“A device…” [Eleanore] finally reacted and moved, she had knew that her last name was Saintsworths, why was she making such a ruckus? “It flagged it as Truth, so you are really a Saintsworths?”
“I assume so, my alleged brother said so.” Alexandra said back, really. If Alexanders was as important as everyone made it sound then her past was set in stone right?
Alexandra wasn’t sure what to think about that, it seemed….too convenient, and that was part of why she hadn’t left Ale or Alexa to give the notice, both would probably just roll with it.
“Rude!” “But fair…” “But she is mean and rude!” “I mean…You would roll with it…And I…don’t think I would bother that much either…Right now, I see the issue since we aren’t tied to a brain, but I can also see my synapsis not thinking too much…These Human brains are a menace for real.”
That…had been a more complex communication than usual, she really needed to do that check up.
“Your brother…damnation, we knew you had some family and I had hoped you wouldn’t pop up as a Saintsworths, but that explains it…If you are a wielder of the eagle, then no wonder you didn’t show up.” [Eleanore] said sighing and nursing her forehead, was she going through a headache?
Perhaps she was overclocking her brain by the use of her [Core Power]? If so, that was good intel, it meant that these things were all powerfull, she could work with that better.
“The eagle? Oh right, you said to run away from anyone who wielded jewelry with an eagle…this counts too huh?” Alexandra said staring at the thing, it didn’t look like much to be honest, but it was probably made using [Tinker Tech] if she was to guess, since that was the only way that some random material could react to Mana and also interact with normal devices. There was no way this thin metal could hold all the necessary components to interact with some private and secure server from anywhere.
“Yes, it counts. It actually counts very much, the asshole at the top is the one that made them. And he is the only one that can give more too, so you have one means that at some points Alexanders acknowledged your existence, damned Saintsworths.” [Eleanore] grumbled and pressed some buttons on her desk that made a keyboard show up from within the desk, as soon as it was visible [Eleanore] started typing away. “Damned Saintsworths with their stupid tests and stupid toxic family…”
[Eleanore] seemed quite riled up as she wrote on it, “I assume you don’t know anything about your past? If you got it when leaving that place, did he give it to you? To Ale? Alexa?” [Eleanore] said turning to her once more, the glare was still there.
“He gave it to Ale yes, we didn’t think it was good idea to let Alexa around there. And The mission didn’t mention anything about me, I just came out to make sure we did things in order…And because Ale didn’t want to deal with the sewer system.” Alexandra said, shrugging at the last part, it wasn’t quite true, but it was close enough, “Also, while we know some basic information about this thing, we haven’t actually pulled anything out quite yet.”
She had been too busy recording Sam’s abs after all.
“Fine, good… It would be annoying…Oh god of course this fucker will not care…*groan*.” [Eleanore] seemed to be having some problems on her side, but Alexandra wasn’t sure why she kept glaring at her, it wasn’t her idea nor her fault to be branded with that last name…
Perhaps…perhaps she shouldn’t let Ale or Alexa interact with her that often…
“Fine, okay. Let’s deal with the problems as we go…” [Eleanore] said, taking a deep breath and centering herself. Or attempting to, that is what Alexandra got from how she was trying to calm herself. “First…I’ll need you to swear while I use my Core Power at full power something, this is very important. I can Perceive the Truth; people misinterpret this as a mere truth detector. And most of the time is only that, but if I come to bear my power in full. It can become some kind of… Vow. It will affect you and your Core if you ever plan or violate it, so I need you to be fully aware if we are to continue.”
…Now, why would Alexandra do that?
“And if you can’t keep this promise or do this, I am afraid I will need to ask you to leave our organization. If you were the daughter of a supervillain running away, or hell, the daughter of a Hero. We could deal with that, we have done that before, hell. At least four minions in training are sons or daughters of a villain, we probably have the son of a Hero working in Billy’s garage,” [Eleanore] shrugged as she said that, “But the Saintsworths are different.”
“How so? They aren’t [Heroes] or [Villains] as far as I know…or are they?” Alexandra asked, she really needed to peek at that database it seemed.
“No, they do have Heroes under their banner, and some mercs. We don’t have confirmation on any Villain working for or under them, but they do give us contracts from time to time, “ [Eleanore] said dismissively, as if the words tasted like bile in her mouth, “No, they are worse. They are actual Evil. They don’t care for rules or laws, they do what they want and kill, mutilate and mutate anyone on their path. They are the worst kind of existence this planet has ever suffered, and if it ever experiences an end of the world scenario I can guarantee you right now, that it was birthed in one of their labs.”
…That seemed…oddly specific.
“So with that out of the way,” [Eleanore] said pushing the Enter button on her keyboard and standing, “Billy is on his way with a personal computer that will be isolated from our system for you to use, and Vulcanus is probably rearranging his plans to take you into consideration.”
At least she seemed to be able to keep her job-
“Swear in the name of your Core right now, that you aren’t a plant of the Saintsworths, that you will not harm any member of Haephestus’ Forge. And that you aren’t going backstab us.” [Eleanore]’s words seemed to be thrumming with [Power] Alexandra felt…something.
