The world needs heroes, but of what kind? The Modern, the classical, or just the casualties of a recent end-of-the-world scenario that included Greek Gods and Heroes? Whatever the case, they sure are here and breathing, wishing to take the world in a new direction completely...
Αναβολή των Αργοναυτών! (Fate/The Boys Crossover)
- Thread starter LazyFrog
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Αναβολή των Αργοναυτών!
"You have endured for far less there, friend… if anything I'm surprised you're this impatient in the first place." A voice said to her right as Caenis frowned at their direction. She glared at them but at the same time, she had nothing really to say regarding that matter due to it being true.
Sadly, as much as she could tolerate the sheer boredom that was the sea in her journey within the Argo, this was a different matter altogether. One that brokered politics, unnecessary talks, and just the sheer reality that this was also a form of punishment from their master due to her accidentally breaking the silence over their presence towards the public. Her master would never broker any sort of direct punishment or anger on her part but given that she was front and center of their movement, she was forced to come along to make face for her actions and decisions.
"Think of it as meeting a local king… or an oracle in some instances woman. This is no different than that, just in a more, modern sense." Another voice further down to her right said in a condescending and annoyed tone that made her all the more angry in response.
"Did you forget that I was always left outside if I wasn't specifically called for, or did any of your studies for medicine go straight up your ass so much that you've forgotten?" she angrily said.
"It's not like you were productive in keeping those meetings afloat and friendly." They responded as Caenis felt her fists clenching.
"Hush, the master said that we must behave, especially on your part Caenis." The deeper voice said between the two as some of the fires in Caenis' heart subsided. She looked away with a frown, still fuming. Quickly the silence between them was instated again as their master, towards her left had looked at his watch.
"They're taking quite a lot of time keeping us waiting out like this."
"It feels like every other politician back in our day, master. Fear not, however, I do realize that this also means that they are intimidated by our presence."
Their master chuckles as they hold onto their cane. "Oh no, I am used to it Archer, mostly due to the fact that even the highest in the Clocktower do this exact same tactic. I'm mostly just worried about the others due to my absence."
The man, known as Archer visibly cringes at their master's words as Caenis blows another puff of air in silent agreement. "I'm sure Sabe-I mean, Jason can keep everything in check."
"Oh? While I do agree that the man isn't all that bad and his tactical acumen is commendable, his ego is pretty much what holds him back, and the last time we left him to his own muses, we nearly had half a million dollars in terms of debt being thrown at our doorstep."
"I… uh…" Archer stops, not knowing how well to defend his comrade as Caenis forms a smile.
"At the very least I had people to conduct tests on Master. I will give my dear old Captain that much at least." The voice on the farthest of Caenis' right said as their master nodded in agreement.
"Yes indeed. It gave enough room for my hypothesis to be confirmed as well, Caster." Their master then turns to her as Caenis raises an eyebrow in response.
"What?" she asks.
"I need not remind you that I won't waste a command spell on keeping you from shedding any blood today, but… I do require you to not make a scene, at least for now while we're in this building."
"Sure." She quickly said.
"I'm serious Lancer… don't let any of them get to you. Leave the room if you must, but never try to vent that will have the entire building crashing down on everyone."
Caenis opens her lips partly before closing them again as she nods. Knowing that this was in fact an important meeting and her presence and conduct were tantamount to that.
Her master then wished to say something one more time only for them to stop when they all heard footsteps coming down the hall. The insufferable woman from before had arrived and she was smiling at all of them.
"Thank you for waiting… we didn't expect you all to come so early, so Miss Stillwell had to adjust."
Their master then stood up and took the woman's hand for a shake.
"Glad to be here, though we must insist that the wait was excessive." He firmly said with a still smile as the woman nodded.
"Once again, I'm very sorry on behalf of Vought. Though, I do hope that today's meeting becomes fruitful for you and your…"
"Subordinates." Their master clarifies as the woman smiles.
"Yes, and you may call me Ashley, and I'm very, very happy to meet you all."
There was a small bit of silence between all of them as they all heard Caster hum in response.
"The feeling is mutual, Ashley… may we meet Miss Stillwell?"
"Yes… yes, of course…" she quickly said as she led them across the floor.
On their way, Caenis watched the various offices and rooms that occupied this part of the building. From various art, posters, and people walking along them, it seemed like the building was really busy this time of the day. While she held some interest in some of the things that she saw, she was already quickly bored given that she was already used to the various beauties that Olympus had to offer back when she was summoned in the Lostbelt. Now, seeing that they were in the modern day, or at least a version of it she was not too impressed nor even slightly interested in what she saw.
Quickly, however, they reached a room where they were led and eventually, they were given seats in front of a woman who sat proudly behind her desk with that shiny plate that had her name emblazed on it. It was… cute in the most demeaning of ways…
Especially since with the seats placed around them, it manifested a sort of feeling that would indicate the woman felt in charge at that moment. With her smug smile that reminded her of the Olympians, she only served to smile back in the fakest of sensibilities.
Hopefully, it was a good ruse, politicians knew how to do it after all, so why not she?
Madelyn Stillwell, even her name screeched like a bitch.
"Good morning again, sir… 'Wodime'? Is that how it's pronounced?" the woman asked with a smile. One that made even her own master nod with his face unchanged.
"I would like to be called Kirsch, rather than my surname. Though I do not harbor any such descent against it, it is mostly a name attributed to my father and his family." He said, his accent not lost on the woman as she continued to plaster that smile like a fox.
"I see… though forgive me, your name is very peculiar, and frankly while I am very fond of our neighbors across the pond, how is it that you've come across your subordinates in the first place. Rather a diverse set of people, some that I can't imagine are hard to find given this day and age."
"Straight to the point huh, Miss Stillwell." Caenis saw her master tap his cane before he continued. "I will be frank; it is more or less that they came to me other than the opposite. A fact that I am most thankful, and a fact that I take pride in with all humble diligence."
"You must be good at your job then, or notable enough that despite being a nobody, these people have done their part to get to you… of all things." She said in a backhanded compliment. One that made Caenis lose her already fake smile.
"Oh, it was not easy I will tell you. More so, I would reckon that the challenge was keeping them all in line… and even then, I wasn't totally in control of that aspect in the first place. Still, we all harbor a relationship in a workmanly manner. Professional and straightforward, so much so that I can gladly call them as family, in some sense." He replied back in a straight manner, much to the surprise of Madelyn as the young man (she assumed) had experience in dealing with office politics. One that was already making her overwhelmed in some capacity.
"I'm glad to hear that… though, I do acknowledge that you understand the meaning of our meeting, right? Given that miss… Lancer is here today…"
Caenis quickly glared at the woman's direction before the bitch continued talking.
"… you know well that you still have to answer for the endangerment of our own hero, A-Train given the incident three days ago?"
Caenis turned to her master whose expression remained passive. "I do not see why this is an issue that needs traversing, my colleague over there, Caster whose expertise in medicine is quite vast in various fields has already shown to the public, and towards the courts that your employee, A-Train was undergoing severe drug use and inoculation during that period. That exonerates any such action from my subordinate and even if I were to argue about it now, I really don't see how it is relevant to the request that was scheduled for us to meet Mr. Stan Edgar."
The woman blinks at him as Caenis finds herself smiling.
"…while I do think the matter is already closed, unfortunately, we at Vought do still wish for the two to make up. Perhaps… in a matter that can be used for PR, we don't really need it to be public, just confirmation for the reporters out there that the matter is resolved. You understand, right?"
"I will leave that decision for Lancer. If she agrees to such a thing, then I will gladly cooperate."
"And do you agree, Miss Lancer?" the woman says as she turns to Caenis.
Caenis could only stare back before speaking up. "No." she simply said as she relaxed back into her chair. The woman's eye twitches as her master remains impassive.
"That's a shame. Given that you've overtaken Queen Maeve as the world's premier Female Superhero, it would have done a lot to make the world inspired in your words and actions. Don't you… want that in any case? It'll make a degree more popular than you already are, you'll probably go head to head against Homelander, given the following you've already cultivated." The woman offered with a smile that made Caenis remember Aphrodite's or even that of Poseidon when he was still alive.
"I decline." She calmly said despite the budding feelings within her as Stillwell made a fake measure of disappointment.
"That's unfortunate…" she then turned to her master. "… will you not really accept this offer, even on your part Mr. Kirsch? Surely, it'll help your already growing company to prosper even outside your extreme head start within the medical and pharmaceutical industry."
Her master simply smiled with a slight chuckle in his voice. "I believe in some manner of independence with my subordinates Miss Stillwell. If she refuses, I will have to back her up in that."
The woman hums in disappointment as she shifts a few papers off her desk.
"That's a shame, poor A-Train needs the publicity. He's already beaten by your dear hero Rider in most aspects in front of the public's eye. The whole thing with Miss Lancer would have helped in making sure that some of the confidence in the public consciousness can be rest assured with not just one person of color within the limelight. With her popularity, we might have created something divine…"
She then smirks at Caenis. "Something beyond the whole race matter within America."
Caenis turns to her master, seeing some amount of discomfort within him brewing but was still concealed quite well, with only her and the rest of the Argonauts present within the room knowing of it. His displeasure was already known when they all first discovered the 'quirks' of this world and the prevalence of these 'heroes'.
"I hope you understand, most of Vought's heroes are predominantly White, and with the sudden interest in your group's rise to fame as well as your… diverse set of capes, it would have allowed some more level of trust to fuel the people's beliefs in heroes again. We don't want to inscribe extremism of course… not in any of the sides present."
There was a solid minute in terms of how the silence was displayed between them. Even the stoic Archer was quite disappointed much to Caenis' understanding and even Caster was taken away from his own musings.
Eventually, their master was able to speak.
"Quite the approach you have there, Miss Stillwell, but I'm afraid if Lancer will not budge, then I will back her on it with just as much fervor with her own actions as a hero to the public."
"Then there is no room for negotiation on that then?"
"No, and I wish for us to move to the next topic, given that I believe we are here for much more important things." He said with finality as Madelyn smirked, thinking that she had already gotten inside the young man's thinking.
"Speaking of that, however, I'm to understand that Olympia's assets are still leaning towards your pharmaceutical and medicinal sector, correct? Then what is the basis for linking your own superheroes to your market, given that you seldom do anything at all in promoting them?" she asks.
Caenis watches her master return to his usual aristocratic air as he smiles.
"Well, most of the people under me were for the most part supposed to help our dear Caster in making sure his endeavors are greeted well, anything outside of that is of no consequence to us. My people help out because they wish to help out, and any sort of fame, publicity, or commercial business tagging along is just a merry consequence, and even then, I believe the woman in charge of handling the public presence our heroes have is already doing a good job."
"I… I guess? In some way I do agree with you on that, heroes are supposed to be heroes after all." Madelyn says as she inwardly disagrees with the methods these people use for their 'publicity'.
"Yes indeed, in whichever perspective you view of it, I suppose."
"Alright… though, much of the agreement of this meeting states that your best are supposed to meet with our own in some capacity. Make them mingle, make them chat, that sort of thing, so that their efforts are not just wasted on keeping the public safe, perhaps it'll forge a brand of friendship in some capacity." Madelyn said to change the topic as Caenis watched her master nod.
"Yes, I believe that is part of that, but… given that Archer and Caster are important players in regards for these talks to matter, I will insist they remain." Her master then turns to Caenis.
Who was frowning in response to this change of direction.
"Lancer… be a dear and take Miss Stillwell's offer."
"Bastard." She whispered within their mental bond as Wodime kept his impassive smile.
"Oh, that's actually delightful. Miss Barrett! Can you escort Miss Lancer around please?" Madelyn said as the woman walked in, genuinely happy as she nodded and smiled at Caenis' way.
