“Hey, Nobody, we’re back,” Vivienne said, waking me from my nap.
The ride wasn’t long enough for me to truly feel rested, but I feel marginally better. Not having my head encased inside my helmet is such a relief. Aubrey did a great job with the filtration system, but it doesn’t compare to fresh air. I cannot believe I fell asleep without my helmet on. The fact I was able to rest despite the vulnerability shows that I do trust V.
“Thank you, and sorry about falling asleep,” I said.
“All good, boss. I won’t begrudge anybody for taking a nap. And I’m sorry for fucking up and getting arrested,” Vivienne said.
“Obstacles and setbacks happen. You made sure they had no proof of a crime, and you even had a plan of reaching me. As far as I am concerned, you handled this perfectly. I am happy you executed your plan so thoroughly.”
I can see her smile through the rearview mirror. “Thanks. You said I missed a ton, so fill me in,” Vivienne said.
“I secured Nicholas Holmes' assistance going forward. All it required was Isaiah wiping out an entire gang, killing a Cowl, fighting perhaps the strongest Cape in Quinstin, recruiting a psychopath, getting shot in the head, and both Isaiah and I almost dying,” I said casually.
“Wait, what the fuck? You had such a sick-ass night while I slept in a jail cell. I can’t believe you guys beat Titania. I wish I had been there,” Vivienne sighed.
“Not Titania. We fought a probationary member of the Heroes’ Union named Virtue. She’s around our age, and we didn’t beat her. We barely escaped. If I am being honest, I am unsure how you would fare against her. She took on five Cowls at once, and if Tuesday hadn’t been there, she might have killed Isaiah.”
“God, she sounds freaking incredible. If she put hands on Hotpants, then she must be tough. At least you were able to get the lawyer on board,” she said.
“Speaking of the lawyer. Let me know once you have that VIP customer model set up; he will be buying his drugs from us. I don’t want to risk him getting something that’s been cut and dying. I would hate to have to replace him. We should head inside,” I said, putting my helmet back on.
----------------------------------------
Vivienne and I enter the conference room to find Rorschach and Tuesday. All the money is neatly stacked up and Rorschach wrapped it up in rubber bands. It is a satisfying sight to see all the money I have at my disposal.
“Kai, where is Isaiah?” I asked.
It takes a second, but Kai’s voice echoes over the speakers. “Uggh. He’s down here with me. The patient is awake and asking to be allowed to leave.”
“Perfect, the two of you can come up for a meeting,” I said.
“Do I have to?” Kai whined.
“Yes, both of you come up here. We’re about to have our first board meeting.”
----------------------------------------
Isaiah arrives shirtless and with his injured arm completely wrapped up in bandages and bound to his chest. The burns on his torso are barely red anymore, and the destroyed flesh has already begun regenerating. The bruising he sustained is gone as well as the swelling. It is incredible how little remains of his injuries.
“How are you doing, Isaiah?” I asked.
“He’s about seventy, seventy-five percent healed. My conjecture about his natural healing ability was correct, but it’s to be expected since I’m the one who said it,” Kai bragged, coming out from behind Isaiah.
His attitude returning bodes well for him being more than a yesman. A cowed and fearful Kai is not worth much in my eyes. I need a mad scientist surgeon who will help push boundaries, not a pathetic worm.
Isaiah sits at the opposite end of the table from me, waiting quietly. To my immediate right is Vivienne looking at me attentively. Next to her is Kai with an expression that seems to be a mixture of irritation and boredom. Across from them is Rorschach playing with an ink mouse she created, passing diamonds back and forth. Is she just playing catch with herself, using a creature she creates and controls? Tuesday is a few seats down from her, back in her full costume. She cut holes in the patrolman’s hat for the bunny ears on her mask. She looks even more ridiculous now. I look over my five employees and the fourteen empty seats. Eventually, more will sit here, those trusted and chosen few—people who will further my interests and rise with me.
“Everyone, meet our newest addition, Tuesday. She is an expert at infiltration, information gathering, and psychological warfare,” I said.
“You forget world-renowned sex icon and five-time cornhole champion!” Tuesday shouted with a southern twang.
“Oh, I like her. She is fun,” Vivienne yelled back at the same volume.
“Great, another one,” Kai sighed.
“Another one? What do you mean by that?” Tuesday asked innocently.
“Yeah, doc, what do you mean ‘another one’?” Vivienne added, smiling.
Kai pales at V’s question.
I, uh, uhm. I meant,” Kai stumbled.
“You messed up now, Kai. A little bit of advice when it comes to women: don’t insinuate things you aren’t willing to say,” Isaiah chimed in.
“Oh yeah, and what the fuck do you know about women?” Rorschach asked him.
“Hey! I’ve been inside countless women for my research; you could say I know women deeply and intimately,” Isaiah said.
“Gross, Hotpants, fuckin’ gross dude,” Vivienne said.
