Broker

Sonya crossed her legs and watched as Liberty’s shoulders sagged beneath the gaze of so many. The satisfaction was tantalizing, but she had to control herself. She took a deep breath and checked on Cass. The girl’s fists were clenched, her eyes fixed on the figure standing at the center of the room below. Sonya put a hand on hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze before looking back towards the judge.

“In this Confirmation Hearing, the criminal charges have been announced to the defendant,” the woman said, her face remarkably impassive despite the massive weight in the room.

The third judge, to the left of the old man in the middle, rested his hands on the table in front of him and regarded Liberty without a hint of feeling in his eyes. The cold look almost gave Sonya chills. “How does the defendant plead?”

Liberty swayed where she stood, her shoulders heaving. She took a single step forward, and in an instant Black Lotus was standing in front of her, sword drawn and at her throat. The four security guards raised their weapons and aimed them at the criminal. Liberty didn’t seem to care or notice. “I am LIBERTY!” she bellowed. “I am above the law!” she roared. “This court is beneath me!”

“Very well, the defendant pleads not guilty. I would remind the defendant to remain civil in the courtroom or be found in contempt,” the central judge said impassively, cutting her off. “The first hearing of your trial will be in seven days. It is in your interest, this court’s, and that of the world that this trial be as expedient and thorough as possible. Defense and prosecution teams are expected to use this time granted wisely.”

Sonya’s fingers wrapped around the armrest. She won’t live that long, I’m afraid, Sonya thought. Down below, Liberty didn’t move an inch as Black Lotus bore down on her.

“This court is adjourned. Please escort the defendant back to holding,” the second judge said, and everyone rose from their seats. 

Sonya brushed herself off. “Interesting that they have it set up this way,” Sonya said and turned to Cass. “You’ll be meeting with the prosecution team after this?”

Cass nodded. “I got a summons to meet with Miss Firth tomorrow.”

The scary lady with the suppression cuffs? Sonya thought with bemusement. “Have you spoken to her yet?”

Cass shook her head as Marta led them out of the viewing room. They made their way into the main hallway, where the few press allowed to interact with those gathered had finally managed to weasel their way inside. The defense and prosecution teams were filing out as well, with one of them splitting off from the pack to come over. Colin was in an immaculate Italian suit and skirt, his favored suitcase in one hand and a pair of glasses over his eyes. He extended a hand, and Sonya clasped it. “Having fun?” she asked.

He chuckled, “Always. The investigative teams did a lot more digging than I expected; it’s been rather eye-opening.” He turned to Cass and gave her arm a squeeze. “Doin’ alright, kid? I’ll have that paperwork done for you tonight.”

Cass beamed at him, “Thank you, Colin.”

“Anytime,” he said. “We can talk about things over dinner.”

I can’t wait to hear about what you learned from the investigative team, Sonya thought before spotting the severe Leandra Firth standing with a few members of the press and speaking. She glanced back at Colin. “What's her deal?”

Colin turned to look and stiffened before looking back at her with a slightly pensive look. “Uh… I would avoid talking to her, Sonya.”

Sonya snorted. “What? Is she my type?”

Colin held a finger up to his lips and widened his eyes a little. “Easy. She’s gunning for you. She thinks-”

“Sonya Chernovna,” a sharp voice interrupted Colin. Sonya glanced up to see the ruthless red eyes and dark hair of Leiandra Firth. She was standing with a hand on her hip and looking Sonya up and down before fixing her with a stare. “It’s no surprise that you came. Looking for more carrion to pick off?”

Oho, we have a fighter here, don’t we? Sonya thought with amusement. “Leiandra Firth! I was hoping to get a chance to meet you in person. I’m afraid I don’t know what carrion you’re referring to, though.”

Firth cocked an eyebrow before raising a hand to her heart. “Apologies, I was a bit unclear. I’m of course referring to the numerous shell corporations and attached conglomerates that are associated with Liberty’s cult. With your connections, it should be no problem to be first in line to gobble them all up like the other companies that ASTA is made of. What does the core administrative company of ASTA Corporation do again?”

Cass stiffened next to her, and Colin was about to raise a hand, but Sonya stepped forward, smiling ear to ear. “Wow! I’ve heard a lot of pickup lines before, but this one’s new!’ she said delightedly. “So… dinner at my place or yours?”