“[Warning, Ambient Mana above normal treshold, currently above 3000% normal mana density.]”
Oh, so that was why she felt as if the world was crashing down on her, and even though the weight was heavy, and her breath came with difficulty, she wasn’t stuck to the floor.
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It was…Interesting.
“I…” Alexandra tried to speak but the words were hard to utter since the place was reeking with Mana.
“[Mana Attribute analyzed, Information-Truth. All words said need to be aligned, starting to siphon Mana into the host…Done. The host should be able to speak using this Mana, but care is advised.]”
So she could speak using it?
“I am [Alexandra Saintsworths].” Alexandra said, the words coming out of her mouth more easily, interesting, “I know not any of the Saintsworths agenda, nor why they granted me their name. I don’t know what my brother planned or what he intends to do, but I have no reason to follow him or his plans.”
Alexandra really didn’t have any reason; he cheated, after all. Why would she even want to do anything he asked?
“I hate how he acts, how he looked down on me…And I don’t or won’t do what he asks of me.” Alexandra didn’t like how at one point both Alexanders and Sapphire looked at her as if she was… a thing.
It was but for a moment, and most of the time they looked at her with curiosity or mirth, she could deal with that. But as a thing…She wasn’t a thing…Or well, she was a thing before, but now? She wasn’t, she was Alexandra. She was Alexa…She was Ale…She was…
“And hurting members of Haphestus’ Forge? Will you ever hurt your fellow Minion?” [Eleanore] said, bringing her back from that particular train of thought.
“I can’t promise that.” Alexandra said, as she said those words [Eleanore]’s eyes morphed into that of a glare.
Behind her, the image of a three-headed beast manifested, each eye of the creature shining in red ominous light, their snouts snarling at her.
“If…” Alexandra continued, “If any of the other Minions ever attack me, I will fight back. If anyone of them attempts to [Terminate] me, I will kill them first…I will not be the one failing the [Combat Test] I will not be the one being [Devoured]!”
That was the bare minimum, Alexandra would not be made less.
“...” [Eleanore] stopped her glaring to turn at look at her confused, then as if something made sense her eyes shifted from confussion to…horror? terror?
“Ah…no, nonononono.” [Eleanore] said as the atmosphere returned to normal, “No, we…we never would do that!”
They would never do that?
“Right…Because you wouldn’t abuse your power against someone in a weaker situation by using your power to bind them under a very strict set of [Rules]?” Alexandra said in a mocking tone back.
She really couldn’t let Alexa or Ale around [Eleanore], now, could she? Not if [Eleanore] could bind their [Core] with words. That was a dangerous aspect of [Core Powers].
“That!” [Eleanore] said covering her mouth, “That wasn’t…I wasn’t…I just…I…I want to keep my family safe…”
“Here it is!!” And before [Eleanore] could continue and elaborate on that the door to the room opened and [Billy] walked in carrying what looked to be a black notebook. “...Am I interrupting something?”
“We were just discussing the terms of my prolonged employment,” Alexandra said, to the surprise of [Billy].
“Your employment? But you have already signed up with us, right? Vulcanus wants to nurture you into a Lieutenant even. I think you would do better with us on the Mechanics to be honest, no wait. Does Eleanore want to recruit you into the HR department?” [Billy] glared at [Eleanore], only for a second as he noticed her face. “Eleanore…? What…What happened?”
“She showed me the other aspect of her [Core Power], she wanted me to make a [Promise] under her [Core Power],” Alexandra answered again, [Eleanore] was only opening and closing her mouth.
“Eleanore Windsor!” [Billy] roared as his clothes burst into rags as a body armor similar to the one that Alexander had used manifested around his body, only this had a more sleek design, with way more pointy ends. His mask was closer in design with [Vulcanus] face thought, even if this one didn’t have a mock face hidden behind it. “YOU! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE! SHE IS A BRAT! EVEN IF SHE LOOKS LIKE THIS! YOU KNOW THIS! YOU ARE THE ONE THAT STATED THAT SHE WAS MORE THAN LIKELY CLOSER TO FIVE YEARS OLD!”
“I…I…” [Eleanore] tried to say but no words formed.
“YOU WHAT?!?!? YOU BOUND HER CORE? STUNTED HER GROWTH? FOR WHAT?!?!? BECAUSE SHE HAS THAT LAST NAME?!?!?” [Billy] roared as he pushed [Eleanre] all the way against the wall, his right arm shifting as if the metal was alive, the hand morphed into a canon that emitted blue light, “ I SHOULD BLOW YOUR HEAD FOR THIS! THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TO YOU ALL! DO YOU WANT ME TO MAKE ME WISH THAT I HAD LEFT YOU THERE??!?!?!?”
What?
“I didn’t promise her anything, and my [Core] doesn’t feel bounded, though,” Alexandra said raising her hand. “There is nothing binding my [Core] is it? Main Core?”
“[There is not, we diverted and made sure there wasn’t any promise. But we advise you to leave this organization. They do not seem….trustworthy.]” Main Core said, using the speakers on her phone.
