Chapter 370

Turns out it only needed minor edits to the end of the Prichard portion. - DP

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Sonya sipped at her cola, the gentle fizz of the bubbly liquid popping against her nose. She narrowed her eyes and focused on the eerie stillness of the ocean. She tilted her head and her eyes twitched just once as one of them began to feel strange. It was an encroaching feeling, a sensation of something inching across her very being. A portion of the water began to churn as something rose out of it, off-colored particulate rising to the surface and hanging there before dispersing into the water again. Her lip curled up and she chuckled. Way harder doing it without Declaring.

Erebus’ voice popped into the back of her head. Incredible, to think I was playing with rocks with my Mythic powers.

Sonya shrugged. Please, you were playing the world like a fool. I figured out the trick behind Grandeur of Bahamut before I killed you, she thought. Hardly a man banging together rocks.

You flatter me! He laughed. Still, Claimants, Declared, and what comes after?

Proving.

Erina’s voice joined Erebus’. Declaring is such a simple process, but how does one prove that they are what they are? How do you prove your duality?

Sonya snorted. “Out myself?” she said aloud.

Sonya! Erina chastised her.

Sonya laughed and sipped her drink again as the sclera of her left eye returned to normal and s he turned back to her beach house. She spotted Marta standing there waiting for her. Marta looked a bit flummoxed, her brows furrowed moreso than usual. Sonya raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

“Otis made a move,” she said, “An oddly overt one.”

Sonya blinked and titled her head. “What’d he do?”

“A pair of small time local reporters ‘stumbled’ upon him leaving the Gainsville portal,” Marta said with a breath and shook her head. “The only reason I even heard about it was the system that Miss Erina had Amos set up on the computer. It was flashing an alert when I was cleaning.”

Sonya crossed her arms. “Interesting. Sounds like it got next to no coverage,” she said. “A backfired plan?”

“If it was a problem for him, he’s not showing any signs,” Marta said with a shake of her head. “He went back to work immediately after the interview. The monitoring system says that he’s already moving to the next dungeon.” She offered a slight bow. “Shall I make arrangements to meet with Crusader for a check-in?”

“Hm…” Sonya tapped her finger against her lip. “No need for now. He’s testing the waters somehow, looking for a reaction. He wants someone to react.” She waved a hand. “Let Blackrazor know about the situation and have him instruct the Night Society to observe and quietly suppress it. Don’t let it get too far out of hand.”

Marta bowed, “Very good, miss.”

Sonya turned back to the water and raised her fist to her lips in thought, her eyes narrowing a bit more. “Hm…”

Strange behavior coming from him. He’s advertising his own punishment? A plea to make himself look positive? Recover some of the good-will from sneaking off? Erina suggested.

This boy, Otis. I’ve heard of him. He concerns you that much? Erebus asked.

Sonya’s lips formed a thin line. “Not really,” Sonya admitted. “Not in a straight-up fight anyway,” she said. “The problem is his Immortality. An unkillable man will always be the last one standing.”

So he is truly Immortal then? Erebus asked.

“No,” Sonya said firmly. “He can be killed.” Her jaw clenched. “I’ve watched it happen once. I know it can happen…” she frowned and turned her head. She started pacing, “Sister could you give Erebus a quick briefing while I think? I’d like to hear his perspective.”

Of course.

She felt the two legacy spirits slip away into the recesses of her mind as she walked back and forth, trying to wrap her head around Otis’ behavior. He had been far more patient this time around even if he threw himself at his problems like a buffoon every time things didn’t go according to plan. She smiled a little to herself as she remembered his expressions during the Liberty fight. What was he waiting for, though? Last time around he skyrocketed to fame the moment he stepped in to start helping. Last time he went straight for popularity, painting himself as the anonymous hero who didn’t need to be thanked. This time he’s taking it slower but still drawing in the press.

A footstep drew her attention and she turned to see Cass standing on the porch of the Beach House. She looked a little uneasy. Sonya met her gaze and smiled. “Hey, hun. Can’t sleep?” she asked, turning to face her.

Cass stepped forward and shoved her hands into her pockets. “You good, Mom?”

Sonya relaxed and grinned at her. “I’m… okay,” she said with a shrug. “Just a lot on my mind as always,” she admitted.

