Black Mentis leaned forward slightly in the chair, gloved fingers interlocked beneath his chin while rows of holographic screens reflected dim red light across the dark surface of the table. Data continued scrolling across the displays in front of him. Casualty reports, media coverage, rising approval numbers. His attention remained fixed on the moving information while one thumb tapped slowly against the side of his glove.
Then the door behind him slid open with a low pneumatic hiss.
Measured footsteps entered the room.
"Excellent work out there, Black Mentis."
Victor Sinclair stepped inside with his hands clasped neatly behind his back. Every part of him looked carefully maintained. His charcoal suit sat perfectly against his frame without a single crease out of place. Polished shoes clicked softly against the dark floor as he crossed deeper into the chamber. The faint smile on his face looked practiced down to the smallest detail.
"Your actions today pushed our ratings through the roof," Victor continued smoothly. "Shareholders are thrilled."
Mentis did not answer immediately. His fingers stopped moving beneath his chin. Three full seconds passed before his head turned slowly toward the doorway. The glowing red slits in his mask settled onto Victor without wavering.
"I don't need your fake praise," Mentis said. His voice stayed low and controlled, but the irritation underneath it came through clearly enough. "If there's another mission, spit it out. Otherwise get the fuck out."
Victor's smile widened faintly, though the corners of his mouth tightened for half a second afterward. He clicked his tongue once under his breath before continuing farther into the room. "My my," he said lightly. "Someone's in a terrible mood today."
He stopped beside one of the floating screens displaying footage of Mentis shielding civilians from collapsing debris earlier that afternoon. Victor studied the footage carefully, head tilted slightly while the destruction reflected across his glasses. "Richard wants you in his office."
Only then did he glance back toward Mentis again. "And for the record," Victor added, voice sharpening just slightly, "you've been disrespectful lately."
He stepped closer to the table and rested one hand lightly against the metal surface. His posture remained composed, but one finger tapped once against the edge before stilling again. "Don't mistake my silence for weakness."
The armor plating beneath Mentis's hands creaked faintly under the pressure. Victor noticed immediately.
"You're powerful," Victor continued, lowering his voice. "Nobody denies that." His eyes drifted once toward the glowing red slits behind the mask before returning to Mentis's posture. "But remember something very important."
Victor leaned forward just enough for the words to feel deliberate. "We are the ones in control."
The movement happened so fast Victor barely processed it.
Black Mentis exploded out of the chair. The heavy frame scraped backward across the floor hard enough to send vibrations through the room. One of the holographic screens flickered from the sudden impact while a glass near the far counter rattled softly against the surface.
His hand shot forward and seized the front of Victor's suit. Fabric twisted tightly in Mentis's grip as Victor's body lifted partly off the floor before slamming back against the edge of the metal table. The impact forced the breath sharply against the back of Victor's throat. His shoulders jerked once on instinct before he forced them still again.
The red glow behind Mentis's eyes flared brighter. Thin traces of crimson light leaked through the narrow slits as heat built behind them. Victor could feel warmth pressing against his face even through the mask.
"Are you really in control, asshole?" Mentis asked quietly. His grip tightened around Victor's suit, deeper wrinkles spreading through the expensive fabric beneath his fingers. "How about I tear this entire fucking building apart and melt your skull off your shoulders right now?"
Victor's shoes barely touched the floor now. The back edge of the table dug against his lower spine while Mentis crowded the space in front of him completely, leaving nowhere to pull away. A muscle near Victor's eye kept twitching for a few seconds before settling again.
His voice dropped lower. Almost a growl. "Who here on this planet could stop me?" He pulled Victor an inch closer. "Know your damn place, mortal."
Victor tried not to flinch by staying still. His breathing remained measured, though a thin line of sweat began gathering beneath his collar. His eyes locked onto the mask despite the pressure. One hand pressed subtly against the table's edge to keep balance while he forced his posture back under control.
Black Mentis held him there for several long seconds. Then he released him suddenly. Victor stumbled backward two uneven steps, one hand catching the edge of the table before he fully lost balance. The table shifted several inches across the floor with a sharp scrape before he steadied himself.
The heel of one shoe dragged sharply across the floor during the recovery. He straightened immediately afterward, smoothing both hands carefully over the front of his jacket while forcing the tension back out of his face. His fingers adjusted the tie at his throat with precise, controlled movements despite the faint tremor running through them. Then he brushed imaginary dust from one sleeve afterward like the assault itself had only been an inconvenience.
"I dare you to try," Victor said evenly.
He turned toward the exit at a measured pace. From behind, Mentis could still see the thin line of sweat running slowly beneath Victor's collar. Victor stopped at the doorway and glanced back over his shoulder. "That's assuming you actually can."
His gaze moved slowly across the dark blue and silver armor standing near the table. "Your threats sound dramatic. But they're empty."
Victor pressed the panel. The door hissed open. "I prefer the calmer version of you," he added. "So behave yourself," Victor said quietly. "Or else."
He stepped halfway into the hallway before pausing again as though another thought had just occurred to him. "…Oh. One more thing."
Victor adjusted one of his cufflinks while turning his head slightly back toward the room. "We're restructuring HeroCorp soon." His tone returned to something colder. Professional. Corporate. "The current hero system is changing during the next recruitment cycle. We need more heroes and less exclusivity."
A faint smile returned to his face. "That expansion across Europe starts in two years." He gave one small shrug. "Exciting times ahead."
Then the door sealed shut behind him.
Silence settled across the chamber again. Only the low electronic hum of the holographic displays remained.
Black Mentis stood motionless beside the table. His fists slowly tightened until the armor plating beneath his fingers creaked under the pressure. Small dents formed beneath the force while the red glow behind his mask dimmed gradually back to normal.
His jaw pressed tightly enough to ache beneath the exposed lower half of his face. Then a low scoff finally escaped him. "This bastard."