“...You…managed to not get bound?” [Billy] said as he let go of [Eleanore], and his mask disengaged from his face, showing his visage; he had a worry in his eyes. “...are you sure? We need to check, no wait. We would need an Information type Core…usually we use Eleanore’s….but…Are you sure?”
“Yes, she did want to bind me. But the promise wasn’t…feasible.” Alexandra wouldn’t have minded it, she could probably have tied it to a temporary Core…. “If the [Vow] isn’t as limiting as the one she wanted, I don’t mind it.”
“But I do,” [Billy] said from the side as he walked to her again, “I do…We aren’t scum, we don’t bind into serviture people because of their last name. We don’t impose our ideals on others like the Heroes, no. We are Villains, we respect what other people do, and do what we want, how we want and when we want.”
That seemed…counterintuitive.
“Eleanore, you will need to pay for this.” [Billy] said turning to [Eleanore] once more, “You breached the trust you had with one of our workers, one that can be more important than you think.”
“...I know…I’m sorry, I…I wasn’t thinking,” [Eleanore] said nursing her neck, it had the marks of [Billy]’s hand on it, “I…was hasty.”
“No shit Sherlock,” [Billy] spat to the side, “Usually, we would fire someone for what you did or send you to the wilds in a suicide mission.”
“I know…” [Eleanore] said grimacing.
“But you are too valuable, even like this.” [Billy] sighed, then looked at Alexandra and sighed again, “Fine, you wanted a vow, the kid doesn’t mind one, so that is what we will do.”
“What will be the terms?” Alexandra said while at the same time she started preparing to make a new [Core], she would need to be sure to bind it in that way, that may be hard to achieve since this would be the first time.
“Not you,” [Billy] said shaking his head, “Eleanore is the one that will do the vow, she will vow to never ever use her Core Power on you unless you allow it.”
“What?” Alexandra said, confused, “That…doesn’t sound…logical.”
And it wasn’t, [Billy] should advocate for [Haephestus’ Forge] he was one of their workers…Why was he taking her side?
“I don’t have access to any of the Saintsworths might or data, nor the means to acquire anything from them.” Alexandra said, she didn’t wanted any misunderstanding, “I can’t pay this back.”
“*Bonk*”
Alexandra got hit on the head with the black notebook that [Billy] had brought.
“Kiddos shouldn’t worry about those things, Eleanore made a mistake. And showed that she can’t be trusted to use her powers around you. If she wasn’t as important as she is to Vulcanus and Gabriel, I would make sure she was kicked out, but alas. This is the best thing we can manage.” [Billy] said, shaking his head, “Or what, do you want to wait for Vulcanus to decide your punishment?”
“...No, fair is fair.” [Eleanore] said, sighing, “I solemnly swear to never use my Core Powers on Alexandra Saintsworths.”
“Any version of her,” [Billy] said from the side.
“And any Core, not only the Truth one.” Alexandra added from the side, getting a smirk from [Billy], “Brother said there were secondary ones…”
“Clever brother you have then, he gave you a big hint on your path to power,” [Billy] shook his head at that, “Move on Cerberus, finish the vow.”
“I swear to not use any Core Powers I have on any version of Alexandra Saintsworths, no matter the form she takes. And should they be of less emotional maturity, I will only use them with the permission of someone else with the best interest in them.” [Eleanore] said as the words seemed to turn solid.
“[Interpreting Mana Behaviour…]”
To Alexandra’s eyes the words seemed to turn into Mana, from there they seemed to twist on itselfs into the form of a chain that sank into [Eleanore]’s chest, as if it was tying itself around her [Heart].
Interesting.
“Will…will that be good enough?” [Eleanore] said as if she was having a hard time breathing.
“It will do for now, felt anything different kiddo?” [Billy] said turning to her.
Why was he saying kiddo to her anyway?
“[Detected a mana stream coming from Human Designation: Eleanore, it asks for permission from host to enter in contact with host. Permit?]” Main Core said as it highlighted a strand that seemed to stay a few centimeters away from Alexandra.
“There is a change for sure…I refuse.” Alexandra said and saw the strand recoil as it reeled back into [Eleanore].
“So you can feel it then? I have been told it shows differently to others, the binding vow of Cerberus.” [Billy] said turning to [Eleanore]. “And from your end?”
“...It looks as if there is a sword hanging above my head, if I extend my Core Powers to her it threatens to decapitate me.” [Eleanore] said as she sat back into her office chair.
“....sounds about right. Well, let’s stop with the nasty things and move to better things.” [Billy] said clapping his hands, “We can’t dwell on these things forever, let’s give this baby a run.”
Alexandra got shoved into her hands the black notebook, “This is?” So she asked.
“That is connected to the network, the one everyone wants to use and complains about because I isolated those waves in our bases; it connects to [The World]. The Saintsworths sponsored network.” [Billy] said as he eyed the device, “So? What are you waiting for? Open the connection. This will be my first time seeing how these things connect, and this baby should record the connection, if I can emulate it then we will have a far more secure network, so give that thing a run.”
Well…there was nothing else to do, so Alexandra placed the hand with the bracelet above the device and waited.