Cass rubbed her arms. “I didn’t have a chance till now to check on you, after losing Erebus-”

Sonya snorted and waved a hand. “I wouldn’t worry about me on that regard,” Sonya chuckled and walked over to give her daughter a hug. “Let’s just say I can still hear his voice. I’m going to be just fine, okay?” She consoled her and pulled back, looking her over. “What else?”

“Nietz?”

Sonya frowned. “Who told you?”

Cass looked away. “You told me to keep an eye out for ‘Darwin’ when I was at PC headquarters,” she said flatly. “Hard not to figure it out once I properly met the guy and he explained his abilities to us on the Idol.”

Sonya lowered her hands and pressed her lips together. She tilted her head left and right, considering how much to say. “He’s…” she exhaled as a mixture of anger and something she was not willing to accept bubbled up in her chest. She turned and ran her fingers up through her hair. “It’s complicated, which isn’t a fair thing to say, but it’s the best I’ve got right now.”

Her daughter chuckled. “That sounds more like you.”

Sonya snorted. “Doesn’t it?” She let the silence hang between them for a moment, Cass stepping forward to stand next to her. Sonya glanced her way. “That the only reason you can’t sleep?”

Cass shook her head. “No, just restless. Needed to walk. Without our Team Leader and Forward it’s hard to do the big international work we’re now supposed to be doing. We could go on patrol, but where?” Cass sighed. “So we’re sitting on our hands. We know we are. So all of us are just waiting.”

Sonya hummed to herself. “Wanna get some air?” she asked.

That got a raised eyebrow from Cass. “Aren’t we doing that now?”

“Ho ho ho!” Sonya held a hand over her mouth and gave an overdramatic laugh. “My dear, there are always better ways to ‘get some air’ if you know where to go,” she tilted her head and sent off a quick message to Marta through technopathy before turning to look at Cass. She gestured off to the side and started walking, stepping into the trees as a discrete portal formed. “I’ve got a few places I’d like to check in at.”

“As… her or as you?” Cass asked carefully.

Sonya pursed her lips together. “A little of both?” Sonya hazarded.

Cass rolled her eyes. “Alright, fine, where are we off to?” she asked.

Sonya just grinned.

–

Prichard Earl was a busy man for a number of reasons. He owned one of the largest casinos in Las Vegas, for one thing. He was also an active agent within the underworld. After Charon had formed the Styx, Ishtar had put Prichard on Charon’s short list of leadership. The benefits were incredible, of course. Money pouring out of his ears and light-touched bodyguards that would make a seasoned politician blush in inadequacy. For all intents and purposes, Prichard pulled the strings across the underworld in the United States. Which also meant that he had his thumb on  the pulse of the White House and damn near everywhere else.

And yet…

He was getting a little bored. There was a difference between engaged and busy. He enjoyed the meticulous work but there was always room for a bit more excitement in his life. He hadn’t always been this way, but as a survivor of the battle of Vegas, he was much like many of his peers, craving an electrifying thrill that he just couldn’t find again. To call it frustrating was an understatement. There was little he could do, though. Middle-management in the Queen of Supervillain’s shadowy order was something a man with a non-combat ability would just have to accept.

A knock came to the door of his office and he didn’t even look up. “Enter.” It was the middle of the night and he was still being bothered.

The door opened and one of his aides stepped inside, they didn’t speak for a moment and he looked up to frown at them. “This better not-” he paused as he saw that the color had drained from the young man’s skin. “What is it?”

“Sonya Chernovna and her daughter are here to meet with you, sir, I told them that-”

Prichard slapped his hand on the table. “See them in, you idiot!” He barked, “How long did you make them wait?”

The aide jerked back as if struck and shook his head. “N-not at all, they just arrived sir!” The aide babbled and held up his hands. “I’ll go get them right now!” he hurried out and shut the door behind them. 

Prichard slumped back in his seat and pinched the bridge of his nose. Ishtar is here? Now? Why? He wondered as he stared at the door, expecting to see the now legendary suit of armor float into his office. Instead, when the door opened, Sonya walked in as she had the first time they’d met. With a coy smile on her face and her white hair fluttering around her shoulders. Next to her was a blonde girl that he recognized from the news. Liberty’s little sister, Cassiopeia, who Sonya had ‘adopted’ into her family.

He rose to his feet and walked around his desk, extending a hand. “Sonya, it’s been too long.”

