Chapter 14: More Heroes, More Problems

Cecil, Machine Head sent a video to the GDA. You're going to want to see it.

Hello. This has all escalated rather quickly, don't you think?

When I started using the Mauler's cloning technology, I just wanted to use them to gain a financial advantage over my competitors. But you couldn't allow that, could you? So I had to go into exile.

I am now focused on creating not a business empire, but an actual empire.

I realized that with my army of clones, I am now the most powerful human being on the planet. Why not declare my independence from the entire world?

You've been putting up a good fight, but I think that time is over. My clones will continue to take what I need to establish my new empire.

Meanwhile, I will continue to create life on a massive scale. I'm less like a human being these days, and really, I'm much more of a god.

So, I would advise you to leave me alone. You can't win a fight against God.

God?! Can you believe this guy?

It looks like he's buying into it. We've got an alert of clones at the Vatican. Looks like Machine Head is trying to take some of God's stuff for himself.

You managed to keep him from taking anything big, but the clones did manage to take some holy artifacts.

Hey, Cecil, where's this help you promised us? We could really use it.

Glad to hear you feel that way. Our scientists have been able to reverse engineer Machine Head's clones. We can now create clones of you.

What?! Clones of us? Are you kidding us?

No way, Cecil! Clones of ourselves? That's crossing a major line.

Cloning is an abomination.

You want help, this is the way to get it.

Not like that. We can handle this ourselves.

Machine Head's clones have been spotted picking up cows again. But they're just tossing them around, they're not even stealing them.

He's just messing with us now. Take care of that quickly. And if we're not using clones, could one of you originals find out where the clones are coming from?!

We're trying, but it doesn't help that they have a teleporter on their side.

We saved the cows, Cecil

But we are no closer to finding out where Machine Head's base is...

Cecil, clones are storming the Imperial Palace in Japan.

Enough is enough, I need to send out the clones with you guys.

No clones, Cecil.

The clones are the answers to our problems. This is strictly a numbers game at this point. I need you all to get on board.

That's not gonna happen.

The way this war with Machine Head is going, they are inevitable.

We stopped them. All by ourselves.

You don't get any bonus points for winning the day by yourselves. The fight has been escalated by Machine Head. All that matters is victory, no matter how it's won.

Cecil, we got an alert.

Let me guess, more clones.

No. It's the organized crime in Chicago. They're coming out of hiding again to claim Machine Head's territory.

Organized crime?! We don't have time for their crap right now. Hurry up and tell them to cut it out. We got bigger things going on here.

Clones of some really big guns coming in. Multiple Invincibles... and multiple Omni-Men.

That's it. Enough is enough. I don't care if you're on board or not. It's time to fight fire with fire.

Not our own clones, Cecil. Come on, it's not right.

And choosing to lose is right? Our enemy can create unlimited amounts of you, and you expect me not to follow suit because it makes you uncomfortable?!

I have decided to even the playing field to give us a fighting chance. My job is saving the world, no matter how that makes you feel.

Anyone who has a problem with that can... well, I guess it doesn't matter, I've got clones of you anyway.

This is bad, Cecil. Real bad.

Don't worry. Once this emergency is over, the clones will all be taken care of.

How are we supposed to believe you?

That's not my problem. Now go, take care of the real problem.

This better be temporary. Or you will be temporary.

We defeated them. But we're still working on the bugs in our clones. They're degrading way too quickly and we lost way too many of them out there.

Oh no. I'm devastated.

Show some damn respect, Rex. Those clones have the brains of some of my best GDA Agents. It takes a lot of guts to send a version of yourself on a suicide mission.

Those dead clones helped keep you alive out there. And we're going to need even more of them if we stand any chance of defeating Machine Head.