Broker
Chapter 294

The wind blew over the street. A silent breeze kicked up a few loose slips of paper. A monster ran by and ducked into an alley before vanishing from sight. She snapped her hand out, catching one of the papers and looking down at it with a frown. Another flyer from the Divine Voice of Reason. No picture was on the page, and even her own imaginings couldn’t summon up his face. It was like it had been blocked off. She crumpled the propaganda up and tossed it aside before hopping off the truck she’d been crouched on.

Her eyes refocused on her surroundings one more time, lenses shifting in her head. She let out a breath and pulled the sensor mock-up from her pocket, checking the readings. A quiet nod, and she slipped around the truck and into the building behind it. 

The interior was quiet, dusty, and desolate, a far cry from the merry atmosphere that a pub usually had. The tables were empty, tossed over, and abandoned. The shelves had been stripped clean a long time ago. Now only dust and broken glass remained. She made her way past the mess and to the staff door in the rear, pushing it open and reaching up to pull her hair tie out. 

“All clear,” Sonya sighed. "Just a hound.”

A collective sigh of relief filled the space. What once had been a mixed kitchen and storage space was now the temporary command center of their forces in the region. A few chairs were scattered around to give everyone a chance to sit and talk, while the bedrolls had been stacked off to the side. She met a pair of dark eyes and smiled with a little mischief at her wife. “Looks like you don’t get to show off today.”

Chunhua cocked an eyebrow and snorted. "You’re incorrigible.” She shifted her weight and adjusted where she’d been laying her sword. Her crippled right arm wasn’t looking any better from their last desperate escape from Qilin. It still made Sonya wince when she saw it, but she did her best to hide it. “It looks like Qilin ran out of degrees of separation to mess with us, for now anyway.” 

“That’s good. Too many of the leaders are here today,” a small voice said from the side. “We’ve already lost Sapporo.”

“And Japan,” Chunhua added gravely. “First Wind showed no mercy.”

A young looking man in a fisherman's cap stepped out, hands shoved deep into his hoodie. A pair of cold eyes flicked towards Sonya before looking back at Chunhua. “We can’t dwell on it now, especially as close as we are to Astaroth’s territory. His demons will smell it. Try to focus on other things.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Flirt or something if it’ll distract you.”

“Aww…” Sonya teased. "Is Webster interested in that kind of thing now?”

Chunhua cleared her throat, stifling a laugh. “Sonya, try to behave.”

Sonya winked at her. “Make me.”

“You two are nauseating,” Webster scoffed and turned away. “I’m going to reach out to the other war leaders and check in. Let me know if-”

BANG!

The door flew open with a crack of wood on concrete, and the three of them turned, weapons drawn and at the ready, only to immediately relax. 

“HA HA HA! Look what we have here!” Came a barrel laugh that shook the room. “Two cats and the great spider himself!”

Sonya brightened and immediately sheathed her knife, rushing to the massive man, who dipped his head to get into the room. She leaped and threw her arms around his neck. “Medved! You fuzzy bastard, you’re okay!” She laughed as a big arm wrapped around her waist and gave her a squeeze.

“It’s going to take a lot more than one of Astaroth’s lieutenants to take me down!” The big man barked and pushed his way in, easily carrying Sonya with him. “How are you, kukla?”

“Stalo legche,” she sighed. “We were a little worried we lost another one of the leaders. Are you injured?”

“I wasn’t asking about that!” he barked. "And of course I’m fine! Look at me! These muscles!” He flexed his powerful arms for good measure, which elicited a laugh from Chunhua and a groan from Webster.

Sonya leaned back and gave him an admonishing slap on the chest. “You, sir, are a walking cliché.”

He beamed at her. "And proud of it!”

–

As Sonya’s words seemed to sink in for Lillian and Greg, the door cracked open a sliver before swinging open with a bang. She turned, and it took quite a bit of self-control not to do something she’d done so many, many times before. A big man with a thick beard and bright, sparkling eyes dipped his head and slipped into the room. He slapped his chest once before spreading his arms open in greeting. “Sonya Chernovna! Just the woman I was looking for!”

She beamed at him. "Guildmaster Medved, it is an honor to meet you in person.”

He laughed. "So formal! That is not how I want this to go!” He strode forward and with his powerful hands picked her up off the ground like she was naught but a toy, mortifying squeak included. One kiss on each cheek and a big squeeze of a hug, and she couldn’t help but return it. She patted his arm, and he let her down. “You are so light! Like a little doll! Aha! Kukla!”

