Buddy and Winston were forced to their knees as they arrived before Doctor Schmerzen. The bags were promptly removed and the pair of men closed their eyes, temporarily blinded by the reintroduction of light.
When his eyes adjusted again, Buddy could see that they were in a dining room fit for a king, or in the case of the great and terrible doctor, fit for an authoritarian. Buddy waited for Dr. Schmerzen to look at them, but the man paid them no mind as he dug into his meal. A dish that smelt of eggs and potatoes. Buddy ignored the pangs of hunger in his stomach having traveled for the better part of 20 hours without anything to eat or drink, but he could not ignore the shrill and arrogant voice of Winston.
"Oh! So you're the head honcho around here huh? I've got a bone to pick with you!"
"Winston, please shut up," Buddy pleaded, tightening his lip as he caught the cold eye of his former associate.
The tanned man smiled gently as he set his knife and fork down and turned his body to the pair of bound men, studying them carefully.
"When I was informed that you were on my way with a plus one I had hoped that we would have been joined with that new friend of yours, WatchDog. I had the most fabulous dream last night of the things I would do to the pair of you, so imagine my surprise to find out in the middle of the night that my esteemed guild has lost yet another member, this time not through rejection but from the hero I presumed to be on their way here. It's quite disappointing I must say."
"Yeah, well, I am happy to disappoint! In fact, that's my middle name!" Winston shouted boldly from the floor. Buddy knew that Winston lived a privileged life, but this level of courage was stupid. Or maybe it was stupidity that was actually fueling that courage.
"Is it now? Well, apologies for not putting in the order to your headstone. I hope you enjoy your unmarked grave," Dr. Schmerzen stated as he made a gesture and one of his guards lifted the nose of their gun towards Winston's chest but Buddy began to sound off his disapproval.
"Hey, woah now, I know you are smarter than you look, Doc," Buddy said as he waved his hands over Winston. "Do you not recognize this guy? This is Winston Deavor. You know, Winston Deavor of DevTech?"
"Ah yes, American capitalism, I do so enjoy the work that you do but I'm sure some other entity can replace you," Dr. Schmerzen said as he motioned to snap his fingers but Buddy was leaning in the path of the weapon.
"This guy single-handedly brought supers back from extinction."
"All the more reason to kill him."
Winston's eyes widened as he looked at the gun but Buddy was shaking his head furiously.
"You harm so much as a hair on this man's head and you will experience hellfire that of which the world has never seen. I know you got in pretty easy, the NSA won't pursue this because, well, as you pointed out they got some spring cleaning to do now, and you can forget about the rest of the government really acting on it because they have no idea who even took us-"
"I'm only hearing that I'll get away with it, Mr. Pine."
"But the supers won't rest until he is found- Winston is essentially a chairman to every super committee that exists, stateside and abroad. It's only a matter of time before someone slips up or some super with psychic vision sees that Winston is or was with you last. I know that pain is your game, but man, I would not want to be in the shoes of the guy responsible for the death of THE Winston Deavor."
The guard that was previously aiming his weapon on Winston lowered it and looked to his boss for guidance. The doctor narrowed his gaze and observed the mouthy men with a newfound sense of clarity.
"Then what is your suggestion, Mr. Pine? Ask for a ransom?"
"A ransom would be the same as ringing the dinner bell. What you need to do is send this man home right now. As long as he makes it back perfectly sound it will be no harm no foul," Buddy assured.
"Ahh, but Mr. Pine, that would allow for Mr. Deavor to inform everyone where you are, and I have absolutely no intention of letting you go."
"Trust me, he couldn't find his way out of a paper bag let alone figure out our location. He won't tell, a-and even if he does, nobody is going to be looking for me."
"Jimmy-" Winston whispered but Buddy shook his head.
"They won't. The government might want me on trial, but not if they have to spend more money and risk more lives to get me to the stand. Supers won't be coming to the rescue or conviction for me either thanks to my track record. If anything you might get a gift basket as thanks from some folks honestly. You may have some blowback for the agents your men killed but that blame can be placed to one of your lower syndicates or even a competitor if you play your cards right. I swear, you won't have to worry about anyone showing up for me, but every second that Winston is here and not where he safely belongs is another second that you are risking your whole empire on. So again… I'm imploring you, just, just get this man back stateside."
