Chapter 148

  Alexander entered the meeting room last.

  Everyone was already seated, waiting. The conversation stopped as the door closed behind him.

  He paused, taking in the arrangement. The chair at the head of the table had been left empty for him. Augustus sat to its right, Talia to its left. Annie and Gilly sat opposite, while Felix and Carmen occupied the remaining positions on either side.

  “Thank you all for coming,” Alexander said.

  Quiet acknowledgments answered him. No one spoke further. Something in his tone must have conveyed the weight of what was coming.

  Alexander moved to the empty chair and sat. He met each person’s gaze in turn, moving around the table.

  He gathered his thoughts for a moment before speaking.

  “I called this meeting to discuss a number of different things, but ultimately, they all boil down to working out the future of Grimnir.”

  He let that settle.

  “When we started all of this,” Alexander glanced at Augustus to his right, then Talia to his left, then across the table to Annie, “we had different reasons. At first it was survival. Then getting Frank out of the trouble we put him in. After that, we wanted to do some small good by removing some really bad people.”

  The original members of Grimnir sat quietly, caught up in their memories. Carmen, Felix, and Gilly remained focused intently on Alexander.

  “Then it was about my selfish desire to stick a middle finger into the eye of Santiago Systems.”

  Annie barked a laugh.

  “We all wanted a piece of that,” Augustus added.

  Alexander nodded. “We trained and learned along the way. Picked some fights. Got ambushed by the System. And then we ended up caretakers of a bunch of aliens. Some of which are now full members of this craziness.”

  Annie whooped, grinning at Gilly and Felix.

  “You all know what happened next. How Grimnir has grown. The crew. Gilly. Krrsh. Felix.” Alexander leaned back. “And when we get back to Earth, we’re going to need to recruit for a number of reasons.”

  “What reasons?” Carmen asked.

  “To expand our capabilities as a guild. Security. Logistics. Intelligence. That’s just to start. Which also means we’ll need admin staff. More superhumans.”

  Talia shifted in her seat, eyes fixed on him. “This isn’t just about the gateway, is it?”

  Alexander shook his head. “No. It’s about making Grimnir a force to be reckoned with. About having the power, the reach, and the Will—” He reached out a hand in front of him, fingers closing into a fist. “—to stretch out our hands and bring about change. And it’s about preparing for whatever the System throws at us next.”

  The reactions around the table varied. Talia and Augustus looked thoughtful. Annie was frowning. Gilly glanced at Felix in confusion, while Felix sat there with a serene look on his face.

  Carmen broke the silence. “So, recruitment. I can help with that. Most of the crew are going to need something to do, assuming the ship is going to be docked. I’m no stranger to vetting people.”

  “You and the crew will also be busy training and preparing for the serum,” Talia added. She glanced at Augustus. “Auggy and I plan to put you through your paces, to prepare you as best we can.”

  Carmen nodded. “Everyone is looking forward to it.”

  Alexander returned the conversation to the topic at hand. “The first thing I want to discuss is how to structure the guild, including formal leadership positions. We’ve done a great job just winging it so far, and we’ve had no real disagreements about direction or leadership. We all step up as needed. But as we grow, we’re going to need to delegate responsibility.”

  “That’s because you’re in charge, Alex,” Augustus said. “None of us are interested in the job. And we trust you to listen to any concerns we have about plans.”

  “Agreed,” Talia said.

  Annie folded her hands behind her head, leaning back in the chair. “I’m willing to step up and lead us if you get tired, though, sidekick.”

  Felix turned to her. “I am not sure that is a good idea, Annie.”

  “What? Why?”

  “The last time you tried to lead me somewhere, we got lost for an hour,” Felix said. “And that was on your own island.”

  Annie gaped at him. “You promised not to tell anyone!”

  “I did not. You said I had to promise not to tell anyone, and that you would give me delicious food if I did.” Felix’s wings stretched, unfolding and refolding. “When we got back, you forgot all about the agreement because Gilly was watching Barkforce.”

  Annie stared at him. Her mouth opened to respond.

  Alexander interrupted her. “All in favor of Annie never leading?” He raised his hand.

  Hands shot up all around the table.

  “Motion passed,” Talia said seriously, struggling to contain a smile.

  Annie mumbled something about ‘betrayal’ under her breath.

  Talia turned to Alexander. “I expected you’d want to address this eventually, so I prepared something.” She activated the table’s holographic display from her tablet. “I took the liberty of drafting a structural framework.”

  Alexander raised an eyebrow. “You knew I was going to call this meeting?”

  “I know you,” Talia said simply. “You’ve been thinking about expansion since before we left Earth. Everything that’s happened since just accelerated your timeline.”

  “She’s not wrong,” Augustus said.

  Talia continued. “The framework needs to accomplish several things. First, define roles and responsibilities as we scale. Second, distinguish between combat and support personnel without creating a hierarchy that devalues either. Third, maintain flexibility for future growth.”

  The display shifted, showing organizational charts.

