The entire "Payback" team stood on a small stage, surrounded by a crowd of reporters. The year was 1981, and they were about to welcome a new member. To say the least, it was an unexpected turn of events.
The heroes forced strained smiles, as if trying to feign excitement for the cameras.
"Why do we need another one? We work well enough together as it is," Crimson Countess muttered under her breath, leaning toward Soldier Boy.
"Yeah, this is just Vogelbaum testing out his new experiment, and they dumped him on us to keep an eye on him," Soldier Boy smirked. "If things go south, we're supposed to take the bastard out and make a fun little movie about his heroic demise."
"What do you mean, we have to watch over him?" Crimson Countess frowned in complete bewilderment. The team was already a mess, and now they were saddled with some psychopath? She never signed up for this. She had never been in a real fight in her life, never used her powers in combat only for show.
"Yeah, relax," Soldier Boy waved dismissively. "If he screws up, I'll take him out in no time. Just let him try."
They kept whispering while continuing to wave and smile at the crowd.
"You'd better get that pussy of yours ready for me tonight," Soldier Boy chuckled, boldly grabbing her ass and squeezing it a few times. "You'll be moaning all night."
Crimson Countess forced an even tighter smile, though inside, she shuddered with disgust. She cursed him in her mind over and over. She had to put up with him for the money and her spot in "Payback." But how she longed to get rid of him once and for all...
Suddenly, the doors to the hall swung open.
To the sound of fanfare and the host's grandiose speech, a man stepped onto the stage though he looked more like a monster. He was broad-shouldered, towering like a mountain. He wore black pants, a bulletproof vest, and a mask with ominous red lenses obscuring his face.
Every step he took made the floor tremble.
"Are we sure we can handle this?" Crimson Countess whispered, unable to take her eyes off the approaching brute. What kind of monster had Vought decided to create?
"Don't worry," Soldier Boy scoffed. "He's just a dumb pile of muscles. Won't last more than a couple of seconds against me. Forget about it."
Crimson Countess couldn't help but think about how ridiculously arrogant Soldier Boy was. He really overestimated himself.
Bane stepped onto the stage, and the hall fell into tense silence, all eyes fixed on him.
"We are proud to introduce the newest member of the team Bane!" the host announced grandly. "Believe me, there's no one who has pushed the limits of the human body further than him. Just look at his incredible physique!"
At those words, Bane slowly removed his jacket, revealing a body that looked like it had been carved from stone. A wave of awed murmurs swept through the audience.
"He will be a fantastic addition to the team, capable of crushing his enemies with sheer physical power!" the host continued. "And let's not forget he is incredibly strong! But he still has much to prove before he can reach the level of our incomparable Soldier Boy. Now, let's hear from Bane!"
Bane scanned the crowd before speaking in a deep, confident voice:
"I'm glad to be here. All my life, I have trained and hardened myself to achieve these results. Now, I am ready to serve society and prove that I am worthy of this position."
"The words of a true hero! Let's give him a warm welcome!"
At first, the hall was silent. Then, a wave of applause rippled through the audience, gradually growing into enthusiastic cheers. Bane clearly enjoyed the attention, reveling in every gaze, every awed whisper.
*******************
As soon as Bane joined "Payback," Vought wasted no time in promoting him everywhere they could. He was cast in new movies where he heroically protected civilians, stopped speeding cars, held up collapsing bridges, and showcased his inhuman strength.
But were these acts real? No.
Behind all this staged heroism, there was nothing but carefully crafted PR. In reality, Bane simply basked in fame and fortune, indulging in the high life. Women, drugs, alcohol he drowned in debauchery as if sinking into an abyss.
The substances in his blood clouded his mind, and the cocktail of narcotics on top of it erased any last traces of self-control.
Not that he needed to think.
"The villains have taken ten hostages and are demanding a ransom. Negotiations are ongoing, but we won't let them go unpunished. I will not allow lawlessness in my country!" Soldier Boy declared dramatically.
"Cut!" the director's voice rang out.
"The fuck is this?! Who the hell is writing this crap? Can we get some real lines? I've never said anything this fucking dumb!" Soldier Boy snapped.
"Richard is handling the script," the director replied calmly.
Soldier Boy grimaced, then shot a venomous glare at the screenwriter.