Buddy's throat was dry as he waited for the call. Hoping to see some form of an answer in the doctor's face but there was only cold contemplation. The seconds felt like hours to him but at last the criminal tyrant gave a sigh.
"Very well, I will see that Mr. Deavor is returned, safe and sound," he said and with a wave of a hand, Winston was hauled back up to his feet with a back over his head.
"Wait, Jimmy, you can't stay-!"
"It's Buddy, and just take care of Apple and… just take care of yourself, Win. I'll be okay," Buddy said as Winston was dragged away, his pleas muffled by the black material over his head. Buddy watched until his friend was no longer within his line of sight but even when there was nothing else worth paying attention to he found it hard to meet the doctor's eyes.
Managing to find the guts to look up at Doctor Schmerzen again, Buddy lifted his chin ready to meet his fate.
"Well, let's get this over with then," Buddy said calmly and the man at the table laughed with amusement.
"Oh Mr. Pine, there is no need to rush this! I did say I had no intention of letting you go, and that includes relinquishing you to our mutual friend, Death. I look forward to breaking you," the doctor said as he stood from his seat and bent down to grab Buddy's face. "I'm going to make what I did to my wife and her lover look like child's play compared to you, Mr. Pine, and I'm going to drag it out as long as possible. Months, maybe even years. Now let's get you out of those flimsy cuffs and into something much less comfortable."
Violet was in a catatonic state as she sat on the couch, staring out at the Metroville skyline. She was vaguely aware of the bodies that moved around her. Her parents, brothers, as well as Rick and Mirage were circling around her periodically. If they were speaking to her she didn't hear them. She only heard Buddy's voice. Him begging her to run away with him, his warning that he would be as good as dead if they stayed. And then came the cruel revelation that he never cared for her at all.
And she couldn't blame him.
She seemed to only bring chaos wherever she went and even in knowing that she was a pawn from the start, Violet still felt for him. It was basic psychology and he had played her like a fiddle.
It would pass, her mother assured. Even Mirage told her that Syndrome wasn't worth the time of day.
"I gave up five years to that man, helped him murder good people, people who only wanted to be helpful again. If this man could find a way to survive a jet turbine I'm sure he'll be able to walk out of this. I'm honestly more worried for Winston. He could cause even the most devout hero to snap, no offense to him."
Mirage was really the only one who Violet could connect to but the pain was still too fresh to touch. She just wanted to remain invisible, and sometimes her powers granted that without thinking. Her vanishing act worried everyone but her mother who could always find the faintest outline of her.
It was nearly three days after the disappearance of Syndrome that Winston turned up. Alive. She wasn't allowed to leave the house, she wasn't even sure if she wanted to leave, but news of Winston being okay confirmed the suspicions that Syndrome must still be in control.
"I told you he'd be alright," Mirage said gently as she stood in the doorway of her bedroom. "Breath in the day, take a shower… If you really want to, I could put in a good word with my boss about taking you on at the capitol. I'm not sure why your package got rejected so many times, you seem like a smart kid and have a lot to offer to the agency. And if you ask me personally, it would be an asset to have a super on the inside."
Violet was tempted to laugh at the offer given all that she knew but she just shook her head. She still has to see what the situation would be if Violet Part was officially dead or if they could somehow salvage her civilian name. Mistaken identity? Or maybe they could make up a story that she got away. Regardless of the circumstances, she didn't really plan on going anywhere.
Where was there to go?
It wasn't until a week and a day of his return that Winston finally came to visit. An event that marked a reason for Violet to come out of her room and groom herself for company. She noted that even when she was held hostage by Syndrome she didn't let herself get this bad. She tried not to think about that though. Or anything else to do with the villain.
Violet was sitting by the poolside in a pair of shorts and a baggy sweater on top. She let her legs in the water as she kept her focus on the clouds until her attention was drawn to the sliding door where Winston emerged, and Apple as well who bolted over to her place and proceeded to lick her face without mercy.
It was the first honest smile that broke on Violet's face in the days that passed.