Caenis looked to her master again as he nodded for her to follow Ashley.
"Happy to be of… uh, service." She stiffly says even as the woman continues to smile at her words as she slowly stands up and follows the woman who was now talking with such excitement for her.
Caenis and Ashley left the room, leaving the rest within Stillwell's office in a silent cold war of sorts.
"Should we go to business then?" she started as Wodime nodded.
"We will not be meeting Mr. Edgar today, I assume."
Madelyn grinned.
"Mr. Edgar is quite busy today, however, he has left every bit of negotiating power on my part for Vought's interests for this matter, so you best know that you are talking to someone that is happy enough to accommodate you."
"I see. Then what is this proposition that you and your suits told me about?"
Madelyn leaned over her table and looked at Archer who remained stoic and displeased as well as Caster who was on his own muses writing something on a tablet while the two mechanical snakes hovering by his shoulders helped him.
"We wish to consolidate the superhero assets of Olympia into our own." She said simply.
Instantly, every sort of sound that was made within the room was halted.
Caster focused his gaze on the woman…
Archer crossed both his arms on his chest…
And Wodime, the crypter of the Olympian Lostbelt could only smile in recompense.
"Girl, how much do you work out? You make every other superheroine out there look stupid and despite having the abs and muscles, you're still drop-dead gorgeous!" Ashley spouted out as she gawked at Caenis like she was a statue of a goddess made reality.
She simply tuned the woman off completely as they walked along the building in pure disinterest. Well, at least on Caenis' part as she hums a whistle even as Ashley, much to her genuine excitement was still talking while unaware of how she felt.
Inevitably, they stopped by the office or the room where this world's The Seven were held in as the dull girl beside her explained in excruciating detail about what this entire room's history was. It was bull of course, but she did not give any comment, honoring the command that her master gave her as she stared into the distance and eventually at the bronze mural where The Seven were shown.
She was no such fan of the statues that decorated the Gods and Goddesses of Olympus even before Poseidon's influence on her… but she did admire the effort and art placed within these bronze sacraments. These heroes were the equivalents of deities in this world after all…
And they all acted the part of it, both on the methods they prescribed to… and the underlying human vices that came with it.
She was never a good person, nor did any of the people within the Argonauts and the rest of her colleagues when viewed in a modern light and understanding. Yet even in their most human moments, they were never close to the sheer indifferent view that the Gods had on humanity.
Or at least most of her colleagues were…
Even Wodime, her master was imperfect in his very noble wish for humanity.
Yet, none of them acted as if they were Gods amongst men.
These people did… despite being mortal, foolish men…
And it made her angry knowing that it was one of those vices, that made her history notable to the world. It sickened her… and while she may not be a true hero, in some way or form she would honor her master's new goal in this world, to actually make a difference.
To be a hero in a way that would show her oppressor, the Gods in Olympus that she would not be trampled by their vices… their indifferent view upon mankind.
She woul-
"Uh, Miss Lancer, are you okay?" Ashley asked, taking her out of her thoughts.
"I… I apologize. What were you asking again?" she said, keeping her temper down.
"Oh, I was just asking if it was fine for me to get a selfie? Or an autograph?"
She blinked at the woman, who looked at her in childish delight.
"An… autograph would do for now." She said as the woman, no, this girl squealed. She quickly did as she asked before Caenis looked at her after.
"Why exactly are you excited just by meeting me?"
The woman stopped before staring at her. "I uh…"
Ahsley then deflated and sighed. "Can you keep a secret?"
Caenis looked curious. "Sure?"
"It's hard getting into this job, eventually knowing how much of an asshole people are in reality." She then turns her gaze towards the mural. "These guys are pretty much not the people I viewed in my head when I first met them, and eventually I got used to it. I grew callous…"
She then turned to Caenis. "I grew… tired and exhausted. Maeve's as much of a bitch as everyone here, but she tried back then. She really tried, and normally this was just my dream career at the start, but eventually, it's just hell in the most manicured form. Nobody's real in any essence. Everybody's just… fake."
"And?" Caenis asks, not getting the point.
"You on the other hand? Oh boy… the very first time I saw you… I was excited. I was pumped! I didn't even believe it at first, but you? You're real. You're a person that's not hiding behind any sort of bullshit that the public wishes to see you as. You're Lancer in their eyes, and you're still Lance even in civilian clothes. You're the most real person I've ever met in this business… and it feels refreshing knowing that I get to find someone that I actually feel honored to be in their presence for the very first time."
"Ah," Caenis says.
"Ah indeed. You rock sister… and I'm pretty happy that you're here because unlike the rest of them fakes out there, a girl like you can get something done! Right?" she cheered with an offer for a fist bump directed at her. Caenis actually grinned and shared that little moment as Ashley started to giggle and laugh.
Eventually, the entire dynamic between them resumed, until Caenis raised a hand.
"D'you guys got a place to train here? Like a gym?"
Minutes later, she was introduced to a specialized area where The Seven were actively training, at least if they needed it. Caenis was not impressed at all given her background, but she did appreciate the space and what it entailed if given the right amount of effort for any sort of training regiment to be done. It was wide enough for sparing and big enough that if she and the rest of the crew were to have their hands on it, they could actually make this place feel like home…
In some sense.
Ashley eventually left her for a brief moment, as she offered her a drink and some snacks that she quickly went to get as Caenis was left to her own graces. She knew that people in Vought were still watching her, but given that they had no inkling of what her true nature was, she just let them.
She wallowed within the silence as she thought about her summoning…
And why she was allowed these memories of the Olympian Lostbelt to remain within her.
Only she and her master had any recollection of the events there, and the rest of her comrades, even Jason, the ass that he was had no memory of Atlantis or Olympus. It was a mercy she supposed. Given that they were enemies before…
Yet she still questioned why fate had placed her and her master into this new world…
And why were they tasked with such a simple request and objective.
One that her master readily accepted.
She mulled on those thoughts until a voice greeted her from behind.
"It's quite the place isn't it?"
Caenis turned her head and it was the big blue, blonde asshole himself…
The Homelander.
AN: Snippet for now…
Hope ye enjoyed hehe, I sure did.
Lattice and Lonely Star are still my focus though haha.
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An Echo of the Past...
An Echo of the Past…
"I think it's neat Lord Jason, if anything having one good film is better immortalized than having multiple versions of the same tale entirely. Plus, I do think that film was made quite well." The girl beside him said as she wiped some of the lingering droplets of wine on his lips. He quickly wished to move her hand away but given how inebriated he currently was, he did not mind it one bit.
"I thought it was rubbish… it embellished Jason's feats in it as if it were reality. None of it was even close to the things that he's done, given he's always been at the backline doing nothing." A voice came to counter the praise as the green-haired woman with lion ears sticking out of her head said with a frown as she tended to a baby that was on her lap. The girl besides, Jason, merely let out her tongue in exchange as the green-haired woman sighed.
"I for one, actually appreciate the gesture for the changes the film has made. Even if overexaggerated, I believe some of it did hold the spirit of what the Argo was." Another voice said within the room as they continued to watch the film that was on television.
"Gee… of all the people that supported me other than her… didn't think it would be you teach." Jason said as he looked at his master, the once immortal Chiron looking at him with a smile.
"The songs for this film are pretty catchy though, like the songs most court singers and priests in temples sung in droves." The girl, Medea said beside Jason as most in the room agreed, even the one carrying a child on her lap, Atalanta felt the same as the child in her arms cooed and laughed at the songs.
"Of course, it would be a movie about him though… he was pretty special," Jason said with a small smile on his lips as the opening song finished and the film moved towards the next scene, that of Mount Olympus…
"I have no doubt whatsoever, to this day there are many depictions of him. Quite astounding when you think about it." Chiron added as the rest hummed in agreement.
They continued watching the film with how it depicted the Grecian Deities but as much as they enjoyed it so far, they did not expect that someone had also entered the room, quietly like a thief in the night, without having anyone notice their presence.
This person, who was in a comfortable mood quickly froze in place as he looked at the screen.
His expression, unreadable to most people, would have made those within the room nervous and awkward as the film, clearly for children showed the spawn of Zeus and incidentally, Hera to be the parents of the child with his namesake.
This man, Heracles by name, stood in silence as the events in the film unfolded.
"Bah! Whoever made this film has poor taste… poor Heracles would have been scorned for being related at all to that bitch." Jason said as he threw a piece of popcorn at the screen, making it jump harmlessly on it before Chiron and others laughed in irony at the film.
"While it is not my right to disrespect any of the Goddesses of Olympus, I do agree that our friend would have felt rather disturbed at this." Atalanta begrudgingly said as the child in her lap continued to become mesmerized by the film.
"Still feels wrong, you know… making it look like that just to make it appeal to children," Medea added as she frowned despite being amused with the film so far.
"Eh, it's just a film… don't have to be too mad about it. It's like one of those plays back in the day. Mostly rubbish, since they're all fiction you know?" Jason said as he took another sip of his glass.
Heracles, who was behind the couch Jason was sitting at was still frozen as he watched the film progress… until his teacher, one of his many guilts finally noticed him and frowned.
"Heracles… are you alright dear friend?" he asked, making the room fall silent as they all froze, after finally noticing that the one who was being portrayed in the film was actually there with them. Medea quickly paused the film with the remote as slowly she and Atalanta turned to the silent hero who was still looking at the screen almost like in a trance.
"Shit." Jason cursed as he tried to look away after what he had just said earlier.
"Heracles?" Chiron once more asked as he was now poised to sit up from his chair.
Heracles on the other hand managed to shake his head as if finally freed from his thoughts as he looked at his teacher and to the rest of his comrades.
"N-No… it's fine. It just brought forth some memories, that's all." He said with a troubled smile as Chiron frowned. Atalanta's ears were on full alert, knowing full well of the bouts of rage that sometimes would be found in her comrade, doubly so with the child in her lap, yet she trusted enough that with her friend not being in his Berserker class, that he would temper his emotions down.
Medea, however, was wrought with some degree of guilt knowing that it was her choice to watch this film with a select few who were present within their quarters. Jason felt some of the liquor in him grow worse as he thought about how awkward and unwieldy this situation was.
Thankfully none of the familiar rage that Great Hero was known for was cast as he sighed much to the relief of everyone present as he brought forth a neutral smile over them.
"It's like what Jason said, merely a film. I do wish for you all to carry on, for even the child in Atalanta's arms is amused." He stated even as the tension in the room still remained.
"Are you sure, dear friend?" Atalanta asked.
"I am… though I will ask to watch this Jason and the Argonauts film next time, seems interesting in hindsight." He said as Jason immediately perked up.
"You think so? Well, I'm sure you'll know Heracles that-
Jason continued on to talk as Medea and Chiron watched the man's expression change even if slightly. He still had a neutral smile on his face but the two knew that he was still troubled underneath…
And despite their friend being summoned to a class that made him the peak of what he once was, they knew that the scars of the past still lingered within in…
PRESENT…
"Let's not play dumb here, Mr. Kirsch… I know you and your associates are aware of something that most of the population in the world is not aware of in the first place." Miss Stillwell said as she looked at their master with that smug look on her face.
Heracles watched closely at the two as it reminded him of his many dealings with Eurystheus. Their master was of a noble sort, despite his otherwise aristocratic air, his many dealings with him resulted in him fully trusting their master and what he wished to achieve for this world.
If anything, he was quite curious how this entire deal was going to play out.
"I don't seem to understand Miss Stillwell, you're not making any sense at all with the way you're talking currently," Wodime said as Heracles saw Asclepius refocus on his tablet.
