I'm in Marvel 11

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***

Digression.

- Spider-Girl, do you already know what... Insanity is?

This strange question completely confused Petra. She had expected to hear a lot of things, like bullying and/or threats, but definitely not something like this. Because of this, the girl just stared at the smiling face of a man who was a couple of dozen centimetres away.

- By the way, I haven't introduced myself. Pluto, Yesterday's Promise, at your service, young lady," said Pluto, stepping back and bowing elegantly.

- Spider-Girl," she replied, trying to buy time to think about the situation.At that moment Petra realised that she was completely free. She wasn't tied up or handcuffed. There was also something odd about it. It was as if the girl had become a normal person again.

- Did you feel it yet? Good for you. You see, I turned on the superpower suppressor so you wouldn't get violent," the man said with feigned sadness, waving his hands. - I hope you understand me, Spider-Baby.

- Yeah, I will," Petra snarled, looking around. 

She was in some sort of basement, filled with various boxes. Nothing else of interest was visible. Pluto's subordinates appeared from time to time, bringing something and taking something.

- I wonder where such technology as a superpower blocker came from for a criminal?

- Hehehe, the world is not without good people, - the man avoided answering, sitting down on the chair opposite to the interlocutor and taking his cane in his hands. - So what about my first question, young lady?

- Madness is a severe mental disorder, - the girl tried to get away with such an answer. 

She still didn't know what to expect from Pluto, so she decided to play along. Besides, because of her lack of abilities, she was completely at the mercy of the bandit. It was worth it to wait for the right moment and try to escape. At the same time, we could find out how her powers were blocked.

- Right, but not quite. Insanity is the exact repetition of the same action, over and over, hoping for a change. That's what insanity is. The first time I heard this was from a nutcase that himself tried to do the same thing time after time after time, namely kill a man. Spoiler alert, he couldn't. But the point is, the psycho was right," Pluto began to tell me, leaning back in his chair and gesticulating vigorously. - And then I started to see it everywhere, everywhere I looked, these knuckleheads ... Everywhere you look, they're doing exactly the same thing. Over and over and over and over and over and over again, thinking, now it's gonna change. No, no, no, no, no, no, please, it's gonna be different. That's what they think. Except it's just madness without any change.

- ... - the girl wanted to say something, but she couldn't get a word out. Even though it was strange, she recognised a certain meaning in the words.

- I know it's not easy to realise. Just take note. I think you'll get your sight very soon," the man said confidentially, moving closer to Petra. - And now you want to know who are all those fools I told you about?

- And who are they?

- If you don't take ordinary people, heroes and villains. You're basically doing a load of rubbish. One is trying to make the world a better place, not realising that beating the faces of criminals won't achieve that, and the other is trying to do all sorts of crap with sheepish persistence. In the end it turns out that heroes are absolutely useless, and villains are mostly just degenerates and clowns.

- Heroes are not useless! - Petra exclaimed, rising from her chair and looming over the man. She was very hurt by these words, said by the man with full conviction. - Every day, they save many people from criminals! And heroines like Sentry even more!

- Okay, maybe I exaggerated a bit. Not completely useless, but almost completely useless. Would that be a good way to put it? - Pluto asked with a wry smile, rubbing his chin. - And take into account that such a change is only because of stopping villains capable of destroying cities or the entire planet. And many of these villains appeared because of the heroes. And the heroes themselves could finish them off, thus saving a lot of people. That's why I say you're all crazy. One with fanatical stubbornness imprisons the other, regardless of the number of victims, and the latter end up trying to avenge their many defeats with no less fervour.

- Heroes are needed! If it weren't for them, there would be more victims!

- Wouldn't there? Then tell me first, why do criminals appear?

- Um...

- Of course, there are some bastards or psychos who like to kill and see the world on fire," Pluto began to explain, creating goggles out of thin air and putting them on, becoming more serious. - But they are a minority. The rest often become criminals not from a good life. I think you've already encountered various Latino gangs. Mexicans in particular. Have you?

- Yes," Petra replied, sitting down in her chair. - But what does that have to do with them?

