Broker

Chapter 213

The city had been chosen by Liberty. The place by the Pandora Committee. The small amount of heads-up had allowed Ishtar a minor amount of preparation time. It wasn’t much, but with all eyes now on the University Convention Center, it was better than nothing. She smiled a little to herself as the limousine pulled up. She was aware that the area was modest, but luxury and grandeur in that regard were not to Liberty’s tastes. She looked down on wastefulness and so the Pandora Committee seemed only too happy to provide in that regard.

“Well, I was honestly expecting more,” Black Lotus murmured to her right.

Ishtar tilted her head towards the hero, “Protesters?”

“Among other things,” Black Lotus said, “Get ready for an earful. I kind of wish you’d brought Levi with you.”

Ishtar snorted, “Levi’s a darling, but he has a habit of growling a little too much when he thinks I’m being bothered,” Ishtar said, “Visual intimidation is one thing, hostile posturing towards civilians is another. Sonya has a sterling image to maintain.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Carla asked from her left, “No offense, but you aren’t great at imitating Sonya’s attitude and eccentricities.”

Ishtar shrugged, “Liberty isn’t looking for that. She wants the hard woman she met at the Hague. That, I can do. Also, I’ve been practicing. I can play her role long enough,” she added a little petulantly.

The silence told her that Carla and Black Lotus were exchanging looks. She raised an eyebrow as Black Lotus cleared her throat, “Were you just-”

“Can we get out of the car, please?” Ishtar growled, a bit of heat rising to her face. She ignored the snicker from the irritating hero moments before she heard the door open and the sound-proof seal was broken. Shouts carried into the vehicle, chants and slogans thrown about as loud as each person could manage. The affiliates ranged wildly;

“Liberty must face trial! War crimes! War crimes!”

“The Pandora Committee is corrupt!”

“Remember Tokyo!”

“Liberty should be put down! Death Penalty!”

“Chernovna for President!”

“PC heroes aren’t real heroes!”

“Might makes right!”

“The Children of Dawn know the truth about Tokyo! Where are they hiding?”

Ishtar’s lips thinned as Black Lotus helped her out of the vehicle and into the wheelchair. A portion of the crowd that was likely within eyeshot died down for a heartbeat as Ishtar, or rather, Sonya’s withered appearance was first revealed to the masses. She could hear camera shutters going off, The sounds of news stories blasting off into scoop territory. She sighed, Had to be done, she thought as her mind drifted to the chanting, What did I do with the Children of Dawn again? Oh, right, I sent them to the Night Society for the time being. Better there than anywhere else I suppose.

She rubbed her thumb down the armrest of the wheelchair thoughtfully, I should figure out what to use them for. It’s a valuable resource.

“Miss Chernovna! Miss Chernovna!” a reporter called out from somewhere nearby, “What are your thoughts on being invited to this summit? Why isn’t Handmaiden with you?”

Another quickly barked over him, “Is it true that your mechanical eyes were damaged in the attack? Are you blind again?”

“What is your current relationship with Chairwoman Mint? Have you two gotten married yet? Don’t you think that’s a conflict of interest?” another shouted.

Vultures, Ishtar thought, I don’t understand at all how Sonya can revel in this sort of environment. These people make me ill. She let her senses spread out a little, getting a better feel for her surroundings. It wasn’t a visual representation but it was better than before. She felt Chunhua’s shoulders tense behind her as she pushed the wheelchair, to her left she felt Carla’s hands begin to ball up into fists before relaxing.

“Ignore them,” Carla murmured, “We’ll have time for the peanut gallery later.”

They wheeled Ishtar along a sidewalk that was open only because of the barriers put in place ahead of time by the committee. Ishtar rest her hands in her lap and eased into a more relaxed expression, her smile turning radiant as she turned it on those she passed. The crowd kept shouting, only dying down a little when they passed the area where the protesters and onlookers were allowed to stand. There, just beyond it, she felt three figures waiting for them. Two women and a man. She couldn’t tell much about them besides their general figures, though she knew two of them quite well. Chunhua’s grip tightened on the wheelchair, The third one must be Dame Kant, then. I recognize poor Phillip.

The wheelchair came to a stop and she tilted her head, blindly smiling in the direction of the eight foot tall woman looming over everyone else in her vicinity. A small crowd of press had gathered at a safe distance. Cameras were already flashing and clicking. Finally.

