Specifically, in the room that had bee up for the task.
The room was on the smaller side, only rge enough to walk around fortably and spar a little. What was more impressive were the walls made entirely out of yers of steel, crete, and lead. There were no cameras permitted in this room and the only way in or out was through a hidden door that could only be accessed by Sonya’s inner circle. It was the pce where Sonya could merge her powers with peaind while still being within reaarta or Amos in case she overdid it like st time.
Right now, though, she wasn’t here te her powers. Not yet. Instead, she stood across from Marta who was looking more than a little excited. Sonya smiled at her, “I want to apologize, first, I should have dohis with you sooner,” She said, “I’ve actually been thinking a lot about what I wao give you.”
Marta pulled her brown hair bad cracked a rare smile herself, “You’ve been busy, Sonya. I have just beeting not being stronger when it mattered.”
“You’re already crazy strong,” Sonya ughed, “But what I have in mind borders on the unfair.”
Marta raised her eyebrows, “Huh?”
Sonya just extended her hand, “Let’s make a deal, Marta.”
Marta looked at her hand in trepidation but nodded, “Yes, lets,” she said and took Sonya’s hand.
“As before, I want to give you a new power as a reward for your dedication,” Rehashing the statement she’d used st time she’d dohis for her. I just hope Broker allows it…
Sonya froze, Insuffit? What the hell? Is there anything I do?
Marta tilted her head, “Is everything okay?”
Sonya shook her head and smiled a bit sheepishly, “It would seem the power I want to give you is pretty valuable.”
Marta blinked, “If it’s so valuable why not keep it for yourself? Sonya!”
Sonya ughed, “Oh e on, what kind of boss would I be if I kept all the good stuff for myself, besides, having you around is as good as having the ability anyway, right?” She teased with a wink, “Now give it a moment.”
One LimbOne SenseOable Biological Fun5 Years of LifespanPlease suggest the options to the recipient.>
What the actual fuck? Are you kidding me? What about a financial transa? Property? Anything other than that!
Well shit, you got me there.
She let out a sigh, “My ability gave me some options, but none of them are pretty,” She said hesitantly.
“Just spit it out,” Marta said, squaring her shoulders and squeezing Sonya’s hand tightly. She wasn’t going to back out, clearly.
Sonya sighed, “A limb, a sense, a ‘biological fun’, or five years off your lifespan.”
Marta paused, her eyes going wide for a few heartbeats before they settled and she eased into a rexed smile, “Alright.”
“Alright?” Sonya blurted, “What do you mean, alright? How is any of this-”
Sonya gasped and tried to pull her hand away, “Marta!” She shouted, “Are you crazy?!”
Marta’s grip was unbreakable, though. Damn that heroic strength of hers, it’s eveer than mine! “Marta let go! No way! I’m not going to let you-”
“SONYA!” Marta shouted back, fixing her friend with a stare before smiling again, “It’s okay. Whatever you’re pnning to give me, it’ll be worth it if it means I protect you.”
Sonya felt a lump form ihroat, “Marta, I-” She grit her teeth and squeezed her eyes shut, feeling her heart crack a little, “But…”
“It’s okay, this is my choice, my deal,” Marta soothed, “Do it.”
Sonya lowered her head, Proceed.
Sonya felt Baldur’s Body leave her warehouse, the sudden vacy making her feel strangely hollow. She hadn’t realized how much mass it carried until it was gone. Light began to burn brightly between their palms before it rushed into Marta’s skin, bzing indestly. Marta gasped, clutg at her abdomen as she fell to the ground, her skin glowing brighter and brighter and brighter. She let out a cry of pain and smmed her fist on the ground, leaving a divot behind as the room filled with light.
When the light faded, Marta was on her knees, breathing hard. She was drenched i.
Sonya hurried to her side, “Marta! Marta are you okay?” She pleaded, holding onto her dear friend.
Marta nodded slowly, her eyes gzed over a bit, she looked up at Sonya and smiled at her, “I’m okay, it hurts a little, but I’m alright,” She looked down at her hands in awe, g her fists, “Just like Man of Many Faces, the knowledge is just there, the uanding of it…”
She let out a low breath, “I’m… What the hell is this? ower did you give me?” She asked, bewildered, looking up at Sonya.
“Baldur’s Body,” Sonya said, “The physique of the Nod Baldur. He could e back from any wound or injury and his body could withstand terrible punishment. His only weakness was mistletoe.”
“The body of a god? I’m invincible?” Marta asked, getting slowly to her feet.
“Close to it, you could still probably get hurt with enough punishment but you’ll bounce back pretty quick,” Sonya tried to joke only to get a scathing look from Marta.
“You really should have kept this for yourself,” Marta said, “I wouldn’t have to worry about you if-” She was cut off when Sonya ed her arms around her, burying her fa her friend’s shoulder.
She let out a hard breath, “After what you gave up, don’t say that, please?” She croaked.
Marta went silent for a few moments before returning the hug, “I will never, ever, let you down, Sonya.”
“I know,” Sonya nodded, “I know. Just do me a favor and stay away from mistletoe?”
To that, Marta could only ugh.
–
It was a little while ter that Sonya found herself sitting in the ter of the room. She was breathing slowly, mentally preparing herself for what came . Marta had stationed herself nearby and was still examining herself with curiosity. Sonya paid it little mind and focused on what came . She o have a clear head in case this got messy and the mergers overwhelmed her again.
