Broker
Chapter 288

The outer containment walls of Dharan were thirty feet thick and built nearly one hundred feet high. It was a feat of modern engineering to encapsulate the entirety of the city that had fallen in the dawn of this new era. Spotlights placed at intervals around the walls shone down on the earth below and gave a clear view of any monster that dared inch close in an attempt to escape its boundary. The ground was decimated - scorched and burned by battle after battle to contain the monsters that only seemed to grow in number with each passing day.

Alone, one average monster from the swarm was little threat to heroes of the current time. Even a hundred monsters were no threat to a Mythic who threw themselves over the wall to carve through them and thin the herd. Yet just off in the darkness, past the lights of civilization, in the crumbling remains of a quiet city in Nepal, Sonya couldn’t even imagine just how many waited to swarm across the region.

The crack of anti-aircraft artillery rang out somewhere in the distance. A flying monster was slain before it could flee and feed. The twisted thing’s remains would be cleaned up and used, its bones going into more ammunition to slay more of its kind. A vicious, brutal cycle fought over the remains of a city where nearly two hundred thousand people died, slowly ripped apart by the monsters that plagued them. A microcosm of the apocalypse in a future she had changed.

For now, anyway, she thought as she ran her fingers over the rail. Not even Setsuna can truly see the future. It’s never enough, is it? Power.

Nothing wrong about a Villain wanting more, Ishtar chuckled. You can’t see every problem before it happens; you can only prepare. The timeline has changed.

I know, I’m just emotional finally being here. She let out a breath and looked up towards the shadows of buildings far in the distance, roars rising from it now and then. A haunting melody that accompanied the luminous moon and clear sky overhead. I didn’t get to cry for them when it happened that day. I didn’t get to weep for Tokyo either.

You have a moment now, and your eyes are better than before.

Sonya smiled and turned to look at the two women standing behind her. Qilin had taken up a spot to the left, adjacent to Marta on the right. The both of them were glaring sourly at one another. Qilin seems to think of herself as being in a position similar to Marta’s. Her obsession will be her undoing, she thought. It’s about time to renew, isn’t it?

It is indeed. Right on time too. Ishtar thought, her tone bemused. 

Yep, I know exactly what to do, Sonya thought and looked Qilin in the eyes. For now though…

She cleared her throat. “Leave me. I’ll call for you.”

Qilin’s eyes widened. “B-but!”

“You won’t see anything interesting tonight,” Sonya said. “Go alleviate your boredom elsewhere, hero.”

The snarl accompanying that last word had a mixed effect. Qilin shuddered and winced, a smile creeping across her face even as her eyes fell and her fists clenched. The woman was twisted beyond comprehension, and it made sense to Sonya why she had fallen in with Otis so easily last time. She knew that it wouldn’t be hard to break her down and turn her into a servant of some kind, but she had no redeeming qualities. She wasn’t even good enough to be a villain. Just a hedonistic monster that needed to be put down when the time came.

Qilin left, and Marta remained. Sonya looked at her friend. “Do you remember when it happened?”

Marta raised her eyebrows and then looked out past the wall. “I do. You left the room when the news broke.”

Sonya looked back towards the city beyond. “I think about it all the time. I did what I could for Nepal; it wasn’t enough, though. It was my first moment reliving the true tragedies of this post-light world. I wanted to cry, to scream, to beg, to ask someone powerful to intervene. I wasn’t important enough then; heroes didn’t even exist. It was hopeless. Yet I knew it was coming.”

“You did your best. The memory of Dharan gave birth to Heroes.”

“I know,” Sonya said quietly. “Yet even after recovering from my fall and holding my head high, I still haven’t been able to shed a tear.”

“Sonya…”

“I’m not slipping,” Sonya said firmly. “I am acknowledging it.”

Marta said nothing as Sonya reached towards the distant city. “Marta, I am many, many things. I have worn many hats and played many roles. I am the Queen of Villains. I am a murderer. I am a manipulator. I am a terrorist. I am a criminal. I set the stage for what happened to Nick. I caused Vegas. I goaded Liberty into the Raid. I am to blame for Tokyo. I released a fresh wave of villains into the world in Seattle. I wanted the war that followed.”