"Oh, don't give me that bullshit… I know you're aware of where the gods roaming in our skies come from… I know you're aware of how the capes, the heroes, and every sort of colorful jerk out there come from. They're not divine gifts… they're not accidents that give some random person across the street the ability to shoot webs out of their asses..."
The woman leans closer. "And I know you're aware that Homelander isn't some sort of child of God, Allah, or whatever the hell sort of name people call their Man in the Sky with."
Heracles watches as their master smiles. Candidly if anything.
"I applaud Miss Stillwell, this whole conversation of ours proves to me that you're the sort of person that removes the fantasy out of the stories and passion people have over heroes. You're the kind that wishes to wake people out of their lovely dreams… by flushing rushing water down people's faces as if to drown them."
The woman did not leave her smile, but the small tick in her eyes made Heracles feel that the advantage was taken away from her entirely.
"But as to your accusations… Miss Stillwell, I am not fully aware of what you are implying or talking about in the slightest. If ever there was something that was as interesting as you proclaimed, I'm sure company policy would stop me from saying anything further about it… isn't that right Caster?"
Heracles watched as Asclepius hummed in response.
The woman then stared at them, and even at him for a moment before looking away.
"How do you do it? Mr. Kirsch? Did you perhaps synthesize a better version of the serum? Because I highly doubt that you have any means of creating it yourself, given that most of your retinue's abilities can be theorized to be mostly based on ours…"
Wodime continued to keep that smile on his face much to Heracles' amusement as he leaned further to be level with the woman as well. "You and your company are the ones who imply that your gifts, your prized heroes are the makings of the divine Miss Stillwell. Perhaps the better question would be, is what if some of the heroes out there today, Olympia or not, are products of the beliefs, passions, and culture of the many people out there in the world? Perhaps some of them are actually divine in nature and not just corporate lapdogs feeding the world of business to their own charity."
"You make it sound as if you believe those nutjobs in the first place, Mr. Kirsch." The woman challenged with a smirk. "I did not expect you to be of the superstitious type… much less a man of faith."
His master laughs. "Oh, believe me, Miss Stillwell, I have had enough of my fill of Gods and Faith. Their… teachings and monikers are pretty much stations of the Old World. Though some of their values can still be taught and are still relevant in some form to this day, I merely believe them as pages in history to learn from, not as designated truth or superstitious belief."
"I see… I don't see how this concerns my question, however." The woman said in a faux-flattering way.
"Then the point must have jumped ahead of your focus Miss Stillwell, for all supremacy you hold and believe, you have yet to consider that perhaps one day… perhaps even now, someone or something out there will make your heroes and your symbols as things of the past. Like those beliefs and myths, I mentioned earlier… relics of the past. Overtaken by the new, better contemporaries." Wodime said much to Heracles' surprise due to the praise but he put those feelings aside as he continued watching.
"Then you do admit it. Mr. Kirsch…"
"Oh, I am not admitting to anything Miss Stillwell. Perhaps it's only your imagination and biases that make you feel that way."
The woman frowned until she turned her head to Heracles who looked unamused.
"What about him? Archer if I am not mistaken… how do you explain him? If your version of the formula is based on ours, you would be keen to know that we are not intimidated by what sort of abilities your retinue possesses. We are interested in it actually." She said as she smiled at him.
"Pardon me? I don't get what you are implying." His master asked.
The woman then pulled out a file and handed it over to his master as he opened it. Heracles watched as the woman's eyes remained on him much to his discomfort. "Ah, seismic readings… from a recent eruption of an active volcano… I still don't follow."
"Don't act stupid Mr. Kirsch, we know pretty well who caused such readings. It might have flown over people's heads, but we did watch the entire affair take shape…"
FOUR DAYS AGO…
The campgrounds near Keshero, Congo named camp DES DÉPLACÉS RUSAYU was a place where displaced people inhabited. Most of the population were placed in tents that doubled as their homes. It was already a large community with thousands of families present and given that they were there coming as providers of relief goods and medical aid, the servants of Olympia tasked with this endeavor had done it with pride and honor given their stature.
Most of the people hired by their master's burgeoning international company had gone to spread the goods in equal fashion to the interested and amused families that quickly grouped over them and their transport in droves. It was quite a meaningful sight, as Heracles watched over the crowd with a silent eye while his comrades did most of the work.
He had done his fair share as well, with many people while afraid of him at first were easily comforted when he gently gave many of the families in his place some of the aid that he was given a stack of. However, he was relegated to guard duty, mostly by his own choice given that his comrades were already doing fine without him.
The older, Adult Medea was doing quite well with some of the relief giving as she even amused some of the crowd with her magics. A genuine smile on her face made Heracles feel comfortable given her history, as she even helped some of the women and children with some gifts of fine clothes in her expense.
Odysseus, a fellow hero of his time period was the leader of the entire enterprise as he tasked many of those hired by Olympia with ample strategy and efficiency. Many people had turned to him given his rather more pleasing appearance given the proclivities of modern taste as families and even adults were overjoyed with his presence.
A few other servants joined them in this mission as well, most of them allowing a degree of levity within the people as they let out some manner of hope in their hearts to kindle those within the camp-city's confines. Heracles smiled in some way for that, as he watched in solace…
"You okay big man?" a voice said beside him as Heracles turned to his fellow comrade. The Englishwoman Francis Drake, as she smirked at him even with the scar across her face.
"I am fine Rider… though I wonder why Master specifically placed me in this position."
The woman huffed as she crossed her arms. "Maybe it's to get you out more? You're probably one of the least-seen people within our group for the outside world. Fame sometimes helps you know?"
"Oh, I don't doubt it. I too have had my fair share of such fame in my time. It's just… this world is very new to me, even with the understanding given to us by our summoning."
"Yeah, it sure is, ain't it? The modern world truly is something unique in that sense, but most of the things, even by the measure of your time, still do exist here." She said as they both watched Odysseus being flocked by children wishing for him to fire some of his weaponry and see his 'mech'.
Humans still looked up to heroes. Even if fantasized….
Even if most of the flaws that made them who they were, were forgotten, they still looked up to them.
Heracles was unsure of how to feel about that, he was not against it at all, nor was he unhappy about it… but perhaps the children's film about his life just bothered him more than he thought at first.
"You sure you're okay? Not that I'm invading your privacy, but you're a lot more quiet than normal." She asked with genuine concern as she patted his shoulder.
"I am fine Rider. Just something earlier today that made me think."
"Alright… but if you want a drinking buddy later, I can oblige?" she said teasingly.
He laughed; his voice almost thundering as some even looked at him but he paid no mind to it. "I might take you up on that."
She laughed as well as Odysseus called for her. She walked away with a wave to him as Heracles was left to his own muses.
While doing so, his ears picked up the sound of a sonic boom, and a second later his once comfortable smile was marred with a frown as cheers of people of various kinds flocked towards Vought's poster boy. The Homelander had arrived and greeted his comrades jovially as Heracles watched.
Odysseus looked annoyed as the flow of the entire event was broken by this new arrival, but he kept to himself as the modern hero talked to him.
Even this far in Africa, most of the world knew this man. He was like Zeus in some sense…
Or perhaps, him when he was at the height of his feats in life, but given the nature of these heroes as revealed by his master and to his own understanding, comparing him to his father was quite an apt description of the man himself.
Heracles looked away, as the memory of the film came back to his head.
The overall thought bothered him until he saw a group of children run near him and towards Homelander… he frowned at it until he saw a lone child left by his friends just sitting where he stood and reading a dirtied, musty old book in his hands.
He was not that much of a scholar compared to his other comrades, but he looked at the child and smiled for a bit. He was even interested enough that he walked towards him, even as the child did not look in his direction and continued to read his little book.
As he got closer, the child suddenly spoke. "No… no come near. No… awto grap." He said as he started talking in his native language, frowning at him as Heracles quickly understood what the child was saying. He stopped until the child sighed and looked in the direction where Homelander was.
"No… no hero. He- no hero." The child suddenly said.
He tilted his head, asking why in some form as the child looked at him and somehow understood his body language. "He… no come… when I, papa… mama hungry." He stuttered out, making gestures to make him understand as Heracles looked at him.
"Hero… n-no exist. Papa, mama hero…" the child said as Heracles paid attention and nodded.
He then crouched upon the boy as he looked at him. The boy then looked comfortable enough with his gaze that he shyly moved to him and showed him his book.
But much as Heracles appreciated the gesture, he quickly realized that the book, while poorly imitated from its Western origins, was a storybook of the film, the children's film that he was bothered about the whole day. A troubled smile graced his features as this company, this Disney portrayed his life in such a distant lens from his own. Still, the innocence of the child before him didn't seem to detect his discomfort as he looked at Heracles proudly.
"I… I wish… I was hero. L-ike Hercules. So… I s-save Papa… mama." He gestured as the boy turned the page showing Hercules returning and embracing his mortal father and mother, Amphitryon and Alcemene as shown in the film.
Heracles smiled at the boy with that small gesture as the boy grinned at him.
"H-hercules is strongest in the world!"
Immediately a vague memory from a time long before came into his head which produced a small smile that he gave to the boy. "I believe someday you can, child… I can believe in that." He said as the boy chuckled at him.
"T-Thank you." He said as he gave the book back to the child.
The child ran along as Heracles in a way, made peace with the film from that small aura of hope that the child showed him. He smiled much more freely this time as he stood up.
Only for the jovial tune of the entire camp to change…
When the world rumbled around them, and the nearby volcano, Mount Nyamuragira suddenly exploded violently… as if Hephaestus himself was woken back to life.
The communication between his comrades was in chaos as Odysseus barked orders left and right to save the many people surrounding the areas near the volcano. The ash was high up in the air as volcanic bombs, strangely in sizes that were bigger than normal flew across the air.
Drake in her flying ship shot some of them as they exploded in mid-air violently albeit she vaporized them completely without harm to those on the surface. She carried with her some people she saved as the eruption became deadlier in the next few moments.
People screamed all around as Heracles and the rest saved many and helped them to evacuate until a powerful burst from the volcano happened again and large volcanic bombs flew into the air like missiles of a siege. One was headed towards a large communal center with a hundred civilians…
Until Medea flew into the air and erected a large shield that encompassed them all.
"ARCHER!" she screamed as Heracles came into action…
He nocked his arrows within his bow and let them loose.
THOOOOOOOOUUUUUMMM!!!
A powerful gust of wind was ejected as his arrows, far more powerful than any force known to man in this world flew at speeds faster than anything perceived as they literally vaporized and damn near erased the volcanic bombs before some of them crashed into Medea's shield.
People cheered for them as they all saw Homelander flying around, firing his beams onto more projectiles that were to bring harm to the cities and places filled with people around the volcano.
Heracles then saw Medea relay her voice much stronger against the crowds as she motioned for them to follow Odysseus' command for their evacuation.
While doing so, voices from his comrades started to be relayed in his head.
"Hey… we still got more people by the East! There's a small town where they're trapped from getting anywhere!" Drake said.
"Handle it, we're still holding the bulk of the evacuations this way…" Odysseus said as more voices both in the earpiece he wore and through the mental links of their master prospered as Heracles ran and helped an injured elderly couple towards Medea and the rest.
"Do we have sufficient resources to handle the Volcano? Or do we have to focus on the evacuation?" Medea asked as she performed the bulk of the shielding with her spells to defend them all as the other servants on the ground continued to relay with the evacuation.
"Can the volcano being stopped be done in any capacity?" Assassin asked through the link as the rest of the servants discussed with one another what to do with Odysseus' lead.
Heracles however, turned his sights on the volcano…
And ran.
He ran as fast as inhumanly possible, even through the chaos of the eruption, and nocked two arrows with his bow. Nearing the base of the volcano, even as the lava seeped through the ground around it, Heracles released his hold on the arrows and let them loose.