Okay, lets do this.
She pulled Steelskin out of her warehouse. She felt her skin grow tense and hard after a moment. She opened her eyes and peeked, noting the glossy and shiure of her ski. Okay, Merger.
Proceed.
She braced herself this time, taking in slow breaths as the tension in her skin began to fade momentarily. Then in a fsh she felt something burnih her skin aing into her bones. She jolted, grittieeth and throwing her head back as agony worked its way through her entire body. She ched her eyes shut, f herself not to bite her tongue or lip. Every muscle in her body howled in protest against the invasive ges taking pce. Somewhere in the distance she could hear Marta call her name.
e on, you do it… She fought through the pain, it wasn’t nearly as bad as when she’d enhanced her body the first time, but it definitely hurt in different ways. Eventually, though, the pain faded and she let out a gasp, catg herself on the ground. She noticed Marta h over her and held up a hand, “I’m fine, just… let me catch my breath…”
She barely processed the words on her HUD for a moment before she ched her fist, her body felt a tad bit heavier. More curious was the strange glittering on her skin, like she’d been sprayed with a glitter-filled body mist. She frow the etic ge, Details, she trated on her skin and body, her cyberic brain examining every in a matter of seds.
“It’s so pretty!” Marta marveled now that Sonya seemed to be fine.
“My skin is like diamond now,” Sonya expined, “Feel a little better?”
“You’re still not invincible and you ’t regee like I ,” Marta cautioned.
“Better than nothing!” Sonya ughed in response, g her fists, “Lets see that assassin stab me now.”
“You still want to deal with him?” Marta asked.
“Actually, no,” Sonya said, “I’ve ged my mind, I want you to ha.”
“Really?” Marta asked, eted.
Sonya shrugged, “It’s time I started ag like a proper supervilin.”
Marta crossed her arms, “As long as you don’t call me a hen,” Sonya gasped, bringing her hand to her heart and giving Marta an aghast look. Marta narrowed her eyes, “You aren’t saying anything.”
Sonya winced, “Just once?” She asked, trying to look cute.
“No,” Marta grunted and raised an eyebrow.
“Okay fine, I won’t do it,” Sonya whined.
Marta shook her head, “You’re a real handful, you know that?”
“Guilty as charged,” Sonya ughed and got to her feet, “Let’s go.”
–
Park Beyol stepped out onto the airport terminal and sed his surroundings. He fixed the coat around his shoulders and straightened his cap, he hadn’t been ba the Uates for a long time. He was gd that he’d at least takeime to pick up the nguage despite most of his work being in Asia. There were just some jobs that the other members of the Night Society couldn’t handle, so they’d sent him on occasion.
This isn’t a Society saned job, though, don’t fet. He reminded himself, walking out to departures with nothing but his suitcase in hand. He didn’t need anything else now that he had his abilities.
He gnced up at one of the televisions as he passed through, frowning. The Viliny enhancer… He rumbled inwardly, So I’m a vilin now, huh? All because of this smart mouthed Russian. She schooled his expression a walking, Not that it ges how I do my work, but the bel irks me.
He waved down a taxi and hopped inside.
“Where to?” The driver asked.
Beyol handed him a slip of paper with the address of the hotel on it, the man nodded and started driving. He pulled out his phone as the vehicle made its way into traffic, Heroes are popping up everywhere, he thought, they’re just as arrogant as that woman. Crazy too, who in their right mind would run around dressed like that? Some of them don’t have any business fighting monsters either. He g his wrist, Guess I ’t fault them f. I’m curious about my limits too.
He gnced up from his phone, “Any motacks retly?” He asked, causing the driver to jump a little before settling back down.
“There was one on sixth avenue yesterday, heroes took care of it pretty quick,” The driver said absently, “oday though, thank god.”
“Heroes, huh? What do you think of all that?” Beyol asked.
“It’s a mixed bag,” The driver said, “Some of those folks like Firestorm really are doing it for the right reasons, some of them are in it for the kicks though and once lising starts I hear they’re going to be paid for it. Every Light-touched and their mom is gonna e out for that.”
Beyol blinked, “They’re paying them?”
“Well yeah, would you fight those things for free if you had a choice to get paid?” The driver asked incredulously, “Seriously, way I hear it, if you’re really good at it and make a name for yourself you might eve sponsorships and business deals. That’s corporate America for you.”
Beyol crossed his arms and leaned bato his seat a little bit more, “And the gover is funding this?” He asked, gng out the window. On an enormous s overlooking the street there was an image of the hero Firestorm with the words ‘I want you to join me in proteg humanity. Get lised, hero!’. Beyol snorted, drawing his thumbnail across his wrist.
“Pretty much as I hear it, they finally did something about that bloated defense budget, threw a whole crapton of mo the Act,” The driver said, taking a quick turn. “ing up on our destination.”
Iing, maybe the Night Society should get in on this after all. If we start our own guild then we could move a bit more freely, He frow the thought, I wonder if those old farts would even sider it, though?
“We’re here!” The driver said, “The fare is-”
SHINK
Beyol got out of the cab and shut the door, pulling his hat down over his face, I’ll worry about that ter, he thought, leaving the dead man behind him, First thing’s first, you o die Miss Sonya ovna.
TheBroker