Her lips pressed together a bit as a tiny flush rushed up her face. She cleared her throat and looked away. Idiot, I weigh more than three hundred pounds. You’re just stupidly strong. She turned to smile up at him. “I’ve heard you’ve done some good work in Russia, Guildmaster.”

“Only because of your inspiration!” he chortled.

“You’re rather open about that. I was a bit worried our interaction would be less cordial,” she said.

He huffed and crossed his massive arms. “I am many things, Miss Chernovna. I am a brute. I am a hero. And I am the kind of man who will go out of his way to stick it to that cyka Polina whenever I get the chance. She can order me around all she wants, but I am the mightiest Hero in Russia, not her.”

You’re still the same. It’s so good to see you.I’m just sorry that you and Sapporo couldn’t meet again. You two were good friends.

He squinted at her. “You look sad, kukla. What is it?”

She sniffed and laughed. “Just… nostalgic all of a sudden.”

“Hah! Haven’t heard a proper accent in a while, have you?” He chortled.

She laughed and shook her head. “Who knows?”

He blinked and reached into his vest. “Oh! Right, right, I have a favor to ask of you, if you have a moment for me.”

She blinked. “Of course, anything.”

He pulled a magazine out and held it out to her. Sonya stared at it, at herself, in a bikini. She blinked several more times before looking at him flatly. He responded to her with his own flat look, and the two held each other’s gazes for several heartbeats. “...Your son?”

His eyes widened. “How did you know? We’re all big fans in my family! You are an inspiration to many of us in the homeland even if you are naturalized in America. You changed the world, upturned the old order. I’m a big fan myself!” He declared and reached into his vest again, pulling out a thick black pair of sunglasses with pink lenses. He slipped them on over his massive head. “What do you think?”

She stared at him and wanted to cry. He fought so hard during the past timeline. He lost his wife, half a dozen children, and his extended family, who had always been so close. Now here he was, and they were all alive and well, and he was smiling, laughing, and talking just like he used to. She reached out and took the magazine from him. “How does he want me to sign it?”

The big man smiled. “To Lev.”

Sonya ‘pulled’ a pen out of her pocket with a small use of her storage space. “To Lev, See the path. Take it to the end. Stand at the peak, and look back with pride. Love, Sonya Chernovna,” she said aloud as she signed.

The big man went a little quiet for a moment as she handed the magazine back to him. He looked down at it and then up at her with furrowed brows. “I did not know you were a poet,” he said. “It is quite the sentiment.”

She snorted. "I heard the words from a friend.”

He nodded. “A good thing to say in times like these. I will take the words back home with me to my guild. We will say it over drinks!” He laughed and tucked the magazine back into his vest. “Now! I’ve taken enough of your time!”

“I always have time,” Sonya said gently, "but we should get to it. The others will arrive soon, and we don’t want to be caught sweet-talking. My girlfriend is one of the judges.”

He clapped his hands together. “Ah, yes! The Mighty Lotus! We’ve met,” he said and leaned in conspiratorially, holding his hand over his mouth. “Is it just me, or is she kinda scary?”

Sonya snorted and leaned in as well, meeting the dark eyes of the woman who entered the room behind him. She also sensed another one approaching quickly. “Oh yes, Black Lotus is very scary. An intense woman. She hits me.”

“Sonya! Context and phrasing!” Black Lotus blurted as two people spluttered behind Sonya.

Sonya squealed with laughter and took a few steps back to get away from Chunhua, who was marching her way in with a scowl on her face. She hopped up onto the couch, and before her girlfriend could give her a stern talking to, she gestured to a flustered Lillian and a shellshocked Greg. “Medved! I’d like to introduce you to Gravitic from Logistics and Crusader, Black Lotus’ protégé.”

Chunhua stopped her pursuit and crossed her arms while Sonya grinned at her. Medved, for his part, immediately picked up on Sonya’s angle and stomped over to shake hands briskly with both of the young heroes. “Yes! Gravitic and I have met. He came to Russia to consult with an expat who settled in my guild, Webster. The two of them are talking about a network of some kind.”

Sonya nearly opened her mouth but shut it. Webster’s in Russia now? I hadn’t really had the time to look for the old resistance leadership. The man who gathered the resistance in the last timeline... That’s good to know. I need to be careful when I visit, he would never accept me as I am now. Not the man I remember. She glanced at Chunhua, who was looking at the back of Medved’s head with a mixed expression on her face. Happiness and a twinge of sorrow. Sonya cleared her throat, and Chunhua settled her expression. I know you have my memories, love. Be careful with them.

