Chapter 149

  Alexander leaned forward. “We have several immediate concerns to address.”

  He paused, making sure he had everyone’s attention.

  “The first two are securing permanent docking arrangements at Astra Omnia and membership cards for all of Grimnir moving forward.”

  Carmen spoke up. “Both of those will be expensive.”

  “Actually, I intend to pay nothing for it.”

  Augustus raised an eyebrow. “How are you going to get Valerie to agree to that?”

  Alexander noted the casual use of the Queen’s first name. He knew that Augustus and Valerie had been growing closer ever since she’d stepped in to protect Augustus’s father. Not that the mutual attraction there hadn’t been obvious from the beginning.

  “I’m going to make them conditions to formalize our alliance.”

  Talia looked between them. “Who do you want handling the negotiations?”

  Alexander met Augustus’s eyes. “I think it’s best that I handle negotiations with the Queen of Hearts moving forward.” He allowed himself a grin. “That way you and Valerie don’t have to worry about mixing business and pleasure.”

  Augustus nodded, gratitude clear on his face. “I’m happy to continue liaising as needed, of course, but I agree.”

  Annie laughed. “I’m sure you’re happy to continue ‘liaising.’”

  Augustus ignored her.

  So did Alexander, focusing on Augustus and Talia instead. “I need the two of you to complete the training and information programs as quickly as possible. Then get the crew up to speed. It won’t be your responsibility long term, but I want to make sure everything is how it should be before you hand it off to someone.”

  Talia crossed her legs. “We should discuss how much we tell new members.”

  “Everything.”

  Talia was quiet for a moment. “The crew aside, I think we should withhold the more advanced knowledge until we’re certain about new members. Until they’ve earned some measure of trust or passed a test.”

  Murmurs of agreement rippled around the table. Annie nodded emphatically.

  “I don’t know what this advanced knowledge is, but I think Talia’s right,” Carmen said. “Especially during the early growth phase.”

  Alexander glanced around the table. “Raise a hand if you agree.”

  Everyone except Gilly raised their hand.

  “Very well. Create an advanced training program that includes everything you think we should hold back. I’ll want to hear proposals on how we test them once you’ve had time to think about it.”

  Augustus leaned forward. “Even once they’ve passed a test or trial period, it should require a majority vote of leadership. It’s not just about handing down System knowledge and how to get stronger. It’s about deciding whether we trust them to join our inner circle, to know our plans. Our secrets.”

  Annie frowned. “Do we even have secrets yet?”

  Talia smiled. “We have plenty, even if it doesn’t really seem like it to us. But I concur with Augustus. I suggest we limit the vote to the positions of Odin, Thor, and Freyja, though.”

  “Shouldn’t everyone vote? What about you?”

  “I don’t want to deal with it,” Talia said. “You and Augustus are better judges of character than I am, and you’ll spend more time with new members, or those that know them. Other leaders can declare their support, but the power to decide should remain with the few.”

  Annie glanced at Alexander and shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

  Augustus nodded his agreement.

  “Sure,” Alexander said. “However, instead of a simple majority, one vote will do so long as none of the others veto it.”

  Felix spoke up. “I’ve been meaning to ask. Those of us without a title, are we still to be part of this?”

  “Yes. I’m certain this circle will grow, but everyone here is part of the leadership. Maybe we need to start calling it a council or something.”

  Gilly raised a hand tentatively. “Even I?”

  Talia answered before Alexander could. “Yes, Gilly. Before this meeting, Augustus pointed out that we have a serious hole in our security plans regarding the sea. We’ve done our best to disguise the island, and Alexander’s going to get some underwater surveillance set up. But if you’re willing, you’d be in charge of any projects and security forces set aside for it.”

  Gilly blinked all six eyes rapidly. “Really? I yes. Will help.”

  “Thank you, Gilly.” Alexander refocused the conversation. “That leads us to the next priority. When I sit down with the Queen, I’ll see if the modified serum is viable for humans. If it is, great. If it isn’t, I’ll track down the black market dealer I spoke with.”

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  He turned to Talia. “Failing that, I need you to provide me with viable targets where we might borrow some. Preferably from Santiago Systems. Annie and I will take care of it while you and Augustus are prepping the crew.”

  Augustus raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want all of us to go? Any location with serum on lockdown is going to be highly secure.”

  “If it’s dangerous enough, yes. Otherwise, we need to start taking any opportunity to challenge ourselves.”

  Alexander looked around the room at everyone. “We don’t know how much time is left, but we’re on the clock. That’s why I’ll be setting up the Beastworld gateway in the basement of our mansion.”

  That took everyone by surprise.

  Felix hummed. “Won’t that be dangerous, Alex?”

  “Yes. But we have almost three weeks left to move it. In that time, we’ll expand the basement. Recruit or hire some security. Get the crew ready. And then, when the gateway is placed, we go through in force and clear the immediate surroundings.”

  Talia’s eyes widened slightly. “That’s why you wanted the harvesters.”

  Alexander nodded. “To quickly dig out the basement, for starters. Once we secure the other side of the gateway, we’ll build a defensive position and man it. I intend to use the harvesters to begin mining operations, and eventually build automated construction facilities.”

