Chapter 371

Sonya’s eyes narrowed. She had anticipated a reaction, perhaps some manner of opinion. But from the sounds of it, Erebus’ perspective on things was one that she sorely lacked. She glanced towards Cass, who had pulled up a chair from the desk in the office and was sitting near the glass, just watching the undersea world beyond in quiet fascination. Sonya huffed out a breath. She hadn’t even shown her daughter the cooler things down here yet. She turned away and glanced towards the door. What do you want to talk about, Erebus?

The Enemy, Erebus said flatly. I believe you very well may be grossly misunderstanding the sort of man he is.

Sonya’s lips pressed into a thin line. I’ve seen more than my fair share of him on both sides of the coin. He is a petulant manchild with a god complex who sees the human race as a plague. Her jaw clenched. An immortal, petulant manchild.

I’m afraid divining the source of his immortality is beyond me, my friend, Erebus said. But I can see what he is after in the short term.

Sonya walked towards the desk and sat down, earning her a glance from Cass. Sonya just waved a hand and smiled at her before tapping at her temple. Cass nodded and leaned back, jumping a little as an eel darted by before chuckling to herself. Sonya smiled at her; it was really good to see her just living a life instead of what could have been. She rested her hands in her lap and looked towards the door again. And what is he after?

Renown.

Sonya’s lips pressed together. I’m aware he wants to be famous. He did it before in the previous timeline and he goes out of his way to showboat now. It’s part of the reason I do things the way I do them, to be his foil.

In doing so, you garner him more fame though, Erebus pointed out.

Sonya scoffed, I’m aware of that. Which is why I suppress him in other ways. Keep him from doing the kinds of jobs that will get him international status. He’s only really famous in New York.

He is starting a grassroots campaign now, using that punishment of yours to his advantage, Erebus said.

Again, I’m aware, but that’s less of an issue, I can deal with that, she huffed. What are you getting at?

That. Again, you don’t understand the man behind the manchild, Erebus said patiently. He is a King.

Sonya’s fingers stilled for a moment. She would have scoffed again if anyone else had claimed as such, but Erebus was a king in her eyes. He understood what a King was. He spoke at length about it, what it meant to be a king. Her shoulders went tight. Go on…

A King does not do what he does not believe is necessary for him, his people, or his goals. He does not act when the benefits to his greater mission are outweighed by the risks. Sister Erina said that he skyrocketed to fame in the previous timeline - incredible by the way and explains a great deal - but in this timeline he is taking his time, he said.

Because I’m suppressing him, Sonya pressed, but her gut told her that she was blowing hot air at this point. Her eyebrows furrowed. He could do it if he wanted to.

Quite so! Erebus chortled. He does not need you to acquire fame, but is taking his time anyway. Why? What is really holding him back? And why is he still motivated by fame if he could, very likely, accomplish his goals without it. His new heralds are dangerous, yet he holds back.

Sonya was on her feet, her fists at her side. He can’t speedrun it because there are too many heroes out there and the world is too stable compared to the previous timeline, Sonya reasoned.

And yet he is still attempting to start a grassroots campaign, when even a fool would know that his time was better spent in a different direction. That boy is a King, so why? Erebus pressed.

Sonya ran her fingers through her hair as she started to walk the room. Cass was watching her now. Sonya’s eyes ticked in her head as she thought it through, every interaction with the young harbinger of the apocalypse. Every single word he spouted was a lie, an attempt to cover up his true nature. He wanted people to see him as the golden child. Why? He could be invisible. He could disappear from the world and destroy it from the shadows. Why?

“...Grandeur of Bahamut.” The words came out in a sharp hiss of a whisper. He needs it. He needs the renown for something.

I suspect so. Otherwise, his behavior is completely irrational. He may be a nihilist and a ‘manchild’ as you put it, but he sees himself as a King and he carries himself as one, Erebus said firmly. He does not take risks without a purpose or guarantee.

Sonya tilted her head. Erina?

It would explain some things, though it does also upend a portion of our strategy. Confronting him openly to humiliate and discredit him would make him into an underdog, Erina said evenly. We’ve ensured that the broad majority of heroes would not be turned against one another by him, so that path of his has been cut.

