Broker

Sonya smirked at the ceiling as Marta fussed over her tie. Humming a little to herself while going over the day's schedule. She had a lot to do and not much time to do it. It wasn't as big a deal as it was a return to normalcy. She glanced down and met Marta’s eyes as she pulled back and patted the knot on the tie once. "All good?”

“You’re never going to learn to do that yourself, are you?” Marta asked with a roll of her eyes.

“Nope!” Sonya laughed and took a step back, looking herself over in the mirror and nodding appreciatively. Back in her all white suit and pink tie. It felt good to be back in her ‘battle gear’. She tilted her head to the side and activated Regalia briefly. How was your first walk-about outside in your own body? She asked.

Ishtar emerged from the ability with a muted flood of awareness, Better than I expected. I enjoyed being able to pick my own food for once, even though that body doesn’t quite need to eat. Thank Marta for me.

Sonya wrinkled her nose in amusement, I can’t believe you like black coffee.

It’s refined.

Sonya shook her head and turned to Marta who arched an eyebrow. "Ishtar says thank you for what you made for her. She loved it.”

Marta pursed her lips. "Then perhaps she could stop frowning all the time while she’s eating.”

Sonya tilted her head, Hear that?

I will take it under advisement, Ishtar replied after a moment of hesitation, Go on, I’m going to enjoy my nap.

Sonya released the ability and she felt Ishtar’s presence fade again. It felt strange to have her other half go so completely silent like that. She remembered being so scared every time she looked in the mirror. Now it felt just a little lonely. She knew she could call Ishtar at any time, but it wasn’t the same and it would take some getting used to. She rubbed her neck and let out a breath. "Let’s get to the portal room,” she said lazily.

Marta bowed, her hands over her lap. "Of course, ma’am.”

Sonya turned and walked out the door, pausing long enough to look up at the ceiling. "Kera! Behave while I’m gone!”

The lights flickered and Sonya snorted, walking out of her room, down to the living room, and out into the entry hall. She stepped out into the atrium. It was a small square space partially inspired by the atrium of Spice King Erebus’ home. A large indoor garden filled with ferns and fountains, the columns holding up the ceiling carved into reliefs of beautiful figures. Sonya crossed the space as the private elevator chimed, stepping inside. Marta joined her and tapped the button for one of the few floors the private elevator had access to. A security measure for herself.

As the elevator descended, Marta raised a finger to her ear and nodded. She turned to Sonya; “The portal arch just rose for you.”

Sonya nodded. "Thank you, Marta.”

“Euclicia has come herself,” Marta added after a pause.

Sonya raised an eyebrow. "Interesting.”

The elevator chimed again and it slowed to a stop on the twenty-second floor. The Portal Chamber. A space that Amos and Euclidia together had designed to be receptive to her abilities and easy to target. Which also means it's the first place heroes would appear if they happened to raid ASTA Headquarters, Sonya thought with bemusement and stepped out. 

It was a large chamber taking up most of the twenty-second floor and a small portion of the twenty-third. The room had an atlas dome, made up of numerous arches and supports that created a hexagonal central point. The smooth surfaces and flat-white paint gave it the illusion of being one solid piece. The floor was made up of the same digitized panels that she used in her own home, currently set to ripple in response to footsteps.

Sonya walked ahead of Marta, her arms crossed behind her back, towards the small group that had arrived to meet her. There were three of them. Molly aka Euclidia stood at the fore, brown hair and black-orange eyes that shifted with ambient light, like a cat's-eye gemstone. She was wearing her usual punk-rocker goth getup and smirking confidently. To her left was a beaming Greg, the usual t-shirt and jeans look had finally given way to something a bit nicer. A shiny purple dress shirt and black slacks accompanied by shiny shoes. His brown hair was still just as messy as Molly’s though. His slightly violet eyes twinkled as he waved.

The last one, on Molly’s right, was already running in her direction. A flash of blonde hair, glittering blue eyes wet with tears, and that button nose Sonya could never forget. She swept Cassiopeia into a hug and was quickly lifted off the ground. Cass swung her around for a moment, squeezing before setting her down and not letting go. Sonya didn’t either. “I’m proud of you,” Sonya murmured and patted the back of the girl’s head. She pulled back and looked her over. "How are you doing? You’ve been the center of attention for a while.”

Cass scratched her nose. "I’ll… be alright. Though I could use some help navigating this stuff.”

“That’s my job!” Sonya laughed. "Both as the owner of your agency and as your mother, apparently!”

The girl blushed furiously. "I… Might have gone a bit over-”

Sonya pinched the girl’s cheek. "I’ll have some papers written up,” Sonya said, cutting her off with a grin. "Come on, they’re waiting. We’ll talk more later.”

