Date: Thursday morning - August 1, 2024

  The laboratory at the Syndicate’s headquarters was the busiest it had ever been in a long time. Scientists and soldiers alike were moving about since the organization’s latest endeavor had begun. Hovering over everyone in the room-literally in his case-was Technomancer. It was almost three weeks earlier when the Syndicate took major losses during the battle at VALOR’s headquarters, the Sabre Bastion. The outcome wasn’t due to one single cause, but was a culmination of multiple factors.

  One factor was betrayals on multiple fronts from within. Two individuals who were initially allied with the Syndicate, Dark Angel and Cockroach, were working against them in secret from the beginning. Another longtime member, Speedfreak, was put into a position by Dark Angel and Cockroach to be exposed as a traitor herself. Speedfreak made a deal to give the Supreme Allies and their backup force, the Augmented Allies, information about their organization. When Cockroach exposed her, she doubled down and got many of the Syndicate’s men captured by VALOR.

  Dark Angel and Cockroach also got multiple Syndicate members killed through their actions. Black Scimitar lost control of his cybernetics briefly and hit Hazard with friendly fire. Resulting in a rupture to the radiation suit Hazard wore, the man was taken up to orbit by Omega Woman before detonating in a nuclear explosion. During the battle at Sabre Bastion, Dark Angel activated explosives he had apparently implanted inside the jetpacks of Syndicate rank-and-file soldiers after his deception was exposed. The detonations killed dozens of their men and two other high-ranking members-Eliminator and El Tigre.

  Technomancer recalled the boss, Earthshatter, receiving a mysterious USB drive back in May. The USB drive was later revealed to contain VALOR’s files on the secret identities of Earth’s superheroes. By the time all was said and done after the battle at Sabre Bastion, it was clear Dark Angel and Cockroach made big fools of the Syndicate. Dark Angel sacrificed multiple members and one hero-Jack Frost-in his plan to trigger a large-scale war against the Supreme Allies and their friends. Technomancer couldn’t deny the clever execution of the plan, even while he did think Dark Angel was a conniving bastard who deserved everything that will be coming to him in due time.

  As he levitated around the room, Technomancer kept a close eye on the Syndicate’s latest creation in the center of the lab. In the middle of the room was a large vertical glass chamber filled with water from top to bottom. Circling the chamber were computers and monitors displaying data such as vital signs, DNA analysis, brain scans, and other important statistics. However, the inside of the water-filled chamber told a much bigger story. Suspended in the water, eyes closed and an oxygen mask hooked over her nose and mouth, was a naked woman identified on the computers near her chamber by one designation-Subject 2024L0W.

  As Technomancer hovered back toward the raised platform overlooking the lab, he saw the double doors open automatically ahead of him. Earthshatter, clad in his alien-made armor as always, walked into the lab and approached Technomancer.

  “Status report on Project Wrath?” Earthshatter asked.

  “Proceeding as planned, boss. Those supply raids the troops have been doing helped to stabilize things with the tech and medical aspects of this to enable the rapid growth. A fully grown adult clone in less than three weeks,” Technomancer said.

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  “You’ve outdone yourself. Have you prepared the training and conditioning programs?” Earthshatter asked.

  “I have. Part of the growth process was to develop the cerebral cortex beyond human limits and to further enhance the frontal and parietal lobes. In simpler terms, she’ll be able to learn incredibly fast and will be smart enough to outthink even Blue Angel or Dark Angel,” Technomancer explained. Earthshatter nodded in approval.

  Before Earthshatter could speak another word, some beeps began ringing. The two supervillains made their way down to the main floor. The cloned woman in the tank was beginning to stir inside her chamber. She wriggled back and forth for a few seconds. Before long, the clone opened her eyes, which glowed a bright red. Subject 2024L0W punched through the chamber glass, effortlessly shattering it with her superhuman strength.

  The clone fell forward onto the floor, detaching the oxygen mask hanging from the chamber ceiling as she did. She landed on her hands and knees hard enough to create slight cracks in the floor from the impact. The Syndicate soldiers in the lab immediately drew and raised their M4 rifles, aiming at the clone.

  “Stand down!” Earthshatter ordered the soldiers. “Your weapons won’t do a damn thing to her anyhow,” he added as the soldiers complied.

  The naked clone began to find her footing, slowly standing up. She looked around the room, eyes still glowing red. She stepped forward with one leg and held her hands to the side, an aggressive expression forming on her face. Technomancer opened a hand off to his side, prepared to cast a spell if needed. He glanced to see Earthshatter curl one hand into a fist in case the clone decided to start something.

  After a tense few seconds, Subject 2024L0W stood up straight and her expression changed to a neutral one. Her eyes scanned the room before looking toward Technomancer and Earthshatter.

  “I am certain you have a lot of questions,” Technomancer said to the clone.

  “Yes,” the clone replied, her voice sounding perfectly identical to the woman she was modeled on.

  “Get dressed and come meet me. I’ll explain everything you need to know,” Technomancer said before he and Earthshatter turned and walked toward the lab’s exit.

  BRIGHTMARK NEWS REPORT:

  August 1, 2024

  12:00 PM

  “Good afternoon, this is Victor Vex reporting live from Brightmark News. The Syndicate appears to have begun making a comeback lately. Almost three weeks ago on July 12, they suffered a tremendous defeat during the battle at VALOR’s headquarters, the Sabre Bastion,” Victor began. Images of the aforementioned battle appeared on the screen behind Victor.

  “The Syndicate was quiet for a brief period, but reports have been coming in regarding their involvement in a series of break ins and thefts. Notably, authorities are seeing a pattern of the items stolen being advanced technology and what are believed to be experimental medical supplies,” Victor continued.

  “This kind of thing is not unusual for the Syndicate, but they are reportedly acting more cautious than usual. While they were spotted during some of these heists, Technomancer almost always showed up to extract them. Even with the Supreme Allies, the Augmented Allies, or VALOR confronting them, the Syndicate seems to be going out of their way to be extra careful to avoid getting into fights with any of them,” Victor added.

  “While Brightmark News has not received any official comment at this time, we will have more information for those of you watching at home or on the go when it becomes available,” Victor concluded.