Something he likely isn’t fully aware of, Erebus pointed out. He will make the attempt to split heroes regardless and even if he doesn’t succeed…

Sonya met her daughter’s eyes. He’ll do some damage in the process.

All the more reason to get that report from Prichard as soon as possible, Erina said. Find out who’s working with him and deal with them. We must erase his presence, not just suppress it. Discrediting him…

Will just keep the conversation going, I know, Sonya thought and pinched the bridge of her nose. Damn.

She exhaled. Renown has nothing to do with his immortality either. He died last time with no one else left on the planet but myself, as far as I know. She hesitantly considered that Charon would have probably survived the apocalypse, poor guy. And in the current timeline he survived An Set’s self destruction point blank before anyone but myself and a small few knew his name.

Erebus’ voice hummed in the back of her mind. Then there is more to it indeed. But there are rules, and I understand you know who to get them from?

Yes, Mimir, Sonya thought. Just gotta find him first.

“Mom?” Cass called, getting to her feet. “You okay?”

Sonya turned towards her daughter and let out a deep breath before sighing. “Just talking with Auntie Erina,” she said gently. That was pretty much code for ‘villain talk’ which she’d promised herself she wouldn’t drag Cass into. Well, besides showing off some of the cool stuff she and the others had built. Sonya walked over and pulled her daughter into a fierce embrace, holding her for a moment and staring out at the glass. Whatever you’re planning to try to upend my work, Otis, I’ll fight you every step of the way.

She pulled back and grinned at Cass as Erebus’ approval and Erina’s stoic agreement washed over her. “C’mon, I wanna show you something super cool that Amos is working on downstairs,” she said and threw an arm over her daughter’s shoulder. “After that? I’m thinking we’ll take our ‘get some air’ tour to somewhere that’s a bit more out in the open!” she declared with a chuckle and a squeeze. “Ever been to the Alps?”

Cass glanced her way and searched her face for a moment before breaking out into an incredulous smile. “You have something out in the Alps too?”

“Oh, I have stuff all over, darling!” Sonya said with exaggerated flair, leading her over to the door. “Admittedly, the base in the Alps used to belong to Queen August…” said with a sigh.

Cass raised an eyebrow. “You… stole Queen August’s house?”

Sonya snickered. “I stole all her stuff,” Sonya admitted with a laugh. “All the art, the furniture, the jewelry…” she trailed off as the door opened, feeling Cass’ eyes burning into the side of her head. “...I’m not picking one out from a pile of loot from a serial killer!” Sonya immediately replied, drawing a laugh from Cass.

“I didn’t say anything, mom!”

Sonya squinted and pointed at her nose. “You were thinking it!” she said.

Cass rolled her eyes. “Then where are you gonna pick a ring? Somewhere legit?” she asked, crossing her arms. “You? Do you think that would be meaningful to her?” Cass asked impatiently as they stepped out into the well lit hallway. 

Sonya threw her hands up into the air and flailed them. “I-I don’t know!” she blurted. “Maybe I’ll make one myself! I bet with my powers combined I could make a shiny rock!”

Cass gave her a deadpan look as a pair of men in jumpsuits walked by with baffled looks on their faces. The permanent crew of the Mariana’s Trench Base were under an NDA through Broker and had seen her more than a few times. Still, it was probably strange for them seeing the queen of villains flail around and complain.

No it’s not. That’s all you do… Erina cut into her thoughts.

Sonya gasped at the audacity. Erina! I was just about to ask you to come out here and back me up!

I’m afraid that Erebus and I will be retreating back into your inner world for a while, dear Sister. There is more to discuss, Erina said blandly, but Sonya could feel the schadenfreude.

Hah! You’re on your own, Sonya! Enjoy! Erebus barked and the two presences faded from her mind. Sonya slumped forward and hung her head. “Ditched by the voices in my head too…” she muttered.

Cass’ hand patted her arm. “If it wasn’t for the fact that I knew Auntie Erina,” Cass said gently, “that would have been the single saddest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Sonya’s head snapped up, and she squinted at her. Then, she pounced. “C’mere you!”