Something warm and salty slowly made its way down her cheek as she felt her throat bob and tighten. It wasn’t the reaction to a lie but instead a reaction to truth.

“I killed heroes in Jakarta just the other day for no other reason than to make sure they knew to hate me even more. To bind them together in blood and torment them so that I was their enemy. Someone to unify against. Why? Because humanity is so tragically self-destructive.”

“Humans lie, cheat, steal, kill, break; they are constantly seeking a way to better themselves by any means necessary. Stepping over another in the pursuit of greatness is a deeply human trait. It is disgusting and beautiful all at the same time. A vicious race for the peak. Yet that very same quality that makes humans strong is also what destroyed them in the past. That greed for more drew so many to his side.”

“Humanity needs to change. They need something to be proud of as a whole.”

She clenched her fist as the tears continued to fall and leaned against the rail. “I am many things, Marta. I am not just a villain. I am your friend. I am the Voice of the Heroes. I am the person who took Amos in and turned his life around. I am Cassiopeia’s mother. I am the one who brought together our twisted little family. I am Beyol’s mistress. I am Barry’s boss. I am Chunhua and Carla’s lover. I am the one who stopped Seattle. I’ve saved billions of lives. I’ve changed the course of history.”

“I am like a parent. I can be cruel and kind. I can be arbitrary and just. I am both good and evil in one body. I am human but not. I am changing into something more while also staying more myself than I ever had before. I am a part of this world, and I am separate from it. A guiding hand, intervening when I must, pushing things forward.”

She turned and smiled at her friend, tears streaming down her cheeks as that last glorious relief she was waiting for after suffering for so long finally came. “And I’m going to get away with it. The world can try to stop me, but I’ll save it whether it wants it or not. When it’s over, who knows?” she chuckled. “Maybe I’ll retire somewhere, or maybe I’ll keep going. Maybe it's my destiny to do what that bastard couldn’t.”

“Rule the world?” Marta asked.

Sonya snorted and turned away. “I know what I am, Marta.”

“...Your Declaration…” Marta said quietly.

“I figured it out not long after I saw Set do it,” Sonya said with a teary smile. “I’ve always been pretty self-aware, you know? It’s a little humbling, but I am who I am.”

“Not going to say it here?” Marta asked, walking up to stand next to her. Sonya felt a warm hand rest on her shoulder and leaned into her friend. “Probably best not to make a scene.”

Sonya savored her friend's scent for a moment, that comfort that reminded her of days languishing in her home back in High Point, blind, dejected, and nearly helpless. Marta had always been by her side, guarding her life and heart. If it wasn’t for her, she wouldn’t have made it through all this. She owed her friends everything, the world, and she would be damned if they didn’t follow her into eternity.

I am-

—

A few ASTA employees hurried off to the left, carrying boxes, while one stood in front of a large crate with a clipboard in hand. He was flipping through the document on it and checking off a few things before he looked up at Sonya, who was standing with her arms crossed and a grin on her face. “How are we looking, Adam?” she asked the man. He’d come a long way from being a humble janitor in Kingshark’s employ. Awakening him had given him a rather unique ability, Overseer Formicidae. It wasn’t one she saw herself using very often, but for someone in his position, it was perfect.

“All of the observation drones are accounted for,” he said. “Tracking cards and rescue flares are there as well.” He pointed towards six shipping containers where a dozen workers were unpacking with blinding efficiency. “All the dolls requested are here as well. We’ll have them positioned and ready before nightfall.”

Another employee wearing ASTA colors hurried over. “Director, we’ve finished unpacking the munitions for the Nepal exchange.”

Adam closed his eyes and sniffed the air once. He looked back at the man. “The transport team will be here in a few minutes. Get it organized for them to load up.”

“Yes, sir!”

Sonya smirked. “Look at you, big boss.”

He chuckled. “I do what I can. Thanks again for this opportunity.” He paused and scratched his neck. “Will I be able to see the boss again while I’m here?”

