Oerance of her name was enough to start a wildfire, though Sonya supposed that was ehe point, after all. Still, there was absolutely no reason to make a public spectacle of her new persona. Only an idiot created an advantage only to expend it immediately. There were better ways to use what she had fostered over the past few weeks. It had felt too easy, irospect, but she supposed having Genius Level Intelle pretty much at all times helped. Though it had quickly demonstrated to her the limits of her powers.

  Oo six hours, depending on use, simply having it active reduces the strain a great deal but eventually it does cut off, She mused as she watched the city through the window of her apartment. A fire had broken out a few blocks away and a chime rang out on her phone. She checked it and saw that the automated monster alert system was already w. She’d had nothing to do with it, personally finding it kind of annoying, it was going to start going off a lot soon. Rather, the Department of Homend Security had set it up shortly after the formation of her corporation.

  Soohan st time, probably didn’t want to look like they weren’t doing anything, typical. She snorted as a pair of figures hopped from one rooftop to aowards the bze. The heroes were showing up more and more often, it was trendy now for the light touched to don capes and cowls and run out to fight monsters. Still, the gover hadn’t saned any of them yet which was obvious, it would happen during the ele. Eight months? She hummed thoughtfully to herself, Not a lot of time to build up a pany rge enough to do what I need.

  I’ve figured out how I’m going to spread my influen the underworld, take trol of city gangs and turn them into ability users, she turned away from the window, deep in thought, I’ll also grab ahold of the bigger pyers by them my Gift of Youth, hold parties for an exclusive club of sorts, keep them close and loyal.

  That said, I have nothing to offer heroes except sell them goods, I could sihem out and subjugate them somehow but… she smirked …that’s not really my style now is it? Just keeping my hand pressed down on the gover side through the old farts isn’t enough either. I still haven’t even had enough politis try to track Ishtar down. I’ve had two people show off their new youth already, what more do I o do? Even worse, all the iment money is going straight into research, besides selling munitions to police departments open to the idea, ASTA isn’t making any money.

  She sighed, Let no one say it’s easy being a supervilin.

  “Sonya?” Marta’s voice drew her sharply out of her thoughts.

  Sonya jumped, “Holy-shit-balls! Marta! Oh! Hey…” She gasped, clutg at her chest and leaning against the couch.

  Marta was standing at the threshold of the living room, she’d taken to wearing a long skirted english-style maid outfit. It was a little mu Sonya’s opinion but apparently it was a bit of a cospy fantasy of Marta’s so she hadn’t really spent a lot of time oopic. The young woman frow her, “You really should find a way to rex,” Marta sighed, shaking her head, “You’ve been on edge for a couple days now. Go outside, ma’am, get some air or find some other kind of distra. You ’t ge the world frayed at the seams.”

  Sonya coughed, “Ah-aha,” She rubbed her neck, “R-right. Maybe a ge of pace could help me clear my head.”

  Marta nodded agreeably, “Speaking of a ge of pace, you have a visitor.”

  Sonya raised an eyebrow, “I didn’t invite anyone.”

  “She says you gave her your card st time you were out shopping,” Marta said, holding up a business card, “Mikay Summer.”

  Sonya blinked and tilted her head, thinking back, her eyes widened, “Oh! The cutie that helps me get fitted for my suits! She’s here? Wow! I’m a bit surprised,” She thought ruefully of the past few visits to the high-end clothing store that the young woman worked at. Sonya’s lips formed a line as she recalled the number of times she’d posed in front of the mirror and the flustered look on the girl’s face. “Hm… did I overdo it?”

  “Ma’am?” Marta asked, looking fused.

  “Oh, haha, nothing!” Sonya waved her hands defensively, “Let her in.”

  Marta ined her head and turned away, Sonya rubbed her neck. She is taking this whole ‘ooh look at me I’m a noble maid’ thing way too seriously.

  A few moments ter, Marta returned with Mikay in tow. The tan-skinned girl oozed the word athlete, short dark hair, pierced ears, and legs for days attached to a street-fashion skirt and top. She wore a baggy jacket over it all that had fallen down to her shoulders. It wasn’t the cssiest look, but it retty darn ikay looked around, her eyes wide, as she took in the expensive apartment. “Oh man, I’ve never been in a pce like this before. I ’t believe you let me in.”

  Marta said nothing as she was guided to the living room where Sonya had set herself up on the couch, she got to her feet and brandished a winning smile, “Miss Summers! Wele! This is a surprise!”

  Mikay flushed a little and scratched her nose, “You said I could stop by any time. I uh, wao see you, ma’am.”

  “Call me Sonya,” Sonya said, gesturing at the couch, “Have a seat, do you like soda? I’ve got a hell of a sweet tooth.”

  “Oh! Uh, sure,” Mikay said nervously, heading over to the coud sitting down.

  Sonya o Marta who stepped away and made for the refrigerator. Mikay gnced over her shoulder at Marta and blinked, “Wow, really is a different world.”

  “Naw, it’s just her hobby,” Sonya said pyfully, winking at Marta who gave her a petunt scowl before handing Mikay her soda and thrusting the other into Sonya’s hand with an aggravated huff, “Sorry! Sorry!” Marta walked off to do who knows what, “So!” Sonya began, popping the open and taking a sip, “What brings you here?”

