“Is someone going to expin to me why I ’t sit with my guests?” Sonya huffed.
The first guard looked at his rade again who looked away even more pointedly. Marta restrained a smile o Sonya. Sonya could feel her trembling a little with barely cealed ughter. The CEO crossed her arms and tilted her head, “I’m waiting,” She pouted.
The guard cleared his throat, “W-we didn’t have their clearance, ma’am, and there o be at least two of us in a vehicle with you at-”
Sonya stared at him, “Speaking of vehicles, a motorcade? Really?”
The guard flinched and basically threw his head at his rade for help. Marta cleared her throat and reached over to squeeze Sonya’s arm, she turned, her lips trembling as she restrained her ughter, “Sonya, go easy ohey’re just doing their job.”
Huffing a little, Sonya sighed and slumped a bit in her seat, “Fine, fine, yeah you guys did the right thing. I guess. Would have been more fun with them with me and the motorcade during the day, though,” Sonya muttered and crossed her arms petuntly, “What good’s a motorcade if nobody’s watg?”
Marta ughed, “You know that’s not the point.”
“I know,” Sonya grumbled and then sighed, sitting up a bit and smiling at the two guards, “Alright, teasing aside,” She gnced betweewo men and their names appeared over their heads. A quick e to the ASTA pany database pulled up the relevant information. It was hard to keep track of everyone who worked for her as much as she would like to memorize every one of their lives. She turo the first, “How’s your son doing, Carlos?”
The first guard, Carlos, stared at her for a moment, “Um… great! He’s starting football this year.”
She smiled, “That’s good to hear, how old is he?”
“Nine, ma’am, almost ten,” He said, his shoulders rexing a little.
“Almost ten!” Sonya whistled, “I bet he’s excited. Does he need anything, equipment? I’m not a big spirl myself so I don’t know everything about it.”
The guard rubbed his neck, “Y-you pay me more than enough to cover it all, ma’am.”
Sonya nodded, “You just let me know if you need anything,” She said and turo the uard who had been avoiding the frontation, “And what about you, Liam? Got any pns? I saw you put in for vacation time soon.”
Liam cleared his throat, “I’m getting Married, going to Maui with her,” He said, looking signifitly more animated. “My wife saw the uh…” He trailed off.
Sonya barked out a ugh, “The Maui photoshoot cover? It’s beautiful there, good for you. I know a wonderful beach house, actually,” Sonya said and tilted her head, “Check your email during your break, dear. You get those tickets, I’ll hook you up with the same view she saw.”
The guard slumped in his seat, “Thank you ma’am,” He mumbled.
Sonya leaned forward and pat his knee, “You’re proteg me, it’s the least I do.”
–
The motorcade arrived at the gates to the Pandora ittee headquarters not long after that and some suits hurried over to open the doors for her. She ughed as she stepped out of the car, “I’ll e see a game! It sounds fun, Carlos,” She said and took the hand of one of the men who were waiting for her outside, “Thank you,” She slipped onto the ground and stepped away as Marta made her way out and gnced around, watg their surroundings for a moment while the other two got out of the opposite side and did a quick sweep before meeting back up at her.
She took their hands, “Thank you both, I’ll see you after the meet-and-greet.”
“It was great meeting you, ma’am,” Liam said with Carlos nodding emphatically o him.
Sonya wi them and gnced past before holding out a hand, “There she is.”
Mikay walked over and took Sonya’s hand for a moment before smirking and allowing a little distance. Sonya chuckled, “How was the drive? Sorry about that, rules and everything.”
“You hire some very kind people,” Mikay said with a small smile, “They were nice.”
Sonya nodded, “Good,” She gnced up at Bera who joihem, “So! Let’s go see what all the excitement is about, mm? Marta, badges?”
Marta stepped up and held out a thial box. She ope and inside were two metal ptes attached to nyards. Sonya picked hers up and pressed her thumb against it. The metal flickered for a moment before brightening and revealing a picture of her face, her name, her ability’s tier, and the words ‘Pandora ittee Official’ above ‘ASTA Corporate CEO’. Sonya plucked the nyard up and slipped it around her neck. “They’re for bypassiain security checks, tied to biometrid a few other things,” Sonya expio a fused Mikay.
“Very secure,” Mikay said thoughtfully.
Bera nodded, “Pandora Headquarters is one of the most secure gover buildings in the world,” The woman expined, “With vilins on the rise, it goes without saying that their officials have passes for entry.”
