She’d heard that riding in a private jet was supposed to be one of the most rexing and luxurious experiences one could have while traveling. Veloce wao find whomever had made that cim first and vibrate their brain right out of their goddamn skull. Every moment she spent on that aircraft on her way to the Uates was another moment spent thinking, another moment spent w, another moment spent dreading. She saw those eyes in her sleep. She felt her presence every time she had a rebellious thought. Just the name alone was enough to send her into a trembling fit. What was it going to be like when she saw that monster face to face again?
It was so, so much worse.
It felt like every cell in her body was trembling as she sat in the limousiaring at her hands and wishing with every fiber of her being that she could just wrench the door open and run out, top speed, and disappear. Yet as soon as she had the thought all she could do was flinch, her muscles going taught and her body going stiff. Every rebellious thought left her disabled for a heartbeat, uo move, uo breathe. A punishment for even sidering breaking the sve tract.
Then there was the sound.
How could no one else hear it? It was so fug loud.
TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK TICK
The tig that rang in her ears, like an unruly clock. It had been quiet except when she had those thoughts, but here, now, sitting in front of her? It was deafening, maddening, another yer to the endless hell that was her punishment for having the audacity to even sider crossing this woman and take what’s hers.
“Veloce,” The word came out like a hissing rasp, the sound of metal nails across bloodstained ice. A chill went up her spine and she jerked her head up in almost programmed obedience, looking into those digitized eyes. She opened her mouth to speak, but her throat was dry, her jaw still locked by her rebellious thoughts. “I have a job for you.”
Veloce tried to pry her eyes away, her guts twisting, but she couldn’t. She could only nod mutely.
“Do well, and I will reward you,” Ishtar said, “I will reiate your tract, give you some freedom back. Would you like that, Veloce?”
Hope. Fleeting, beautiful, agonizing hope. She forced her jaw open even if it hurt, “Yes, please!” Veloce pleaded, grasping onto that kernel of a ce of blessed relief.
“Then don’t disappoint me.”
–
“As more mana radars are set up across the p, we are beginning to get a better idea of how mana moves and its fun in our newly ged world. More and more dungeons are being located as well, with many in a critical state. Heroes are being dispatched to cull the popution of monsters within the dungeons while guilds and corporations rush to secure rights to the dungeons themselves,” The reporter said.
“The single crystal that was taken from one of the first dungeons by the team lead by Firestorm has demonstrated remarkable qualities and appears to be packed with energy, stists are eager to get more samples to see what e of this new material element. We are looking at a modern day gold rush,” The reporter tinued, “With ASTA Corporation being the leading pany in the field of Pandora-based teologies, their value has tio rise rapidly. Some have raised questions about monopoly, but the corporation has stated that it has not formalized any patents. It has not, however, released aailed papers on their research.”
Another voice chimed in, “This is obviously an open invitation for petition, a rather magnanimous approach from the young CEO. Given the rumors about how well she treats her employees and her quick rea to Dharan, she has earned a lot of general goodwill worldwide,” A man sitting across from the reporter said, the words under his name implied that he was some kind of financial analyst.
“When do you think ASTA will shift to public trading?” The woman asked.
The analyst ughed, “I don’t know, but I’m looking forward to it!”
Martin frow the television as he finished pag his bags, it wasn’t a lot, but it was enough. He rubbed his ned grabbed the remote, “All people talk about these days,” Martin grumbled.
“Most national-level flicts have moved to cease fire after the fsh,” Ironsides said, leaning against the wall and sipping at his coffee. “Everything but the most radical movements have taken a back seat, and groups like that are being ostracized for not prioritizing the monsters and vilins.”
Martin nodded slowly, “There’s nothing else to talk about,” he grunted and finished zipping the bag.
“Pretty much,” Ironsides said and put his mug in the sink. “You ready, Chief?”
“Fug Vegas of all pces,” Martin grumbled.
“The Chairman wants you there to meet the iional team he’s putting together,” Ironsides pointed out, “On top of that…” He trailed off.
Martin nodded, “She will be there. Both of them. We’re sure about Kingshark’s gangs in Vegas making moves?” He asked.
“Positive,” Ironsides said.
