At the Mountains

The Reaper gave a nod, seeming unbothered by her reply. It was no difference to him, one option just happened to be a bit easier. This woman…and he supposed the boy would be a challenge to his plans. He enjoyed such things, but in a matter like this…there was a time constraint. He had to see his daughter’s performance soon. If he got caught up in a fight, lost in the moment…

He wouldn’t do that to her. He would never do anything to miss an important moment like this, not if he could help it. For now, he would step to the side, allowing the woman to ask her questions

The tired man reached up with his one arm and scratched the back of his head, leaning back in the chair and letting out a drawn-out sigh. “You came here without knowing what we’re doing? Ha…who hired you for this job?” He asked in that same drawn out tone, like he had just been woken up and was just passed mumbling. Another sigh. “Machines, if you didn’t catch that on your way here. New age weapons to fight the wars, to protect the elite, and for any other purpose you can imagine.” He spoke like he was reading off some slogan or that it was something that he had rehearsed several times over. “If you mean to ask what it is that I do…” A third sigh, “I am in charge. I am the lead designer and project manager of this facility. I come up with the ideas and build them. We also work on new age weapons, things to combat metas and other godly super powered beings. I also am in charge of designs and management there.” He ended with a small yawn. “I am going to stand up now.” He said, and unless stopped, he would stand up.

He was a tall, beanpole of a man that loomed over the party’s head. He turned to look at the arena behind him. “I didn’t even get to test out the big guns yet…you all made such a mess of everything before, I was curious to see how you would handle some of our bigger pieces.” He turned to face them and then held is hands up, like he was ready to be handcuffed. “But I surrender. You can take me away to whatever prison or facility you want to. I can’t turn off the security, so…you’ll have to deal with that yourselves.” He admitted, seeming almost entirely unbothered by the ordeal.

Sam finally decided to speak up, though it was once more directed at Pyrhha. “I think we should get him out of here…we could always come back and destroy this place later.” He cleared his throat a bit, “Or I could try and bring him to the exit and get him back to…I think we have an extraction point, if you wanna trash this place.”

Pyrrha furrowed her brow. In her time as an adventurer she had met plenty of scientists, both good and bad. There was something off about this man. He seemed so nonchalant about the whole situation occurring around him. His words seemed off. If he were the sole person responsible for creating all of these machines, then why would he just give them away? There was also the line about being ‘hired’. Was he not responsible for sending out the message and coordinates to this place? Pyrrha needed a moment to process everything, but felt that time was something she wouldn’t be afforded. Before speaking to the two men before them, Pyrrha would give a slight nod of acknowledgement to Sam, assuring him that she heard his suggestions.

“What do you mean hired? Were you not the one who sent out those messages with the intent of drawing people here? And why give it all away when you could profit from these inventions?” she just didn’t get it at all. And then there was Sam’s words. What were they going to do? She tried to keep an eye on the abnormally tall scientist while turning to address the man they had been fighting moments ago. “Knowing what we know now, what are your intentions for this facility?” She wanted to try and get an honest answer out of the two men.

If they could provide even that, then there might be some sort of peaceable solution to this whole endeavor. Or as her companion so eloquently stated, they could come back and bust the place up. But that option gave whoever, the chance to clear this place out and move operations somewhere else.

The one armed man  took in a long breath, another sigh, another long exhausted look towards Pyrrha. This conversation looked as though it was starting to take a toll on him, draining him, he was like an introvert at a party: exhausted, done with this conversation, and willing to give anything to be anywhere else. With the sigh still in his tone he went on, "Oh yes...I invited a bunch of people here to destroy some of my life's work and passion projects. You caught me red handed like a Scooby Doo Villain." A tone was still tired, but the edge of sarcasm still was there. "No, I didn't hire you. And I never said I gave them away, I certainly profit from these inventions. I work for a company that sells them. Is that all you got for me?" That last question was rhetorical but he had a feeling he'd get an answer regardless.

Though, for the first time, he did seem interested at her final question directed to the other not part of her group. He watched the man carefully, waiting for his answer.

The Reaper, for whatever it was worth, seemed at least more engaged and less annoyed by Pyrrha's questioning. A lot less sarcastic. He stood tall, a broad, proud look overtaking the villainous demeanor. When he spoke there was less of an edge to voice, though something still menaced there. "A nation, a citadel, a keep or castle...a foundation." He started to explain, his hands squeezing at the handle of his hammer. "We are in unclaimed land in a facility that can withstand the cold, provide for the people here, and with the machines here, have the means to build more like it. It also has the benefit of being rather green in terms of energy and waste control, which is always a plus."

"You're welcome for that." The one armed man chimed in.

"Here, I can build up a...base, a home, something grand. It will be, which may be something you are opposed to, a place built on villainy. At its core it will be an organization of Super Villains. But..." He rose a hand to try and stop any form of protest. "An organization of villainy. A place with a code, a system of ethics and rules so that nothing ever gets out of hand, that we don't take too much. Because that's problem with villainy, some people go too far, take too much, and do more than they ever thought of doing. So, a place for it to be controlled while still promoted. Even further of what I seek, is a safe haven for those with powers, abilities. Somewhere they won't be blamed or strung up or chased...right now, the world seems to idolize heroes, but that is a fragile thing that could change at any moment...I want a place where they are safe and free of judgement and this all here is the foundation for that. So that is my goals, take that as you will."

He let out the faintest chuckle, "I suppose that could count towards my villainous monologue."

Pyrrha found herself at odds. It wasn’t against her nature to help her enemy. Often times she found herself sympathizing with them. If only things could have been different. She felt nearly moved by the large man’s words, but it still didn’t sit right with her. That said, Pyrrha found herself thinking more about her new companion and the situation they found themselves in. While he most certainly was right and they could just leave now and come back later to wreck the place, that would give the man a chance to fortify his defenses. She let out an exhausted sigh as she mulled over the options.

Her glare would return to the disgruntled engineer. “As a matter of fact I do have another question. Whether you have the answer or not is irrelevant. But you have to have some inclination as to who sent out those invitations” That was still something that remained a mystery. There was also the question of just how many people received that message? If Pyrrha and Sam were to leave now, whats to say some other hero or villain wouldn’t show up soon after? She clearly looked disgruntled. She was not accustomed to making all the decisions on her own. Her friends and comrades were always there by her side guiding her along. She was more like a weapon. Point her in the right direction of a problem or foe and she’d take care of it. This level of thought was something she’d have to get used to. But for now she at least had one other mind at her side that could make this somewhat smoother.

She would turn to Sam, there was a clear look of concern on her face. “Well, thoughts? We’re a team after all so can’t just make all the decisions for the two of us.”