instincts; how can you be a hero if you squabble and scream at the thought of death?"

Sigil turned around to face Zealot once more. All those muscles...

"I don't. Living for two hundreds years, you see people come and go in all sorts of ways. Two world wars, several smaller ones, countless miniscule scuffles and shoot-outs... makes you wonder how you'll go, too, and eventually you just accept it when it happens. And I agree; we're not animals, after all, or at least that's not what the Lord intended us to be. Now, if you don't mind me being a nosy nobody, why is it that you've dropped by Vegas, particularly since whatever was attacking this city is now dead?"

"HAHAHAHA, oh yeah CLEARLY. With an outfit like that he must spend all his thinking on posing in mirrors. AHAHAHAH!! Ahh....thanks, Zelly. I've always wanted to meet you because I thought humanity's BFF couldn't be THAT ridiculous; thanks for showing me anything's possible!....so tell, big man...where the hell were you that something like this had to be taken care of by a 'lowly mortal' like myself?"
Mange didn't just dislike Zealot. He downright hated him. He was the worst kind of obnoxious bully; a sanctimonious obnoxious bully. Mange didn't feel 'power' coming from Zealot, he felt desperation to be perceived as power. A stupid kid as a god on a power-trip. Meanwhile, someone like him had to bust his ass to make the world a better place; and in his lifetime he STILL couldn't do as much as what Zealot could do; if he cared.

"You know what narrator, that was so good I'm gonna use that! Mange didn't just dislike Zealot. He downright hated him. He was the worst kind of obnoxious bully; a sanctimonious obnoxious bully. Mange didn't feel 'power' coming from Zealot, he felt desperation to be perceived as power. A stupid kid as a god on a power-trip. Meanwhile, someone like him had to bust his ass to make the world a better place; and in his lifetime he STILL couldn't do as much as what Zealot could do in an afternoon; if he cared. Ha! Go away, Expy. Don't you have some people to not-help? Okay, new magic girlfriend, where were we?" You didn't have to use it exactly-Saho...do you REALLY understand the-nevermind.

"Haha, oh look, the kid wants to play detective with the big boys. Nice try. My mom raped and abused me mentally and emotionally until I was 10. Then she murdered my dad in front of me; you know for good measure. You know what that taught me? No one should ever have to go through. No one." Mange, channeling a power he didn't know he, strides right up to Zealot; not caring how glorified the other was.

"I'm not mad at the world. I'm mad at people like you abusing your powers on whoever the hell you want. I became a detective to stop people like you; and to make sure there wouldn't be victims like me. I don't care how many tons you can lift; you don't have the right to chastise anyone you stupid hypocrite. Go fly off into the sun; you'll make the world a better place." ...Well...damn

"AND I DON'T WANNA FUCK MY MOM ANYMORE. I got past that when I met Siggy." Stop ruining yourself, you're acting cool for once.

Zealot moves forward, not acknowledging Saho at all-either he didn't hear him, or he pretends not to. Seeing Saho jumping around and yelling at him, he pulls his head back just a bit before-...smiling at him, then turning back to Sigil.

"A bully. I guess that's a way to describe it. I would've come to help, had you...well, needed it. But you didn't. You won. Good job. As for you and your...'Lord', I've fought gods, or beings that could be called their equivalent. I think I might've met the actual one once, but I might've just been on acid. I mean, he did have some pretty awesome sunglasse-alright, that topic is done, anyway. Point being made is that I don't think I'm better than you. I don't seek to control you; I don't seek to do anything to you but make you better. I love you. I love humanity. You are beautiful, wondrous things...but you're weak. You're all far too weak. So I...need to help. I need to raise you from the dirt and bring you to ascension. I am not special. I am not a god. I am nothing but a man who has the ability and the will to do what I must to save this world-and so they named me a Zealot. If I must be zealous to complete my goal, I will."