- You know how they recruit meat to sell drugs? It's simple. They take a family hostage and force such "recruits" to sell drugs in the US. Naturally, such "gangsters" will never give up their bosses and take all the blame if they don't want their loved ones dead. Meanwhile, the leaders are drinking tequila abroad. And this is one example, of which there are many. Many criminals become like this because of circumstances. This does not apologise to them in any way, but the fact is the fact. That's why I say that your struggle is mostly pointless until the underlying problems are solved. You'd better find another use for your abilities.- With great power comes great responsibility," Parker quoted her uncle. - If I have such power, I must use it for the good of the people. 

- Yes? - Pluto asked cheerfully, making a few pirouettes with his cane. - And who told you that this transcript is correct, hmm?

- What? - Petra asked perplexed. - Of course it's correct!....

- Don't dust. I feel that it was said by someone very close to you. You've turned those words into a mantra. Except it's not about using your power for good, it's about something else. How's that for interesting? - Pluto asked with a sly smile.

- And what do they mean, Mr Know-It-All? - Petra said sarcastically, crossing her arms across her chest.

- You seem to be a smart girl, but apparently not in all places. I'll give you a simple example, which I hope will be clear. You can turn a piece of brick into a pile of dust just by squeezing it properly. That's why you need to restrain your strength when shaking hands with a normal person. Or here's another example. A heavyweight boxer should always keep in mind that when fighting a regular person, he can kill him quite easily. Therefore, it is better not to bring to the fight at all, or in the worst case scenario to be extremely careful. That's just it: with great power comes great responsibility. No one says you have to go save the world, and I don't think the person who said those words to you meant it. You just have to consider your capabilities when interacting with the world.

- It's all interesting, but I don't think you should listen to a criminal, - Parker said firmly, trying not to show her true emotions.

- Whatever you say, Spider-Girl, - did not argue satisfied Pluto. - But all your efforts will lead to nothing. 

- And what should I do then? Just stop fighting while people like you kill and rob people?

- You could try to fight the disease, not the symptoms. Alas, today's society has too many problems. That's why we live in this world. And most likely it will always be like this, regardless of the political system or time. Having learnt real life, I don't believe in a bright future where everything will be fine. There, we have democracy, but prosperity has not come. I wonder why?

- Democracy is the best political system possible! - Petra objected. - You just have to wait until people change for the better!

- Do you believe in this nonsense? - Pluto asked mockingly, snorting like a cat, covering one eye.

- Yes!" said the girl without a doubt. - Sooner or later, we will come to a society where there will be no crime! People will live in peace and harmony with each other, and heroes will no longer be needed.

- Clap, clap, clap.

- What charming naivety," the clapped man said, closing his eyes and smiling nostalgically. - The only pity is that the probability of such an outcome is EXTREMELY small. Democracy works well only when you know each of the candidates for ruler well. Otherwise you get a flop. In ancient Greece it all worked because of the small number of citizens who were eligible to be elected. Fun fact: I was looking at statistics recently and found out that candidates who spend more money on their campaign win more often. Democracy in action. I am not talking about the institution of lobbying, when the rich are able to push through a law that affects the whole country.

- Yes, democracy is not perfect, but we don't have a better system! - said Petra, clenching her fists. - But we can improve it.

- I wonder how, if all these democrats don't really want to change anything? - hummed, asked Pluto, waving his hand. - Girl, you're an idealist. But come on. Let's pretend that democracy is the best system there is and will be. But even so, there's a problem. In any system, there is one small, but at the same time the most important link. You want to guess or should I tell you?

- A man?

- Good girl! - exclaimed the man and, snapping his fingers, created something out of the air on his palm. - Here's the candy. It's not poisoned and it's delicious.

- I'm not a child," Parker said indignantly, not taking the candy. This guy was starting to piss her off.

- Yeah? Well, whatever you say," the man agreed and ate the candy himself. - Umm! You should have said no. But I digress. Man is the weakest link in any system. Even in the most paradisiacal conditions our tribe will lack something. Remember what happened to Adam and Eve. That's why we'll never be able to build paradise on Earth unless people change. And they won't change, you can be sure of that.

- That's just what you said. How can you know that?

- Because unlike you, I've seen what people are really like. By the way, would you like to see for yourself? - Pluto suggested with an anticipatory smile.

- What do you want? - asked the heroine the question that tormented her. - Do you really think I will listen to the words of a murderer? If you were an honest man, then maybe.....