KRAKA-THOOOOOUUUMMM!!!
The base of the volcano exploded into multiple pieces of rock and a large cavern was unearthed in the aftermath. The hero of Greece then leaped towards the cavern he created and aimed his fist against the furthest depth of it and hit it with enough force that the ground rumbled.
The depth of the cavern became bigger and closer to the magma chamber of the volcano…
Heat and various other deadly effects were exposed to Heracles as he now stood on the edge near where the magma chamber was. He then took a deep breath and forced both his arms on either side of the hole he created and closed his eyes.
The boy's voice from earlier resonated in his mind and laced within it was the voice of a little girl who similarly believed in him with the utmost faith and surety.
"Hercules/Heracles is the strongest in the world!!!"
He roared with the might of the heavens as Heracles once more…
Proved to make the impossible, possible.
The aftermath was quite bleak.
Despite stopping the volcano from fully destroying the surrounding areas, there were many tears and deaths abound at the end of the eruption. Olympia's servants continued to help in whatever they could, as Odysseus' leadership proved true with how much he had reduced the casualties to a manageable yet still painful number.
Cries of various kinds were heard even with the many thanks and gestures of relief.
Heracles helped with as much as he could, his body wrought with ash with his latest stunt, but even as he was thanked by Odysseus for his valiant effort in stopping it all, he was still sad for how many families and lives were lost.
He always knew of the reality of what a hero meant and despite being used to it, it still made him feel quite discomforted by the many broken families left in this aftermath.
Still, he kept his head high as he did not let emotion cloud his judgment…
Until he saw the boy from earlier standing beside two covered bodies while being alone in a tent. Heracles stopped for a moment as he walked inside, slowly and saw the crying boy as he kept holding onto the cooling hands of what seemed to be his mother.
The boy had yet to detect Heracles so the hero went over to the other covered corpse and opened it slightly. The body was covered in ash indeed, but what caught his attention was the clearly burned line across his chest and head that seemed to indicate the man died of a certain attack.
A beam.
"…" Heracles sighed as he found himself clenching his left fist. That was until his opened hand, was touched by the child who was still crying yet was looking up at him. The way this interaction happened made Heracles remember a little bloodied girl in the snow, her eyes looking at him the same way this child did as he closed his rather large hand upon the boy's own.
Gently.
He then crouched to the boy's height and put him into an embrace.
Heracles could only hear the weak sobs of the boy, but his arms proved to be safe a place. The boy leaned onto him, this small gesture despite the painful aftermath, being one that he would never forget.
AN: I like how this all ended. Haha.
Trails of the Theomachy
Regarding pronouns for Caenis, I had to literally make it easier for me at least for this chapter to just refer to her as 'she' or female pronouns. The initial draft just made it so that the conversation with some characters got too confusing, so I had to make the necessary changes in order to make it readable.
"If you think that I'm going to g-grovel down on my feet while… ack…" blood was spat out as they raised their sword flimsily as their grip was already losing any weight it held. "...while I can still hold b-breath, you've got another thing coming to you…"
"Wouldn't do you any good if you showed any amount of cowardice at all but you have spirit, surviving old hag Demeter's banshee wails. You didn't die quickly unlike the others, which I can definitely respect." Caenis said as her shadow loomed over her prey. With her spear in hand and her shield in the other, she tracked one of the last stragglers that were running around Olympus.
The blood trail of this specific servant was caught by the scent and while this was not a job that her master specifically told her to do, she took it nonetheless, more so because of boredom.
This one in particular caught her interest, however, their tenacity even as one of those horrid Olympians razed their entire rebellion to the ground just made her remember her own life in some way. Bloodied like this, their helmet broken to kingdom come and their armor shattered yet they remained standing with their weapon facing the enemy made her smile inwardly.
She wouldn't show it of course, what was on her face was casual indifference, indifference given the sheer gulf of power that existed between them. Admittedly she didn't know why she didn't just kill this servant already, perhaps a part of her was still nostalgic after all of this time as she reflected upon those days when to prove her might and station, she had to wade through blood, sweat and tears to justify even having a name worthy of legend.
Or perhaps she was becoming soft.
A grin struck her face.
NAH.
"I'm not one for final words, but if you wish to fight back before I bash your skull in, I'm willing to make you earn that last hit." She proclaimed as she stabbed her spear on the ground.
THRUM!
A small tremor was felt as Caenis' muscles rippled with strength. Yet she dismissed her shield for a moment, making it disappear in motes of light as she crossed her arms with a challenging smile that was neither mocking nor pretentious. She looked at the servant who perked up from her words as their trembling hold on their sword made Caenis curious as to what their next move would be.
"I-I ain't giving in to your chivalry or any other bullshit h-honorable custom you have..."
Caenis' grin widened. "It ain't that I assure you."
"D-Don't you dare lob me in with that condescending tone, you fucking god-loving exhibitionists." The servant angrily said as their eyes seethed in anger. They then screamed and charged forward. Red electric arcs coursed through their armor and sword, albeit weaker than they were as the cracks were ever-present in both of them. Their sword was aimed in a thrusting motion, right down into Caenis' chest but as the servant closed the distance, the already flimsy and broken spirit origin the servant had forced the sword to break into pieces the moment it made contact with her chest. The red electric arcs of the ornate sword and itself could have done damage if the servant was not as weak as they were, or if they were summoned in a traditional grail war, but due to the circumstances of this Lostbelt and the current state of Caenis' existence, the attack merely left barely any damage at all.
The servant did not falter however, they threw the sword away and transitioned their gauntleted hand to throw a punch at Caenis' face with what strength and might they had left…
Only for Caenis to catch it in mid-air in a feat that made the servant widen their eyes in shock.
THROOOOOOOOOOOOUMMM!!!
The surroundings behind and beside Caenis cracked for as far as two surrounding buildings as the mitigated shockwave still displaced air and brought forth a small gust of wind that an ordinary resident of the Olympus would have been thrown across the entire block if exposed to it.
A small trace of smoke even remained on Caenis' hand as she looked at the servant's shocked gaze through their destroyed helmet. Their green eyes and clearly blonde locks look at her finally in both fear and overwhelmed emotion.
"Calling me a lover of the Gods was a mistake…" Caenis stressed as her eyes' red glow intensified before fading back to normal as she looked at the servant. "But you're not fit to know why I'm doing this anyway."
THOOM!
Her fist crashed against the servant's chest. Shattering what armor remained on their upper torso as the bloodied blonde girl, finally revealed underneath all of that armor continued to look at her in defiance, but it was frankly, too late.
Caenis struck her fist again into the servant's revealed face.
THOOM!
The ground cracked, creating a small crater around them as blood and teeth were ejected into the air. The servant, now beaten within an inch of their life, still looked up to her in pure anger despite their agony.
"F-Fuck you." They intoned poorly as Caenis raised her foot…
And finished the job.
THOOM!
There was silence afterward, as the servant faded away into nothingness but Caenis made a small sigh as the voices of Demeter and her lackeys were calling out to her.
A scorn of anger developed in her heart, but she pushed it back down.
"Caenis," his voice said.
Her master still needed her.
A ship burning off the coast was merely a sudden alert to them since they were the closest. More so since the vessel was a cruise ship and multiple civilians were on board. Caenis never particularly cared much about this side of the new job that was given to her by her master…
Nor did she feel uncomfortable seeing the faces of enemies and allies alike from Olympus who remember nothing of the role she played there.
Yet it was tedious doing these little side gigs, saving people and all. She was no bastard who would kill or maim random people on a whim, even if they enraged her, but this sort of thing was more so suited for the likes of Heracles and the others who were more valorous than her. Still, she would fulfill the debt and orders her master had given her, so try as she may on being lazy with this part of the job, her more honorable side (which was a bitch) still shined through.
Which was odd, given this was what? The twentieth time in the span of a whole month where she was exposed to the public to deliberately save people in very notable ways. It was as if fate never learned what sort of monster she was in the Atlantic Lostbelt and was now forcing her to be the valorous, heroic individual that this world now alludes her to being.
Or perhaps her master was simply trying to be an asshole, and this was his way to make fun of her.
"Piss off, I'm doing my part, just do yours." She spat back as her blonde companion hissed at her as she continued to relay the civilians to board Drake's vessel calmly without them pissing her off. One person actually mouthed off a ton of complaints but the simple indifferent glare from the roundtable knight quickly forced all of those notions down.
Caenis however, stood at the deck of the burning ship which was now hitting its worst stage as she allowed the authorities of the fish bastard to calm the seas around them while periodically helping Mordred in making sure that the evacuations were successful. So far, no casualties of the worst kind were noted and any injuries or so were quickly resolved when Drake's current crew, humans who were hired by Olympia were quickly giving first aid.
Her presence however still got the most attention, as she and Mordred were the first on the scene as her blonde companion rode with her as they surfed the waves of the Atlantic towards their destination. The fire of the ship was blazing like an incandescent and unstoppable blaze when they arrived, but Caenis used her spear to reduce the flames to a more manageable state. The authorities of the fish bastard which was strangely still ingrained in its most powerful state within her thrummed in power and she was able to create a scene that would make people talk for weeks to come.
The entire act made her realize that people watched her in awe and…
Well, it only further created this sort of persona going around the world of how powerful and 'symbolic' she was as a hero… whatever the fuck that meant.
Cut to the current state of things, Caenis watched as she maintained some level of vigilance on the incoming number of people being safely moved off the ship. A dozen of people praised her more so than even Mordred even if some did prefer the roundtable knight's presence. However, her entire visage was definitely casting a large shadow on most of the people in this incident.
Inwardly she hated that the little show, she, and Mordred made as a small friendly spar down the beach was canceled due to this debacle. A good fight was something she yearned for because 'saving' people like a goddamn saint was making her bored as hell. Drake even made the onlookers bet on who would win between them earlier even If Caenis herself and Mordred were far too distracted by their little spar to care.
"Hey, you! Have we gotten every single person accounted for already?" Caenis heard Mordred say as she pointed Clarent towards one of Olympia's hires talking with the captain and the crew of the ship.
"We've yet to confirm ma'am!" the hire said as Caenis continued to watch the scene undisturbed.
It was all going peacefully for the most part even with the annoying number of people thanking her as she gave off a practiced fake smile, but she was quickly given pause when her ears heard the voice of a woman begging one of Olympia's hires.
"My daughter! Please… I couldn't find her down there! T-there was too much smoke, we couldn't get to her on time." The woman begged with tears as she grabbed the hire's uniform, and her voice was already starting a ruckus. Caenis sighed as she walked towards the woman just as a part of the ship near the end had set off a blaze that made everybody scream.
FWOOOUMM!!!
Caenis, unperturbed alongside Mordred who kept at it with her job, approached the woman who was now crying, losing hope that her daughter was alive. She then placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, a bit roughly as she stared into the surprised woman's eyes.
"Where did you last see her?" Caenis asked directly.
"I-In the cabins… t-the lower floors of the ship."
Caenis then turned towards the hire who had one of Olympia's devices on their arm. "Is she correct? Any life signs in that zone?"
The man quickly checked and nodded at her. "Y-yes ma'am, b-but the flames down there and the structural integrity of the ship isn't going to last much longer."
Without bothering to reply Caenis turned in Mordred's direction. "Saber! Get everybody to the ship safely." She shouted as her blonde companion looked at her in confusion.
"Where the heck are you going?"
"Just get everybody out," Caenis stressed as she reared herself to jump, she then launched herself into the air like a missile and crashed into the ship, penetrating it layer by layer until she stopped herself on the floor where the supposed kid was.
THROUM!!!