“That’s right,” Sonya said and frowned a little, “I’m afraid you’ll have to gh security normally but I push it along a little bit, stick with me dies!” Sonya said and turned on her heel, marg up to the gates where a man in a suit was holding a portable RTE in one hand and a phone iher.
He held the phone up to Sonya and Marta’s badges before nodding. “You’re clear, wele to Headquarters, Miss ovna, Handmaiden,” The man said before turning to the other two, “Please hold this device, it will check to see if you have an ability and what tier. Also-”
“They’re fine, just check their RTA reading,” Sonya interrupted.
The man gnced her way, “Right. Please accept the device.”
A quick check showed that her of them had abilities, after that there was just a etal detector wand s and the gates opened for the four of them to enter. Sonya straightened her tie as she walked in, taking in the elegant garden path that stretched out towards the rge regal looking building ahead of her. Flowers lihe paths broken up by green grass. Lights were positioo give the pce a magical feel. he beginning of the path, a marble statue stood bearing a agly familiar face.
Hi, Nick, Sonya thought sadly and started walking only to pause when she saw a sign at the head of the path. She grimaced, “...oh no.”
Marta snorted behind her and even Mikay giggled a little, “The Sonya ovna Path of Legends?” Mikay read aloud, sending a chill up Sonya’s spine from pure embarrassment.
Sonya groaned, “They didn’t have to after me. I just paid for it.”
“Isn’t that what normally happens?” Bera pointed out.
“On request!” Sonya whined.
Marta pat Sonya’s shoulder, “Just endure,” She chuckled as Sonya shot her a dirty look.
Traitor. Sonya grumbled before making her ast the god awful sign and to the statue of her lost friend. She looked up at it, the bright eyes and the gentle smile. They did a good job. She thought before looking down at the dedication.
FIRESTORM, BURNED BRIGHTER THAN ANY BEFORE HIM, INSPIRED A GEION. HERO OF THE BATTLE OF VEGAS.
Sonya’s lips trembled a little as she k dout her hand on the sign, “I kept my promise, didn’t I?” She said with a heavy heart, running her fingers over the words, “And I’ll keep doing it.”
“He was a good man,” Marta said.
“One of the best,” Sonya said and got to her feet.
“He had a crush on you,” Marta teased, which drew Mikalya’s raised eyebrows.
Sonya rolled her eyes, “Oh, why did you have t that up? I’m no blind! Of course I knew, poor thing,” She said with a small ugh, “That goofy man,” She shook her head, “Anyway!” Sonya barked, striking a pose, “We’ve got politis to meet.”
Sonya led the others dowh that had plenty of spots waiting for statues of future heroes like Firestorm. She admired the beauty of the pce, but she appreciated something a little more. A private joke just for herself. This pce, this spot, this was where Otis would have built Avalon iure. Just another little snub to the arrogant bastard. The thought alone brought a smile to her face as she imagihe look on his stupid blonde- Wait. She frowned, I remember his face? She blinked and nearly gnced over her shoulder, Hold on, the other aspirants have mentioned him in versation too. What ged?
Before she could think any harder on the suddeion a voice called out to her from the steps leading to the building. She looked up to see the Chairman standing there with a gss of champagne in his hand and a big smile on his face. She brightened for his be, “Chairman!” She eted, walking up to him and holding out her harms t him into an embrace, “How are you dear?”
He returhe hug with a ugh, “I’m well, Sonya! Good to see you.”
She tilted her head and smiled at him, Not for much longer. Your time’s almost up, I think. I was impressed that you had the political strength to stick around, even with me voug for you. It doesn’t matter, though, I’ve got a rept finally prepared. “Thank you,” She said sweetly, “Oh! You know Marta of course, but let me introduce Bera Lucci of the Lucci fashion pany and her head designer, Mikay Summer!” Sonya said, stepping to the side for the two women.
“Charmed!” The Chairman guffawed, shaking both of their hands, “My wife is actually wearing your clothes, Miss Summer. She’ll be excited to hear that I met you. I also uand that you desighe Iional Team’s gear, you are a master of your craft.”
“Oh!” Mikalya flushed, “Thank you!”
Sonya g Bera who looked immensely proud of her protege. She turo the Chairman, “I wahem to see the pce before they went back to where they were staying.”
“Pishposh!” The Chairman blustered, “They’re more than wele inside! e in!”
He turned and boisterously lead the quartet through the doors into the enormous brightly lit atrium of the building. Marble walls and flreeted them. Sonya gnced down at the expensive carpet and raised an eyebrow. They certainly went overboard with decorating. Politis. She exged a look with Marta as they went further ihere were dozens of people there all drinking, talking, and shaking hands. The pre-party to break the ice before the big meeting over the few days.