“Estella Hanks,” Ishtar said pleasantly, “I haven’t made you wait overly long, have I?”

The air grew tense, she sensed the man to the left of Liberty shift to move forward. She kept her smile pleasant but smug, her head tilted to the side as if she was just innocently asking a question. If Sonya were here, how would she do it? She would draw you into her pace with little jabs and tiny cuts, so I think I’ll give it a try. Let’s play, Liberty. Come and join me on the playground. Liberty didn’t so much as move, but the man stopped. 

“Sonya Chernovna,” Liberty said, keeping her tone even, “You actually came. I see the rumors of your injuries were not unfounded. Curious, since my people had nothing to do with it.”

“You trust your people so implicitly? Brave,” Ishtar said.

“I trust them to do what is in their best interest, and lying to me is not,” Liberty countered.

“Well said,” Ishtar conceded with a chuckle, “Shall we go inside and get to business?”

She sensed the movements of Liberty crossing her arms, “Not all conditions for this meeting have been met, have they?” she said. Ishtar restrained a sneer. You’ll hint but you won’t admit to what you asked for. I knew you would play it this way, so would I. Two can play at that game.

Carla tensed next to Ishtar, a little performance arranged ahead of time. She took a step forward even though Ishtar could feel the woman trembling slightly beneath the Herald's gaze. Real courage is so hard to find, Ishtar thought as Carla planted her feet and stood between Ishtar and Liberty. “The best we could do was leak that this meeting was happening. We are the Pandora Committee, we will not bow to Supervillains or plead to them for their aid,” she snarled, “If Ishtar comes, she comes, but we will have no part in making a deal with the devil, especially at your request.”

The air grew so thick it was smothering. Liberty took a warning step forward, “What did you just say?” Liberty growled, “I’d watch those accusations of yours, Chairwoman. I don’t need to lean on an outside force to get my way.”

The man at Liberty’s side raised his hand slightly. Black Lotus reached for her sword. The press began to shift back. Ishtar rest her hands in her lap and savored the moment before sending a blip of signal through her technopathy. Ah, what a beautiful circus,

“Ishtar!” Liberty shouted.

Marta, wearing the regalia, stepped out with a masked Blackrazor and Kerauna at her side. She had her arms crossed behind her back with her head held high. Marta spoke through the voice mixer that voice of cold scorn and bloody promise. A rasp that chilled the air, “Liberty,” Marta hissed, Ishtar made the eyes flash in time with her words, “I heard you were having a party and thought I might crash it. Seems I was lured into this by the Pandora Committee. How amusing that they’re finally playing at a higher level. The old chairman fumbled with tinker toys, well played, Chairwoman.”

It’s always so interesting hearing my true voice from the outside, Ishtar mused.

Carla finished her part of the performance and relaxed, her hands dipping slightly to her sides. “It was a gamble,” Carla said, “This one insisted that she wouldn’t meet with us without your presence. I’m ashamed to say that I am a little glad you came. Perhaps we can avoid needless bloodshed after all.”

Ishtar cleared her throat, “Carla, dear, that was a confidential part of the agreement.”

Ishtar felt Liberty’s hackles rise slightly at the jab and she rounded on Carla and Ishtar, “It would seem that I will have to keep my word,” the herald ground out.

“Were you hoping I wouldn’t show?” Marta snickered, “Before we go, we should all introduce ourselves. It’s only polite.”

You really should have been an actress, Marta. What a shame.

When Liberty said nothing right away, Marta spoke up, taking the initiative. She turned up the volume on her helmet and broadcast her voice so that more than enough people could hear. “I am Ishtar! The Queen of Villains and the final authority in this world,” she declared before gesturing to the two next to her, “This is Supervillain Kerauna, my master bolt. I believe Hero Black Lotus and Miss Chernovna have met her already.”

Black Lotus was the next to put on her little show, she gripped her sword, “We’ve met,” she growled, “So she really does work for you.”

“Mistress!” Kera whined into the conversation, “This is booooring! Why don’t I just smite them all and save the trouble?”

It was Liberty’s groups turn to grow tense, the woman who had been still the entire time drew her own hand up to an object on her belt. Marta didn’t so much as react or even acknowledge Kera’s comment before gesturing to Blackrazor, “And this is someone who needs no introduction, given his quite legendary reputation, Supervillain Blackrazor, the leader of the Night Society. The worlds finest assassin.”