"How you holding up, kid?" Winston asked as he walked over with a tiny package in hand.
"Okay with all things considered I guess," Violet said as she dodged more laps from the dog. "I feel like I should be asking you that though. Taken hostage and all."
"Well I guess you and I finally have something in common!" Winston said, his grin widening as pulled over a lounge chair and handed the box to her.
"What's this?"
"A gift but you don't have to open it yet."
Violet nodded and set the small box aside before meeting Winston's eyes whose gaze was set on the skyline. She didn't think she had ever seen the man as sad as he looked right now.
"Hey, Win? I'm- really sorry about Bu… Syndrome… or I suppose you knew him best as James. He really had the both of us fooled, huh?"
Winston nodded in agreement as he squinted his eyes at the horizon.
"Yeah. Yeah, I guess he did."
Violet turned her head away and bit her lip, wondering if Winston would develop trust issues. First his sister then his business partner? It would be difficult for her to trust anything ever again. Her parents, the NSA, accepting drinks from people… or just people in general. But if there was anyone she could trust it had to be Win.
"Rick said that Syndrome sent you home. Is that true?"
"Yeah, he, uh, he arranged the flight to get me back home," Winston said as he began to fidget but Violet didn't notice. It was some small amount of relief to know that the man still had some decency.
"I guess he really can talk his way out of anything… or into anything," Violet murmured as she rubbed at her arm. "I'm sure Rick told you not to talk about what happened, preserving evidence and all, but when we first got word that you guys disappeared I feared the worst for you both. While I was kept hostage, I came close to escaping but this guy came, he had a bunch of men with him and they all had guns. He had me believing that he was in trouble," Violet muttered, wondering if the electrocution was staged or rehearsed as well. It looked like it hurt. He acted like he was lethargic for a few days too but Violet didn't know what was real anymore anyway. "I wish I remembered the name of that asshole… started with another 'S' I know that much. They put on a really convincing show, and Syndrome said he didn't have any friends."
"Schmerzen," Winston whispered absently before his eyes found hers. He swallowed, knowing that one name was already him saying too much.
Buddy told him to keep his mouth shut. Dicker told him to keep his mouth shut. Her parents warned him not to say anything that would upset her, and yet here he was. Practically ready to tell her everything.
"What did you say?"
"His name is Schmerzen," Winston stated as he leaned forward with his hands clasped together. "He's a downright thug, and between you and me, I really don't think he and Buddy are friends."
Violet felt her heart seize at the information but she turned her head away as she held herself tight.
"Well, I'm glad that you were released, he's probably just going to get a villain's form of a smack on the wrist. Maybe he'll actually lose a hand- then he can make himself some creepy claw so he can't fool anyone else ever again," Violet muttered trying not to think about him in pain. He didn't care about her, so why should she even consider him?
But she did. Damn him. She hoped that Schmerzen would teach him a lesson and at the very same time, if not moreso, she wanted to ask him how he could be so cruel to make her believe that he actually cared about her.
"Violet, I don't think you mean that."
"Why wouldn't I? You heard what he said! He was using me this whole time! He never gave a damn about me or you, or anyone other than himself and his stupid robots and his stupid plans!"
Winston saw the pain in the young woman's eyes. His sister was so much better at keeping face than him. He promised everyone he'd keep quiet, not push the envelope, but who the hell were they to stand in the way of love? And he was willing to bet that Buddy was going to need a whole lot of it.
"Violet, Jim- I mean Buddy lied to you," he started and Violet scoffed.
"Yeah, I know. That's what I've been saying!"
"No Vi, he lied on his way out the door. He didn't mean what he said to you before he left, he said that to protect you!"
"If you're trying to make me feel better-"
"I'm not! I mean I am but this has got to stop! Both of you two are head over heels for each other and there is no way I'm the only one who can see it, right?! Violet, I don't know how to tell you this but you've got that guy wrapped around your finger and… and he needs you. He needs us," Winston whispered as his face went from elation to horror where Violet's expression remained to be one of pain.
"W-Winston, where is Buddy?"
"I don't know Vi, but I'm pretty sure he needs us and we're gonna find him," Winston whispered as he took hold of the super's hand. "We're going to get Buddy back."