- Of course you wouldn't listen to the words of a murderer," Pluto interrupted her with exaggerated seriousness, taking off his glasses. - But the brave heroine will not be afraid to face the cruel reality, will she? Will your rose-coloured glasses stand up to life unadorned?

- If you're trying to tempt me to evil, you won't succeed," Petra said flatly, shaking her head.

- Well, we'll see about that," the man said ominously. Immediately the room began to darken, and the shadows seemed to become alive and reached out their clawed paws to the girl. But in a second the horror was gone, as if it had never been there. - Ha-ha-ha-ha! Is it just me, or were you already planning on reading a prayer?

He's a mind reader?

- Oh, no. I can't read minds," the man said, only further reinforcing her suspicions. - It's just written all over your face. Ha-ha-ha!

- Ha-ha-ha. You're a joker," the girl said sourly, gently touching the mask and then crossing her arms across her chest.

- Okay, let's go.

The interlocutor stood up and headed for the exit.

- Where to?

- I'll make sure you see something interesting," Pluto replied without turning round. - Oh yes, I should dress you up a bit.

The man snapped his fingers, and Parker was enveloped in a glow that lasted for a few moments. At first the girl was frightened, but then she noticed that instead of a hero's costume she was wearing an expensive looking double suit. A little in front of her, as if by order, was a small mirror. Petra looked into it and saw instead of her face an unremarkable brunette. In another situation she would have been surprised, but not after so many skills had been displayed. It felt like this Pluto's abilities were limited only by his imagination. Like magic from fairy tales.

- Why are you doing all this?

- Because. More seriously, I want to conduct an experiment. Can you still be a heroine after what you've seen?

- And what will I see? - Petra asked, following the man through some nightclub. 

It would seem that right now was the perfect opportunity to run, but the girl felt that it would lead nowhere. Perhaps it was a not fully suppressed spider-sense? After all, she couldn't deal with it even with full strength and taking advantage of the effect of surprise.

Plus, the heroine concluded that the superpower damper was either inside her body or Pluto himself. Couldn't the whole building block the powers? And the girl was inclined to the fact that the cane in the hands of the man is the suppressor. The only question is, why doesn't Pluto himself suffer from it? 

- Your head's going to explode. You shouldn't think so intensely," the man said cheerfully, walking over to one of his subordinates.

- Now how did you realise it?

- By your sniffling," Pluto replied and turned his attention to the woman Petra already knew. - Abi, sweetheart, we should gather five guys and go to Majia's slaughterhouse.

- Whatever you say, boss.

- Majia's abattoir? What's that?

- I think the name says it all," the man said with his arms out to the sides. - And Maggia, in case you didn't know, is an international crime syndicate. In the meantime, let's go to the car. 

Once again Petra had to follow Pluto. Once outside, she began to look for a place where she could use the webshooter to shoot and escape. But feeling the attentive gaze on her, the girl immediately discarded the idea. Her captor curved his lips in a snide smile and watched his captive carefully, waiting for the next step. No, now is not the time.

- You can run right now. I won't even prevent you from doing so.

- What?!

- I won't stop you if you run away now," Pluto repeated patiently. 

- In your voice reads, but, - Parker said suspiciously.

- But, then you lose in our ideological dispute. 

- I wasn't arguing with you.

- Yeah? Well, weren't you the one who said that humans would soon become the best version of themselves? I doubted that. 

- I don't see the connection.

- You don't? It's like that gopher. It's there.

- Gopher? - Petra asked, having completely lost the thread of the conversation.

- It's a meme. That's not the point. The point is, I want to show you something that will undermine your faith in humanity. But are you ready for that?

- I don't know what you're gonna show me, but it's not gonna work.

- I'm also offering you a deal," the man said, leaning back against the car.

- What kind of deal? A deal to sell your soul? - Parker asked mockingly. - I'm not interested in such things.

- Even if the price will be the life of the one who said you that phrase? - Pluto, who had suddenly become serious, came close to ask a question, flashing his eyes glistening.

- W-what?

- You're in pain at the loss of your loved one. And also anger at yourself. I can feel it well. Would you be willing to sell your soul for the resurrection of a loved one?

- I-I-I--

- But that's not the point now," the man interrupted her lightly and switched to his usual demeanour. - I suggest this. If your faith in humanity doesn't waver, I'll just turn myself in to the police. What do you say? You can't win in a fight, but this will give you a chance to deal with the perpetrator.