"Richard, if you ever write this kind of dumbass shit again, I swear I'll shove your head up your own ass, you talentless hack!" he spat before motioning to an assistant, who quickly handed him a blunt. Lighting it, he took a deep drag.
"Alright, what's next?"
"A group scene with everyone. You storm the warehouse and rescue the hostages," the director explained.
"Jesus, what is this bland garbage? Why not make a real action flick with explosions and gunfights? What's the point of this crap?" Soldier Boy scoffed.
"It's for the image. We can't always shoot mindless action movies," the director replied.
"Fuck all that bullshit," Soldier Boy snorted. Then, his eyes landed on an attractive woman standing near the director.
"And who's this beauty?"
"T-That's my wife, Mr. Soldier Boy," the director stammered, his voice trembling. He had brought her to the set at her request she was curious to see him at work.
Soldier Boys had always had a weakness for mature women.
"Have her come to my dressing trailer at the end of the day. I need to prepare for a certain scene…" Soldier Boy said with a smirk.
The director clenched his fists. He could do nothing. Soldier Boy ignored all restrictions, and to argue with the leading star was a death sentence for himself, his wife, and his children.
Soon, most of the Payback team had arrived. Only Bane was missing.
"Shit, where did he run off to again? How many times does this have to happen? That steroid junkie…" Black Noir muttered. He had always wanted to make a name for himself, to overshadow everyone else, but society's prejudices had forced him to wear a damn mask.
Suddenly, the wall separating the shooting hangar from the street collapsed. Bane crashed through it, laughing wildly. He was intoxicated by his own strength and used it at every opportunity.
"You dumb animal! You just ruined the footage!" Soldier Boy exploded, hurling a broken camera across the floor. He had been working his ass off, and this son of a bitch had just destroyed it all.
"Then do something about it," Bane smirked. His muscles swelled, veins bulging with an unnatural liquid, ready to tear him apart from the inside.
"You're dead," Soldier Boy growled, raising his shield. He snuffed out his blunt and cracked his neck.
"Maybe you should cool down? A fight won't solve anything…" Crimson Countess tried to de-escalate the situation.
"Shut up, woman. The men are talking," Soldier Boy barked.
The tension in the air was thick, the fight seconds away from erupting, when suddenly, light footsteps echoed through the room.
A man entered the one who oversaw Payback. Stan Edgar.
"The job isn't finished, and instead of professionalism, you decide to showcase immaturity?" His voice was calm, but chillingly cold. "Soldier Boy, I'm sure the footage was backed up. That's standard procedure for all your movies. Maybe it's time to set an example? Remind everyone that a real man doesn't stoop to such lows?"
His gaze shifted to Bane.
"Bane, don't forget what we've done for you and what you owe us. Your behavior is disrupting our plans. You still need Venom to function. You rely on constant reinforcement injections."
Stan knew exactly how to manipulate Soldier Boy. He always wanted to prove he was the ultimate man, but even his own name contradicted that he was forever a boy, an overgrown macho. Say the right words, and he could be easily steered.
And Bane… Bane was too dependent on them. If he stepped out of line, they would cut off his supply, and he'd be discarded like trash. The only reason he was still alive was because they needed him for further testing. Experimenting with the formulas, studying side effects… and observing their influence in daily life.
"This conversation isn't over. Do that again, and I'll kick your ass," Soldier Boy growled.
"Tch," Bane scoffed. Despite the drugs rotting his brain, he still understood that going against Vought was suicide.
Seeing that the situation was resolved, Stan allowed himself a barely noticeable smile.
"Now, let's get back to work. We need to shoot enough footage to make the premiere deadline," he said calmly.
When he had been appointed as the overseer of the Payback supes, he had been pleased it was a major career step forward. But what followed was a constant struggle to control a group of super-powered individuals who behaved like children, always on the verge of destroying everything around them. And even among them, Bane and Soldier Boy stood out. They were the most uncontrollable.
Soldier Boy was particularly difficult. He cared about no one but himself, yet he believed he was superior in everything.
"The era of men in military uniforms is over. A new symbol is needed," Stan murmured, watching the supe preen for the cameras. He only needed to nudge the board in the right direction, and he had already made his case to Vought's executives. It seemed they were ready to agree.
It was time to change the game.