“Barry? Oh, he’ll swing by to come say hello. I’ll make sure of it,” she said and turned back to Marta. “Can you text him for me?”

Marta already had her phone out and looked up at Sonya with a faint deer-in-headlights look. Sonya grinned at her, and Marta cleared her throat and looked away. Sonya stepped in closer and grinned even wider. “What is it? Picking out tablecloth colors?”

Marta’s face went red, and she pressed her lips together. Sonya grinned even wider. “C’mon… tell me.”

“Napkins.”

“Hah! I knew it!”

“Miss Chernovna!” another employee called, and she turned to see him run over. He stopped and panted, leaning against his knees before looking up. “You’ve got guests. Whole bunch of people including that Lady in Red you mentioned. Hero Qilin is escorting them.”

Sonya’s lip twitched into a smirk. “Leiandra came? How nice.”

The crews were all back to work, and Adam was directing them when Leiandra arrived with a small entourage made up of representatives from the Pandora Committee. She recognized two faces from the incident with Cass as well. Walking alongside them was a clearly put-out Qilin. She looked about ready to doze off or snap someone’s neck; Sonya wasn’t sure which. She broke into a wide smile and spread her arms in greeting. “The newsworthy Legal Analyst graces me with her presence! I also see Representatives Ileva and Dubois have come! To what do I owe the pleasure?”

The two representatives barely hid their contempt as they glared back at Sonya while she turned to look Leiandra in her red eyes. Leiandra brushed a strand of black hair over her ear and gave the two corrupt representatives a sidelong look and a frown. She was clearly not happy to be there. “I’m representing the Committee as a lawyer today, Miss Chernovna.”

“It’s Miss Chernovna now?” Sonya asked, putting on a pout.

“Let me cut to the chase,” Leiandra bit out, clearly looking for patience. She held up two folded pieces of paper. “This is an injunction filed by the nations these people represent. The other is a sanction voted on by the Committee.”

A sanction? How amusing. Odd that Carla didn’t warn me.

“Part of the vote demanded that Chairwoman Mint not contact you ahead of the delivery of the citation,” Leiandra said with a frown.

Representative Illeva snorted out a laugh. “There’s no avoiding this with your usual double-speak and games.”

Sonya’s smile curled up even more. “Leiandra…” she said pityingly. “They picked you because of our history and your little investigation, didn’t they?”

Leiandra scowled but said nothing. Sonya smirked at her as Representative Dubois stepped forward. “You can’t go around selling post-Pandora munitions to whomever you want like that!” he barked. “You are forbidden from going through with the Indonesia deal. The Committee has spoken.”

Sonya turned to him and narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to make a liar out of me, Dubois?”

The man took a quick step back, and Leiandra stepped forward, her lips pressed together firmly. “It’s the Committee’s responsibility to manage post-Pandora-related matters. This includes the sale of munitions. You may be a private corporation, but you are a signatory of the Committee’s accords and laws. Selling weapons like that is-”

“My business,” Sonya said flatly. “I’ll take your sanction, though. It should be easy enough to clear up. The other?”

One of the other representatives pushed past Leiandra. She recognized the pinched face of Representative Ortiz of Spain. He pointed a finger at Sonya. “Don’t be so confident, Chernovna. The Committee won’t stand by-”

“Get on with it,” Qilin yawned off to the side. “You lot are so boring. Tedious people. I shouldn’t have brought you here.”

“You are a Pandora hero before you are her bodyguard, Hero Qilin,” Dubois reminded her.

Qilin lowered her hand from her mouth and leveled a steady stare on Dubois; the air around them turned chilly, and even the workers paused a little bit to look. “Watch your tone with me, bureaucrat.”

Leiandra sighed and put herself between Dubois and the hero before she turned back to Sonya. Marta had moved in closer and was crossing her arms, glaring at the representatives, who were starting to sweat a little bit under the stare of two Mythics. Sonya almost wished First Wind was here, but he was off working with Nietz again. Leiandra cleared her throat. “The other is an injunction against this competition of yours. The representatives do not want your competition being held within their territory. Ishtar seems to be following you, and they want nothing to do with-”

“Really?” Sonya asked dubiously.