- And you're just going to agree to that? - The heroine was incredulous.

- Yes. I always keep my promises. You could say that it's my modus operandi*. 

- I don't believe in that," the girl said categorically.

- Huh? Hey, guys, come here!

- Boss? What's wrong? - The woman called Abi asked. She was followed by several other people.

- Our guest here is questioning my word.

- I can understand, though I know you always keep your promises," Abi said with a shrug.

- Then let's do it this way. In front of all of you, I promise that I will go to jail if I lose on the results of our deal with Spider-Girl.

- What?!

- Boss, you can't be serious! - exclaimed a big woman who seemed to be named Natalie.

- Exactly! - Abi agreed. - What's the Head going to say?!

- Head? - Parker asked, but no one answered her question.

- Sha, you little brats! It's all sorted out with the head. So, sweetheart, I've put my authority on the line. Is that enough for you?

Petra didn't feel the man was lying. It was a strange sensation, but it was as if he was somehow transmitting his emotions to others. Except there was a sense of understatement. Well, like those stories about demons who can't lie, but they can tell lies.

- I'm not a demon," Pluto clarified, seeing that the heroine was looking at him.

- You're the one who can't read minds... Yeah, yeah, yeah. What if you win?

- Nothing will happen,' he replied, shrugging his shoulders. - You don't lose anything. It's a win-win.

- After which somehow people lose everything? 'Why, I've heard that,' the girl said with a snort.

- 'And so. Decide quickly. I'm going anyway, but it's quite possible you'll manage to save people's lives. What do you say?

Everything that was happening was strange. That Pluto, his subordinates, and the situation itself. It was dissonant to her long-suffering mind, which made it completely unclear how to act. Because of this, Parker just drifted along, not even making an attempt to fight the criminals.

And their gang itself was not like the usual ones. It was as if... It was as if they were playing this role! But why? There were more questions and no answers at all.

- All right. But on one condition. You don't kill anyone.

- Then I'll make a counter-condition. Unless your rose-coloured glasses break.

- That's not gonna happen," the girl said firmly. She will be able to save at least these people from death. Even if they are criminals (if they are criminals), but they must answer according to the law.

- Do you agree?

- ... Yes," Petra answered after some hesitation.

- Excellent! Now, ladies, let's get in the cars! The slaughterhouse is waiting for us!

Parker was in the back seat between Abby and Natalie. The big woman was telling stories from her time in the army, making the other criminals laugh. In fact, it seemed as if they'd all served. There was something about them.

- Why did you become criminals? You were defending Americans and democracy! What happened to you? - Parker asked, instantly breaking the cheerful mood of those present.

- What happened to us? - Natalie said, clenching her fists and getting more and more agitated. - Oh, a lot of things have happened to us, girl! After we defended this fucking democracy, we were thrown away like broken things. Often on the street. Until three months ago I wasn't living in a cosy little house, but in a social night shelter, with lead in my gut, disability, no future and wanting to die! This is what I got for giving all of myself for the good of the country! If it wasn't for the Head, who gave me a healthy body, gorgeous appearance and most importantly motivation to live on, I would have already killed myself! Every one of us is like that. That's why we're willing to die for the Chapter if we have to. Besides, we won't be abandoned this time like we were before!

- ...And who is this Head of yours? - Parker asked uncertainly, having heard such a sharp and most importantly sincere rant.

- Head? Well, that's the Head," Natalie replied, looking at Pluto, who nodded. It didn't add any clarity. - To be honest, we don't even know if it's a he or a she.

- Hmm," came a cheerful hum from the only other man in the car.

- Well, except for the boss, I guess. The Head gathered us up, gave us new arms, legs, guts, bodies, and looks. Now we can lead a normal life, have a place to live, money and most importantly a big family with a great purpose," Natalie said spiritedly with her eyes closed and a smile on her face.

- And what is that purpose? I hope it's not to take over the world? - Questioned the heroine suspiciously.

- Heh, no. It's much simpler and more complicated than that, - Pluto interjected. - But to summarise, we are not interested in taking over the world. You can be calm. It's true that even without us there are many who want to take over the world, so perhaps you should not be calm.

