The incendiary spark came from the shooting of Brigadier Zagasny, a sub boss of the Karoleks.
"Tell me.. Are you 100% sure it's the Scars?", Brigadier Nuudel - a sub boss of the Karoleks asks.
"Yes Boss."
Not to be outdone, t he Karoleks retaliated by destroying a Scaramuccia controlled diner.
"We've had a truce for over 40 years!!! Which one of you yahoos authorized the shooting of Zagasny ?!?" Caporegime Capeci screams as he stares at the flaming wreckage of his diner.
"FUCK IT.. I was getting tired at looking at them Carols ugly mugs"
*Bratatat! Bratatat! Bratatat!*
Gunning down the Karoleks, the sounds of light machine guns signified the escalation of a gang war.
-----
In the corporate headquarters of Coin-O-Matic Distributors.
Coin-O-Matic Distributors is a privately held vending machine and laundromat business; it also serves as a front for the Karolek crime family.
Viperilous, a scaly bald greenish-white man with a forked tongue, is seated at an ornately carved cherry wood table; across from him is Brigadier Natsagdorj Bimbaev, a weathered-looking Asian man and the right hand of the Karolek crime family's boss.
Viperilous is one of the leaders of the Hidden Empire; a band of super-powered mercenaries that temporarily hire themselves out to other organizations.
"Yesssss", Viperilous says, "I agree to those termssss. We will exclussssively work for you during thissss war in exchange for two hundred thousand dollarsssss".
"Now tell me", Viperilous continues as he pushes a stack of documents toward Natsagdorj, "who do you wissssh to hire?"
Natsagdorj thumbs through the documents before replying, "I want Cyber-Arm and Phantom Shade."
"Sssssuperb choicessss", Viperilous compliments Natsagdorj, "I can give the both of them for ssssixty-sssix thousand dollarsssss a day."
"That's a bit expensive", Natsagdorj thoughtfully replies.
"Perhapssss", Viperilous agrees, "But I can guarantee their successssss."
-----
Inside a giant cave network.
Seven Scaramuccia men have spent hours making their way through the dark tunnels in the cave network; the walls of raw stone are occasionally enlivened by graffiti, carved runes, or paintings of bulls and dinosaurs.
The Scaramuccia men, however, are ignoring all that; choosing instead to follow non-descript reversed "R's" that occasionally mark the cave network.
The Scaramuccias arrive at a giant underground cavern; the cavern is so massive that the beams of their high power flashlights fail to illuminate the opposite walls.
Suddenly, a synthetic robotic voice echoes throughout the cavern, "HALT INTRUDERS GO NO FURTHER."
One of the Scaramuccia men shouts, "Are you Evilron?", as the other Scaramuccia men start putting down suitcases.
The robotic voice answers, "YES."
The vocal Scaramuccia man shouts, "We have a deal. Money, lubricants, and batteries in exchange for your help."
The robotic voice answers, " I AM INSULTED I AM NOT A ROBOT. "
A second Scaramuccia man shouts, "We also have drugs!"
The robotic voice replies, "I AM NOT ABLE TO SYNTHESIZE HAPPINESS. EXPLAIN."
The second Scaramuccia man begins to list out the drugs they brought with them.
After he concludes his reading, the robotic voice says, "OFFER ACCEPTED."
-----
As the gang war escalates, coverage of the gang war has made its way into the News cycle.
On Channel 7 News, KTNA - an affiliate of PNN.
The commentator, Maria Lee, is introducing the gang war to its audiences.
"Last night, a shootout occurred at Dahl's fish factory on the outskirts of New Amsterdam City."
"Seventeen people were killed and four were critically wounded."
"The survivors are in critical condition and are being treated at an undisclosed location.
"The shootout is the latest in the 'gang war' between the Karoleks and Scaramuccias."
"Authorities believe the war started at a drag race, where factions aligned to the Karoleks and Scaramuccias engaged in a deadly fist... no, firefight."
"Sources indicate that despite leaders on both sides attempting to mediate a truce, tempers flared and hostilities escalated.
"Pauline's Diner on 168th street was destroyed in an explosion, and Billy of Billy's Auto Repair in the Bronx was found beaten within an inch of his life."
"Eyewitnesses indicate that Tae-young 'Dionysius' Lucianus, a costumed villain aligned with the Scaramuccias, was seen leaving the premises."
"The question on everyone's mind is 'what are the police and superheroes doing to stop the ongoing violence'?"
"In related News, Benjamin Dahl, Owner and CEO of Dahl's fish factory..."
With a "pop", the TV turned off.
Alex paces back and forth restlessly within his room in Malger Manor.
Not good, not good.
This will affect crime rate statistics.
I need to do something.
Picking up the phone, Alex quickly dials a number.
"Thames", Alex says as the call connects, "I need eyes on all Karolek and Scaramuccia assets."
-----
Upstate New Amsterdam State.
Construction on the Black Pyramid continues.