This made Black Lotus nearly draw her sword out of her sheath. Ishtar smirked to herself when she felt the woman’s glance, an accusatory glare. Sorry I didn’t tell you he would be here, dear, but I needed you to put on a good performance. Ishtar thought, Now we’re even for your little games during my treatment. 

“You don’t seem to be here to talk, Ishtar,” Liberty growled.

“On the contrary, I’m very interested in how this all plays out, Liberty,” Marta countered.

Liberty scoffed, “This is Sir Philip, my right hand,” she said with a grunt, “And this is Dame Ito. The most powerful among my round table,” she clenched her fists, “I do not believe I require an introduction, but for the sake of the zoo of press that you’ve brought to this place. I will make it plain. I am Liberty! And my word is law.”

“Jungle law,” Ishtar scoffed and received a faux reproachful gasp from Carla.

“I am Chairwoman Carla Mint of the Pandora Committee, this is Sonya Chernovna who you invited to this negotiation, the CEO of ASTA Corporation and the Voice of the Hero Movement. With her is Black Lotus, our top hero,” Carla said.

Marta clapped her hands, “Wonderful! See how easy it is to have a civil conversation? We’re all introduced even if some of us are a bit deluded about our roles here,” she snickered and spun on her heel, “Shall we go inside and talk?” she said and strutted inside without bothering to wait for the other two parties. 

Ishtar felt a cold glare on her and turned her head to face Liberty’s presence, her lips widened into a playful smirk. “Looking forward to it, aren’t you, Miss Hanks?”

Liberty scoffed and marched into the building with her two round table members in tow. Ishtar leaned back in her wheelchair and let out a breath. The first hurdle is complete, we’ve set the pace but as far as the negotiations are concerned she holds all the power. I’ve agreed to try to make her capitulate so I’ll have to give it my all. It’s obvious that she wanted Carla to fail to get me to come so she had all the more reason to declare that talks had broken down. She wanted legitimacy and an excuse out of this. We’ve taken that from her.

Ishtar gestured and Black Lotus began wheeling her inside. Ishtar rubbed her thumbs together thoughtfully, Now that I know her weakness, I know why. She wants a war to happen as much as I do. She wants the Pandora Committee to hit her bases of operation across the world and wake her people all at once without her even sending a signal, disguising her ability’s function and turning herself into an unstoppable juggernaut.

“You could have warned me,” Black Lotus hissed, “About him.”

Ishtar huffed, “What good would that do?”

“He killed Pathfinder,” she rumbled.

“He’s killed far more than that,” Ishtar snorted, “Quit pretending to be pious knowing what you know, hero. This is my play. Just play your role.”

“That went well,” Carla said, ignoring the snipping between Top Hero and Top Villain.

“We’re just getting started,” Ishtar said, “While she clearly came hoping that the negotiations wouldn’t happen, someone like her, she’s prepared for the conversations we’re about to have. It’s what I would do. Contingencies upon contingencies.”

“And what’s your contingency if talks break down and she lashes out?” Black Lotus asked tersely.

“They just walked inside. Your friend can get us out of here in an instant, if you don’t think you can block one of Liberty’s blows,” Ishtar teased.

“I can handle myself, I’m worried about the Chairwoman,” she spat.

“Ladies,” Carla growled as they reached the door. The snap of her tone even managed to draw Ishtar’s attention for a moment. She raised an eyebrow as she turned her blind gaze on the Chairwoman. 

Her lips twitched into a smile that said ‘cute’ before she let out a breath. “Yes, yes, as agreed.”

“Apologies, Chairwoman,” Black Lotus said with far more sincerity than Ishtar.

Ishtar snorted as they made their way inside. She didn’t need to see to know their surroundings. Downloading a map into her brain had proved sufficient to give her a general idea of where they were going. They moved into the largest room in the building before arriving at a long table that had been set up for the summit. Marta had taken a seat at the head of the table with her legs crossed, opposite the equally audacious Liberty. Ishtar tapped into the helmet with her technopathy, transmitting her voice to Marta, <”You did well. I’ll take it from here.”>

<”As you wish, Mistress,”>

Now the real fun begins.