Fire glazed her vision and body as she watched her surroundings burn. The loud sound of various objects, environments, and materials burning in swift progression made everything hard to understand or perceive. The smoke was also proliferating at an alarming rate for regular humans to survive in, but Caenis was unscathed with the entire affair. She looked around, spear in hand as she tried looking for signs or for any evidence of the girl's position.
Her ears twitched above her head as they fine-tuned themselves to specify what exact sounds she needed to hear within the surroundings. She quickly caught wind of that and was able to identify the direction to where the sounds of a sobbing child were located at.
She ran forward, breaking everything in her path like a brute that could care less about the ship crumbling around her, but she was able to quickly get to her destination as she smashed another wall with pitiful ease using a kick. The entire section crashed onto itself as it created a hole for her to walk through…
Then she saw the crying kid who was holding onto a plushie.
She walked to her and saw that the young girl was looking at her in awe. Her crying halted completely as Caenis stood in front of her.
"You okay kid?"
The young girl, clearly overwhelmed and shocked at her presence, only managed a faint nod as Caenis offered her hand. She was not one who hated children, in fact, she actually cared quite a bit as she recalled memories of her own youth in Thessaly. She may come off as brash and rude to most people, but to children, she loses some of the straightforwardness, much to even her own surprise.
"Come on kid, I'm going get you back to your mom." She offered as the young girl slowly took her hand and Caenis carefully lifted her in one arm with ease. Seeing that she was comfortable Caenis looked at the scared kid's face with a small smile.
"Close yer' eyes. It'll be much less scary that way… or don't, it's your decision."
The kid did not respond, but instead, Caenis found her leaning into her shoulder and chest, closing her eyes, and clinging onto her as if her life depended on it. The strange show of affection made her pause for a moment before she readied herself again to jump.
A second later with a burst of strength and speed while raising her spear upwards… they were in the air in a thunderous roar, completely safe and unharmed from the entire ordeal as the little girl opened her eyes in awe at the height, they were compared to the burning cruise ship below.
They then soared downwards towards Drake's ship a second later, landing with such dramatic flair that even the sea surrounding the ship had risen slightly in response to the shockwave emanated. Thankfully, since most of Drake's ship was built out of magic, the vessel survived without any issue and the people onboard who watched in awe saw the Caenis stand up with the girl in her arms.
Cheers instantly came her way as she placed the little girl down and she was slowly being swarmed by the civilians on board. Annoyed, Caenis merely remained silent as people from all walks of life thanked her, even the hires of Olympia.
Yet, what stood out to her most was the mother thanking her for saving her daughter… and the kid herself looking at her with wonder and starlight in her innocent eyes.
She… she did not know how to feel about it. Nor the many receptions she received from the past twenty occurrences that seemed to cement her presence into the public mind and consciousness of this world. It was odd, given that she knew what type of person she was...
And truth be told, she was no true hero.
So, when she acted like one in this world, it was an odd feeling that trumped even her own personal victories as Caeneus in the past or the victories she shared with the Argo.
"Fucking show off!" Mordred said out of the noise and cheers as Caenis felt her companion punch her in the shoulder. She glared back but given the feral, challenging grin the blonde knight had; she knew she didn't mean it. If anything, they had something to brag about and talk about later when they were free from all of this. Another point for her in the unofficial competition they currently had when it came to feats.
"Jealous? I can already kick your ass hand to hand, and I got you beat in this." Caenis jested. It was ironic that they were this close now, given she was the one to end the blonde knight's life in Olympus. It was strange having transitioned from the Lostbelt to this world…
Even if in some way this felt right in most cases.
"Ah screw you… I'll be sure to kick your ass later in something."
Caenis was about to reply until Drake cheerfully interrupted them by placing them both into her arms. Their heads were forced close to the buxom woman's chest as the infamous sailor laughed.
"I know a nice spot later where we can celebrate! Drinks on me of course… I still got a good, nice deal with the local distillery… and their rum is magnificent."
The two tried to pry themselves off of Drake's hold as the sailor continued to laugh until the Rider servant placed a hand on Caenis' shoulder.
"Master's entrusted you with the cleanup."
Caenis looked confused at first before looking at the burning remains of the ship, and the spill of oil in the water, possibly poisoning this part of the sea for weeks or even months. Quickly she sighed and without fanfare felt the blessings of the fish bastard enter her veins again as the cheers were silenced for a moment as each person felt the heavy pressure of divinity coming off of her.
She then tapped the butt of her spear audibly on the ship's deck and everybody watched as a burning ship was engulfed in a blast of water from the seas that completely made it disappear entirely with the forces mustered by the fish bastard's power.
THROUUUUUUUUUMMMM!!!!
The awe-inspiring sight made people gawk as moments later as the water crashed back down safely into the waves, none of the ship's remains were seen anymore. Not even the oils that spoiled and spilled over the waters were present…
The act quickly made people turn to her as a new 'perspective' opened for them.
Caenis found herself unsure of how to properly react to the reception of her actions…
For it seemed like they now looked at her close to being a goddess in human form.
Her fame, the attention, and the sheer following garnered by the world around her had made her realize in some ironic way that she was being looked at as a symbol. As a deity in the most modern sense.
Being that she was an existence that always detested the Gods in Olympus…
She was unsure of how to feel when the world deemed her as a figure worthy of praise and excellence.
"Fuck." She cursed as the people around her cheered again.
Worse, Mordred was grinning at her.
Yet her master was here and she had to hold back some of those urges, lest their entire venture collapse onto itself.
Still, this hapless fool while pitiful with his attempts of being cordial was not worth the anger in the slightest. This world in general, with all of their 'heroes' were all poor caricatures of Jason, of all people, and even then, her idiot captain had more merit than each of these bastards both in combat and even in attitude. That said quite a lot, given she was not the fondest person when it came to interacting with the bumbling captain.
At the very least Jason did not attempt to show how beyond he was compared to the rest. The idiot was a coward and more so just full of air with himself, but when the situation called for it, his meager head pulled them out in a lot of tight situations than she expected. The entire venture in Atlantis and all the strings involved was a victory that was not possible without the gambles the blonde idiot took and given that Chaldea had won and surmounted every odd possible with their tenacity, spoke wonders of how good Jason's creative tact was.
A compliment that she would keep to herself of course, given that she knew how well that idiot would react should she say it aloud.
These people, however? All talk and bluster, their faces pasted on nearly every major country and city. Their products, their names, and their… popularity spoke volumes of what they were as people. Fame was important to these caricatures, and they carried that fame and grace as if it were the most important thing in their lives.
"Starstruck? I always get that…" the man said as he started walking towards her. "…normal people on the street would do anything to get a glimpse of me. Some would ask for autographs, some would faint on the spot just breathing the same air next to me, and… well, some would ask for unreasonable requests. You know what it is." He jested as he giggled to himself, far too pleased.
The fish bastard, loath as she would admit was not this proud. If anything, he was subtly insecure as far as her memory told her. Insecure because the top brass, his younger brother was King of the Gods. She never met the thundering manwhore of the skies, not even within the Lostbelt in any close interaction, but talking to Heracles and those that were victims of the pervert's unending lust told her enough of what she needed to know.
Now she was curious how the infamous son of Zeus would react to this man. The man was much, much more patient than her, but the resemblance and air might make him react more.
"Though, perhaps it's different with you this time. I mean, meeting you? The infamous Lancer. Are you aware of the many names you've garnered just this year alone? From the US to Germany, to the Philippines, hell… even North Korea of all places. You're special… and that's saying a lot."
She finally looked at him when he said those words. Not because she was interested, no… but because of the names now attached to her. That little interaction made the man smile, however, pleased and happy that her attention was in some way caught, but Caenis remained silent.
"That's why it's an honor meeting you. Not even my teammate Queen Maeve has this much attention and fame attached to her." He then waved both hands in the air accentuating his point as he continued talking. "Imagine if the media caught wind of this, two of the greatest heroes on Earth meeting in one, uninteresting room. Some would sell their organs to even get a scoop of this but… I'm pretty sure that's not something worth talking about now."
"Hm." She hummed as she turned her head towards the nearest gym equipment. Her finger traced it slowly as the blonde idiot continued to smile. Though the air was much more tense than before.
He approached her a little bit closer and offered his hand. "What should I call you?"
Caenis turned to him, almost eye to eye now as the space between them became uncomfortable, but her obligation overrode her fury as she gave a small neutral smile and simply spoke. "Lancer." She said before walking away a bit again, leaving his hand empty in the air as a small scoff into a fake laugh appeared on the man's face.
"Lancer it is then. Not The Amazon? Or… Lady Bird? Oh, here's a good one, Aquawoman! Heh, Deep was quite upset about that you know… but none of them could ever hold a candle to you." He said, almost happy about that as Caenis looked at him again. "You're special… and I'm quite glad you exist by the way."
"Why'd you say that?" she asked in a straightforward manner, her curiosity piqued.
The man, celebrating this little turn and victory for getting her attention fully smiled warmly. The kind that made Caenis remember Poseidon, both before the night ended and in the day after.
Homelander then walked closer towards her again, sitting on the gym equipment that she traced her finger earlier as he adjusted his cape behind him. He then focused on her and grinned, his face turning contemplative.
"Have you ever heard the statement, 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown'?"
She tilted her head in question, it was enough of a subtle hint that she didn't as the man quickly understood.
"Well, it's from something William Shakespeare wrote, it basically details that a person who has immense, great responsibilities, like a king for instance, is constantly worried… lonely, and incredibly exhausted being at the top of the world." He then smirked as he continued. "I don't really mind the worried nor exhausted part, you know how it is when we compare ourselves to everybody else… but, what really stands out to me, is the lonely part."
Caenis inwardly rolls her eyes. Her 'mask' was at full use as she kept it neutral.
"It's been quite lonely this past decade. Especially when you're the only person who can pick up the slack with all the world's responsibilities on my shoulders. The others? The Seven? We all know none of them hold a candle to myself and I'm the only person that can feasibly keep the world safe, given how easy everything is to me… the others? You can basically call them heroes of America, not of the world."
He then sighed in a manner that was very fake. "… I mean what can the other shmucks do? Deep is a Fishman that can… talk to fish and swim very fast. A-train can run fast, I mean cool, yeah… but I can fly twice as fast. Maeve is…" he giggles. "…Maeve is every little boy's wet dream come to life, and try as she may she doesn't hold a candle to you. What else is there? Translucent? He turns invisible, who the hell wants that in a power? Lamplighter is a pussy that can make candles burn hotter… and Black Noir, he's good." The last statement made Caenis perk up.
"I like Noir out of all of them, but he's very limited with what he does. I've forgotten that one other loser in the team, but I think I've already told you enough why they're all useless."
She crossed her arms as she looked at him. "A bit odd for the precious golden boy to talk shit about his comrades huh? Why the heck are you being honest with me? Knowing that I'm pretty much a rival?" she genuinely asks as the blonde idiot grins widely.
"Well, that's the thing, Lancer. You're nothing like them. They're all useless compared to you. They're all beneath you. Like ants… and what does one ant do to try and change the environment around it? Nothing."
Caenis was still confused.
"You and I? We're the ones that are at the top. In the clouds… we look down on the poor mortals below because it's our responsibility to. They shout our names… they praise us, idolize us, and we save them, doing feats that far surpass imagination… you already know what this song and dance means." He said with affirmation as he stood up, walking closer as Caenis still looked dumbfounded.
"It's why I'm so happy. Because I'm no longer alone up there. There's somebody else." He then grins. "Somebody that's as perfect as me."
Oh… Oh!
Caenis' eye twitched. Her anger blossomed within her chest as her neutral smile turned aggressively predatory, and not the perverted kind. The blonde idiot, however, didn't seem to read the air as he smiled back.