“The’s go.”
–
As Smallfoot stepped onto the private jet, the shadows at his feet shuddered and shifted. The business-killer walked over to the sofa and sat down as the crew fiheir procedures outside the aircraft. He pulled out his suitcase and made himself look busy, anizing some notes and flipping through dots. This was his normal routine, so it didn’t bother him. In fact, it was refreshing to be getting back to what he did best and still had to work out a cover story to expin his abseo his mundane employers.
He smiled curtly to himself and had that same thought he had every time he did this, If only they knew.
The pook off not long after he got settled a to his feet o reached proper altitude, heading over to the bar and p out two drinks. He walked back to the sofa and sat down again, holding o to thin air as he reed. The shadows beh him stretched out like a snake, gathering and swirling until they densed into a solid mass. The solid mass took on the shape of a man and soon the Headmaster was standing in front of him, taking the gss from his hand.
“Dean Smalfoot,” The Headmaster said with a nod.
The newly minted Dean of the Night Society smiled at him, “Headmaster.”
“Have you thought about your curriculum?” The Headmaster asked.
“There are going to be a lot of people pretty sad to hear that I am retiring from public life,” Smallfoot said with a chuckle, “Yes, I have a lot to teach the geion of financial assassins.”
Bckrazor took a sip of his drink and nodded, “Good. News?”
Smallfoot nodded, “The faculty trip is well underway, most of the adjuncts have arrived and have engaged with their assigasks.”
Bckrazor moved over to the sofa and sat dowo him, letting out a breath and taking another sip of his drink, he nodded slowly for a moment before Smallfoot a rare smile, “Sad you couldn’t go?”
“And miss a trip to Las Vegas?” Smallfoot ughed, “I’m a numbers man, Headmaster. I io fully enjoy myself.”
–
“Nick! Quit your fretting and finish pag, we’re going to be te!” Jessica shouted, standing at the door with her arms crossed. Oher side of the door she heard frantient, thumps, and the movements of an idi his best to get ready after waiting way too long to get started on his task.
She rolled her eyes and tapped her foot, gng over at the man standio her. Logan had his Bandit hood up and was grinning wildly at the door. “e on blowtorch, let's get going, how are you the st oo get packed? You wanna make your crush wait?”
There was a crash in the room. Jessica groaned and looked down at Logan, “Are you serious? Don’t do that to the puy.”
Logan ughed, “Suildmaster.”
She sighed, adjusting her blue sport jacket and tie. She was going as Jessica Wright, ASTA Guildmaster, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t fly her personal colors, or, color. She gave Logan a little elbow and shook her head admonishingly while hiding a small smile as she fixed her eyes on the door. “Firestorm! Front aer!” She shouted.
The door swung open and Nick stood there, breathing hard, eyes wide, “I’m good! I’m good!” He panted, ging to his suitcase.
She gave him a once over and raised an eyebrow, “Uh huh,” She said and shook her head, “e on, Larry is waiting downstairs. He does not like going out without his mask on so lets not make him sit any lohan he has to, alright?” She said, turning away as Logan snickered and hurried to join her, Nick close behind.
“Are we really going to meet the iional team?” Nick asked, excited.
“That’s why we’re going,” She said patiently, “They want to meet us, and Miss ovna wants the exposure for us. On top of that, she said theres a dungeon in Vegas she’s looking into. We might be helping her clear it.”
“Or we could be teaming up with the Iional Team on it,” Logan said, “Good PR move.”
“You’re learning!” Jessica said, eted.
Logan scowled at her, “All you do is talk about this kind of stuff, of course I’d pie up.”
“Only because all you talk about is video games,” She shot back.
“They’re good stress relief!” Logan defended himself.
Nick looked betweewo of them, “Is this… fraternizing?” He asked.
Jessid Logan rounded on him, wide eyed, “What the hell are you talking about?” They both asked in unison before looking at one another in disbelief. Jessica was the first to turn away and march down to the elevator. She stepped inside and smmed the close door button.
“I’m going to Vegas, you two stay here,” She barked as the two men raced for the door, it shut on them. She sighed, “Pair of idiots,” She said and hit the open button after a heartbeat.
