Didn't See That Coming

"Senator, I hear you've had reservations about our bill?"

Madelyne smiled at the gray-haired senator, her plunging neckline on full display.

She had worked the room all evening. With the three biggest names in The Seven attending the party, she had made a point of greeting each of them warmly.

"Forgive me for being blunt, but if your people really get involved, missiles will end up being fired at our country."

"And my superheroes will throw those missiles right back."

Madelyne kept smiling. Too many people had worked to get the bill this far for anything to go wrong now.

It wasn't just what Madelyne wanted as CEO. It was also what the chairman of Vought International wanted—the formidable leader on the eighty-second floor.

That made winning over the senator tonight essential.

Of course, he looked impossible to sway.

His district was wealthy and already had plenty of money coming in. All he had to do was keep the voters who elected him happy.

And wealthy districts had no need to build businesses around superhero IP.

Taxes on those IP products alone brought in enough for substantial subsidies to most residents.

There was even money left over to invest in the police!

They could install cameras, buy more training ammunition, offer higher salaries...

Frankly, the district was thriving without superheroes.

That was why the senator could afford to stand firm.

But Vought International wasn't about to give up on a market that prosperous.

Even if it had to waive the signing fees, it would still slip in a couple of talented heroes.

Then it could take its share of the money their IP generated.

"Sorry, Madelyne. What you're promising is too much for everyone to swallow."

"Homelander is certainly powerful, but can he catch a missile? Perhaps that would be an important experiment."

"Besides, they're 'your heroes.' I don't think anyone could outsource national defense to you and still sleep soundly at night."

With that, he left. Madelyne understood that his attitude reflected that of most people at the party.

They might be dressed to the nines, chatting amiably, even acting like superhero fans.

But when the bill came up, they would still vote against it.

If the senator changed his mind, though, they might come around.

After all, if even that stubborn man gave in, none of them would want to be the first to stand in the way.

For now, the senator's backing gave them confidence.

That was why Madelyne had prepared a "surprise" for him tonight.

Night had fallen, and the city glittered with lights.

It would have been a shame for the senator to visit New York City without sampling a local specialty.

And now a beautiful woman with a stunning figure was tucked into his arm as they headed back to his room.

A wonderful night began with him lying on the bed, tied up.

"You know what I want to see, baby."

It would be a pleasant, relaxing night. Tomorrow, he would use his position as chairman to vote down proud Madelyne Stillwell's bill.

A firm but measured knock at the door interrupted his fun.

"Who is it?"

The senator was getting on in years, after all.

"FBI! Open the door."

"Fuck off!"

The senator made no effort to be polite.

The CIA and FBI might have impressive reputations, but to a man with his kind of power?

Bullshit.

"Sir, I suggest you open the door. Otherwise, I'll break it down."

The person outside showed the senator no deference whatsoever.

"Jesus Christ! Fine! If you don't have a damn good reason, you'd better have your resignation letter ready!"

The furious senator got up, failing to notice the strange look on the woman who had been sitting on him.

Wearing only underwear and a towel around his shoulders, the senator opened the door. He found not only a stranger in a face covering, but a loaded handgun pointed at him.

"Kid... should I admire your courage, or are you just too stupid to be afraid?"

The senator laughed instead of getting angry. He had no fear of a thug like this.

This was New York, with more police and superheroes than anywhere else. The man would have to be an idiot to kill him and wait for a superhero to bring him to justice.

"With all the rich fools you could rob, you picked an old former Marine like me?"

"I need to show you something, Senator. It may be a little hard to believe, so I'm sorry about this."

Rorschach gestured with the gun, and the old man had no choice but to walk back into the room without a word.

There was no shame in cooperating at first when someone had a gun on you.

"Ah!"

Startled by a strange man entering the room, the woman hurriedly pulled the blanket over her body.

"No screaming, no tricks, and don't try to run."

"Outside seven paces, the gun is fast. Inside seven paces, it's fast and accurate."

"Clear?"

How did this thug get into the hotel? What the hell was security doing?

The senator seethed—until he realized he didn't seem to be the intruder's main target.

"I know you can't hold one form for very long, but my patience has limits too."

"From what I understand, you're not particularly tough. That body of yours can be remade, after all."

"So before I shoot, you'd better..."

Rorschach waved his hand. His meaning was unmistakable.

The senator was still baffled when the woman, faced with the American Quick Draw, finally revealed her true form.

In her place stood a fat, balding man with a broad patch of chest hair.

"Surprise..." Rorschach said, even drawing out the word for effect.

"Motherfucker..."

The senator's jaw nearly hit the floor. The woman had been a trap planted by Vought International!

A shapeshifting Supe!

"Can I leave now?"

The man raised his hands and pleaded pitifully.

"You can call the police now, Senator," Rorschach said calmly.

The senator came to his senses, grabbed his phone, and dialed 911.

"Who the hell are you?" As they parted, the senator couldn't hold back the one question burning in his mind.

Was this really an FBI agent who had been watching him? Or a Supe trying to keep Vought in check?

Or someone from one of those rumored secret agencies, answerable only to the president?

"Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Nick Fury. No need to thank me, sir."

Rorschach made sure to leave the room before the police arrived.

"The first thing I redeemed really was the best value for the points..." Rorschach sighed, then put the handgun and face covering into his system backpack.

It had cost a full five hundred points—more than enough to redeem a nuclear-powered lighter with points to spare.

But it was worth the price. Bringing a handgun into a hotel with tight security had been no trouble at all.

Vought International probably had no clever moves left. It could only fall back on clumsy ones to deal with him.

Rorschach looked forward to seeing how Vought International would scramble tomorrow to handle the unexpected—and to the arrival of his new pawn.