Orb Weaver: A meeting that will never happen...

I'm not going to use Heartbreaker for a number of reasons, but well, in a few years, if he met Orb Weaver...

****

Nikos stood, smiling down at the detective in the backyard where he had chosen to have the little ceremony. He smirked. She'd be a fine addition to his little family, her mind working to help her beloved. and maybe he'd reward her, now and then. Behind him, in his house, his others stood, some of his children, the actresses and cheerleaders he chose (for why accept anything but beauty. There were others, but they were not in his presence.) Guards surrounded her, police, football players, all full of loyalty and love.

"Now, my dear, come here and let me look at you more closely."

"No."

The yard fell silent in shock at that single word. A word nobody had said to him... not more than once.
*****
I stood in the monster's presence and loved him. Taylor Hebert did, her body loving him. But I was not just Taylor Hebert. I had learned with Leet and Armsmaster and others...

I did not just control my bugs. It was a two-way feedback loop. I needed their tiny minds to operate things, tied to them by my power.

And around me were millions, billions, and I sent not just my power into them, but my mind, the same multitasking that let me read a thousand books, processing my mind and thought. I was the Swarm, and behind me... I could feel the immense, alien regard of the entity behind my powers, the one that granted me them.

And I knew its name.

Queen Administrator.

Compared to that immensity, divided among my swarm, Nikos' power was barely noticeable as I looked down on him with a billion eyes, listened with a billion "ears." And felt the anger of my power, that Nikos had tried to take me. And he was just so small.

Nikos was a monster. But right now, he was far from the greatest monster in the yard, and he had perverted the innermost feelings of others, abused children, warped them to the point that Regent could no longer feel, a sociopath who had to teach himself morality, because any normal person would have long since found solace in suicide at the memory of what they had done.

Suddenly, the sun went out, as every bug for several miles rose up into the sky, just enough light getting through to show a mighty figure, crowned in lightning, looming over us all, holding out one mighty hand. Suddenly, there were screams as vast tentacles comprised of Insects whipped out and grabbed his slaves, pulling them into its body where they'd be immobilized, unable to harm others or themselves.

"Little bug, thinking to be a spider...instead of a snack," Orb Weaver's voice thundered, audible from one end of the Vancouver to the Other. Absently, I wondered how the Canadians were reacting to their first encounter with Orb Weaver. "You are so small, but have done so much..." A tendril, comprised of wasps and scorpions formed and lightly caressed his face. His courage failing, Nikos turned and tried to run, only to be buried up to his chin.

"If... If I die, my family will--"

"Will commit suicide, act as bombers, all the petty tricks you have taught them, like Tricia and her daughter... the PRT has them. They have Senator Willis, and his family, they have all of your slaves, Nikos..." Three weeks worth of studying his house. Nikos didn't have perfect memory--he needed records and code words and anyone coming close enough to detect them would be his thrall... Suddenly, my bugs started forcing his mouth open. "No, I fear you do not have that weapon any more, little morsel..." I was very angry. I had met with the families, watched a girl scream and curse at her sobbing parents, tell them how they would never compare to Nikos... She had been 14. I was...enraged thinking of all of them trapped in mental lockers, and that stoked my power and connection with Queen Administrator beyond anything I'd felt before. "Shall I have a morsel now?" claws and pincers snipped and Nikos screamed at the agony in his little finger. "Or shall I wait, weave you in webs so I can... snack on you at my leisure." A legion of blackwidows marched over his wide eyes, their scarlet markings plain, web emerging from their spinnerets, more following them, blocking his eyes off from the light. "What do you have that I want..."

He was gibbering. Men like him, using their powers as crutches, they tended to fold under even minor pressure. But I suppose I'd have to give him a hint. "Maybe, little morsel, you can purchase your life... by curing those who are enslaved to you. Yes. Purchase your life from me..." I wasn't lying. The fact that the PRT and Guild would kill him the moment he was of no more use, well, that wasn't my doing.

"Yes! Yes, anything!"

"Very well..." Leaving Orb Weaver to keep chatting with him, I walked out and pulled out my phone.

"Dragon?"

"Investigator! What in God's name is happening?"

"I and Orb Weaver just finished having a conversation with Nikos--Heartbreaker. He's willing to turn himself in."

There was a pause. "I understand now."

"What?"

"Why Emily Piggot sent me a gift bag when you arrived in town..."