–
The Iional team was gathered in the main space of the aircraft as it made its way through the atmosphere. Five of them assembled from across the world so far to be the mobile strike force that the Pandora ittee could call on when a nation didn’t have the heroes to leverage against a particur threat, or with ret news, dungeon. hua stood in front of the group with a tablet in her hand. On it was a sketch of a figure in what looked like a pilot jumpsuit and wearing a helmet that reminded her of a particur freronic music artist.
She looked up and brushed a strand of bck hair over her ear, fixing each of the other four heroes present with a stare. Vytal from Germany sat with his legs crossed and a small smile on his face. His blue eyes glittering brightly. Sapporo of Japan crossed his thick arms and frowned. Euclidia of the UK ying with an unnerving square of light over her palms that flexed a but somehow remained rigid. Pathfinder of Saudi Arabia sat with his fingers ced and elbows on his knees, his dark eyes fixed on hua with tration.
She cleared her throat and as if a switch flipped the other three that seemed to be distracted immediately joined Pathfinder in deep focus, “The information that we’ve been provided is top secret and not to be shared with anyone in order to avoid a panic,” She said and turhe tablet around.
–
Sonya shook hands briefly with , “I’m gd things went well in Massachusetts,” She said with a smile.
The Lawyer gave her a pretty smile and waved it off, “It was nothing, if anything, a good field test to see whether or not your ability really fit its name.”
She nodded, it was true she hadn’t tested her ability to see if she could make a deal between two parties that didn’t include herself binding, which was a bit of an ht if she was ho with herself. “Is Amos happy?” She asked.
chuckled, “It was a good night.”
Sonya ughed, “You’re terrible! Thank you for holding down the fort for me, ,” She said and held out a hand. He took it in a quick shake. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’ll be fine, I’ve figured out how you do business, shouldn’t be a problem, just hurry back,” said with a shrug and a sassy wink. He turned away and walked back to the suv they’d taken to the private airport.
She watched him go and gnced over her shoulder, sensing a few more people approag. She turned her head to Marta who had been standing silently o her. “You ready?” She asked.
“Always,” Marta said with a smile.
Sonya turned around fully and opened her arms iing, “Chairman! All doh your business?” She asked.
The Chairman approached aurned her quick embrace. He pulled bad pat her arms, “Yes! I’m looking forward to this time now, take a bit of a breather. Though unfortunately I still have a little work to do while we’re there,” He said.
Sonya turned oher two, meeting Hyunhs gaze with her own and smiling curtly, “Yes, at least they’ll get to have the time of their lives. Vegas is aing pce,” She said.
Hyu her stare for stare, “Yes, I’ve always wao see this so-called Sin City and see if the rumors hold up. I’ve been told you disappear forever there if you’re not careful.”
Sonya grinned, restraining her bloodlust, “So they say! Lets hope you stay well in sight of your fiance! Wouldn’t want you to vanish, he might get upset.”
“I wouldn’t dare leave his side for a moment,” Hyunh shot back.
“This is going to be a wonderful trip!” The Chairman chortled, oblivious as the two women stared daggers at one another.
–
The coach-grade bus rolled to a stop. The bright lights of the city shone down the people stepping out and those waiting to step in. A young man, just a few years into his twenties, stepped out of the bus and took a deep breath, reveling imosphere of this pce. He reached up and pyed with the coif of his golden hair and smiled brightly at the driver from over his shoulder. “Thanks for the ride!” He said merrily.
The driver gave him a quizzical look before shaking their head and shutting the door. He didn’t even notice the weird look, already distracted by his surroundings.
“Hey blondie!”
He turned, his face still pstered with that brilliant winning smile and saw two men standing over him, both a head taller, both with a wicked aura. “Are you talking to me?” The young man asked.
They looked at one ahen back at him, “No shit, you got any money?” One asked.
He shook his head, “Afraid not! Last of it ent on that ticket!” The young man said, “Do you have money?”
The two stared at him befng at one anain, “Uh huh, Why don’t you e with us and we’ll show you how to make some?” The gested.
The young man looked up at them, his smile never faltering but a little bit of flint glinting in his eyes, “Oh sure! Lead the way!” He said as his hand twitched.
