The Villain's Lair

While Taki is busy with this current fight against a Science Court Bailiff, I'm going to try doing a more complicated super-reading than I normally use. Mostly this is the version that takes too much of my time and concentration. But we did not expect to find the wrong villain group down here!
 
[lair_tarot]
 
Let's see if I have anything worthwhile here ... not necessarily sticking to the so-called "traditional" meanings!
 
I am a touch surprised to see that the Science Court, or possibly A.I.M., is NOT the heart of the matter -- they're a challenge to the true core issue, which is of someone wanting to have a good life. Or, possibly, having lost a family connection? This makes me think again about Dr. Overmind using all those sickly sweet pet names for the black Scarab. Even if she's not dating him, he at least is PICTURING that he is romantic with or to her.
 
How is the Science Court a challenge to that?
 
I should advise Taki to investigate whether the Science Court is invading this place instead of belonging here!
 
My theory holds stronger as we look down at this smug, superior expression of the dramatically presented "high priestess". She's pictured as she oversees a presentation in an international building or something like that. Maybe the U.N. but the card does not always mean that. Anyway, she's a multi-national travel type, fine, but more importantly she likes to know things other people don't.
 
You'd think she'd dress less flagrantly, but oh well. It's New York.
 
Anyway, this is a good fit for Black Scarab, sure. I am not surprised to have her in the "unknown influence" position. If she is not manipulating Overmind into doing something to her benefit instead of his, I'll eat my ancestor's idea of "healthy vegetables"!
 
Featuring in the past, I see another tie to the foreign issue. I don't think this is supposed to represent a person, really, so much as the hard work to achieve high skill in a detailed work. It's hard to get laboratory conditions if one has been denied important resources, isn't it? But a smart endeavor works with what they can access, and makes the most of it. The creative endeavor must have been successful, because I hear pleased and proud voices even if I do not make out words.
 
But time passes. Whatever the consequence was supposed to be, it has not happened. Or maybe the problem is just that it did not happen on the expected schedule? No acclaim, no money, no buyout from one of those ridiculous rich men on the Celebrity Watch channel.
 
You know, so far, none of this helps me unless it turns out that either the Science Judge and Overmind are the ones dating, or else that they're robbing each other. Can't I get anything better?
 
Since I'm looking into a supervillain, it's really not a surprise to have their view of themselves be "The World". Bah foo. The difference between a villain and a cranky yet resourceful citizen is that the villain thinks they're both The Smartest or Strongest or Whatever-est, and also they think everyone else is basically like them. But not so "-est".
 
The last two cards are about the external view of the reading's subject. Well, last three, but I'm not ready to do the future card. Anyway, these cards tell me that the heart of this villain lair is centered on a man (I knew that already!) who presents himself as a noble leader, but he is drawing short-lived fame and fawning to himself rather than the true success he first intended. And none of the attention focusing on him is sincere! But he doesn't realize it. He thinks he has what he deserves.
 

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Of course, after I have pushed the cards away in frustration is when it gets weird!
 
Remember how I had time passing without any consequences popping up? Yeah, the science on that card suddenly glows brightly, showing me more detail than I can normally make out. The spirally science thing floating in the left hand of the painting, it pops out of the picture and melts down like Sahara in a tropical depression! It starts oozing its way down a hallway.
 
The hallway that Taki, Sahara, and Statesman were in a few minutes ago!
 
I hate to do this to her, especially because I don't want to lose any fingers, but Taki has got to go back up to that weird super science fire extinguisher stuff and spill it on the floor to stop the ooze!
 
But of course she thinks it's possibly a demon, and she tries to challenge it. Instead of treating it as a mass of tiny robots like what she has previously fought today. I need Moon Knight to talk her around to a responsible hero attitude, especially since it's mimicking her, only Khonshu won't let Moon Knight out yet because of something having to do with orange balloons and purple flames.
 

Be still, Kara. Be soundless. Be the void. I see an opportunity here.

— Taki