Leiandra closed her eyes and took in a cleansing breath. “Yes.”

“They do know what’s going to happen, don’t they? You’re their advisor in this,” Sonya pressed.

“The attempt was made,” Leiandra said patiently, clearly bracing herself for what came next.

“Okay! That’s fine!” Sonya said flatly and glanced at the others. “Russia, France - I’m guessing Ma is lurking somewhere around here, so that’s China - Spain, Portugal, and Sweden - that’s a surprise.”

Illeva narrowed her eyes. “That’s… fine?” She turned to Leiandra. “What’s happening? Explain.”

“I’ve already attempted to do that, Representative,” Leiandra said with resignation. Sonya almost pitied her, surrounded by fools used to getting their way. She could imagine the indirect verbal lashing that had gone over their self-important heads. If it wasn’t for her association with the Committee, Sonya doubted the woman would have gone along with this mess. “Miss Chernovna, please don’t drag it out.”

Sonya brightened. “Sure! Your heroes are officially barred from participating, and all of my support to all your nations is cut off! Have a nice day!” she said sweetly and snatched the two papers from Leiandra’s hand; the lawyer did not attempt to hold onto them. She handed them over to Marta. “Get these to Colin.”

“Of course, ma’am,” Marta said and started walking away.

“Now hold on just a damn minute!” Representative Illeva growled, marching forward to put a finger in Sonya’s nose. Sonya grinned widely at the finger and crossed her eyes to look at the fingertip. Nice nails today. “You can’t just-”

“Make your bed, lie in it,” Sonya said without blinking. “I have every right to choose who I do business with. I am running this competition, I own the prizes, and I make the decisions.”

“Those national deals are under contract,” Dubois growled. “I’m afraid it’s not that simple. You are obligated to.”

Sonya looked at him and then at Leiandra. Leiandra shrugged, and Sonya smirked. “You really should heed your legal counsel, Representative. Might want to refresh yourself on the contract that I have with the Committee. Chairman Phan and I personally hashed it out,” she said and then put her hands on her hips. “But I’ll put it to you this way: seeing as you guys think you can force me to break my contract with Indonesia, then I guess those contracts are meaningless, right?” Sonya said with a grin. “Your heroes will be disappointed they won’t get a chance to participate.”

Leiandra pinched the bridge of her nose. “Sonya, I’ll talk to them about negotiating-”

“No, Leiandra,” Sonya said coldly. “These imbeciles thought you could come in here and strong-arm me? I built the Hero Movement. There will be no negotiation, no deal. They chose to take this route instead of talking things through, and now you and your nations will suffer the consequences,” she snarled, turning to the suits, who were inching further back behind Momma Leiandra. “When I have decided that you have been sufficiently punished, I will see you crawl to the negotiating table.”

Leiandra frowned. “That’s taking it a bit far, don’t you think?”

She stepped forward and got into Leiandra’s face. “I warned you. I am not a nice person.”

Sonya rounded on the representatives, disgust on her face. “This was the best you could come up with to interfere with me? It’s going to hurt me, yes. I’m angry, yes. I won’t be able to visit my homeland now because of this. I will have to change my schedule. So yes, you delivered a blow today. Congratulations. It was a pathetic one.”

She waved a dismissive hand. “I know what you really want. To press me into giving up my tokens without your heroes earning it. Not happening. Heroes stand for something - they earn their way, they are a symbol of humanity’s potential - and I will not tolerate a bunch of suits trying to undermine that.”

“Sonya, people will die,” Leiandra said evenly.

“Then blame those responsible. If Phan Duong couldn’t press me into giving up my patents, what makes you think you can do anything better?” Sonya snorted and turned to Qilin. She was flushed, and her eyes were sparkling as she watched. Sonya pushed down her revulsion and snapped her fingers, armed ASTA guards hurrying over. “Qilin, please assist security in getting these idiots out of my sight,” she fixed her eyes on Leiandra. “As for you. Let’s talk a bit.”