Chapter 32
It’s been over a week since Mercury’s arrest and conviction. The SDC is still undergoing repairs from that incident. Things have calmed down around the city for the most part, and we have been at it like usual. Although, Yang has been spending a lot more time with Blake in their free time, probably trying to work up the nerve to confess to her. But of course, crime never stops no matter how hard you work. And our latest endeavor begins at the docks, as they receive arrivals from Anima. And among them, we see the man in Glass’ photo last time, wearing a white short sleeved dress shirt, white pants, knee high brown boots, black forearm length fingerless gloves, and a two toned dark brown short sleeved duster jacket. He makes his way through the crowd as he takes in the sight of his new environment. He keeps going until he’s stopped by a mail guy.
Mailman: “Excuse me. Are you Tyrian Callows? The specialist hired by the SDC from Anima?”
Tyrian: “Heheh. That I am. But who’s asking?”
Mailman: “Delivery from your client. Don't know what it is though. But he paid extra to have it delivered upon your arrival, so here you go.” As he gave him a small box. “Later bro.” Tyrian just looks confused until he opened the box to see an ear piece, deducing that it was sent for easy communication. So, he chucked the box and put in the ear piece.
Tyrian: “Testing. Testing. Anyone there?” And of course, Glass is on the other line with a disguised voice, same one he used when he spoke with Watts.
Tinkerer: “Hello, Mr. Callows. I am the Tinkerer, the man who requested you're aid.”
Tyrian: “And remind me again what it was you needed my help with?”
Tinkerer: “You are candidate I have chosen to test a new weapon I have made. And your opponent to test it on is someone I want out of the way. Our little local superhero, the Scarlet Spider. I am on standby with the gear in an abandoned SDC warehouse across town. I am also monitoring your every move through the city surveillance system, so I can give you directions as you make your way through town.”
Tyrian: “Hmm. I see.”
Tinkerer: “And of course, you’ll be paid handsomely for your troubles.”
Tyrian: “Oh no trouble at all. I’ve been looking for a worthy foe for a while. But first, I’d like to see for myself just how tricky your little spider problem is before I go using some cheap trinket.”
Tinkerer: “Eh... I suppose I can see this as a reconnaissance mission before you preform the test.”
Tyrian: “Any idea where I can find her then?”
Tinkerer: “She’s a hero who keeps ear to the ground for any crimes in progress. Just cause some chaos and she’ll come right to you.”
Tyrian: “Ehehehe! Gladly!” As he claps like a happy little school girl before drawing some knives. I little bit later, as I’m swinging around the city, I can hear faint screams from nearby, followed by a report on the police radio.
Officer: “Officers be advised. We have a knife wielding maniac slaughtering civilians at the docks. Identity still unknown. Proceed with caution!”
Weiss: “Sounds like you have work to do.”
Blake: “You’ll have to do this without me. Yang and I are still across town.”
Ruby: “Don’t worry. I’ve got this!” And when I reach the docks, I find the guy I’m looking for, casually slashing at these people and killing them as they’re running away.
Tyrian: “Ahahahahaha! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!” I need to stop this now! So, I use my webs on his feet to keep him in place. “Huh?”
Ruby: “Hey! Not sure if you know this, but no one gets away with causing trouble in MY city!” As I land in front of him while everyone else ran away and the cops made sure they were safe and set up the perimeter. He used his knives to free himself before speaking.
Tyrian: “You must be the Scarlet Spider.”
Ruby: “And you are? And why are you doing this?”
Tyrian: “Why friend, my name is Tyrian. And I’m afraid it’s quite simple. My assignment from my client was to get rid of you. Soooo, that is what I must do. One must not upset the Tinkerer.” That certainly got my attention.
Weiss: “The Tinkerer hired a hitman!?”
Ruby: “And you really think you can, huh?”
Tyrian: “We’ll see soon enough, won’t we? Ragh!” As he charges right for, and we enter a long tussle with him constantly swinging his knives and kicks at me to which I can dodge easily with my spidey sense. At some point, I end up in the and move to give a dive kick, but he blocked me with someone quite surprising. The next thing I know, I’m suspended in mid-air by a scorpion tail coming from under his coat. “Hehehehe. Surprise!” He swipes his tail and knocks me back.
Weiss: “He’s... a Faunus.”
Ruby: “So, you were holding back this whole time.”
Tyrian: “You’re clearly a formidable foe, so I believe it’s about time I stop acting weak!” He charges again, and he shows a lot more skill than before with very impressive agility. I have to be especially careful in avoiding his tail, given that his stinger could be carrying poison. Though this guy definitely quite skilled, he is still a regular person, and defenseless to stronger attacks, like when I swing around a crane and kick him which launches him toward some crates. One such crate had tools laying on top and they went flying up. When then came back down, one with a sharp blade came down on his tail and cut his stinger clean off, leaving him in extreme pain. “GRAAAGH! Gragh! Grrrr! You BITCH!” He struggles as he tries to get up and walk towards me, but then he sees the cops around. “Tch! This was merely a prelude. Mark my words. I will be back!” To which he cut a nearby rope and dropped some hanging crates, which would have dropped on the cops if I hadn’t swung in a saved them. But in the whole commotion, he ends up getting away. Not long after, I meet with Vernal on the sidelines while the cops clean up and investigate.
Vernal: “What a mess. To think a maniac like him was allowed on a ship like that.”
Ruby: “All I managed to get to was that he’s a scorpion Faunus named Tyrian, and that he was hired by the Tinkerer to kill me.”
Vernal: “The Tinkerer... the guy responsible for the tech used by some of the villains.”
Ruby: “I’m thinking he might be mad that I keep bettering his machines.”
Vernal: “Well, an investigation into this Tyrian guy might give a lead. We’ll what we can learn from facial recognition from any camera feed and from a forensic analysis of his stinger. I’ll let you know what we find.”
Ruby: “Thank you. Meanwhile, I’ll go see what I can do about finding him. He already took this many lives. I can’t let him continue like this. I’ll catch you later.” As I swing off into the city. Later that night, Tyrian can be seen at the specified SDC warehouse, along with a shadowed figure using a voice changer.
Tyrian: “The little spider is clearly more formidable than I thought. She even managed to cut my stinger, accidentally or not.”
Tinkerer: “This is why I believe it best for you to use my latest creation.” As he revealed a large capsule and opened it up, revealing a brown suit with silver colored armor. “And as a bonus, I’ll get started right away on replacing your stinger. One that’ll match the specs of special Deathstalker suit. What do you say?”
Tyrian: “Hmm... the Deathstalker, eh? I think I like the sound of that! Ehehehehehe! AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!!”