“Wait- no- mooom!”

–

Sonya and Cass exited the elevator. Sonya was smiling ear-to-ear again. Cass’s cheeks had been pinched into ruby redness and her hair mussed from the noogies from her mother. Sonya hummed to herself, skipping down the hall with a grin on her face. She felt loads better now. Cass stalked after her. “I swear you act like you’re twelve sometimes.”

Sonya laughed, “I’m, what, technically three hundred and thirty?” she hazarded with a wave of her hands. “Maybe maturity is on a loop!” she laughed and whirled towards Cass. “Maybe immortals go through phases of immaturity that-” she paused and genuinely considered it for a moment, tilting her head slowly as she squinted at the far wall. “Huh. Actually given everything I know… that’s not entirely unreasonable.”

“Mom, you’re doing that thing again,” Cass said with a sigh as she kept walking towards the door at the other end of the hallway. They were standing on a catwalk suspended over a dizzying array of pipes and tubes that were pumping all manner of things throughout the facility. At the end of the hall that Cass was walking to was a heavy door that said ‘Reactor Room’.

Sonya puffed up her cheeks. “Doing what?”

“That thing where you have sudden world-shaking realizations in the midst of trying to be funny,” Cass said with a smirk, shrugging at her and hopping over towards the door.

Sonya brought her hand to her heart. “Cassipeia Chernovna! I don’t-” she gagged. She blinked and saw Cass standing next to the door with a raised eyebrow. Sonya rolled her eyes and huffed. “Well, that just goes to show how incredible your mother’s mind is - that even a joke can be a revelation coming from my lips!” she said with her chin up as she made her way towards the door.

Cass gaped at her. “Talk about an ego recovery.”

“I’m three hundred, remember?” Sonya teased and tapped her finger against the card panel for the door. “It’s going to take a lot more than that to bruise my ego.”

Cass opened her mouth to retort when the door slid open and a low hum vibrated all the way through their teeth. It was a deep sound, one that struck you in the chest and rippled out until you almost felt unsteady. It was haunting yet also beautiful in a way. Sonya smirked as Cass slowly turned her head towards the interior of the room. Inside were two rows of three massive machines. They were cylinders with metallic caps on each end and various instruments sticking out inside the cylinder like metallic stalagmites and stalactites. Between the instruments, in each cylinder, was a smooth, polished mana crystal carved into a cylinder. They were about the size of a human being.

“Woah…” Cass breathed. “What is this?”

A new voice joined the conversation. “This is the result of well over a year of research and work.”

They both turned to see Amos step out of a wall. He was in his usual tattered denim, t-shirt, and lab coat. His eyes haggard as always, and his hair was a mess, yet something about him seemed uncanny. He took a step and flickered, reappearing near them. “Morning Sonya.”

“It’s night where we’re from,” Sonya chuckled. “How are you, Amos?”

Cass was staring at him, squinting hard. “What’s different about you?”

Amos glanced her way and grinned. “I’m not really here.”

“An illusion? Hologram?” Cass pressed.

Amos grinned. “Good guesses, but how about… a fully independent clone with a memory backup sync?” he said, shrugging his shoulders before reaching out to pat her arm. “How ya doin’, kid?”

Before Cass could splutter about his response, Sonya crossed her arms. “They’re all working?”

“The reactors are fully operational; testing on the Idol really helped. I’ll get the rough ones I made there running soon enough,” he said with a shrug. “Or at least one instance of me will.”

Sonya grinned. “You’ve really gotten used to this.”

He barked out a laugh. “You kidding? This is a dream come true!” he chortled and tapped his head. “Already got the brain to handle it; no problems here, boss.” He tilted his head to the reactors. “The miniaturized ones for the infrastructure plan are already out of the design phase. We’re on schedule.”

She nodded. “Good. We’re going to need it, I think.”

He frowned, his eyes narrowing a little before he nodded. “Got it, I’ll kick things up a bit.”

She wagged a finger. “Don’t burn out.”

He brightened and threw his arms out to his creations. “I literally can’t!” he laughed. “Welcome to the Mana Age!”