In the area around the Black Pyramid, a group of vampires, thralls, and minions chat during one of their breaks.
"...He was complaining about me coming in twenty minutes late when that son of a bitch wasn't in charge of my schedule. I stayed a fucking hour late the night before!" a vampire complains about his mortal life.
"Ya. Corporate life is fucked up." another vampire murmurs in agreement, "We have it so much better now."
"Excuse me. Coming through." Birdy Tsun says as he rushes through the pack of chatting vampires.
"Damn. He was in a hurry." a vampire says.
Another vampire shrugs and says, "Maybe he has News for the Mistress."
Birdy Tsun quickly rushes into Natasha Kamarilla's tent.
"Mistress. Mistress. New orders from the Empress." Birdy Tsun says as he enters.
"Mmm... Just five more minutes." Natasha says as she rolls around in her cherry wood coffin.
"Mistress. Natasha. Wake up." Birdy Tsun says as he begins shaking Natasha.
Natasha's blood red eyes snaps open as she angrily glares at Birdy Tsun, "What is it?!?"
Birdy Tsun relays the order, "Mistress, the Empress wants you to add extra living quarters for her and her court."
"Wha- Why?" Natasha asks.
"Beats me." Birdy Tsun replies, "I'm just a Birdy."
-----
Paragon Island. North Atlantic Ocean.
The exploration of Paragon Island continues without much success.
The foreman enters the Leadership's tent, only to see Jake Laki Valtadoros sitting in the seat of honor.
Taken aback, the foreman asks, "Where's Silver Star?"
Jake responds, "The higher ups called him for a mission."
The foreman asks, "Oh ok... So do I report to you now?"
Jake nods and says, "For now. Yes."
-----
Ten in the morning.
A nondescript apartment located within a large six-story building in the Bronx, New Amsterdam City.
This apartment, #6 Mesa, is located directly across the street from a public elementary school. Officially, #6 Mesa is vacant. Unofficially, the apartment is a Scaramuccia methamphetamine conversion lab.
Drug trafficking networks continuously push methamphetamines toward New Amsterdam City, and this is one of the many hidden Scaramuccia labs converting drugs into crystal meth. Although crystal meth is highly volatile and can ignite or explode if mixed or stored improperly, it fetches an outstanding price on the "street".
Today, as the children happily play outside during recess, the apartment explodes.
Amidst panicked screams, teachers hurriedly usher the children back inside the school.
Phantom Shade, an athletic lady wearing a form fitting black spandex costume (complete with black eye-mask), nonchalantly walks outside the six-story building.
"You know", Alex says with a knowing smirk as five drones film him in the distance, "you wouldn't be so conspicuous if you weren't wearing all black".
"Judgementor", Phantom Shade replies with a light laugh, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Unfortunately, I don't have time to stay and chat."
"Ciao", Phantom says with a smile as unnatural darkness descends upon the area.
Alex responds by generating vast quantities of electricity; unfortunately darkness that swallows the light of the sun easily swallows the incidental lighting generated by Alex's power.
Alex clicks on his mini communicator and GPS tracker, "Thames, what's going on?"
"Bzzt. Please wait a sec, Sir. I'll check with observer #39".
After a few moments, Thames replies.
"Bzzt. Sir, I don't know what's going on, but observer #39 says that roughly an entire East-West block is blanketed in darkness."
"Eyes tell me that people are running out, should we trace?"
Alex clicks on his mini communicator and quickly responds, "What do you mean by roughly an entire East-West block? And yes, trace! Especially if it's a lady wearing black spandex, trace her!"
Thames elaborates over the comms, "Bzzt. Observer #39 says the darkness is an East-West block's length, width, and height."
"We see a lady in black spandex. Tracing her now."
A few moments later.
"Sorry sir, we lost her."
"Why? What happened?" Alex inquires.
"Observers #52 and #64 said that she just vanished!"
Shocked, Alex waits in darkness.
This is pretty bad, if she was hostile, I wouldn't be standing here…
I need to do something about this… weakness.
Hearing sirens off in the distance, Alex waits impatiently.
The sirens get closer and closer.. Stopping about a block away
Is she still in the area? How is this darkness being maintained? If her power's like mine.. You have to give it some attention … *sigh* just pretend you don't know anything Alex. I'll get more info later.
After a few minutes, the darkness clears and the sirens resume their approach.
-----
Lunchtime, in the basement of Chiang's Imports and Exports.
Alex is seated at a small table, across from Ku-Tu.
Although bothered by his loss, the tantalizing smell of numerous dim sum specially prepared by Ku-Tu's private chefs, improves Alex's appetite.
Savoring the portions, Alex clears his throat with a cup of tea and tentatively says, "Master, I have questions."
"Please be at ease and ask," Ku-Tu replies.
Alex brings up his question, "Master, how does one deal with unnatural darkness?"
"It depends on the type of darkness", Ku-Tu thoughtfully replies after swallowing the Phoenix claw he was chewing, "If it is an absence of light, you need stronger light... If it swallows light, you need alternatives to light."
