She had her palms on his cheeks like she wanted to remember the shape. She held them there as he faded away, and stayed there even after. She sat there in the pool of gold like she was frozen.
Aaliyah had stabilized Garrick and they both picked up the Nguyen brothers who were still unconscious. Aaliyah could stabilize everyone’s wounds, but they would need to use the medical facilities on the site to prevent any deaths—any more deaths.
“So he’s gone for real this time, right?” asked Garrick. Hannah’s hands finally fell, the tips submerged in the gold.
“We have been hopelessly ignorant of the limits of magic this whole time. We can only hope he doesn’t have any more contingencies at play,” said Aaliyah, “for now, we need to get them to the clinic.”
“That’s why I’m trying to snap some sense back into her, this guy lost two arms and is still heavy as… you know.” Hannah got up, put Kenny and Todd on her shoulders, and started moving with the others in tow.
“He’s done. There was no will left in him.”
“Great, I hated that guy. Aaliyah, your ex was the worst.”
“I know.”
“And Hannah, I don’t know what you see in that guy. He’s been nothing but a psychotic control freak this whole time.”
“I guess you’d be the expert. But just like with you, I prefer to see the good in everyone. And just like with you, I know you do mean good.”
“Well, if he’s anything like me, he’d get mad that you’re comparing us,” said Garrick as they entered the clinic.
“Trying to carry too much weight forced you to make concessions. I couldn’t understand or condone everything, but I wasn’t involved so I turned away from it,” she laid Todd in a bed, then Kenny, “I realize that now. I won’t turn away ever again,” she said with a hand on Kenny’s heart. With little of her magic left, the only shock was his hand rising to meet hers.
“So it’s over now,” said Kenny with his eyes closed.
“No. But we’re past the hard part,” said Hannah. Kenny laughed which quickly turned into a groan.
“I think we’re going to feel the hard part for a while…
…sorry, about your friend. I know he meant a lot to you.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. Making a better future was our responsibility. It was our mistakes that led to the mess, you two just got dragged into it. You should have been able to enjoy being young with your families.”
“Hannah’s right,” said Garrick as he held the first aid box for Aaliyah as she tended to Todd, “You’ve both done more than we should have ever asked of you. I can cover an early retirement for your whole family.”
Kenny sat up, even though it hurt to move.
“You’re the one who said not to blame yourself for what you can’t control, so don’t do it yourself. And that responsibility belongs to everyone, I just got a head start. I don’t know about him,” Kenny gestured to Todd, still out cold, “I think he’s done. But I’m not: but I can’t unsee what I‘ve seen, and I can’t turn away. Even after the Pantheon, I haven’t been a hero yet. The least I can do—the least I have to do—is try.” Hannah clasped both her hands around his.
“Thank you, Kenny. We’ll try together.”
“Great, that also means I don’t need to pay your pension then.”
“No!” Kenny clutched his ribs, “no, I need the money, please.”
“I’ll put it in a trust. Now get some rest.”
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The ebon blades proved too heavy for man or machine to carry. Instead, they were wrapped in magic: first, in sparking shimmy when they were lifted from the tomb; now, in a celestial bubble as they were brought home. Hannah went to knock but the door opened before she reached.
Ms. Deimos opened her palms so that the weapons could be dropped in her hands. She carried them inside and left the door open for her to be followed. She took down the rust replicas and placed the ebon blades behind the Hippo skull. That unnerving skull planted itself as a core fear in Hannah a long time ago and, despite everything, still made her restless to be under its gaze.
“Ms. Deimos, I—” Aaliyah choked on her words and fell to her knees coughing as iron collars clasped both their necks.
“There’s nothing for you to say. You killed my son. Whatever else you need to do, none of it is here.”
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The collars fell away as if they never existed. With the estate delivered, Aaliyah bowed and silently led Hannah away. They made it out the door—
“Apologies,” said Mr. Deimos from beside the door, to their startlement, “death is common and just as important as life, but someone not born into our world still has trouble… understanding.”
“I'm not sure I would want to understand that,” said Hannah.
“Then you will have to create a new understanding because our world has been brought to you.”
“That was why we came here,” said Aaliyah, “there is still so much we don’t know. We want to build something new, but need expertise.”
“Our duty is to all of humanity, always. I will do what I can. But it will be your responsibility to do what you must,” said Mr. Deimos. Hannah clenched her fist.
“Yes, that’s the part I’ve been forced to understand.”
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Hannah Vandimion adjusted her purple tie in the mirror while waiting to hear from her employer. She did not have to wait long as the earpiece rang in short order.