Leiandra tilted her head to the right and smirked. “Your unique talent for putting people off balance and pulling them into your pace won’t work on me, Chernovna. Your proclivities are legendary at this point, and I don’t want to be caught up in the mess that is your relationship with the Chairwoman.”

Sonya’s smile didn’t waver. “Do you have something to say about Chairwoman Mint, Leiandra?”

“I wouldn’t dare accuse her of corruption and nepotism,” Leiandra said.

“Yes, that would be unwise,” Sonya retorted with a merry laugh. “You’d be making one hell of an enemy today for no reason!”

“Nobody wants to go out of their way and make enemies!” Leiandra chuckled, her steely eyes not blinking once.

“I love your accessories,” Sonya said.

“They keep me honest,” Leiandra clipped back. “It’d be a good look for you.”

“I never lie,” Sonya murmured.

“Really? Then how about an interview?” Leiandra hissed.

“Mom? Are we getting food or what?” Cass abruptly called out, cutting into her staring contest with Leiandra.

Sonya hadn’t realized that the two of them were practically nose to nose. She leaned back and cleared her throat before smirking at Leiandra. “It was nice meeting you, Prosecutor, but it seems my daughter wants my attention, and it’s been a long day already.”

Leiandra crossed her arms and glanced towards Cass. “I’m looking forward to working with you on your testimony, Miss Hanks,” she said with a polite nod. “I’m sorry for everything you’ve gone through. Hopefully we can get you some justice.”

“It’s Chernovna,” Cass said with a bit of edge to her tone. Marta was standing behind her with her usual stoic but serene face betraying nothing. The veins on her neck, on the other hand, told a very different story about Marta’s mood. Cass turned back to Sonya. “Let’s go, Mom.”

“Right,” Sonya said and turned away, ignoring the gawkers as Colin hurried to catch up. He gave her a sidelong look, and she winked at him. “I’m fine,” she said reassuringly and patted his arm. Though now that we’ve had a public tiff, I can’t just make her disappear later. Oh well. There are ways of dealing with people like her. She glanced at Cass, whose face was a little flushed. She called her ‘Hanks’ on purpose, after I referred to her as my daughter. Goading me. Well, Miss Firth, it worked.

–

Sonya sipped her drink and relaxed as the others gathered, her feet up on the long white marble table that stretched down the ominous room. Colin was sitting on her right, and on her left was Ishtar, who sat with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. Cass had returned to where she and the rest of her team were staying. Sonya made sure to send her off with well-wishes for Lillian and the others before opening a portal to the Styx. Now wasn’t the time to have a hero present, and Cass had made her choice. It was the right one, and Sonya fully supported her decision. 

Barry stepped into the room, his human form looking strange on him now that he’d spent so much time in his monstrous form. He pulled out a chair and sat down with a grunt. “Heard you had a fun time after the hearing,” he chuckled, grabbing a plate of food.

Sonya smirked. “That woman’s nothing,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand. “It was amusing to get into a pissing contest for a minute, though.”

Colin sipped at his wine again and raised an eyebrow. “She’ll be coming after you now.”

“She was coming after me before. Now I know why,” Sonya shrugged. “I’ll handle her.”

Beyol and Gia stepped into the room a moment later, hand in hand, before separating and finding their own seats. Sonya gave the two of them an approving nod as a chime went off in the back of her head. She read the message and gestured, a portal opening in the room and Ozzie stepping through, taking off his hat and inclining his head to her. She returned his nod magnanimously as she opened a second portal, and Amos joined them. The door opened again, and Marta made her way inside, her eyes twinkling a little when she saw Barry.

“Everyone’s here,” Sonya said quietly before sitting up straight. “It’s been a while since we had one of these meetings. Inner Circle, report.”

The atmosphere shifted, the air grew cold, and the family turned into a gathering of Supervillains.

Kingshark rose first, his skin turning gray and his body bulking out. “Kingshark is here. The seas are mine. I have begun demanding tribute from those wishing to pass through my better-controlled waters.”

“Well done, your performance during the war was exemplary. Congratulations on becoming a Special-class Supervillain,” Sonya said with a motherly smile. “I have rewards planned for you.”

Kingshark inclined his head. “Thank you for your praise, Mistress,” he said and sat down.

Kerauna stood up next, her chin tilted up. “Kerauna is here. There were a few holdouts of Liberty’s followers scattered about, new groups born from internet fandoms. They thought if they wished hard enough, they could get her powers going again. I smote them.”

“You work fast, good job, dear,” Sonya said with a nod.

