Supreme: Man of Majesty #4

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Supreme: Man of Majesty #4

Written by Matt Laaksonen (Themanagement)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond).

Doctor Phineus Nirvana, in his opinion, has led a charmed life. After years of fighting the horrid Mighty Man, he used his special little Worm to make the monster forget who he was. Then, he made everybody forget that he was a criminal. Using his anonymity, he has become a high-ranking official of the mysterious (even to him) group, the Society. Bankrolling criminal and terrorist organizations all over the planet, Nirvana has become so rich, he’s simply untouchable. Now, all of that seems to be unraveling.

That Supreme is a wicked demon. He’s probably Mighty Man, back to torment me!

After helping Darius Dax organize the heist at First Omegapolis Bank, and watching it all crumble down, he was furious. Luckily, for Nirvana, anyway, Warmaker was able to take out the team and get away from Supreme. The problem is, that Jason Wynn just informed him that someone (without question Supreme) is now checking and cross-checking internet traffic, and anything that could link something to the Society.

Well, if you want war with the Society, you’re going to get it. Nirvana is going to crucify you, BEAST!

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Ethan stands in the living room of his new apartment. It’s a modest home, just a simple one-bedroom with a small living room and an even smaller kitchen. The bathroom is a closet. Pets are allowed, though, which is a plus, since he won’t have to listen to Radar complain about living in a hole in the ground. He just has to convince Radar to “dumb himself down a bit” and act like other dogs. There is one thing about the apartment that is anything but modest. Being on the 22nd floor, he has an amazing view of the Omegapolis skyline.

I could grow to truly love this city.

“Billy, I really want to thank you for helping me find a place to live. It’ll be nice to have a real home instead of living out of a hotel.”

“Really, Ethan, it’s no big deal. The place you were staying was dicking you around on rent. Not only were you paying an ass load, you had to fork out cash to keep Hercules in a kennel.” Saying this, Billy kneels down and scratches behind Radar’s ears. The dog lets out a loving “yip” and licks Billy on the cheek.

Good boy, Radar.

“I gotta ask you, Ethan, how come you have no furniture? This can’t be your first place.”

“Actually, it is. After my parents died, I spent a lot of time traveling, trying to find my place in the world. Between the insurance money, and auctioning off the farm, I had enough to travel the world. It’s been a long time since I actually lived in one place.”

Billy sits there for a moment, solemnly. “Man, that’s too bad... about your parents, I mean.”

Ethan contemplates how much he wants to tell Billy. “I was really angry at first. I didn’t even know where to go, or what to do. Losing the people you love is terrible. I had Hercules to keep me company, which was really great, but it was hard. There is a hidden blessing in every tragedy, though. I got an opportunity to see the world. There are a lot of truly amazing people out there. A perfect example is this boy I met in a village in Africa. He was a genius at math and science... and I mean genius. If he ever got the chance to go to school somewhere, he could change the world.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

“It really is. That’s something that a lot of people don’t realize about this world. There is a terrible tragedy in the deaths that happen every day in third world countries. These people are viewed as primitive, but they’re not. They just live a different life. Given the right opportunity, one of those children may grow up to be the doctor that cures cancer.”

“You know, I’ve never really thought of it. I’ve always been too caught up in my own shit to really think about stuff like that.”

“We’re all human, Billy. It’s too easy to write off the things we can’t see.” Which, unbeknownst to Billy, is the driving force behind Supreme.

Suddenly, Billy gets a big grin on his face. “So, not to change the subject or anything, but how are things with Diana?”

Sheepishly, Ethan replies, “You know, we haven’t really gotten a chance to talk...”

“Well, you should take the chance.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Man, Billy is a really great guy. It’s too bad that he lets stuff get to him the way it does. I wish I could trust him enough to let him know who I am. It’d be great to actually have a real friend to talk to.

Supreme is patrolling the city, contemplating the turns his life has taken. It only took a matter of days for an online cult to sprout up, treating him like a messiah. He knew that the possibility was there when he announced his presence to the world, but it’s scary nonetheless.

I don’t understand it, really. I’m not the first superhuman on the planet. Aside from a few would be dictators out there, I can’t imagine anyone wanting their power viewed as that of a god.

Since the bank robbery, he’s found himself spending almost all of his time thinking about his parents, and the amazing life that fate has bestowed upon him. Since the meteor shower in Littlehaven, it’s seemed like his life was outside of his ability to control. Every step he takes seems like it’s been laid out before him as part of some grand plan. For the first time in what seems like forever, Supreme actually wonders if there is a God.

Maybe Billy’s right about there being something more to all of this.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Hiding in the slums of Omegapolis, is Norman Watz. Ever since his run in with Supreme, he’s been laying low. His suit of power armor is tough, but from what he’s seen, Supreme is tougher. He unloaded on Supreme with everything he had, and it didn’t put him down. It barely even slowed him a step.

If not for that plane, I would have been done. Even then, the son of a bitch lifted the plane and landed it back on the runway.

To make matters worse, he hasn’t been able to contact his boss. He’s been trying for the last twelve hours, and he hasn’t been able to get through. He’s starting to get scared. Nothing in his military training, or his experience with the Society has prepared him for an opponent like Supreme.

Finally, his communicator lights up. “Boss, it’s about time you called.”

Coming from the other end is the electronically masked voice of his employer. “Norman, I have another assignment for you. I want you to draw Supreme out.”

“You want me to do what? ”

“When you fought him yesterday, you hurt him. Not only that, you exposed a weakness. If you put innocents in danger, he’ll waste time saving them, instead of fighting you.”