“Do I have to come to this meeting,” said Hannah as she left the bathroom and went out the front door of her old dorm, “I’m not exactly a sharp negotiator.”
“You’re gonna have to learn eventually. For now, I just need you to stand and look pretty for the cameras.”
“You mean stand and look scary for the opposition?” as she flew up, sparking shimmy protecting her hair.
“That too. Now get over here.”
Hannah bolted across the skies of Olympus. As high as she was, she was only at the capstone of the arch that opened a portal to hell. Built on what was once an American military base, this piece of infrastructure was a testament to the firm foothold that the Immortals had. Elsewhere, they erected other gateways in cities and nations they have all but vassalized.
These gateways were the nexus of interdimensional trade: humans and food, the most abundant of earth’s resources, went in; what came out were resources beyond imagining, the procurement of one such valuable resource being the subject of today’s meeting. An embargo could have stemmed the flow, but no country would risk falling behind its peers. Despite the most desperate and valiant efforts, the Immortals made their landing with a show of force and now secured their place with economics. The only saving grace is that much of the occupational forces—men and monsters that made up an immortal army—withdrew to the other side of the gates after—
“I see you brought one of the people who helped you kill my nephew,” said Ms. Chen, through a faint smile, across the table, flanked by two midnight-clad warriors, “excellent, that brings us to today’s topic.”
Ms. Chen raised her finger and, after a swirl of arcane energy coalesced above her fingertip, a vial with crystal inside appeared. The crystal radiated colors that couldn’t exist and was barely contained by the vial.
“I gave you these mana crystals to refine them for the project I assigned to you. Instead, you shoved them up the rectums of some gundams and jumped humanity’s greatest champion.”
“I’ll admit there was some scope creep in exploring the application of these crystals. However, I believe was necessary to expand our understanding with smaller tests and projects.”
“I don't doubt that, but I think I will implement more stringent oversight. Well, I say that, but I suppose we won’t be having such direct collaboration in the near future.”
“As… enlightening as being a subsidiary of Chen Laboratories has been, Iolcus Industries will be returning to government contracting for the time being.”
“Regardless, I want you to know that Iolcus Industries is the only manufacturer I can trust to develop the refinement of mana crystals. The crystals you see on the market are the most crude and flawed essences. I would to offer Iolcus Industries an exclusive contract for a supply of the highest-quality crystals that hell has to offer.”
“Why?” Hannah blurted out loud when she didn’t mean to. She tried to turn her head like she didn’t say anything, but attention came to her nonetheless.
“Do you have an objection, Ms. Vandimion?”
“Well, Ms.—”
“Call me Empress.”
“Ms. Chen,” asserted Hannah, “I don’t understand what you have to gain from this… agreement… if you’re being honest with us about it. Magic has been the greatest advantage that the Immortals have had over us; why give any chance for us to close the gap?”
“You think so selfishly and short-sightedly, dear. This is for the benefit of all mankind. Of course, we’d like to refine the materials ourselves, but it is better to start from the established industrial and scientific base here on Earth. Our fledgling colonies simply don’t have the same capacity. This is merely an investment in a future reshaped by magic: you can share a stake, or you can be lost to history. I think Mr. Iolcus here has already made his decision.”
“Yes. Ms. Vandimion merely expresses the concern many have but Iolcus Industries is committed to ongoing negotiations to address the concerns of interests of parties in this matter. I hope there is no misunderstanding to our stance.”
“Of course. You know your place very well. It’s her that will be a problem: she’s been quite scary, and rude, this whole time. She’s the one who seems to misunderstand our interest in the welfare of humanity.”
“I could believe that Tyler had humanities interests at heart. You, Auntie Chen, have never cared about any interests but your own,” said Hannah. Chen’s smile grew ear to ear and she rose from her chair
“Oh, perhaps she does understand,” the windows fogged up, “but I assure you, bringing prosperity to humanity is in my interest. If you doubt that… well, you should have made better choices,” she returned her attention to Garrick, “My people will talk to your people soon. Be prepared to receive our shipments and build our infrastructure for us. I expect this to be a beneficial relationship.” Those were her last words before the Immortals left through a portal of her personal magic.
“Would you believe me if I said I’ve had worse meetings than that?” asked Garrick as he swiveled the chair to Hannah.
“I want to take your word for it, but that’s hard to believe,” said Hannah. Garrick held her hand.
“It would have been if I didn’t have you standing beside me. Since I’ve started all this, I never had someone I could trust before, someone to depend on without a second thought. Thank you, Hannah.”
“Well, I guess everyone needs someone that lets them know everything will be alright. I’m happy I could be that someone for you.”