- Thank you, you've made me feel better," Petra said sarcastically. - Still, I don't understand why you became criminals? You could have done a lot of right things with such opportunities!

- And why did you become a criminal? - Pluto asked a counter question. - After all, you are a criminal like us. If you look at the law, we are not very different. It is quite possible that we will be punished, not as much as you, if we use the appropriate precedents. 

- I don't kill people!

- Are all people worthy of it?

- Yes!- Huh, we'll see about that," the man said mockingly. - We're here now.

A moment later they left, seeing that the remaining women were waiting for their boss. Pluto himself, stood up with his eyes closed and did not move for a while, turning into a statue. 

- That's it. I've called Scarlett, she'll be here in fifteen minutes. We should be done by then. And Hokma will dig into the cameras so that our appearance can be a surprise," the man said calmly. - Let's go.

Abi and Natalie followed him, and the remaining women took Parker's box and led her politely but insistently forward.

- You promised, remember?

- I keep my promises. You don't have to worry, baby girl.

The group approached an inconspicuous building, no different from the buildings in the neighbourhood. In front of the entrance stood a large man who, upon seeing them, tensed up and asked:

- Who are you! This is private property! Get out of here! Mmmmm!

But he couldn't finish, because he was almost completely wrapped in the red chains she already knew. Pluto made a beckoning motion with his hand, and the man swam after him, frantically swivelling his eyes, mooing and trying to free himself. When everyone was inside the building, the prisoner was knocked out, put on the floor, and walked on, doing the same to all the people they encountered. Periodically they passed through rooms with surgical tables covered in blood. And gradually suspicions began to creep into Petra's head as to what kind of "slaughterhouse" this was. 

So Pluto and Co. found themselves in a spacious room, where there were many people and a distinct smell of blood. However, this heavy metallic odour had haunted the girl from the moment she entered the building. A young woman was being operated on. Her stomach had been cut open, from which people dressed in surgical gowns were carefully pulling out organs. Also in this "operating theatre" were several other "patients" with blank stares. They must have been drugged.

- Oh, Goddess! What's going on here?! - Putting her hands to her mouth, Parker exclaimed when she saw what was happening to the woman.

- What the hell?! Who the hell are you people?! - one of the local vivisectors asked in surprise.

- We are here on a tour, - answered Pluto, looking around the room. - It's a nice place you've got here! It's beautiful. Probably for your victims to enjoy one last time, hmm?

- Guards! - shouted the only male among the locals, frantically grabbing the scalpel. 

- Put it down or you'll hurt yourself," Natalie asked politely, placing her palm on his shoulder and squeezing his fingers lightly. Tom had to obey.

- Who the fuck are you?! Put your hands up or I'll shoot you! - ordered a stout female guard, pointing a machine gun at Pluto's company. Five others followed suit. - And get away from Michael, you big lug!

The man, however, did not react to this threat, looking at Petra in shock. He snapped his fingers and all the guards' weapons disintegrated into metal dust. Immediately there were mats from the people who had been surprised by this. 

- Silence, - Pluto said calmly and created several constructs and knocked out almost all the guards, except for one woman. - Now we go quietly to where the other operations are taking place. If anyone screams, they will forever lose the ability to make meaningful sounds. You know what I mean?

- We've got to help her! - exclaimed the heroine as she ran up to the woman on the surgical table.

- I'm afraid that won't be so easy," Pluto remarked. - They've already taken almost everything they can out of her. 

- So let them bring it back!

- I doubt she'll survive even then. The woman's lost a lot of blood in addition to her organs. Still, nobody planned her further rescue.

- And there's nothing we can do?!

- I can save her," the man said, looking at Parker. - If you ask. You'd ask a murderer to save a man? What about your moral superiority over me?

At that moment, a few more guards swarmed into the room, but were instantly knocked out by energy constructs that appeared out of thin air. Seeing such a quick and precise massacre, the remaining locals turned pale and began to behave even more quietly.

- Ready! - said the heroine firmly. - For me, a human life is more important!

- Good! - cheerfully exclaimed the man, clapping his hands, and touched the victim of the vivisectors.

- No way! - whispered Michael, watching the woman's terrible wounds regenerate extremely quickly. Moreover, the internal organs began to regenerate, appearing out of nothing. - What kind of powers are these?! Are you a mutant?!