Cass’ eyes flashed with a fresh wave of tears accompanied by a big, adorable smile. The young woman nodded sharply. "Right!”

Sonya patted her arm and walked past, throwing out her arms in greeting. "Molly! You came to pick me up in person! I’m honored!” she said and the mythic hero hurried over and clasped her in a friendly hug. She pulled back. "It’s because of Halloway, isn’t it?”

Molly nodded. "Never found a body despite the mess left behind,” she said. "So until we’ve got some confirmation all we can do is be safe with VIPs. Gravy train here and I have been working on countermeasures.”

No body, that’s troubling. Blackrazor confirmed the kill. Why would the body be missing?

Sonya snorted. "Gravy train?” she laughed and looked over to a flustered Greg. He gave her an imploring look that screamed, ‘Help me, she’s crazy’ and she chuckled. "How are you, Greg?”

He scratched his head. "Hanging in there, Molly has me working my tail off on a big project.”

“Oh? Got any juicy details for me?” Sonya asked.

He brightened. "Oh we’re looking into all sorts of things. We think with the combination of my ability and hers-”

Molly shot him a withering look, and Sonya raised an eyebrow. Molly turned and gave her an apologetic smile. "Sorry Sonya, Classified for the time being. I know you’re an honorary admin or something but…”

Sonya waved her hands. "Oh no, I get it, it’s fine,” she said easily and moved the conversation along. "So what are we looking at?” she asked as Cass moved over to stand with her and Marta.

“Well she had her initial appearance, I think you guys call it an arraignment, right after getting picked up. Nobody wanted to waste any time, the judges were pretty grumpy about it though,” Molly said, scratching at her chin. "The actual confirmation of charges hearing is in about an hour. It’ll be around four in the afternoon over there,” she gestured to the portal. "We’ll go through and you can get some seats. Shall we?”

–

It was a media frenzy.

Cameras were everywhere and heroes had been dispatched to assist the ICC security force to maintain order. The press were lined up along the entryway to the courthouse, no amount of warnings from every government body and political alliance imaginable could keep them away. Sonya glanced out the window of the armored limousine and narrowed her eyes, searching the faces in the crowd for anyone she could recognize. Name plates popped up but nothing appeared to be out of order.

Kant didn’t come, then. Neither did Ito. Liberty’s been abandoned.I was anticipating one of them making a scene, but apparently they’ve learned their lesson.

The Limousine stopped and she turned to Cass who was fidgeting with her hands in her lap. She put her hand on the girl’s shoulder and tilted her head down to look up into her eyes. "You ready?”

Cass took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, mom.”

“Good,” Sonya patted her arm and looked up at the back of Marta’s head in the front passenger seat as she pulled a pair of oversized sunglasses out of her coat, flicking them open with a jerk of her wrist and slipping them on over her new eyes. "Marta?”

Marta slipped out of the car to the noisy murmurs of the press and more camera flashes. She approached the door and opened it. Sonya turned and slid out with a smug smile on her face as voices rose in the crowd, some already shouting for her attention. She ignored them and turned back to extend a hand to Cass who took it and the chatter grew even louder. A pair of ICC security members and a hero she didn’t recognize hurried over.

“Miss Chernovna, your security pass?” the hero asked quickly.

She reached into her pocket and pulled out her card marked with her mana signature. Marta did the same. The young man examined the cards briefly before nodding and turning to Cass. Sonya held up a hand. "She doesn’t have a card yet,” Sonya said gently. "We’ll take her through the usual security channel.”

The hero shook his head. "That won’t be necessary,” he said and turned to call for a female hero who was standing with the rest of the team. "Verity!”

The brunette woman hurried over, she was dressed in the form-fitting gray of a Pandora exclusive hero. "Who am I checking?”

He nodded to Cass and she extended a hand. Cass cleared her throat and took it without further prompting. The male hero nodded. "Are you Cassiopeia Hanks?”

Sonya smirked. "It’s Chernovna, now,” She said, loudly enough for the reporters around her to hear. The man looked at her in confusion and she repeated herself patiently. "Her name is Cassiopeia Chernovna. My lawyer is already drawing up the paperwork.” As soon as those words escaped her lips the gathered press got even noisier, camera flashes going off. Sonya restrained her self-satisfied grin.

Man blinked before nodding. "Forgive my rudeness,” he said quickly and turned back to Cass. “Are you Cassiopeia Chernovna?”

Cass smiled. "Yes.”

Verity’s eyes shone once and she nodded. "Confirmed.”