"Take one more step and I'm decking you in the face." She warned. Her voice was stiff but it only made the man laugh as he thankfully backed away. His laughter was almost celebrating with how freely comfortable and happy he was as Caenis looked on in confusion and annoyance.
"See? That's what I wanted. That's why I'm happy, because not only am I thrilled to hear that there's actually someone out there who's as great as me, but I find that she's also like me. Looking down on everybody, because they don't measure up to us."
Caenis suddenly laughed. Hard.
She could not believe it, every word from this man's lungs sounded so incorrigibly stupid that she could not help herself. The man laughed as well as Caenis finally stopped a second later. Wiping her eyes from the stray tear she then looked at him.
"Buddy… I think you've massively misunderstood the situation when it comes to me. I can't even tell you how much wrong there is in your statement… but I gotta give you credit, it was funny as shit."
He kept that smile, yet she knew that the condescension in her words had pulled a nerve.
"It doesn't change the fact that you are beyond everybody else… well, except for me, but you already know what I'm saying, right? We take charge of our lives. We get what we want, regardless of what anybody thinks about it."
Caenis grinned. "Hm, you did get one thing right. I am someone that gets what I want without anyone having a say in it…"
He was about to agree with her until she raised a hand to stop him. "…but not to the point that I have to be an asshole to people around me."
He then sighed, disappointment lingering on his face. "You're one of those types huh? Perhaps I misjudged you a bit… but is it really worth it to do all of this? Just to be a hero and save everyone?"
"Well, you did misjudge me Homelander. Thinking that I'm a fully-fledged hero like those idealistic, dreamy stereotypes. If you've truly met me as I am, you should be glad that I'm this tame." She ominously remarked as he looked at her with surprise… and even shock.
"Huh… then I'm glad we still have things to be surprised about with each other." He said as he took a step back. "Call me John." He offered with a thoughtful look.
"What for?"
"Let's just say, I'm the one right now that's quite starstruck."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
AN: One more chapter and we're done with the introductory phase!
Remnants of the Theomachy
"Wouldn't do you any good if you showed any amount of cowardice at all but you have spirit, surviving old hag Demeter's banshee wails. You didn't die quickly unlike the others, which I can definitely respect." Caenis said as her shadow loomed over her prey. With her spear in hand and her shield in the other, she tracked one of the last stragglers that were running around Olympus.
The blood trail of this specific servant was caught by the scent and while this was not a job that her master specifically told her to do, she took it nonetheless, more so because of boredom.
This one in particular caught her interest, however, their tenacity even as one of those horrid Olympians razed their entire rebellion to the ground just made her remember her own life in some way. Bloodied like this, their helmet broken to kingdom come and their armor shattered yet they remained standing with their weapon facing the enemy made her smile inwardly.
She wouldn't show it of course, what was on her face was casual indifference, indifference given the sheer gulf of power that existed between them. Admittedly she didn't know why she didn't just kill this servant already, perhaps a part of her was still nostalgic after all of this time as she reflected upon those days when to prove her might and station, she had to wade through blood, sweat and tears to justify even having a name worthy of legend.
Or perhaps she was becoming soft.
A grin struck her face.
NAH.
"I'm not one for final words, but if you wish to fight back before I bash your skull in, I'm willing to make you earn that last hit." She proclaimed as she stabbed her spear on the ground.
THRUM!
A small tremor was felt as Caenis' muscles rippled with strength. Yet she dismissed her shield for a moment, making it disappear in motes of light as she crossed her arms with a challenging smile that was neither mocking nor pretentious. She looked at the servant who perked up from her words as their trembling hold on their sword made Caenis curious as to what their next move would be.
"I-I ain't giving in to your chivalry or any other bullshit h-honorable custom you have..."
Caenis' grin widened. "It ain't that I assure you."
"D-Don't you dare lob me in with that condescending tone, you fucking god-loving exhibitionists." The servant angrily said as their eyes seethed in anger. They then screamed and charged forward. Red electric arcs coursed through their armor and sword, albeit weaker than they were as the cracks were ever-present in both of them. Their sword was aimed in a thrusting motion, right down into Caenis' chest but as the servant closed the distance, the already flimsy and broken spirit origin the servant had forced the sword to break into pieces the moment it made contact with her chest. The red electric arcs of the ornate sword and itself could have done damage if the servant was not as weak as they were, or if they were summoned in a traditional grail war, but due to the circumstances of this Lostbelt and the current state of Caenis' existence, the attack merely left barely any damage at all.
The servant did not falter however, they threw the sword away and transitioned their gauntleted hand to throw a punch at Caenis' face with what strength and might they had left…
Only for Caenis to catch it in mid-air in a feat that made the servant widen their eyes in shock.
THROOOOOOOOOOOOUMMM!!!
The surroundings behind and beside Caenis cracked for as far as two surrounding buildings as the mitigated shockwave still displaced air and brought forth a small gust of wind that an ordinary resident of the Olympus would have been thrown across the entire block if exposed to it.
A small trace of smoke even remained on Caenis' hand as she looked at the servant's shocked gaze through their destroyed helmet. Their green eyes and clearly blonde locks look at her finally in both fear and overwhelmed emotion.
"Calling me a lover of the Gods was a mistake…" Caenis stressed as her eyes' red glow intensified before fading back to normal as she looked at the servant. "But you're not fit to know why I'm doing this anyway."
THOOM!
Her fist crashed against the servant's chest. Shattering what armor remained on their upper torso as the bloodied blonde girl, finally revealed underneath all of that armor continued to look at her in defiance, but it was frankly, too late.
Caenis struck her fist again into the servant's revealed face.
THOOM!
The ground cracked, creating a small crater around them as blood and teeth were ejected into the air. The servant, now beaten within an inch of their life, still looked up to her in pure anger despite their agony.
"F-Fuck you." They intoned poorly as Caenis raised her foot…
And finished the job.
THOOM!
There was silence afterward, as the servant faded away into nothingness but Caenis made a small sigh as the voices of Demeter and her lackeys were calling out to her.
A scorn of anger developed in her heart, but she pushed it back down.
"Caenis," his voice said.
Her master still needed her.
SIX DAYS AGO…
"CAENIS! OI! Why the fuck are you just standing there?!" a voice in her head said as Caenis blinked and saw Mordred, her ally evacuating the rest of the burning ship's civilians into Rider's (Drake's) vessel. The roundtable knight was in her casual, civilian wear while holding her sword as this was a sudden job that was just told to them merely minutes away, earlier back on the beaches of Port Nelson in the Caribbean. The event, hosted mostly by Rider was a freeform mission to both sell some of the medicine in that part of the Atlantic as well as gather goodwill amongst the local islands, including Cuba.
A ship burning off the coast was merely a sudden alert to them since they were the closest. More so since the vessel was a cruise ship and multiple civilians were on board. Caenis never particularly cared much about this side of the new job that was given to her by her master…
Nor did she feel uncomfortable seeing the faces of enemies and allies alike from Olympus who remember nothing of the role she played there.
Yet it was tedious doing these little side gigs, saving people and all. She was no bastard who would kill or maim random people on a whim, even if they enraged her, but this sort of thing was more so suited for the likes of Heracles and the others who were more valorous than her. Still, she would fulfill the debt and orders her master had given her, so try as she may on being lazy with this part of the job, her more honorable side (which was a bitch) still shined through.
Which was odd, given this was what? The twentieth time in the span of a whole month where she was exposed to the public to deliberately save people in very notable ways. It was as if fate never learned what sort of monster she was in the Atlantic Lostbelt and was now forcing her to be the valorous, heroic individual that this world now alludes her to being.
Or perhaps her master was simply trying to be an asshole, and this was his way to make fun of her.
"Piss off, I'm doing my part, just do yours." She spat back as her blonde companion hissed at her as she continued to relay the civilians to board Drake's vessel calmly without them pissing her off. One person actually mouthed off a ton of complaints but the simple indifferent glare from the roundtable knight quickly forced all of those notions down.
Caenis however, stood at the deck of the burning ship which was now hitting its worst stage as she allowed the authorities of the fish bastard to calm the seas around them while periodically helping Mordred in making sure that the evacuations were successful. So far, no casualties of the worst kind were noted and any injuries or so were quickly resolved when Drake's current crew, humans who were hired by Olympia were quickly giving first aid.
Her presence however still got the most attention, as she and Mordred were the first on the scene as her blonde companion rode with her as they surfed the waves of the Atlantic towards their destination. The fire of the ship was blazing like an incandescent and unstoppable blaze when they arrived, but Caenis used her spear to reduce the flames to a more manageable state. The authorities of the fish bastard which was strangely still ingrained in its most powerful state within her thrummed in power and she was able to create a scene that would make people talk for weeks to come.
The entire act made her realize that people watched her in awe and…
Well, it only further created this sort of persona going around the world of how powerful and 'symbolic' she was as a hero… whatever the fuck that meant.
Cut to the current state of things, Caenis watched as she maintained some level of vigilance on the incoming number of people being safely moved off the ship. A dozen of people praised her more so than even Mordred even if some did prefer the roundtable knight's presence. However, her entire visage was definitely casting a large shadow on most of the people in this incident.
Inwardly she hated that the little show, she, and Mordred made as a small friendly spar down the beach was canceled due to this debacle. A good fight was something she yearned for because 'saving' people like a goddamn saint was making her bored as hell. Drake even made the onlookers bet on who would win between them earlier even If Caenis herself and Mordred were far too distracted by their little spar to care.
"Hey, you! Have we gotten every single person accounted for already?" Caenis heard Mordred say as she pointed Clarent towards one of Olympia's hires talking with the captain and the crew of the ship.
"We've yet to confirm ma'am!" the hire said as Caenis continued to watch the scene undisturbed.
It was all going peacefully for the most part even with the annoying number of people thanking her as she gave off a practiced fake smile, but she was quickly given pause when her ears heard the voice of a woman begging one of Olympia's hires.
"My daughter! Please… I couldn't find her down there! T-there was too much smoke, we couldn't get to her on time." The woman begged with tears as she grabbed the hire's uniform, and her voice was already starting a ruckus. Caenis sighed as she walked towards the woman just as a part of the ship near the end had set off a blaze that made everybody scream.
FWOOOUMM!!!
Caenis, unperturbed alongside Mordred who kept at it with her job, approached the woman who was now crying, losing hope that her daughter was alive. She then placed a hand on the woman's shoulder, a bit roughly as she stared into the surprised woman's eyes.
"Where did you last see her?" Caenis asked directly.
"I-In the cabins… t-the lower floors of the ship."
Caenis then turned towards the hire who had one of Olympia's devices on their arm. "Is she correct? Any life signs in that zone?"
The man quickly checked and nodded at her. "Y-yes ma'am, b-but the flames down there and the structural integrity of the ship isn't going to last much longer."
Without bothering to reply Caenis turned in Mordred's direction. "Saber! Get everybody to the ship safely." She shouted as her blonde companion looked at her in confusion.
"Where the heck are you going?"
"Just get everybody out," Caenis stressed as she reared herself to jump, she then launched herself into the air like a missile and crashed into the ship, penetrating it layer by layer until she stopped herself on the floor where the supposed kid was.
THROUM!!!
Fire glazed her vision and body as she watched her surroundings burn. The loud sound of various objects, environments, and materials burning in swift progression made everything hard to understand or perceive. The smoke was also proliferating at an alarming rate for regular humans to survive in, but Caenis was unscathed with the entire affair. She looked around, spear in hand as she tried looking for signs or for any evidence of the girl's position.