- None of your business. That's it," Pluto stated, knocking out all but the last of the guards. - Now lead us to the other "operations". No jokes.

Driven by fear and guns in the hands of the subordinates of Yesterday's Promise, the local went to another room. There, Parker found a similar scene awaiting her. Except that the number of dissected, as well as the victims waiting for their turn, was greater. At the same time they met new guards and "doctors" who were knocked out. The scale of what was happening literally made the young heroine dizzy. She had to ask Pluto several more times to save people, which he did without speaking. 

People get used to everything. Petra had learnt that expression. Towards the end, the girl thought that nothing would surprise her. She was wrong. The local vivisectors had nothing sacred, as they even dismembered children for organs. 

- How could they do that?! How could you do this to all these people?! - she questioned the local supervisors who had been rounded up from all over the building. - Why all this?!

- Money. Lots of dough," answered Pluto, without his usual cheerful mood. He was now standing with his back to the heroine, treating a little girl.

- But why didn't anyone prevent it! There are so many people here! How come they haven't been found yet?!

- Because everyone who's needed is in on it. Yes, Mrs Lucky Montello? - a man asked one of the women.

- You broke Pluto's treaty and attacked the property of honourable people! - she said, without answering the man's question. - You were so proud of your word, and now what?! When everyone finds out about this, the big bosses will tear you apart!

- Um, Abby, I don't get it. I've been called a cheat? - Pluto turned in surprise to his subordinate who was watching the audience with a concentrated face.

- Yes boss. That bitch called you a liar.

- Wow! That's not nice. However, I promised something to one of my friends, so I won't punish you. And as for what you said, let me put it this way. It was you, dearie, who organised the attack on me a while ago. Didn't you?

- What nonsense! - The woman was indignant. - Unlike you, we honour the non-aggression pact!

- Yes? - Pluto stretched out interestedly and abruptly went behind Montello's back, hugging him tightly. As he did so, he began to inhale noisily, practically touching the tip of his nose to the woman's skin. - That smell... It's familiar to me. It's the smell of a liar.

He said the last in a voice with some eerie reverberations that made Montello go pale, and all the other vivisectors and guards joined in. 

- You don't have to lie, dearie. I know that it was you, on orders from your boss John Torino, who organised the attack. So what breach of contract are you talking about on my part, hmm?

- I-I don't know what you're talking about, Pluto! - Montello changed her tone. - Let's talk like adults! 

- All right, let's," the man agreed favourably, still hugging the woman.

- I suggest we just forget this unfortunate incident! Believe me, I can give a decent compensation!...

But Pluto listened to her half-heartedly. He was more interested in Petra, who was walking from one corpse to another and seemed to want to memorise every detail. She lingered especially long at the bodies of the children. The man sensed with empathy what storm was raging in the girl's mind. For a young heroine, with idealism in her head, such a thing was too horrible. For a moment Pluto even regretted having arranged all this. He didn't want to hurt Parker. Even though the man disliked the heroes, because he considered them a meaningless vestige of the system, but he wasn't going to harm them in any way. In the end, he made the decision to erase her memories if the girl could not withstand such a truth.

- ... So, Pluto? Do you agree? - Lucky asked.

- Don't dust. Let me talk to her and then I'll decide.

- What? Who?

- So, Spider-Girl, what do you think of what you saw? - Pluto addressed the heroine, snapping his fingers and removing his disguise. This caused astonishment among those present.

- How is this possible? - Petra asked in a hushed voice. - They were even killing children...

- Like I said, because of the big money. And also because even rich people need spare organs from time to time. For example, that girl I cured was going to be disembowelled for the daughter of a senator. Katherine Houston, I think. Am I right?

- You're meddling where you don't belong! We'll all be killed for this! Go away and forget about this place! Then maybe you can save your arses! - Screamed Montello.

- 'Answer me,' Pluto ordered, walking up to the woman and deploying an aura of terror.

- 'Yes, damn you! - Lucky confessed, unable to experience such a thing. - Yes! We have people covering us from the very top that you can't even imagine! You'll be crushed, just like me, just for knowing their names! 

- How many people do you gut in a year?

- A lot! There's a lot of respectable people all over the world who have problems with their bodies. Who gives a damn about some useless people?! When they're gone, they'll be forgotten!