  “I’ve structured the guild into two primary divisions. Given our Norse theme, I’m calling them Aesir and Vanir.” Talia glanced around the table. “Before anyone objects, I’m not strictly adhering to the original mythology. We’re adapting the concepts.”

  “Aesir,” she said, gesturing to one side of the display, “are superhuman combatants. Active field operatives. Our warriors.”

  The other side lit up. “Vanir are everyone else. Support staff, both superhuman and non-superhuman. Technical specialists, medical personnel, intelligence analysts, administrators, coordinators. The people who keep everything running and make whatever we choose to do possible.”

  Carmen leaned forward, studying the chart. “That’s a straightforward division.”

  “It needs to be,” Talia said. “As we recruit, people need to understand what they’re signing up for. Combat roles require different commitments than support roles, but all are equally important.”

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  Annie frowned. “So I’m Aesir because I punch things, and, uh, the Chief would be Vanir because he does engine stuff?”

  “Essentially, yes.”

  “But why split them up in the first place?” Annie asked. “Alexander punches and makes stuff and tells us what to do.”

  “The simple answer is that it allows us to create separate chains of command.” Talia tapped her fingers on the table. “It isn’t critical right now, but the bigger we grow, the more problems there will be. We don’t want to be chasing down food orders, managing payroll, or dealing with recruitment meetings when we’re busy training or fighting. Delegation will be essential.”

  “Oh. Like the time I let Alexander and Augustus handle recruitment while I went to the arena and we ended up with the best captain ever,” Annie said, turning to smile at Carmen.

  Carmen raised an eyebrow. “Is that how it happened?”

  Annie nodded once, emphatically. “Exactly.”

  Alexander grinned. “If Annie had been in charge, we’d probably have the drunkard flying the ship.”

  “No,” Augustus said, shaking his head. “Definitely the hotshot.”

  Alexander thought about it for a moment, then nodded. “You might be right.”

  Annie scowled at them. “You’re just jealous of my delegating skills.”

  Carmen was still examining the holo. “What’s this bit about the leadership structure?”

  “That’s where it gets interesting,” Talia said, and the display shifted again.

  The organizational chart expanded, showing new layers beneath both Aesir and Vanir divisions. Names appeared at key positions, each one rendered in stylized Norse lettering.

  “Leadership positions,” Talia began. “As we scale, we need clear lines of authority and responsibility. People need to know who makes decisions in their area, who they report to, and who has the expertise to answer their questions.”

  She gestured at the top of the chart. “If we want to continue with the theme, then we do so by naming positions after gods from their pantheon. They’re memorable, but if we don’t like it, we can always go with more generic positions. Just to note, these are internal titles only. Not aliases or anything like that.”

  Alexander studied the chart. Each position had a name and a brief description of duties. Some positions were marked as filled, others with proposals, but most were vacant.

  “Let me walk through the major positions,” Talia continued. “Starting at the top.”

  The name ODIN appeared highlighted at the apex of both divisions.

  “Odin is the All-Father in Norse mythology. King of the gods, associated with wisdom, war, and leadership.” Talia looked directly at Alexander. “Guild Master. Final authority on strategic direction, major decisions, and overall vision. That’s you.”

  Alexander nodded slowly.

  “For Aesir,” Talia moved to the combat division, “I’m proposing Thor as Combat Operations Commander. Thor was the god of thunder, strength, and protection. This position manages field operations, tactical planning, combat training, and mission coordination.”

  Augustus straightened. “You’ve put me in the role?”

  “If you’re willing,” Talia said. “You have military experience, tactical knowledge, and you’ve always stepped up to handle anything we overlooked. It’s a natural fit.”

  “I’ll do it,” Augustus said after a moment’s thought.

  “For Vanir,” Talia continued, highlighting the support division, “we need equivalent leadership. Someone to look after and advocate for the needs of all the support personnel who keep the guild running.”

  She paused, then looked directly at Annie. “I think you’d be suited for it.”

  Annie blinked. “What?”

  “The position is Freyja. Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, and war. She led the Vanir and was also one of the fiercest warriors in Norse mythology.” Talia’s expression was serious. “It’s a significant responsibility. There would be a lot for you to learn.”

  Annie looked completely confused. “Why me?”

  “When we rescued the aliens, you were the most involved,” Talia said. “You organized them. Managed their daily routines. Made sure everyone was fed and had something to do. You made them feel like they belonged to something.”

  “My henchmen…” Annie said slowly.

  “Exactly,” Talia confirmed. “You took care of them without being asked. That’s what this position is about. Just… bigger.”

  Annie frowned. “But I want to punch things.”

  Laughter rippled around the table.

  Talia smiled. “It doesn’t stop you from being Aesir. You can still fight, still go on missions, still punch whoever needs punching. But you’d also make sure our people are taken care of. That their concerns are heard and addressed at this table.”

  She gestured at Augustus. “Think of it like Auggy with Thor. He won’t personally train every new recruit. He’ll ensure training runs the way we need it to, that standards are maintained, that people get what they need to succeed. You’d do the same for the support staff.”

