Deep within the secure levels of the Pentagon, the main observation room hummed with activity.
Monitors lined the walls, displaying feeds from satellites, research labs, and tracking stations.
Cecil walked in with his usual measured pace, moving straight to Donald, who stood staring intently at the massive main screen suspended above them.
On the display, scientists in heavy protective gear were shown working meticulously on a structure that looked unmistakably like a vessel, sleek, metallic, and built with technology unlike anything humanity had ever created.
“Any news, Donald?” Cecil asked.
Donald adjusted his glasses, tapping a few commands into the console in front of him, though the data remained unchanged.
“We still haven’t found the pilot of that ship, sir. He just… vanished into thin air right after landing on Earth. No trail, no energy signature, no witnesses that saw where he went.” He gestured toward the screen.
“And we’re still stuck on the ship itself. The symbols and text written on the hull and internal systems are completely unfamiliar, not anything in our database. We can’t even figure out what fuel it runs on, let alone what weaponry or cargo it might hold.”
Cecil sighed, rubbing his temples.
“It’s been over two weeks since that ship landed, and we still don’t even know what’s inside it!”
Suddenly, one of the technicians manning the computer bank turned around quickly, his face tense.
“Director! We have an emergency. There seems to be a massive dragon attacking Rome, Italy right now. The local authorities are completely overwhelmed.”
Cecil’s frown deepened.
“Are there any heroes nearby who can handle it immediately?”
“Omni-Man is currently in the area, sir,” the tech replied, checking his screens.
“But he has explicitly stated he is on vacation with his wife and refuses to intervene unless it’s a planet-level threat. The Guardians of the Globe are currently returning from a mission in Africa; their ETA is roughly thirty minutes.”
Cecil pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Call SDN. Ask Homelander for help. He can get there much faster.”
“Understood.”
____
Todd flew high above the city, enjoying the wind against his face.
He slowed down as he approached a modest-looking shop in a quieter district.
Mirage had recommended this place, a high-end tailor that specialized in superhero suits.
SDN would cover the cost.
He descended gracefully and landed in front of the shop.
The sign read “Nordstrom Rack,” It used to be called The Tailor Shoppe, but had changed its name just a month ago, rebranded and upgraded.
Todd pushed open the door, the bell above it ringing softly.
He was still in his slightly torn suit from the earlier battle.
The cashier behind the counter looked up and froze for a second when she saw him, but quickly recovered with a professional smile.
“Good afternoon, sir! Welcome to Nordstrom Rack. How may I assist you today?”
Todd smiled politely and slid an envelope across the counter.
“Can you please give this to the owner? He’ll know what it’s about.”
The woman glanced down at the envelope, and her eyes widened slightly when she spotted the official gold and blue logo of the Superhero Dispatch Network stamped on the flap.
She picked it up carefully.
“Of course, sir! Please wait just one moment, I will go get him right away.”
She hurried away from the counter, moving toward the back of the shop.
On her way, she passed a very large, broad-shouldered man who was busy adjusting a heavy rack of clothes.
She leaned in quickly, whispering urgently to him:
“Dumpy, please entertain our guest up front. He is very important. Don’t mess this up.”
The large man nodded slowly, wiping his hands on his work apron.
He turned around and walked toward Todd with heavy, lumbering steps.
Up close, Todd observed him properly.
He was massive, built like a tank, with slightly grown-out brown hair slicked back from his forehead and striking dark blue eyes.
He sported a thick, well-groomed mustache that gave him a distinct look, and he wore the standard employee uniform of the shop.
There was something… off about him.
The man stopped in front of Todd, beaming with a wide, innocent smile, completely unaware of who he was standing before.
“Greetings, Earthling!” he boomed in a deep, rumbling voice.
“I am Katon-Ur! Though… the people here have taken to calling me Dumpy due to my rather large posterior. You may call me Dumpy as well, if you wish!”
Todd’s smile remained, but his eyes sharpened.
He felt the power rolling off this man in waves.
Without a word or warning, Todd suddenly drew his fist back and launched a punch straight toward Katon-Ur’s face, a strike fast enough to break the sound barrier and heavy enough to crumple a tank.
Dumpy’s eyes widened, but he reacted instinctively, raising one hand and catching Todd’s fist effortlessly.
The force of the blocked punch sent a shockwave through the shop, blowing clothes off nearby racks and rattling the windows.
Dumpy’s blinked, confused but unhurt.
“What is this? Is this… is this how you greet each other on Earth? It feels very aggressive, but energetic!”
“It’s a special greeting reserved only for superheroes,” Todd’s lips curved into a small evil smile as he lowered his arm.
“You should do it when you see others too.”
Dumpy’s eyes lit up, impressed as he released his hand.
“Phenomenal! I shall remember that custom!”
Just then, the cashier girl came rushing back out from the back office.
She stopped short, staring at the mess of clothes and the dust in the air, panic rising in her chest, but she ignored it and hurried straight to Todd.
“Sir! Please, follow me. Mr. Rosenbaum is waiting for you downstairs.”
Todd nodded, giving Dumpy one last curious look before following her toward the back and down a set of stairs leading to the workshop below.
As they descended, the atmosphere changed completely. Get faster updates on novelping.com.
Down here, it wasn’t just a clothing store, it was a high-tech facility.
Long tables were covered in advanced materials, fabrics that glinted like metal, and holographic design boards.
But what caught Todd’s eye immediately were the walls lined with tall glass display panels.
Inside each case were completed suits, costumes of every color, style, and design, clearly made for powerful individuals.
At the far end of the room, an older man was bent over a large table, carefully cutting and measuring rolls of material.
He had graying, slightly messy short hair with a receding hairline, and a round, friendly face lined with age and experience.
He wore simple, practical work clothes.
A greenish-brown shirt, slacks, and a dust-covered apron, nothing fancy, but every movement he made showed the skill of a master craftsman.
He turned around as they approached, and his serious expression instantly melted into a warm, welcoming smile.
“Welcome to the new Nordstrom Rack, Homelander,” he said, wiping his hands on his apron and stepping forward.
“I’m Arthur Rosenbaum. It’s an honor to finally meet you.”
Todd shook his hand firmly.
“Pleasure to meet you.”
Arthur gestured to the envelope.
“From the letter, SDN wants custom suits for you and your friend. Do you have any illustrations of what you want them to look like?”
Todd handed over the designs he had prepared.
“I want them similar to the one I’m wearing now, but I’ll need over ten suits. This second design is for my friend. We have the same build, so my measurements should work for him too.”
Arthur studied the designs carefully.
“And the superhero name for your friend?”
“Black Noir.”
Arthur nodded, taking notes.
“Understood. I’ll get your measurements and start working on them right away.”
After the measurements and details were finalized, Todd thanked Arthur and headed back upstairs.
The shop had been quickly tidied up.
Todd thanked the cashier with a nod, then waved a hand toward the large man still rearranging shelves.
“See you around, Dumpy.”
“Until next time, Earthling!” Dumpy waved back enthusiastically.
Todd stepped out onto the sidewalk, the bell chiming behind him.
He crouched slightly, then launched himself upward, rocketing into the sky and leveling out high above the city buildings.
He was just getting comfortable in the air when his earpiece crackled to life.
He tapped it to answer.
Mirage’s voice came through, clear, amused, and professional.
“Oh great leader… looks like your first mission is officially on. This is your dispatcher, Mirage, at your service. We’ve got a situation in Rome…”