- Yeah, and if they don't, your lapdogs will shut it down," Pluto added. - Right?

- ... Yes," the woman confirmed. - We have people at all levels. What are you thinking? I don't understand. For attacking the donor room, they'll pull you out of the ground and put you there. This isn't some war the authorities don't care about. This is a matter of life and death!

- Yeah, the lives of the powerful and the deaths of the lowlifes. Right? Well, you don't have to answer that. How do you like that Weaver? You still don't believe it?

- ... - the girl couldn't utter a word, trying to keep the familiar world picture.

- If you want, you can watch a video where they filmed "honourable" people being operated on. They did it just in case. You'll see a lot of interesting things. And at the same time, read the file where they put the data on the organs. It lists the number, age, et cetera. You know, to get an idea of the scale of what's going on.

Petra like a somnambulist went in the indicated direction and began to watch the video of operations, hoping for... She didn't even know what she wanted to see. Maybe something not as nasty as what was happening. Alas, it only got worse. Many of the main characters from the shootings she didn't know, but even the remaining ones were enough to realise the situation. 

The files with information on the available 'material' were as follows. After seeing the number of items and how many organs were taken from children, the girl simply stood up and walked over to Pluto.

- It's just a dream, isn't it? - Parker asked him pleadingly.

- Alas, this is reality, little girl, - the man replied with sincere sympathy. - I think it was a mistake to bring you here. Let's get out of here. My girls can handle this on their own.

- No! I can't just walk out of here! Not after what I've seen! - Petra exclaimed.

- Why the hell did you bring that little Pluto brat here?! What are you up to?!

- None of your business, Lucky. What do you want to do, Weaver?

- Tell me. Is killing hard? - asked the heroine with her head down and her fists clenched.

- It's not easy, if you're not crazy, - answered Pluto gloomily.

- What do you feel during this?

- Sadness, I guess. And determination. I kill for a reason and only those who don't value life themselves. And if you're determined to do it now.

- What a p****t! We're finally going to destroy this place! - heard a hoarse female voice from the direction of the exit. Turning round the girl saw several policemen, amongst whom a tall blonde with a bob stood out. Looking around quickly, she continued. - Pluto, this is the best present for my fortieth birthday! It hasn't come yet, but I'm not complaining!

- Hi, Scarlett.

- Hello, hello, hello. Oh! What a bunch of people! Lucky Montello herself! Oh, hello! How are you?

- Brown! You're in bed with that arsehole?! - the woman hissed at the policewoman.

- Yes! And to tell you the truth, from now on, I have no regrets at all! Oh, you and me are gonna have some fun! For my sister and her baby, I'll have a big talk with you! - Scarlett promised bloodthirstily as she stood in front of Lucky.

- Cap, what are we gonna do? - came up to Brown, the policewoman. - There's enough material here to drown a lot of rich arseholes. They'd kill us for this. And not just us, but our families too.

- Exactly! If you don't let me go and get out of here, you're gonna get p****ed! - echoed Mortello.

- They won't, - Pluto intervened in their conversation. - I have already informed my contractors. They are ready and waiting for the command. You'll be covered. But the case will probably be closed.

- But everyone here will die if they resist the police! - Scarlett said firmly.

- Do what you want with them," said Pluto, shrugging his shoulders.

- I can do what I want! - said the policewoman, smiling happily.

- Hey, hey! You, what's your name?! Spiderwoman?! - Lucky frantically turned to the girl. - You're a hero! I should be punished by the law! They're trying to lynch me! Don't let them do it!

Parker looked at her, turned away and staggered out the door. Pluto gave her a glance, knocked out Montello with a single blow, made a few passes with his hands and then the employees of this establishment were enveloped in a reddish energy. After a few seconds, those knocked out stood up and began to disperse. The subordinate men from both the gang and the police looked on with interest.

- What is this?

- Now they're "resisting the police," Pluto explained.

- Oh! Not bad! Then we'll start in about fifteen minutes, and the special forces will arrive a little later. They're already waiting, Scarlett reported.

- Good. Then I'll leave it all to you. Bye, darlings!

- Bye Pluto," the police officers answered him in unison and began to prepare for the "assault".

When the man went outside with his subordinates, Parker was waiting for them. She was leaning against the wall of the room and staring silently at the full moon.