Blackrazor followed Kerauna. “Blackrazor is here. The Night Society has begun absorbing the companies that Liberty once used as her allies and is replacing their leadership with our own. They were already crippled by our earlier attacks, so it won’t take long. Ito and Kant remain at large. Craftsman is also in the wind.”

“Make sure to find them,” Sonya said. “What are they calling themselves now?”

“Doctor Kaidan and Tianmo, respectively,” Blackrazor said with a slight bow. “Doctor Kaidan only appeared briefly this morning on security footage outside a bank before vanishing. She gave her name to a police officer before killing him with a hound.” He paused, and his expression turned hard. “One more thing. That man, Graff, sends his regards. He says that you and he are even now and he has no interest in joining.”

“I see, fine, leave him be. I don’t want any quarrel with the Carbon Man,” Sonya said after a pause, “Mephisto?”

Mephisto set his glass down and stood up smoothly. “Mephisto is here. We’ve made inroads with that information you got out of Qilin. I’ll be able to set up a meeting with the larger crime groups and more corrupt government officials in China soon. I can head there in the next few weeks, if you’d like,” he said, his eyes glowing red with mirth. “They were only too happy to make contact after your show during the war.”

Sonya chortled. “Good! Good! That’ll be our first stop then.” The others raised their eyebrows, and she held up a hand. “One thing at a time. Technocrat?”

Technocrat stood up and straightened his lab coat. “Technocrat is here. The Marianas base is almost complete, the fake base in the Alps is done, and I’ve taken the time to put some teams on some rather amusing ‘supervillainy’ devices for you. Odd request, but they’re having fun with it.”

Sonya brightened. “A weather machine?”

Technocrat laughed. “Bit far off from that, but hey, we’ll get there… probably.”

She fake-pouted and leaned back in her chair. “How about you, Charon?”

“Charon is here. Profits are through the roof. That war really was the deciding factor as to who runs the villain underworld. Nobody’s gonna question you now. The villains that managed to survive and escape the battle have all been awarded for their participation as promised,” Charon said with a grin. “Also, Blight’s hoping to speak soon.”

“I’m actually hoping to talk to him as well,” Sonya said with a nod. “Set up the meeting.”

“Of course.”

Ishtar finally opened her eyes and glanced towards Sonya. “You think he’s worth bringing into the fold?”

“Possibly. Depends on how things go with our next target,” Sonya said.

“And our current target?” Ishtar pressed.

Sonya smirked. “That’s why we’re all here,” she said and spread her arms grandly. “Let's talk about slipping into the Pandora Committee’s maximum security prison. We have a Herald to kill.”

–

Liberty sat in her cell, her eyes downcast. Her body ached, but not from any beatings or mistreatment. The guards were shockingly well-behaved. She wouldn’t have treated a prisoner like this, especially a hated enemy. Weak, she thought and then scowled at her emaciated fingers. Damn it, she thought and leaned her head against the wall, looking up at the ceiling. For all her bluster during the confirmation hearing, she had barely enough strength to stand. With the suppression cuffs on and her followers gone, she was weaker than she was when she’d acquired them. Is it because I didn’t maintain my body while I had them? 

She looked down at her feet. It doesn’t matter.

She heard one of the security doors open down the hall and frowned. Isn’t it a little late?

A small group of people stopped outside of her cell door, and she looked up at the thick metal barrier, narrowing her eyes. So that’s how it is, she thought. Ishtar wants to kill me herself. Like that man, An Set, and that woman, Queen August. I won’t give her the satisfaction of being afraid-

The door opened, and she froze.

It wasn’t Ishtar.

A pair of glowing blue eyes gleamed in the room as the lights dimmed down to nothing. They seemed to float in the air for a moment as he came into focus. A cold smile spread across a disgustingly perfect face as the author she’d recognized during the battle stepped inside. The two guards that had been stationed outside her cell just stood there as if frozen in time. The Author made a lazy gesture, and the men blinked in confusion before rounding on him. He tapped the air again, and they blinked once before returning to their posts.

Jessica strode past them with a lazy smile. A large square box swayed at her side on a handle. The girl looked so different from the runt she used to know, pale, her eyes chilling and filled with bloodlust. With her was a boy with brown hair and glasses who adjusted them before the two obvious minions fell into step at either side of the main intruder. The young man, The Author, strode forward with confident steps before stopping in front of her and grinning.

“Hi there! Remember me?”

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