Her ears twitched above her head as they fine-tuned themselves to specify what exact sounds she needed to hear within the surroundings. She quickly caught wind of that and was able to identify the direction to where the sounds of a sobbing child were located at.
She ran forward, breaking everything in her path like a brute that could care less about the ship crumbling around her, but she was able to quickly get to her destination as she smashed another wall with pitiful ease using a kick. The entire section crashed onto itself as it created a hole for her to walk through…
Then she saw the crying kid who was holding onto a plushie.
She walked to her and saw that the young girl was looking at her in awe. Her crying halted completely as Caenis stood in front of her.
"You okay kid?"
The young girl, clearly overwhelmed and shocked at her presence, only managed a faint nod as Caenis offered her hand. She was not one who hated children, in fact, she actually cared quite a bit as she recalled memories of her own youth in Thessaly. She may come off as brash and rude to most people, but to children, she loses some of the straightforwardness, much to even her own surprise.
"Come on kid, I'm going get you back to your mom." She offered as the young girl slowly took her hand and Caenis carefully lifted her in one arm with ease. Seeing that she was comfortable Caenis looked at the scared kid's face with a small smile.
"Close yer' eyes. It'll be much less scary that way… or don't, it's your decision."
The kid did not respond, but instead, Caenis found her leaning into her shoulder and chest, closing her eyes, and clinging onto her as if her life depended on it. The strange show of affection made her pause for a moment before she readied herself again to jump.
A second later with a burst of strength and speed while raising her spear upwards… they were in the air in a thunderous roar, completely safe and unharmed from the entire ordeal as the little girl opened her eyes in awe at the height, they were compared to the burning cruise ship below.
They then soared downwards towards Drake's ship a second later, landing with such dramatic flair that even the sea surrounding the ship had risen slightly in response to the shockwave emanated. Thankfully, since most of Drake's ship was built out of magic, the vessel survived without any issue and the people onboard who watched in awe saw the Caenis stand up with the girl in her arms.
Cheers instantly came her way as she placed the little girl down and she was slowly being swarmed by the civilians on board. Annoyed, Caenis merely remained silent as people from all walks of life thanked her, even the hires of Olympia.
Yet, what stood out to her most was the mother thanking her for saving her daughter… and the kid herself looking at her with wonder and starlight in her innocent eyes.
She… she did not know how to feel about it. Nor the many receptions she received from the past twenty occurrences that seemed to cement her presence into the public mind and consciousness of this world. It was odd, given that she knew what type of person she was...
And truth be told, she was no true hero.
So, when she acted like one in this world, it was an odd feeling that trumped even her own personal victories as Caeneus in the past or the victories she shared with the Argo.
"Fucking show off!" Mordred said out of the noise and cheers as Caenis felt her companion punch her in the shoulder. She glared back but given the feral, challenging grin the blonde knight had; she knew she didn't mean it. If anything, they had something to brag about and talk about later when they were free from all of this. Another point for her in the unofficial competition they currently had when it came to feats.
"Jealous? I can already kick your ass hand to hand, and I got you beat in this." Caenis jested. It was ironic that they were this close now, given she was the one to end the blonde knight's life in Olympus. It was strange having transitioned from the Lostbelt to this world…
Even if in some way this felt right in most cases.
"Ah screw you… I'll be sure to kick your ass later in something."
Caenis was about to reply until Drake cheerfully interrupted them by placing them both into her arms. Their heads were forced close to the buxom woman's chest as the infamous sailor laughed.
"I know a nice spot later where we can celebrate! Drinks on me of course… I still got a good, nice deal with the local distillery… and their rum is magnificent."
The two tried to pry themselves off of Drake's hold as the sailor continued to laugh until the Rider servant placed a hand on Caenis' shoulder.
"Master's entrusted you with the cleanup."
Caenis looked confused at first before looking at the burning remains of the ship, and the spill of oil in the water, possibly poisoning this part of the sea for weeks or even months. Quickly she sighed and without fanfare felt the blessings of the fish bastard enter her veins again as the cheers were silenced for a moment as each person felt the heavy pressure of divinity coming off of her.
She then tapped the butt of her spear audibly on the ship's deck and everybody watched as a burning ship was engulfed in a blast of water from the seas that completely made it disappear entirely with the forces mustered by the fish bastard's power.
THROUUUUUUUUUMMMM!!!!
The awe-inspiring sight made people gawk as moments later as the water crashed back down safely into the waves, none of the ship's remains were seen anymore. Not even the oils that spoiled and spilled over the waters were present…
The act quickly made people turn to her as a new 'perspective' opened for them.
Caenis found herself unsure of how to properly react to the reception of her actions…
For it seemed like they now looked at her close to being a goddess in human form.
Her fame, the attention, and the sheer following garnered by the world around her had made her realize in some ironic way that she was being looked at as a symbol. As a deity in the most modern sense.
Being that she was an existence that always detested the Gods in Olympus…
She was unsure of how to feel when the world deemed her as a figure worthy of praise and excellence.
"Fuck." She cursed as the people around her cheered again.
Worse, Mordred was grinning at her.
PRESENT…
"It's quite the place, isn't it?" the blonde bastard said. The air of his words, his presence, and even just his full appearance radiated with such importance, ego, and pathetic supremacy that if her master wasn't here along with the orders given to her, she might have already torn this place in two. Casualties be damned.
Yet her master was here and she had to hold back some of those urges, lest their entire venture collapse onto itself.
Still, this hapless fool while pitiful with his attempts of being cordial was not worth the anger in the slightest. This world in general, with all of their 'heroes' were all poor caricatures of Jason, of all people, and even then, her idiot captain had more merit than each of these bastards both in combat and even in attitude. That said quite a lot, given she was not the fondest person when it came to interacting with the bumbling captain.
At the very least Jason did not attempt to show how beyond he was compared to the rest. The idiot was a coward and more so just full of air with himself, but when the situation called for it, his meager head pulled them out in a lot of tight situations than she expected. The entire venture in Atlantis and all the strings involved was a victory that was not possible without the gambles the blonde idiot took and given that Chaldea had won and surmounted every odd possible with their tenacity, spoke wonders of how good Jason's creative tact was.
A compliment that she would keep to herself of course, given that she knew how well that idiot would react should she say it aloud.
These people, however? All talk and bluster, their faces pasted on nearly every major country and city. Their products, their names, and their… popularity spoke volumes of what they were as people. Fame was important to these caricatures, and they carried that fame and grace as if it were the most important thing in their lives.
"Starstruck? I always get that…" the man said as he started walking towards her. "…normal people on the street would do anything to get a glimpse of me. Some would ask for autographs, some would faint on the spot just breathing the same air next to me, and… well, some would ask for unreasonable requests. You know what it is." He jested as he giggled to himself, far too pleased.
The fish bastard, loath as she would admit was not this proud. If anything, he was subtly insecure as far as her memory told her. Insecure because the top brass, his younger brother was King of the Gods. She never met the thundering manwhore of the skies, not even within the Lostbelt in any close interaction, but talking to Heracles and those that were victims of the pervert's unending lust told her enough of what she needed to know.
Now she was curious how the infamous son of Zeus would react to this man. The man was much, much more patient than her, but the resemblance and air might make him react more.
"Though, perhaps it's different with you this time. I mean, meeting you? The infamous Lancer. Are you aware of the many names you've garnered just this year alone? From the US to Germany, to the Philippines, hell… even North Korea of all places. You're special… and that's saying a lot."
She finally looked at him when he said those words. Not because she was interested, no… but because of the names now attached to her. That little interaction made the man smile, however, pleased and happy that her attention was in some way caught, but Caenis remained silent.
"That's why it's an honor meeting you. Not even my teammate Queen Maeve has this much attention and fame attached to her." He then waved both hands in the air accentuating his point as he continued talking. "Imagine if the media caught wind of this, two of the greatest heroes on Earth meeting in one, uninteresting room. Some would sell their organs to even get a scoop of this but… I'm pretty sure that's not something worth talking about now."
"Hm." She hummed as she turned her head towards the nearest gym equipment. Her finger traced it slowly as the blonde idiot continued to smile. Though the air was much more tense than before.
He approached her a little bit closer and offered his hand. "What should I call you?"
Caenis turned to him, almost eye to eye now as the space between them became uncomfortable, but her obligation overrode her fury as she gave a small neutral smile and simply spoke. "Lancer." She said before walking away a bit again, leaving his hand empty in the air as a small scoff into a fake laugh appeared on the man's face.
"Lancer it is then. Not The Amazon? Or… Lady Bird? Oh, here's a good one, Aquawoman! Heh, Deep was quite upset about that you know… but none of them could ever hold a candle to you." He said, almost happy about that as Caenis looked at him again. "You're special… and I'm quite glad you exist by the way."
"Why'd you say that?" she asked in a straightforward manner, her curiosity piqued.
The man, celebrating this little turn and victory for getting her attention fully smiled warmly. The kind that made Caenis remember Poseidon, both before the night ended and in the day after.
Homelander then walked closer towards her again, sitting on the gym equipment that she traced her finger earlier as he adjusted his cape behind him. He then focused on her and grinned, his face turning contemplative.
"Have you ever heard the statement, 'uneasy lies the head that wears a crown'?"
She tilted her head in question, it was enough of a subtle hint that she didn't as the man quickly understood.
"Well, it's from something William Shakespeare wrote, it basically details that a person who has immense, great responsibilities, like a king for instance, is constantly worried… lonely, and incredibly exhausted being at the top of the world." He then smirked as he continued. "I don't really mind the worried nor exhausted part, you know how it is when we compare ourselves to everybody else… but, what really stands out to me, is the lonely part."
Caenis inwardly rolls her eyes. Her 'mask' was at full use as she kept it neutral.
"It's been quite lonely this past decade. Especially when you're the only person who can pick up the slack with all the world's responsibilities on my shoulders. The others? The Seven? We all know none of them hold a candle to myself and I'm the only person that can feasibly keep the world safe, given how easy everything is to me… the others? You can basically call them heroes of America, not of the world."
He then sighed in a manner that was very fake. "… I mean what can the other shmucks do? Deep is a Fishman that can… talk to fish and swim very fast. A-train can run fast, I mean cool, yeah… but I can fly twice as fast. Maeve is…" he giggles. "…Maeve is every little boy's wet dream come to life, and try as she may she doesn't hold a candle to you. What else is there? Translucent? He turns invisible, who the hell wants that in a power? Lamplighter is a pussy that can make candles burn hotter… and Black Noir, he's good." The last statement made Caenis perk up.
"I like Noir out of all of them, but he's very limited with what he does. I've forgotten that one other loser in the team, but I think I've already told you enough why they're all useless."
She crossed her arms as she looked at him. "A bit odd for the precious golden boy to talk shit about his comrades huh? Why the heck are you being honest with me? Knowing that I'm pretty much a rival?" she genuinely asks as the blonde idiot grins widely.
"Well, that's the thing, Lancer. You're nothing like them. They're all useless compared to you. They're all beneath you. Like ants… and what does one ant do to try and change the environment around it? Nothing."
Caenis was still confused.
"You and I? We're the ones that are at the top. In the clouds… we look down on the poor mortals below because it's our responsibility to. They shout our names… they praise us, idolize us, and we save them, doing feats that far surpass imagination… you already know what this song and dance means." He said with affirmation as he stood up, walking closer as Caenis still looked dumbfounded.
"It's why I'm so happy. Because I'm no longer alone up there. There's somebody else." He then grins. "Somebody that's as perfect as me."
Oh… Oh!
Caenis' eye twitched. Her anger blossomed within her chest as her neutral smile turned aggressively predatory, and not the perverted kind. The blonde idiot, however, didn't seem to read the air as he smiled back.