  Annie was quiet for a moment, processing. “So I’d be looking out for the henchmen. Making sure they’re okay.”

  “In a manner of speaking, yes,” Talia said. “Though we should probably find a better term than henchmen.”

  “I like henchmen,” Annie muttered.

  Alexander leaned back in his chair, watching Annie think it through. She was genuinely considering it, which surprised him. Half a year ago, Annie would have laughed off any suggestion of responsibility beyond her next fight.

  “What exactly would I be doing?” Annie asked.

  “Overseeing personnel welfare for the Vanir division,” Talia explained. “When someone has a problem, you see that it’s solved. When people need something, you make sure they get it. When there are disputes or concerns, you handle them or escalate them to Alexander. You’d be the voice for almost everyone.”

  “But other people handle the day-to-day stuff, right?” Annie asked. “Like Carmen does with the crew?”

  “Exactly,” Talia confirmed. “There will be several departments, each with its own leadership for day-to-day management.”

  Annie nodded slowly. Then she looked at Alexander. “And you agree with this?”

  Alexander smiled at her. “The suggestion took me by surprise. Actually, all of this took me by surprise. But yes, I think she’s right. You’re a core part of Grimnir. It’s Heart. You’ll run into challenges, and you’ll make mistakes. But you’ll learn. Because you care more than anyone else.”

  Annie was quiet for a long while, staring at him. Then she shifted in her chair, shuffling backwards. “Okay. But I’m still punching people.”

  “Noted,” Talia said, allowing herself a small smile.

  She turned her attention back to the display. “For my own position, I’m proposing Heimdall. This role manages intelligence gathering, threat analysis, surveillance operations, and information coordination.”

  Talia looked around the table. “I believe my analytical skills and strategic thinking are well-suited to this. I’ve been doing much of this work already, but formalizing it allows me to build a proper intelligence infrastructure as we grow.”

  Alexander nodded. “Agreed. You’ve been handling it since the beginning.”

  “Thank you,” Talia said. She gestured at the display again, highlighting another position. “The next critical role isn’t technically a god, but I’m proposing Valkyrie for our Recruitment Director. In mythology, the Valkyries chose the worthy from among the slain. We’ll be choosing the worthy from among the living.”

  She turned to Carmen. “You mentioned you’re experienced with vetting people. I think you’d be excellent in this role. It won’t just be about recruiting superhumans, either. We’re going to need staff for all kinds of tasks.”

  Carmen straightened slightly, surprise clear on her face. “I appreciate the consideration, and I know I offered, but that was before all this leadership structure talk. I’ve only recently joined Grimnir. Do I really belong at the decision-making table?”

  “You’ve more than proven yourself,” Alexander said firmly. “Every crewmember you selected has gone above and beyond. You’ve managed them through extraordinary circumstances and shown sound judgement throughout. And you’ve put your life on the line right alongside us, even without powers.”

  “You’re one of us,” Augustus added. “We trust you.”

  Carmen looked around the table, reading the agreement on everyone’s faces. After a moment, she nodded. “Then I’m honored to accept the position.”

  Talia made a note on her display. “That gives us our core leadership structure. There are other roles we might want to fill, but I don’t have specific candidates at this time.”

  The display shifted, showing three additional positions marked as vacant.

  “Tyr, for security and justice. Someone to handle discipline, disagreements that escalate beyond the norm, and rules enforcement as we grow. Maybe a Loki for special operations.” Talia paused at the third position. “And Mimir, as a strategic advisor. Someone with divination or seer abilities would be ideal. I added this one after considering that every other group we know employs people with such capabilities.”

  She looked up from the display. “Some of us may end up holding multiple titles. But as we recruit and identify talent, we’ll want to promote from within or bring in specialists rather than overburden ourselves. That is everything I prepared.”

  Alexander turned to her. “Thank you. This was a lot more thought out than what I was going to suggest we needed. Do we really need the titles though?”

  Talia was silent for a moment. She considered the question seriously. “I think we do. I’ll admit that when I first started drafting it, it was mostly a bit of fun. But the more I thought about it, the more I came to think it was important.”

  “Why?”

  “Because we are Grimnir. You’re the Machine God. We’re all going to end up with supervillain aliases at some point.” Talia sighed. “All famous heroes and villains have one. There is an element of… mystique that surrounds them. Surrounds us. We need to reinforce that internally as well.”

  Alexander considered her words. His immediate instinct was to challenge it. Argue. But the longer he hesitated, the more wrong his disagreement felt. The urge to announce himself as the Machine God had come from somewhere deep inside. He hadn’t intended the dramatic declaration. Certainly hadn’t known it was going to be heard all across the galaxy.

  And then there were the techniques. Named to make their expression more powerful.

  Perhaps she was right. Willpower determined how powerfully you could press your intent upon the world. Upon others.

  Maybe the path to becoming divine required more than that. Maybe it required convincing others of who and what you were. What you stood for.

  And what they would face should they challenge you.

  “Let’s keep it,” Alexander said. “Now, let’s discuss our immediate future.”

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