Medved moved on to Lillian and shook her hand. "And I’ve heard of you. The up-and-comer with the growth-type ability. Your teacher must be proud.”

“I am,” Chunhua said and looked at Lillian. "You broke through again.”

Lillian extricated herself from the big man’s grip and bowed to her teacher. “Only because of your teachings. I am a Heroic-tier now thanks to you and the help of my team.” She stood up straight. “If only I could be in all places at once, but I’m just one person,” she added sadly.

“I saw your bar,” Medved said solemnly. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.”

“Do you drink?” he asked.

Sonya got to her feet, but Chunhua waved her down with a smirk. Lillian balked. "I’m not twenty-one.”

“The law is eighteen in Nepal!” Medved said. "We will have a sip and tell stories about your friend later, yes? I won’t let you overdrink. I am not much of an alcohol man myself, but for this, a sip is good.”

Lillian broke into a big smile. “That… actually sounds really nice. Thank you, sir.”

“Medved is fine,” he said and turned. "Except for the curmudgeonly prosecutor who keeps eavesdropping like a rude person!” he shouted. 

Sonya turned a smirk towards the door and waggled her eyebrows at Leiandra as she strode inside, arms crossed and a frown on her face. Leiandra fixed her with a stare before sighing and shaking her head. “I wanted a word with you in private, Chernovna.”

“Leiandra!” Sonya admonished. "Not in front of my lady friend!”

Leiandra visibly paled as Chunhua turned to scowl at her. Sonya snickered, and after a heartbeat even Chunhua snorted out a laugh and walked over to sit with Sonya. Sonya leaned against her as Leiandra realized she was being messed with and actually fell for it this time. Her brows furrowed. “You got one in. Congratulations, Chernovna.”

“I will treasure this award,” Sonya said with her chin up. “I’d like to thank-”

“Enough,” Leiandra begged. “Can we just get this started? The heroes outside are starting to get restless.”

Sonya grinned and played with Chunhua’s hair. “We’re just waiting for you to stop eavesdropping and participate.”

“I was not eavesdropping. I was being polite. I’m sure you’ve heard that word before, Chernovna,” she snapped.

“Mhm, mhm,” Sonya nodded along. “Sure, sure, and I’m a supervillain,” she said sarcastically.

Leiandra scowled at her and rolled her eyes. “You’d make a terrible supervillain, Chernovna. You don’t have the personality for it. Though I will admit you’re good at business.”

Sonya chuckled and turned, flopping back into Chunhua’s lap. Chunhua was giving her a hilarious mixture of the most amused and panicked look she'd ever seen. Sonya grinned at her. "You heard it here, folks! Lieandra Firth says I’m not cut out to be one of the bad guys,” she declared and grabbed the remote for the projector. She tapped a button, and the screens’ opacity shifted, the images becoming crystal clear. 

On the screens the thousands of young heroes were all gathered at the gates, some of them jockeying for position, while others were hanging back to watch how things went from the start. This wasn’t going to be a short event, and many of them had camping gear with them. She spotted a few faces in the crowd she recognized. There’s Nietz and Hammond. Looks like he convinced his friend to participate. It would be a good hunting ground to capture more monsters.

Another screen popped up showing the crowded viewing building. A circular room with hundreds of seats and a single round platform in the middle. The projection of the event intended for the viewership would be there. She spotted Representative Ma and many of the others sitting in the front row. This is going to be fun!

She looked up at Chunhua and handed her the remote. “Red button. I’ve already recorded the little ‘let’s get this party started’ speech. Whenever you’re ready.”

“Do we not need to go over the rules?” Medved asked.

“Did you read the pamphlet?” Sonya asked, looking his way as he sat down. Greg and Lillian exchanged looks and did the same. Leiandra was the last to sit, staring flummoxed at Sonya for a heartbeat before shaking her head again. The big man nodded, and she shrugged. “Then you’re good. Let’s not make this complicated. You only need to make calls when something’s more nuanced than the system can interpret.”

He grinned. “Works for me.”

Sonya turned to Chunhua. “Alright, Miss Handsome Eyepatch. Do the honors?”

Chunhua rolled her eye, hit the button, and Sonya’s voice filled the air.

“Heroes! Pencils down! It’s time to make history!”