“V, I’m not gonna apologize for loving women. I’m too big of a feminist for that,” Isaiah said.
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“Just because you sleep around doesn’t mean you’re a feminist,” Rorschach said.
“Is it always like this? God, I hope so,” Tuesday laughed.
“When you’ve generated as many female orgasms as I have, they actually give you a doctorate in women’s studies,” Isaiah smirked.
“Why did I have to leave the lab for this? I feel like I’m not needed for this round table circus,” Kai said.
“No, man, we need you. Every group needs a sassy gay,” Isaiah said.
“Why is he the sassy gay?” Vivienne asked.
“Because you’re a frumpy meathead, and I’m fabulously fashionable. Like it’s obviously me,” Kai said.
“Go fuck yourself,” Vivienne said, pouting.
“That’s it? V, girl, I am begging you to learn how to shit talk. You have to put men in their fucking place, or they get ideas. Like tell the stiletto surgeon to shut his bitch mouth, or you’ll pull his tongue out through his asshole and facefuck him with a chainsaw,” Rorschach said.
“Jesus, I thought we were going for like a fun family sitcom feel. But you people are just disgusting. I mean, good heavens,” Tuesday said with faux-righteous fury.
“Everyone be quiet,” I said. I cannot let them bicker and banter forever.
All five heads pivot to look at me.
“As I was saying. Welcome to the first of many board meetings we will have. I said that I would create a company, and I will. The first order of business for this meeting is to assign roles to everyone. I will be the CEO, and Vivienne will be our COO. Isaiah will be our Chief Compliance Officer, Kai will be the Head of R&D, and Rorschach will be the Chief Financial Officer. Tuesday, you will be the Head of Market Research. Are there any questions regarding roles before I continue?” I asked.
“Nope. It’s pretty self-explanatory,” Rorschach said.
“Umm, excuse me. Plucky, intrepid reporter Tuesday here for the WWBB news. One question; what the fuck is Head of Market Research?”
“It’s code for corporate espionage. As in, you’re the head of spying,” Kai said.
“What’s WWBB news?” Vivienne asked.
“Why would you ask-” Kai said.
“IT’S WORLDWIDE BAD BITCHES!” Tuesday shouted.
“Kai is correct,” I said, moving past the outburst. “These titles are not empty positions but real roles with responsibilities. Now, I have been vague about what the overarching plan is and what the nature of the company will be. Quinstin is the biggest city in the state by far, with a population of over 750,000 people. The city has a full BNA compound, as well as one of the five largest Heroes’ Union bases in America. By all accounts, this is not a city that most Cowls would or could attempt to take over, but I am not most Cowls. We are going to fix and replace the city’s infrastructure. Using Kai’s construction drones we can build at a rate that a regular construction company cannot possibly compete with. Nuevohuman fights are famously destructive and now there will be a company that can rebuild things better and cheaper. Piece by piece, we will slowly replace Quinstin as we create our very own Theseus’ city,” I said.
“So we’re a construction company?” Rorschach asked.
“No, we need to be more than that for my plan to work. We will diversify into other sectors and slowly expand our influence across the city. Our tendrils will expand and burrow into every facet of that city until it gets to a point where we are synonymous with Quinstin. Eventually, it will get to the extent that we are so symbiotic that the government, the BNA, and the Heroes’ Union cannot remove us without crippling one of America's largest cities,” I answered.
“This all sounds very above board and boring. I was promised excitement and mayhem,” Tuesday said.
“We will continue to operate our less-than-legal activities as well. It will not be a bloodless affair to take over Quinstin. I expect conflict and resistance at every turn. The Capes and Cowls are used to the status quo, but they will bend the knee or be crushed by the boot. We will grow both the legal and illegal sides of our company. Those who prove loyal and useful will be given powers. An ever-expanding personal army of powered soldiers,” I replied.
I completely forgot to pass off Offset’s ability. I am lucky I haven’t told a lie since the meeting started.
“Holy hell, Nobody, you’re talking about carving a kingdom out of a city,” Isaiah said.
“Long live the Crime King of Quinstin. May he be remembered fondly by friends and feared of by his foes,” Tuesday announced.
“Oh, I cannot wait to start cracking skulls,” Vivienne said joyfully.
“The scale you’re talking about is going to require a shitload of more drones. And I’m going to need better materials instead of scrap metal and garbage, especially if you expect it to be nicer looking than this place,” Kai said.
“I like this place. It’s homey,” Vivienne said.
“Well, thank you, but it’s dreary and barebones here. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of color and flair. Just because he’s all dark and gloomy doesn’t mean the rest of us have to join the Black Parade,” Kai said.
What is the Black Parade?
“Come on. I know they’re old school, but it’s like a formative Emo album. Jesus, do none of you listen to the classics?” Kai asked, appalled at the complete silence.