  Talia was already tapping away on her pad. “Because if it’s an alternate Earth without people, then all the mineral deposits are probably in the same places. Just waiting to be extracted.”

  “With the minor inconvenience of, oh, I dunno, probably millions of beasts,” Annie said. “And let’s not forget the murder forest.”

  Augustus studied Alexander carefully. “I don’t think he has forgotten them. You want to use the Beastworld as a training ground, don’t you?”

  “Eventually. Once we’ve secured it and established protocols and processes for handling any threats. We’ll then need to expand our recruiting and hiring to keep the place manned at all times. When all of that is done, then it’ll be the perfect training and manufacturing spot.”

  Carmen shook her head slowly. “You really came up with all of that from the moment you saw the gateway on The Nexus?”

  Alexander thought about it for a moment. “Not really. I’ve refined the ideas repeatedly since.”

  Annie turned to Carmen. “He’s the crazy man with the insane plans. Don’t worry. You get used to it.”

  “Augustus made us jump from a plane without using parachutes,” Alexander argued. “Why isn’t he the crazy one?”

  Annie laughed. “Because he only suggested it. You made us go through with it.”

  “She’s got you there.” Augustus tugged his beard. “And the plan worked, so it wasn’t crazy or insane. It was perfectly rational.”

  Alexander sighed. “Returning to what’s important, there are two more things to address. First, we’re going to release the footage showing what Santiago was doing to Felix, Gilly, and the others.”

  Silence fell across the room.

  “Even with humanity being accepted to the Galactic Council…” Talia paused, gathering her thoughts. “The repercussions could be serious.”

  “I’m counting on it,” Alexander said.

  Augustus leaned back. “Why now?”

  Talia answered. “You want the Galactic Council to apply pressure to the UEG. Then the UEG will come down on Santiago Systems.”

  Alexander nodded.

  “It’s still a huge gamble, Alex,” Augustus said. “We don’t know how seriously they’ll take it.”

  “No, we don’t. But I do know that we’re regarded as heroes on the Nexus, even though we ran before they could hold their little ceremony. And the footage will reinforce that. I believe that will offset some of the damage. Besides us being a council race and needing humanity to get access to the serum.”

  Talia looked thoughtful. “He might be right. Surely there are many instances of hostilities between council races outside of war, which means there will be precedent for negotiating settlements or incurring punishment.”

  Augustus shrugged. “I’m not really arguing against it. I just thought it needed to be said.”

  Alexander understood. Appreciated it, even.

  “So let’s do it,” Annie said. Then she looked back and forth between Felix and Gilly. “As long as you’re both okay with it?”

  Felix’s spiral eyes spun slowly. “I do not feel any particular way about releasing the footage, though the possibility of inflicting harm on Santiago Systems makes me feel warm.”

  “I also care not.” Gilly swayed in his seat. “Same as Felix. Happy to wet enemies.”

  Alexander blinked at the mistranslation, but the meaning was clear enough.

  Annie turned back to him. “What’s the second thing?”

  He hesitated for a moment. Explaining this one was going to be trickier than the rest. It required a delicate touch. And he didn’t know how Carmen, Felix, or Gilly would respond to a casual declaration of murder.

  Alexander took a deep breath, meeting everyone’s eyes one at a time.

  “I’m going to kill Flashpoint.”

  Annie shouted before the silence could fully materialize. “Hell yeah! About time we paid him back.”

  Augustus tapped a finger on the table. “You mean ‘we’ are going to kill Flashpoint, right?”

  Alexander shook his head. “No.”

  “Why?” Talia asked.

  Carmen interrupted before Alexander could answer. “I’m sorry, but I feel like the more important question is why is everyone okay with planning to kill this person? I assume he’s a superhero.”

  Annie snorted. “He’s an asshole. Has one of the highest collateral damage records among superheroes. Worldwide. At least seven instances of bystander casualties, and each time the courts dismiss the charges because AEGIS supports him, claiming that it occurred while stopping a greater tragedy. And then they bully the families into accepting hush money, and sue them if they speak out.”

  Carmen stared at Annie. “What?”

  “Oh yeah. This sort of shit happens all the time with AEGIS.” Annie crossed her arms. “It’s been getting worse each year. And of course, the media and corporations and the governments sponsor a lot of the superheroes, so the stories never get told. When people protest, they send the exact same heroes to make them disperse.”

  Talia caught Carmen’s attention. “We also have a personal history with Flashpoint. To keep it short, he tried to kill us. Some of us multiple times. When his last ambush failed, AEGIS paraded him in front of the media like a living martyr, where he declared us supervillains.”

  Carmen’s eyes widened. “Wait, so you weren’t even—”

  “No.” Alexander shook his head, cutting her off. “Make no mistake, we were always going to be supervillains. Or vigilantes, maybe. But Flashpoint built his reputation and fame by making us infamous, and now I have one reason too many to ignore him any longer.”

  “You’re talking about the Prophecy of Eights, aren’t you?” Talia asked, already piecing it together.

  He nodded. “I’m sure there are hundreds of superhumans with fire powers out there. It could be any of them. It might even be Hjordis. But if one of these so-called divines is going to be called The Eternal Flame, and if there is even the slightest chance that it could be Flashpoint…”

  Alexander looked around the table once more.

  “Then I’m going to extinguish that possibility.”

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