“Sonya ovna in the flesh!” A voice called out to her and she go the left to see a pair of men in suits approag her. The man on the left had tan skin and perfect bck hair to match his immacute goatee. The man on the right was a dirty blonde who radiated smugness in a way that reminded her of her worst enemy.
“Brent Marion and Adam Frask! We finally meet in person!” Sohused befng at Mikay ata with a wink, “I guess it’s right to business, dies, enjoy the refreshments,” She murmured. Mikay chuckled and waved her off while Marta fell into step with Sonya. “How are things at Marion and Fe?” She asked, shaking the two men’s hands. They gripped hard, she just grinned aurned a firm grip of her own as she g their names.
Both awakened, huh? Analyze.
Fasating. Wasted on them.
“Have a good look?” Brent asked with a grin, reag up to pull back his blonde hair and look down at her. o him, Adam grinned as well.
“Well, they’re certainly iing. I’m surprised you aren’t w as heroes,” Sonya said holy, “A bit of a waste, if you ask me.”
Brent frowned, “I make much more of a difference providing for heroes.”
“Mhm,” Sonya chuckled, “Why would I think anything else?” She teased before turning to Adam, “Thank you for lending Axel to the camp, Adam, that was very kind of you. I know he’s one of ygest assets.”
Adam ined his head, “It was nothing. Fe wants to see the geion grow.”
Sonya smiled at him, “I think we’ll get along famously.”
Brent frowned harder, “Um.”
“Miss ovna!” Another voice called out to her, she gnced in the dire of the void smiled before turning back to the two men. “We’ll talk more ter, boys,” She said and walked away with Brent fuming behihat was fun, she thought to herself while Marta maintained her perfect stoicism o her. Now you wear the mask, Sonya thought and gave her a small smile. Marta just winked back at her.
were a few representatives of various tries, most of the versation was small talk, though until a representative from Italy raised a point, “I’m surprised that Miss Mint isn’t here,” He said, gng around, “You two are usually thick as thieves.”
Sonya chuckled, “Well! Car takes the work of the ittee very seriously, she’s overseeing the East Coast Aspirant Camp right now and wishes she could be here,” Sonya said holy, “The geion is her priority, though.”
“Very admirable,” One representative said.
“I really should reach out to her at some point, it would be good to make tact,” Another said.
“With her managing North America she’s e a long way,” A third added.
Sonya kept her pleasant poker face, “She is certainly wetting to know,” Sonya chimed in, “I have a lot of faith in her and what she do for the ittee.”
“Well said,” Another representative chimed in, Sonya eyed his massive mustache as it wriggled, it made her think of a caterpilr and was immensely distrag. “I hear the two of you are married? How iing!”
Sonya barked out a ugh, “Something like that,” Sonya said, cupping her fad looking coy as best she , “Work es first, of course, aake our jobs very seriously.”
“Oho! I see! Apologies for jumping to clusions, the rumor mill is a scary pce,” The official grunted, straightening his tie.
Save me from this small talk, Sonya whined as she smiled back at him as another face strode forward that took her a little by surprise. A pair of red eyes locked with hers and she froze. She returhe stare of the well dressed tan-skinned man who adjusted his tie and smiled at her from a safe distance. Far enough away to avoid a handshake. Marta shifted and Sonya gave her a sharp look to hold back.
“I hear you’re building a new headquarters, how is that going?” Astaroth, future Herald of Otis said as every murderous impulse Sonya had fired off in her brain. “Lu DuCast, by the way. Though I imagine you already know that with those fancy eyes of yours.”
She reig in, “Mister DuCast! It’s going well, thank you!” Sonya said with all the sweetness she could muster for the beast in human flesh, “I didn’t know you were joining us tonight, what is a hero like yourself doing here?” And how do you know about my new building, you bastard? I took pains to have it structed under yers of shell panies.
He grinned, “Security for the French Representative. I’m leaving in the m, though, duty calls, being an Assistant Guildmaster is very busy work,” He said dramatically, “But, I saw your pretty fad just had to say hello.”
She returned his grin with one of her own, “Well, I’m sure this won’t be the st time we meet. Thank you for ing by to say hello.”
He wi her and turned away, returning to the side of his charge. Sonya restrained a shudder as she stared at his back. Sick bastard. She thought before turning back to the other representatives, “Now, where were we?”