  Mikay sipped at her drink, “W-well, I wao thank you, ma’am-er-Sonya. In person.”

  Sonya tilted her head, “Thank me for what?”

  MIkay looked down at her , “For all your business at the store, you only e and see me, and the higher ups noticed. They gave me a promotion fing in so much business-” She hesitated, “-a-and because of that, one of the pany designers saw my work during a meeting. They might be movio the main studio!” She said happily.

  Sonya raised an eyebrow, “You’re a designer?”

  “It’s… well it was a hobby. I’ve always wao design clothes but well… I never got into a good school for it and most of what I’ve designed is cospy and stuff,” She rubbed her thumbs together around her soda , “This is my first ce at the real thing.”

  Sonya leaned ba her seat, “Wow, that’s pretty incredible, Mikay, gratutions.”

  Her unawakened ability was Attention to Detail, right? Clothing is profitable, especially high end clothing, She thought, eyeing the girl for a moment. Her stare must have been rather intense because the girl flushed and looked down at her again. Oh my, what’s this?

  Sonya tilted her head and smiled, “You know what, why don’t we celebrate? That’s a big deal for you and to be ho I’m looking for any excuse to get out and have a little fun, Marta is going to chase me out of the apartment soon I suspect. How about I take you out for dinner, maybe even to a club, oh that sounds fun!”

  Mikay nearly dropped her , looking up with a startled look on her face, “H-uh?!”

  “Oh, don’t be so surprised! You’re a cutie! e o me take you out, mm?” Sonya teased, leaning forward aing her on her palm, “It’d make me happy.”

  The deer-in-headlighs look was something Sonya would treasure for a while. The look of s and ‘you're the worst’ from Marta standing in the doorway oher side of the room was just as delightful. Sonya shrugged at Marta as Mikay stammered and struggled with her words. She really o work on her fidence, she sounded cool headed when she came in, why couldn’t she rex a little. Nothing a few drinks won’t fix.

  Sonya got to her feet and walked over to the girl, “e os have some fun, yeah?”

  –

  A few hours ter, Sonya was getting out of the back of a car, wearing an all white suit and pink tie. For show, she’d experimented a bit with Teopathy and found a use for it that gave her the biggest look of s she’d ever gotten out of Marta to date. She could ge her eye arvelous. With glowing hot-pink eyes burning bright in her head she turned around and reached io take Mikay’s hand. The wanna-be designer ractically trembling as she pulled herself out, looking around like a wild animal caught in a trap.

  Not surprising, sihey were at Club Starlight, every person walking up the steps was worth more thahing Mikay had ever earned in her entire life. Even more harrowing for the poor thing, she was wearing an outfit of her own make. The skirt went down to her knees before splitting and going all the to her thigh, it had a crisscross design around the thigh, holding it ly together while providing a good view. Her top was equally showy and elegant with the cloth folding over itself going up towards the ned making it look like the top was ed around her body.

  “It’s okay to be nervous,” Sonya whispered, “But you really shouldn’t be.”

  She held out her arm, “Shall we?” She gnced over at the driver's seat and Marta who pulled away. Marta would follow them inside shortly and keep a respectful distanbsp;

  Mikay looked at Sonya’s arm for a few heartbeats and with what looked like somethiween resignation and an attempt to will herself to be more fident, slipped her arm in.

  “Good girl,” Sonya said and started walking, leading the flushed designer up the steps and towards the bouncer.

  He looked betweewo of them, “Hot ain’t enough to get in here.”

  “Knowing the owner is,” Sonya said with a wink and held out a metal card, the guy took one look at it and stepped aside. Sonya smiled at him politely and tinued on in.

  Mikay stared at him then at her, “You know the owner?”

  “He was a t,” Sonya said offhandedly so as to sweep the topider the rug, easier than ing up with a half truth since she couldn’t lie about it. More like I gave him twenty years of his life back, but that’s her here nor there.

  They stepped inside and the music washed over them in a wave, the lights, the sounds, the smells, the overwhelming charisma of damn near everyone in this pce. It was a huge room with a wide dancefloor and a bar that ed around the entire space, dozens of bartenders w tirelessly to fuel the people searg for respite in these ever ging times. She walked Mikay over to the bar and quickly ordered a pair of drinks before turning to her.

  “Never been to a club before?” Sonya asked.

  “A few bars, but nothing like this,” Mikay admitted, looking a little embarrassed.

  The bartender returned with their drinks and Sonya snatched hers up, “Cheers, then! To your first time, and to a dream e true.”

  Mikay’s smile was as bright as the sun, “Y-yeah!”

  As Sonya sipped, she listened in on the versation arouurning on Mikay’s own ability. Attention to Detail had a lot of perks, but the best part was being able to parse versations out from one another. One versation in particur caught her attention.

  “...two new sponsors for the race, you believe it?”

  “Figures, I bet they basically wipe his ass now.”

  “Still, makes the pany look good, iors are happy.”

  “Enough about business, boys!”

  Sonya turned her attention away from the brief versation, Corporate Sponsorships, now there’s an idea. She mused as Mikay set down her drink a out a breath, a small flush ing to her cheeks. Oh no, is this girl a lightweight? Maybe I should ease her away from the bar, otherwise this could be a rough night.

  “Hey Sonya? we dance?” She asked, looking up at her with those big doe eyes and pying with her earring.

  Oh dear.