- Yeah, I shouldn't have dragged you out here. You're still a kid," Pluto said after a while.

- I'm not a child! - The girl instantly exclaimed, trying to hover threateningly over the man. But the difference in height made the idea doomed to failure. - I've fought with bandits before and saved people at the risk of my life! Don't treat me like a child!

- Whatever you say non-child... Do you want to forget what you saw? - the man asked her while the rest of his subordinates started the cars.

- Is that possible? - whispered bitterly to the girl who was instantly downcast.

- Yes. Look," Pluto said and held out his palms to her, on which were red and blue pills. - The blue one will erase about the last four hours.

- And... And the red one?

- The red one is just a vitamin. I added it for symbolism. Two opposites and all that. But if you want, you can think of it as a pass to reality and the blue one as a ticket to illusion. Which will it be?

The girl hesitated. Then, after hesitating for a moment, the girl, having decided something for herself, quickly grabbed the red one and popped it into her mouth, lifting her mask.

- I'm not a child to run away from a problem! - Parker said stubbornly, staring at the man with the eyes of the mask. - Blue will drive me to madness! Eternal repetition of the same thing, right! If I erase my memory, I'll be in this vicious cycle forever! Again, and again, and again, and again, and again!

- Right," Pluto replied in surprise. Humming, he clapped the girl on the shoulder. - Understanding the problem is one step towards fixing it. Go on. You should get some rest. And when you decide to truly change this world, come to me.

The weaver nodded somewhat jerkily and shot out a web and flew home. The power suppression had disappeared the moment she'd spoken to that woman. Lucky Montello or whatever her name was. At that moment Petra might have tried to run away, but not after what she had seen. Now she had to think about what had happened. And Pluto's proposal too. 

The man looked at the silhouette of the girl and thought about different things. There were both sad and happy thoughts in his head. He felt sorry for the heroine, but it was the end of their conversation that showed that she was strong in spirit and could cope with what she had seen. Yes, definitely she could handle it. What he had seen, however, had less effect on him. Still, he had seen more than that, especially in the memories of Yesterday's Promise. But beyond that, Pluto recognised a previously unknown feeling.

- Boss, in the world we want to build, will there be no place for what we saw today? - Natalie asked him.

- Definitely," he answered immediately, turning to his subordinate and seeing that Abi was listening just as attentively. - I give you my word. And Pluto doesn't throw his word to the wind.

- I believe you boss! - exclaimed the woman with a cheerful voice.

- That's good. And actually, I just realised that... I love life!!!! - The man shouted, spreading his arms out to the sides.

- What are you doing boss?!

- I've been around a while, but even so, life throws up some interesting things. And today, I realised something interesting.

- What's that?

- Now I realise that the greatest of all ideological victories! - said Pluto, gesticulating vigorously. - When the enemy adopts your ideas! That's when you really win! 

- You're really shturilo boss! - Natalie said respectfully, to the laughter of the assembled subordinates.

- Heh, maybe. Now I see why various villains like to contribute to the downfall of heroes. To surpass not only your opponent, but also his beliefs, that's real skill! And from now on, I'll make them embrace the Dark Side! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! - Pluto laughed ominously. At that moment, the light of the moon that came out from behind the clouds poured down on him. Straightforwardly demonic vibes appeared in the compartment with crimson eyes. However, there were enough of them in normal times as well.

- 'Boss, you were really creepy just now,' one of his gang members remarked.

- Really? - The man asked in surprise. Seeing the nods, he sighed and continued. - All right, all right. I'll try not to do that again. 

- Actually, boss, I've got an idea," Natalie said.

- Yeah? What's that?

- To make an anime and call it something like this: I was reborn in another world and decided to lure heroes to the Dark Side by becoming a villain! How about that?!

Except Pluto, instead of saying anything, began to stare at the woman, causing everyone present to stare in surprise. 

- Um, boss?

- Huh? - the man woke up and seemed to come to his senses. - It's a normal name Nata. Okay, it's late, you can rest now.

- Are you the boss?

- And I'll be taking care of a few users of this "clinic". I think my capabilities will be relevant to them. All right, see you girls tomorrow.

- See you tomorrow boss! - they replied in unison.

 And Pluto walked through the city lit by the silvery Moonlight, humming softly:

- There's a hearth burning for me....

The end of the retreat.

***

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