"What do you mean by 'alternatives to light', Master?" Alex asks.
Ku-Tu elaborates, "If the darkness is so total, so complete, and so black, that normal vision, night vision and light amplification are ineffective, you use an alternative. These can be senses other than vision, or alternate sources of seeing... things like infrared, radar, acoustic vision, and blind fighting."
"Blind fighting?" Alex quizzically looks at Ku-Tu.
"By focusing your other senses, you can detect invisible creatures and fight even if blinded", Ku-Tu explains, "I had a student who specialized in that… he purposely blinded himself to focus on that technique".
Changing the topic, Ku-Tu holds up a porcelain tea kettle and asks, "More tea?"
"Thank you Master", Alex responds before asking, "Master, another question. Why do you always drink out of the left tea kettle but serve other people tea from the right tea kettle?"
"It's because the tea I drink is unpalatable to most.", Ku-Tu responds as he grabs a spare cup and pours some tea from the left tea kettle.
Pushing the cup toward Alex, Ku-Tu says, "Here. have a taste."
"Bleh. It's horrible.", Alex remarks after sampling the tea.
"It's called shen long cha, or god dragon tea; it's an acquired taste, and many do not like it."
"Thank you Master", Alex says with a smile as he begins to formulate plans, "this lunch has been most enlightening".
-----
That evening, coverage of the gang war continues.
On PNN's 24-hour national News channel.
The commentator, Marcus Holtwold, is updating the audience with the latest happenings in the New Amsterdam City gang war.
"...The gang war between the Karolek and Scaramuccia crime families continues unabated; despite multiple attempts at mediation."
"An illegal brothel, believed to be owned by the Karoleks, was raided by masked gunmen. The only casualty was the manager running the establishment."
"A firefight occurred between the Karoleks, Scaramuccias, and a yet unidentified third party. Four men were killed, two Karolek and two Scaramuccia members."
"A Scaramuccia drug lab was destroyed by the supervillain, Phantom Shade. The Judgementor, a hero local to New Amsterdam City, attempted to intervene but was thwarted."
"The Port of New Amsterdam and New Jersey sustained damages during the battle between the supervillains Evilron and Sebastian 'Seabass' Bermuda. Their fight was only broken up when the superheroes Force Shield, Pulsar, and Silver Warden intervened. The villains' motives remain unknown."
"The mayor declared a City emergency and is requesting both State and Federal support."
"The Superhero association is activating the reserves."
"In other News, traffic accidents are up..."
With a "peeew", the 'magic' scrying pool slowly winks out of existence.
In the Dark Triumvirate's castle on the Unreal World of Orgrift, Night Invader grins, "The foolish mortals fight amongst themselves."
"So?" Evilgore replies, "We still can't shift our minions to their reality, no many how many of them die in..."
"No", Night Invader interrupts with a sigh, "The super-beings, their champions, are fighting; this gives us the opportun..."
Evilgore interrupts, "This is meaningless to us."
Darkhold interjects, "What Night Invader is trying to say is that when their champions fight, we can pick up the scraps."
"I'm not a dog... not even a Dog of War", Evilgore says while shaking his head.
"We are weak on Earth", Night Invader explains, "and so we must do what the weak do..."
"...at least until we become strong."
-----
Meanwhile, inside the apartment that serves as the hideout of the 34th street Irregulars.
"I'm rich. We're rich", Redd happily yells as he tosses fistfuls of money up in the air. Sobering up, Redd mutters, "if only Samantha can see me now."
"Master", the Ring of Murkem whispers into Redd's mind, "Please show some dignity."
With the crime families, police, and superheroes distracted by the gang war, Redd has spent the past few days raiding lucrative criminal activities and seizing control of smaller criminal factions; building up the Irregulars into a second-rate power. With judicious use of the Ring of Murkem, the "new" Irregulars are reasonably loyal to Redd... at least for the moment.
"I'm going out - alone", Redd tells his men, "I have things to do."
"Master, please", the Ring of Murkem whispers into Redd's mind, "At least bring some of your minions, your followers, along."
"Shut up", Redd says out loud as his men try to ignore his crazy ramblings, "You just want to see them die."
-----
At the same time, inside Malger Manor.
Alex is swimming laps in his heated indoor pool when an intercom buzzes.
"Sir", a pleasant female voice remarks, "There are supervillains fighting in The City".
"Thank you, Marsha", Alex responds, "tell Thames to monitor the situation, and get my new costume ready".
Alex's new costume is a suit of personalized body armor primarily composed of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene; the color scheme is Judgementor's (white-silver with a blue thunderbolt). All vulnerable parts of the human body are protected with additional ceramic plates.
His new full face composite helmet is capable of thermal-imaging, low light vision and drone vision; it also comes equipped with a tactical HUD, polarizing filters, and ear protection.
"Why skimp on safety?" Alex muses as he jumps out of the pool and quickly dries himself.