The man let out a breath and took a step back before turning to Sonya. “Her identity has been verified, sorry for the slap-dash check. We’re moving quickly to get you inside and out of this mess, ma’am,” he gestured towards the path between the wall of press and onlookers. "Please follow me.”

He moved quickly, the two ICC security guards joined by a quartet of Pandora Committee soldiers as they were ushered past the rowdy press. Not fast enough to escape pestering questions. "Miss Chernovna, are you fully recovered from your injuries?” “Was that confirmation that Harbinger is officially your daughter now?” “Are those new eyes? Were they designed by your company?” “What are your thoughts on the power suppression surgery as a punishment for Liberty?” “What do you expect from the confirmation hearing?”

Others shouted at Cassiopeia. "Is it true you were tortured by your sister?” “What is your relationship to Liberty’s cult now?” “Are you inheriting your sister's assets after her arrest?” “Where is your team heading next?”

“Eyes forward,” Sonya said quietly. "Smile, wave, but don’t speak,” she added as she followed her own advice, waving at the crowds and grinning for the cameras. Cass did her best but her smile was more than a little nervous. Sonya kept her hand at her daughter’s back as they made their way forward. She felt the girl trembling beneath her palm and very gently urged imperious to brush her with her presence. Not in a hostile way, but in a protective cloak.

Cass relaxed and gave her a grateful look, Sonya nodded but didn’t turn her head towards her. She kept her chin up as they approached the doors. “You’re going to be fine,” Sonya murmured as they entered.

The interior of the International Criminal Court was not some architectural marvel or effort to glorify the legal process. The old rustic architecture of western courtrooms and government buildings had been set aside for a clean rectangular space with three sets of tables, one on each side of the space save for the entry point. Above the courtroom was an observation area behind thick glass where the majority of the observing parties sat. The press were forced to stay in the media rooms outside of the main court area, though they had access to camera feeds.

Sonya, Marta, and Cass ascended the steps into the observation room. It was a confirmation hearing so Cassiopeia didn’t need to sit at one of the prosecution tables this time.

They found their assigned seats and Sonya took some time to briefly greet some of the others who’d arrived. Mostly representatives of the Pandora Committee she’d already met before and various heroes. There wasn’t enough time to shake everyone’s hand, though, as security quickly called for all parties to be seated.

That was when the three judges and the rest of the panel stepped out. Three grim-faced figures sat at the center of the table directly ahead of the observation room while the others filled in the seats at their sides. Next came the prosecution and defense teams, among them was a familiar face. Colin had opted not to lead the prosecution but to offer his support and insight as a representative of a hero-aligned organization. That job had fallen in the hands of a stern looking woman with dark hair and fierce red eyes. She looked like she wouldn’t be out of place with a ruler in her hand, slapping it against her palm. To Sonya’s surprise, the woman was wearing power suppressing cuffs like they were a fashion accessory.

She narrowed her eyes and sought the woman’s name.

<Leiandra Firth: Awakened>

I like her vibe.

She glanced towards the defense team and her eyes widened a little in surprise. There were more people there than she was expecting. A few of them looked decidedly unhappy to be in their current role but hid it as best they could. The man at the head of the defense looked confident despite the attention he was getting.

<Elov Blasser: Unawakened>

A chime sounded and the murmuring went dead silent. The centermost judge spoke. "This Confirmation Hearing for the indictment of Estella Hanks, also known as Liberty, is now in session. Please be silent during the proceedings,” he said sharply, his wrinkled features turning hard. "The accused may enter.”

No one breathed as a door opened beneath the observation room. Two Pandora Committee soldiers, two ICC security guards, and Black Lotus herself marched in with a single figure walking between them. Blonde hair was cut and cleaned, her appearance immaculate at least as far as filth and grime were concerned. She’d been healed as well at some point. Her shoulders though, her posture, everything hung low as she was dragged before the world.

Black Lotus stopped in front of the judges, bowed once, then turned to march to the door she’d come in through, standing in front of it and crossing her arms. The guards stood in all four corners of the room, their eyes trained on Liberty as she stood alone.

“Estella Hanks. You have been charged by this International Criminal Court with high crimes, war crimes, and crimes against humanity,” the centermost judge ground out. 

The judge to the man’s left spoke next, unlike her wizened counterpart, she was a middle-aged woman with clear eyes and a shock of blonde hair. "The charges are as follows; Thirty-five general counts of War Crimes, five counts of conspiracy to commit crimes against peace and instigate armed conflict, five hundred counts of mass murder-one issued for every hundred deaths in Tokyo…”

Sonya sat up straight as the charges were read off and she could only imagine the rest of the world doing the same, looking down on the monster who had sneered down at the rest of humanity.

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