“Yeah, so anyway, I have an actually relevant fucking question. We only have three hundred and sixty-five thousand in cash; that is not nearly enough to do what you want to. Property is fuckin’ expensive, especially in Quinstin. Even if we target the most rundown, crime-ridden, bad neighborhood abandoned lots, we might not be able to get anything for that price. The remaining one point nine million is tied up as drugs and gold bars. What’s the plan for that, Nobody?” Rorschach asked.
Beyond her value as reconnaissance, this is why I wanted her to stay—a voice to challenge me, to question and keep me honest. This group is made up of people all over the moral spectrum, and that is what will make us so effective. Tuesday is an agent of chaos that has no line she will not cross. Rorschach and Vivienne have strict rules that they will not break. Isaiah is the most similar to me. We commit crimes, violence, and atrocities to further a goal, not out of enjoyment. Kai has no qualms about kidnapping, experimenting, and holding people hostage indefinitely. He also did not care that I murdered an innocent civilian to make him a Tinkerer.
“We have in our position a young man who’s father is a notable investment banker. Kai has been watching to see if there are any side effects from the prolonged exposure to the late Mr. Drax’s power,” I answered.
“So, a bit of ransom?” Vivienne asked.
“No. We are going to return his son to him with a clean bill of health for free. In exchange for our generosity and kindness, I believe he will be interested in repaying us with a small favor. That small favor will be taking our money and investing it for us. That will provide us with legal tender,” I said. “We have made a lot of progress in a very short amount of time, and for that, you should all be proud. But we are not going to rest on our laurels. I have accomplished everything I have by never letting off the gas, and we are in the final stretch.”
“What do you mean final stretch?” Isaiah asked.
“In four weeks, our entire operation will be moved to Quinstin.”
A chorus of surprise and exclamations fills the room in response to my timeline.
“I will be preoccupied working with Kai on something for the next several weeks, and therefore, the rest of you are going to be taking on a lot of extra work. There will not be any oversight from me. I trust all of you to complete your tasks efficiently,” I said.
“If you say it’s possible in four weeks, then it’s possible in four weeks, Nobody,” Vivienne said.
“It’s a bit of a tight schedule, but we can probably get it done,” Isaiah said.
Rorschach, Tuesday, and Kai nod their assent as well.
“Rorschach, get in touch with that fence of yours and get rid of the gold. I also need you to look into the possible property in Quinstin. It doesn’t matter where it is; all that matters right now is the price. Continue your surveillance of Nicholas, and work on getting the city mapped out. If you’re able to, start creating a stockpile of creatures. You can hide them in the sewers of Quinstin,” I said.
“Will do. A slight issue with your sewer idea is that my creations dissolve when they come into contact with water,” Rorschach said.
WHAT? Why am I only hearing about such a huge weakness of her power now? Do not panic; adjust and overcome.
“In that case, hide them in parks, trees, and underpasses. Feel free to leave now. In fact, as soon as I give you your orders, you can take off,” I said.
Rorschach scoops the bricks into her bag while the ink mouse throws the diamonds into a small envelope. She puts the envelope into her bag, picks up her mouse, and leaves. One down, four to go.
“V, you will be in charge of visiting Gerald McKinney. Take the cash and Junior with you. If what I’ve read about the father is true, then you won’t even have to ask him to help you. I know you’ll act in our best interest.”
“You got it,” she said.
“I’ll have the table drone bring him up to your car,” Kai added.
“You tryna butter me up cause you were an asshole earlier?” Vivienne laughed.
And then there were three. The four of us left in the room are the ones who don’t shy away from the nastier side of the world. Bringing Tuesday in on the experiments should help satiate her bloodlust. I can pair her with Isaiah to make sure she stays in line as well.
“Isaiah, you and Tuesday are going to be operating together. Kai’s research requires more volunteers so it’s time to round up the rest of the vagrants of the docks. There is also a new target for our imaginary vigilante to take down: an exhibitionist predator and alleged rapist. Jeremy Swaim is a Traveller/Alter/Manipulator who can separate portions of his body, clone them, dissolve them, and then rematerialize the pieces anywhere in sight. He can also teleport the rest of his body to these creations. He’s used this for various effects, and he’s good enough never to have been caught. It's the same deal as last time, Isaiah,” I said.
“Will do, bossman. Let’s go, girlie,” Isaiah said.
“Wait, what does he mean, ‘same deal as last time’?” Tuesday asked him.
“I’ll explain on the way,” Isaiah said, exiting the conference room.
And now it is just me and the doctor. Kai sits in his chair, looking relaxed for once.
“Is it my turn for alone time with the boss?” He joked.
“Yes, for the next three weeks, we are going to be spending every day together until every aspect of my power has been mapped out. We will embark on this scientific journey together, Kai. No matter what it takes, morality will not impede progress. Understood?”
“You know what they say; you can’t make an omelet without breaking some eggs. I love a good problem,” Kai responded.
We walk out of the room, heading toward the door that leads to the lab.
“Kai?”
“Yes?”
“What are your thoughts on elevators?” I asked.