She chuckled and grasped his hand, pulling him into an enthusiastic hug. “Prichard!” She chortled and pulled back, looking him up and down. “Good to see you!” she gestured to Cassiopeia. “Prichard, this is Cassiopeia. Cass, this is Prichard Earl, he owns the ‘Palace’ as well as several other major properties in Vegas. He helps me handle a lot of my side-business here in the States.”

He glanced her way. Side business? That’s one way to refer to it I suppose, he thought dryly before smiling at the girl. “Charmed, miss Chernovna,” he said and held out a hand. She took his hand for a quick shake and he used his ability on reflex. His eyebrows rose and he glanced Sonya’s way. 

Sonya just grinned at him and clapped his shoulder. “You see what I see,” she chirped and walked over to his desk. She sat on it and crossed her legs. “I need a favor, Prichard.”

His eyes lingered on a confused looking Cass before turning her way. “How can I help?”

“I’ve got the University tackling a certain issue and I could use a second angle of attack to see if I can’t dig into a particular problem,” she said casually. 

University, the Night Society, he thought. He put his hand on his hip. “The University has a lot of people who can handle problems, why invite me?”

“Fresh eyes,” Sonya said, tapping her own temple. “An uninfluenced opinion,” she explained. “I’m anticipating some unusual media coverage to start cropping up soon,” she said. “There was a smattering of it earlier but there will be more, I’m sure of it, and I want to know who’s urging it to happen and what you think the goal is.” She leaned forward and raised her eyebrows. “You think you can do that?”

He reached up and adjusted his tie. “I believe so. It’ll take a little time. What’s this coverage about?”

Her lips curled upward. “Otis. Where he currently is should be being suppressed right now. Yet he ended up getting found very quickly by a minor news station.”

Prichard’s eyebrows shot up and he nodded with understanding. “On it.”

–

Sonya hummed to herself as she walked down the hall from Prichard’s office, skipping a bit with every step. She should have pulled that thread sooner. Blackrazor’s impression of Otis was colored by what he knew of the past timeline. Telling her inner circle the truth might have become a double-edged sword.  She needed a different lens to look through it. She was surprised she hadn’t considered this sooner. Prichard said he would do some digging and she should come back in a few hours. That was perfect since she had other places to be.

Cass walked alongside her, blonde hair bobbing as she shoved her hands into her pockets. “So is this take your daughter to work day or something?”

Sonya laughed, “‘Or something’ sounds about right,” she said with a step and a flourish, gesturing towards a door leading out onto the gambling hall. “Want to see the high life? Or want to go somewhere else? I have a few more places to visit.”

She flicked her eyes up and saw Cass’ exasperated look of amusement. Cass snorted out a laugh and she shook her head. “I’m not really interested in playing games in Vegas. I bet Alex would be sad too if he found out I came here before him.”

“Oh?” Sonya asked, leaning in with a grin. “Want to run off to Vegas with Alex already?” she teased.

Cass’ face turned pink. “M-mom! Whatever you’re thinking-”

Sonay snickered. “I never took you for a wedding chapel kind of girl.”

Cass stomped her foot. “MOM!”

Sonya gestured towards the door behind Cass, opening up a portal. “I’m teasing!” she laughed and walked over to it. “C’mon, I’ve been hoping to show you this one.”

Her daughter puffed her cheeks out before deflating with a sigh and a small laugh. She shook her head and nodded. “This better be good, because so far this ‘walk’ has been you doing business and teasing me,” she said, crossing her arms as she walked through the portal. Sonya grinned and followed her in, humming to herself as they stepped into a well lit chamber It was perfectly square with a large desk on one end and very little in the way of decor.

Well, except for the incredible view out the window.

Cass turned in a full circle before stopping dead, her breath catching as she watched the fish swim by. The faintly illuminated ring that was embedded in the enormous circular window provided just enough light to see the aquatic life drifting by. Cass gaped as she walked towards the window and stared through it. “Where… are we?”

“The mariana’s trench,” Sonya said, checking her nails as she walked over to the window and peered out. “One of my many facilities. Uncle Amos does a lot of work here for me. I figured you’d enjoy the view.”

Her daughter just stared through the window with wide eyes as the darkness occasionally gave way to another creature of the deep. Eerie shapes flitted in the dark and she squinted. “Fishmen?” she asked.

Sonya opened her mouth when she felt two presences rise up in her head. She held up a hand and glanced to her left. Enjoy your briefing, Erebus?”

When Erebus spoke, his tone was heavy with consideration. It was illuminating, he said, We need to talk.