“No way am I going to fight him again!”

“Norman, I need to gauge what he’s capable of.”

“He’s capable of shredding my special little armor like a piece of tissue paper.”

“I equipped that armor with state of the art weapons. Actually use your head and think about the weapons that I have outfitted you with. You’ve never failed us before, what makes you think you will now? Besides, I’m doubling your pay.”

Norman thinks about this for a moment. “Okay, how do I draw him out?”

“You need a high profile target. There is a political rally at King Kirby High School today. Darius Dax is the guest of honor. If you concentrate your attack there, Supreme won’t be far behind.”

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Darius Dax has just left a political rally in his honor. He can’t stand all the fan-fair, and can stand all the lobbyists throwing bribes in his face even less.

Like I need money. These fools seem to forget that I’m one of the richest men on the planet!

As mayor, he has truly monumentous plans for Omegapolis. His genius carried him from being an orphaned teenager in a poor household to the owner and chairman of the board of a multinational conglomerate. Through pharmaceuticals, communications technology, and (secretly) military contracts, Darius is a billionaire.

He plans on tackling the woes of his great city with the same zeal. Using contacts in organized crime, and covering up some bigger events here and there, he can make the crime rate drop significantly. He’s owed enough favors that when called in, his campaign can be paid off in full without spending a dime out of his own pocket. On paper, Theresa is in charge of Dax Industries, but that’s only on paper. He currently is in contact with an oil conglomerate from the Middle East, that with success, will create about a thousand jobs in a planned refinery just outside the city limits... as well as add millions of dollars to his own personal worth.

Yet, there is one monkeywrench in Darius’s plans: Supreme. Supreme is a wild card. Darius likes to play with a loaded deck, where he’s always sitting on a royal flush.

Suddenly, there is a massive explosion. All the windows on the right side of the limo shatter, and the car is knocked onto it’s roof. Dazed, Darius crawls out of the car, and standing over him is the man from the news, Warmaker.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Supreme hears the explosion, and immediately heads in that direction.

Have to pick up speed, and get to the source... Oh my god It’s Warmaker, he’s attacked a political rally, and he’s about to kill Darius Dax!

This time, Warmaker is ready for Supreme hitting him from the air. Just before he’s tackled, he jumps out of the way, and Supreme slams headlong into the pavement. Before Supreme can get to his feet, Warmaker is on him. He slams Supreme with a wave of sonic vibrations, which assault his enhanced senses, and cause him horrible pain. Before Supreme can retaliate, Warmaker blasts him in the face, with the intentions of blinding him like he did in their first encounter.

Supreme lets out a shout of pain. At that moment, Warmaker follows his boss’s direction, and fires a grenade straight into Supreme’s open mouth. It detonates with terrible ferocity. Supreme’s head snaps back with the force of the explosion. Fire blasts from his mouth and nostrils. Thrown onto his back, Supreme lays prone, at the edge of consciousness. Smoke rolls from his ears.

Grabbing the front of Supreme’s costume, he lifts the hero closer to his face, “You’re not so tough now, are you, Man of Majesty?” He draws back and punches Supreme right in the nose with all of the strength his armor possesses. Throwing Supreme headlong into the curb at the edge of the street, he lets out a laugh. Picking up the smashed limo, Warmaker charges and slams the wreckage down on top of Supreme. Punching through the top, he grabs Supreme’s hair and tears him up through the wreckage. “What now, hero?”

In answer, Supreme swings his fist with tremendous force into the side of Warmaker’s helmet. Sent reeling by the blow, Warmaker slams into the ground and slides across the pavement. Rolling to his feat he shoots two grenades into the scattering crowd.

With speed that leaves Warmaker stupified, Supreme rushes into the crowd and grabs the grenades. Before he can even blink, Supreme throws the grenades one after another at him. The detonations on his breast plate send him cartwheeling into the side of a building. Almost instantly Supreme has him. Hoisting Warmaker into the air, he slams him to the ground, generating an impact that people can feel from a hundred yards away.

Norman is terrified. Staring into Supreme’s eyes, he sees a barely controlled rage. His lips are burned and scraped, his nose is bleeding. Still coughing smoke from the explosion, Supreme demands, “Unconditional surrender... NOW ” To punctuate the command, Supreme’s eyes begin to glow bright red.

Feeling the faceplate of the armor heat up, Nathan surrenders, “Okay, okay, I quit You got me ”

“Who are you working for? ”

“I’m working on my own...”

Supreme begins to squeeze, and Nathan can feel the armor begin to constrict around his throat. Have to let him think I’m serious. “This is your last chance... your name, who built the armor, and who you’re working for... now ”

“Alright! My name is Norman Watz. I don’t know who built it, but I can tell y...”

Nathan and Supreme both freeze. There is a high pitch wine coming from the armor. Before Supreme can react, it explodes.

***

[Spider-Man Beyond]

About an hour later, the scene has been cleaned up, and all witnesses have given their statements. Supreme tells the authorities what little information he got from Warmaker. After making sure all of the injured are cared for, Supreme gets ready to leave.

Darius stops him, “Supreme, I was wondering if I could speak with you!”

Supreme stops, this is really not a good idea.

“I want to thank you for saving my life. I’ve been planning on getting in touch with you since you first showed up.”

This is REALLY not a good idea!

Darius smiles and extends his hand to Supreme, which he reluctantly accepts.

In a quieter voice, Darius leans closer to him and says, “It’s good to see you, Ethan. It’s been a really long time.”

That’s what I was afraid of!

Continued...