Ugh-for someone with several 100 years of life experience, it'd be obvious he means what he says; deep down, Zealot doesn't like himself very much. Then again, most bullies don't-not that they'd ever admit it. He loves humanity as much as it's possible to love anything, but he's...sick in the head. Bullies hurt others for their own amusement and gain...Zealot does it because he sees what he does as the correct course of action. Bullies are fearful, pitiful creatures who prey upon the weak and run in cowardice when actually hurt. Zealot...well, he won't stop until he's dead.

"....oh....sorry." Saho is...shocked, to say the least.

".....I still find you sanctimonious as all hell, not to mention ridiculous.....and, what do you mean weak? I'm the greatest damn detective on earth AND I BEAT A VAMPIRE LORD. What more do you want from me?!....stupid question." Stop saying like you did it all by yourself. Still, Saho couldn't help but feel embarrassed. He made some interesting points, sure, and having only known the guy by his rep you can't blame him for jumping the gun....still, he stands between the once again; this time using his body to protect Sigil.

"If you love us so much know this: I don't care how many mysteries I have to solve, I'll make an Earth that doesn't NEED you. Ever." But, why?

"Because I don't like the idea of someone, ANYONE, looking down on others." It's actually a cool dichotomy;....the sad thing? They'd probably get along. Think about. Val loved using Saho because he was the poster boy for human abuse. A perfect strawman. He's not totally in the right, but hey; that's the price you pay when you live on a moon: nobody knows you well enough to understand your philosophy.

"Hmm... I wouldn't say 'bully.' I've heard of your exploits; I could describe you by any other way while still starting with B..." In her head, she recites the list: brutish, brazen, bold, bombastic, belligerent, bellicose, beautiful, bizarre, blue-eyed, buff... "...but I wouldn't use the word 'bully'. I don't doubt what you're saying and I wholly believe that, despite what you do, you are a kind person. I repeat my question, though, kind sir."

Sigil steps around Saho, waving her hand to mean that it's alright. "Why are you here?"

His head slowly inches down towards hers until he's inches away from his face. It's more...frightening, than romantic, especially wi-holy god, that fucking smile. Now in full slasher regalia, it'd be pretty obvious that while both hot and superhuman, Zealot is not in his right mind and never has been.

"Kind? I don't think I've ever been called that. I don't think I am kind, to people. To be kind is to act of charity without care for the self, and I do that; but I am not a kind person. My methods are...brutish, as I'm sure you've heard. Seen, maybe. I wish that they were not necessary-but they are. Everything I have done is necessary. I find humanity to be a child in a very frightening universe, and I go to save it, but...I cannot be omni-present. I am not a god. I must teach you to...fish, to defend yourself. Even if you must defend yourself from me in order to understand. I'm here to help you. I-..."

Oh god. Help her? Eyes redden, slightly, but it dissipates quickly enough-the slasher smile on his face lowers itself down to a weary, sullen smile. Actually looking at him and his full mentality, he seems...so regretful that his action is being taken, but so resolute in that it must. Clenching his jaw and closing his eyes, golden hair falling down over the eyelids in gentle fronds like sunlight on a cresting hill, almost close enough to touch her face as well, Zealot sighs. Whispered gently, so small that it could barely be heard by anyone, anything...even Sigil could only pick up a small touch of it.

"I'm sorry."

"..." She pulls out her black book but does not open it. "Apology accepted." Dodging the question again; really?

"I understand your viewpoint. I've seen monsters rise to power and fall to the pits, sometimes repeatedly. And if I'm still alive in the future, there are yet more monsters to defeat. But in order to defend, one must learn to raise their shield, use it at the right time... yes?"

Face staying where it is, Zealot closes his eyes and takes in a breath-far deeper than any human could take. The air flows back out of him steadily, and his eyes open again. Glancing from her to Signal, Zealot shrugs.

"I'm sure you do; but the objective is not to stop the monsters myself, it is to teach others how. I am a man doing what I can. People...must learn to strike out. I must teach them. How is Signal?"