"Take one more step and I'm decking you in the face." She warned. Her voice was stiff but it only made the man laugh as he thankfully backed away. His laughter was almost celebrating with how freely comfortable and happy he was as Caenis looked on in confusion and annoyance.
"See? That's what I wanted. That's why I'm happy, because not only am I thrilled to hear that there's actually someone out there who's as great as me, but I find that she's also like me. Looking down on everybody, because they don't measure up to us."
Caenis suddenly laughed. Hard.
She could not believe it, every word from this man's lungs sounded so incorrigibly stupid that she could not help herself. The man laughed as well as Caenis finally stopped a second later. Wiping her eyes from the stray tear she then looked at him.
"Buddy… I think you've massively misunderstood the situation when it comes to me. I can't even tell you how much wrong there is in your statement… but I gotta give you credit, it was funny as shit."
He kept that smile, yet she knew that the condescension in her words had pulled a nerve.
"It doesn't change the fact that you are beyond everybody else… well, except for me, but you already know what I'm saying, right? We take charge of our lives. We get what we want, regardless of what anybody thinks about it."
Caenis grinned. "Hm, you did get one thing right. I am someone that gets what I want without anyone having a say in it…"
He was about to agree with her until she raised a hand to stop him. "…but not to the point that I have to be an asshole to people around me."
He then sighed, disappointment lingering on his face. "You're one of those types huh? Perhaps I misjudged you a bit… but is it really worth it to do all of this? Just to be a hero and save everyone?"
"Well, you did misjudge me Homelander. Thinking that I'm a fully-fledged hero like those idealistic, dreamy stereotypes. If you've truly met me as I am, you should be glad that I'm this tame." She ominously remarked as he looked at her with surprise… and even shock.
"Huh… then I'm glad we still have things to be surprised about with each other." He said as he took a step back. "Call me John." He offered with a thoughtful look.
"What for?"
"Let's just say, I'm the one right now that's quite starstruck."
Oh, for fuck's sake.
AN: One more chapter and we're done with the introductory phase!
Jewel of the Clocktower
Jewel of the Clocktower
His grip on his trusty staff was loosening as the sensations and nerves of his limbs started to go limp and disconnected. The cold air of the highest peak of Olympus touched his skin, his rather lithe and frail body shivering to it until his responses slowed down.
He barely remembered what memories lay before he met the child in that alleyway.
He barely remembered what memories lay in his time speaking with Ritsuka Fujimaru.
All that mattered was that they were safe and sound.
The betrayal did not sting much, nor did it feel as painful as all of the other betrayals he had ever experienced in life, but he was, however, sad that he could not achieve his dream. His sweet, selfless, and decidedly selfish dream.
But he did not fret. He already cast his blessing upon the last master of Chaldea. Regrets were plenty, yes, but he was content knowing that humanity in part was in safe hands. Even if it was not his ideal humanity or dream, Kirschtaria Wodime was happy that someone worthy was going to carry that ship far.
Darkness overtook his eyes, even as they were wide open. What feeling was left in his veins was starting to become muted as he allowed the darkness to take hold. He allowed death to take him permanently this time.
Or at least, that's what he would prefer, had his soul not been cast away again, denied of a life's simple pleasure of the end. Wodime had yet to realize it but as the waning days and the crumbling fields of the Stellar City within the skies plummeted to its ruin before disappearing, his body was whisked away. Nowhere to be seen as the false history and reality was removed from the bleached surface of the Earth's atmosphere.
Time had significantly passed as the connection achieved between the dying Wodime was cast into the void. A small cry that could have been easily dismissed, like the sound of a fly buzzing within a cavernous mine yet it was enough for such a line to manifest.
Wodime would then find himself opening his eyes once more. His breath returned to him naturally as if he was just waking up from a very deep, pleasant dream. He did not expect it at first as he began blinking, expecting and thinking that he was saved, that the foolish Chaldeans made time just to save him.
But once he raised both hands into the open air before him, he noticed that his entire body was bare, the swift chilling touch of the air clinging onto his form as awareness began to dawn on him. He sat up, looking at himself, the wounds from his previous experiences gone. His body almost pristine in quality, as if he was just born yesterday. He looked at himself, inspecting a good deal as to how… and why he was alive, but no answer came to his being as he knew that the Alien God, and the truth behind them had no use for him anymore, and there existed no power in Chaldea's own for them to effectively resurrect him from such a grievous and violent death.
Unless he was-
"You are safe, Kirschtaria Wodime. Those who both wish for your demise and detriment are very far from here. You would never see them again." A voice said.
Wodime looked at the figure, at the end of this 'cave' and tried to piece together who he was.
Yet he found nothing, except for the fact that his voice was vaguely familiar.
"Who are you?" he asks.
"An observer…"
SEVEN MONTHS AGO…
"I'm still a bit confused with this mess, master. After all the crap that happened last time, I assumed we'd have been done from doing all of this in the first place." Caenis' voice said as they walked along the streets of London. Her attire and appearance being much more 'natural' compared to the very noticeable presence of Archer was the reason she was allowed to manifest beside him.
It was much less conspicuous of course, with her wearing a jacket over a simple white tank top against jeans, the only noticeable thing of note would just be the ears atop her head.
"I find this actually refreshing, Caenis. I regret much of the failings we've both had in our respective paths, but after everything, I do feel like this was a nice change of pace." Wodime admitted as he walked along with her. Some took notice of them, but most were unbothered as they went along their way.
"Maybe for you, but for me I feel like it's a waste of time."
Wodime huffed as a small demure smile appeared on his face. "Somehow I doubt you with that tone of voice in mind."
A rare embarrassed retaliatory huff and a frown were made as Caenis looked away. "Meh, you'd be dead without me anyway, so of course I'd tag along."
"Hm." Wodime hummed as they neared their destination. London was particularly less busy today, even if it was a weekday when most would go to their respective jobs. Still, from the relatively sunny weather and the atmosphere of the common folk walking in and out of their lives, he felt nostalgic. Even with the many painful memories that this place had left him with.
He was home in some sense. He felt like he was home.
Like he had been gone for such a long time that the mere sight of it made him feel at ease. It made him feel, free and unencumbered. It was as if all the stress and pain from the Lostbelts were gone from his mind, stripped completely as he watched the normal, breathing world go on with its day.
"It is such a drastic change, from the world we once lived in, Caenis." Archer's voice said, echoing into their connection as Wodime's first summoned servant from the many still to come had finally got out of his silence. He never once expected the infamous Greek Hero to be this, subdued and quiet. Even summoned in his most prime state of being within the classes available to servants, he expected the man to be much more proud. Much more open given the many feats associated with him and the many people around the world praising his stature and name.
But no, instead of being proud about it, his presence just had a certain air. An air that was different compared to all of the servants and beings he had encountered in his journey so far. An air that trumped even Caenis' own, despite her being close to Poseidon's existence now.
"Yeah, I bet most of them are pussies." Caenis replied as some heads turned to her.
Wodime brushed it off as a resonating hum from Archer was heard through the bond. It was humbling having a man like him compared to the others. Even his first interaction after the summoning was him asking a very simple question. One that Wodime himself was curious about.
"Why do you ask, Great Heracles?"
Archer narrows his gaze, becoming melancholic as if recalling a memory of another life, another summoning. "My presence is a boon to many great, greedy, and wicked men. The power I wield is something that they ought to use as a tool for their own misdeeds. They assume me the role of their monster, one that will further their agenda… and for once I merely wish to be seen as a man. A person that wishes to do what is best for humanity, and a man that wishes to be known as more than the destruction caused by his own rage."
Wodime nods, inwardly smiling in relief. "Do not be afraid, Great Hero. Thy strength is for the purpose of goodwill. I may only know you through the many stories of your great deeds and feats of power, but I shan't use you for vile, wicked acts of unjustified nature. That is a promise on my end to yours, I merely wish for your assistance in attending to this grand plan of mine."
Archer noticeably becomes intrigued, just based on his expression as he nods solemnly. "That is, very comforting, master. Thank you." He remarks in good faith as Wodime offers him a hand.
"You sure, you're going to commit to going inside, alone master? I betcha my presence would scare any goddamn mage just by staring at them." Caenis asked as Wodime, taken out of his thoughts, looked at her for the question she had asked.
"No, I'm afraid even with the uncertainty of the state of this world's Clocktower, many defenses and fields would still be in place to respond to both of your presences. It's simply a matter that I will not bother having issues with, more so because it might incite some attention that I'd rather not have right now." He stressed as Caenis frowned.
"We would still come to your aid should you need it master," Archer said.
"I thank you both but believe me in saying that I would be fine. I am accustomed to the Clocktower's methods and politics. I assure you; no harm shall befall me." He promised as Caenis placed both hands on her hips as she nodded in agreement, despite disliking the idea.
They were to continue walking down the street again, towards one of the secure entrances that Wodime knew by hand, but a running child bumped into him. Said child fell on the ground by his buttocks as he groaned from the impact.
"Hey kid, watch yourself next time, okay?" Caenis said in annoyance as she helped him up.
"S-Sorry ma'am." The boy said as he began dusting off his clothes and pants before taking the toy that he was carrying earlier back into his hands.
Wodime did not mind this interaction as his decidedly impassive and neutral stare only made the boy nervous somewhat. Detecting this, Wodime tried to smile, only for him to take a good long look at the boy that he just bumped into.
"You okay mister?" the boy asked.
Even Caenis and Archer became concerned with Wodime essentially froze.
"Y-yes… I… do be careful next time." He quickly said as the boy thankfully smiled and then a pair of parents, happy, content, and excitable called out to the boy. The boy waved at Wodime one last time as he ran back to his family.
Leaving the Jewel of the Clocktower stuck in his own memories.
Life-changing memories.
"Master, you okay? You seem a bit different after seeing that kid?" Caenis asked.
"I concur, what did the child do to warrant such a strange response, master?" Archer added.
Wodime merely sighed as memories of an orphan child pulling him away into his hiding spot came back to him. That same child that made him realize what his life's wish was, is now running happily with his family in this world. In a way, he felt vindicated.
In a way, he felt as if the world was much more kinder than what it currently was.
"Merely a memory that I was happy to relive in some way." He told both his servants. A bit of weight was removed from his chest and shoulders as hope blossomed within his soul. The apathy, the sheer callousness, and cynicism from the world was sort of lifted somewhat. All for a boy that Wodime did not expect to meet again, even in a different circumstance.
"What was that about?" Caenis asked behind him, referring to Archer.
"I did not understand as well, Caenis. However, I believe our master feels some sort of connection with that child. The kind of connection that seemed everlasting in terms of weight and significance."
"I've known him longer than you, but a random ass kid wasn't in his memories as far as I can remember." She said as they began walking again.
"Perhaps you didn't look deep enough to see it. Children after all are what give meaning to stories of heroes and the like. Their innocence and imagination are what allow our deeds to endure across the ages. Our master must feel the same."
"Speaking from experience?" Caenis jested only to frown in a disgusted notion as she began feeling guilty. "Ah shit, I didn't mean that He-
"No, it's fine. I understand completely of course. Though if you were to ask me that, then yes… and for our master, I believe that child was the reason why his perspective and outlook is the way it is right now."
Caenis hums in agreement as the two servants watch their master, as they finally arrive at their destination. Both saw their master narrow his eyes as he looked around in both directions of the street. The sudden frown on his face made the two realize that something was amiss.
Especially since, being that this was the center of the Mage's Association, the fact that effective wards would have manifested already told them that the absence was something of note. It became even more apparent to Wodime when he felt that the door, he was facing had nothing of note in terms of protections since this was one of the more obscure entrances to the grounds.
Wodime however continued on as he pushed the door open, with barely any resistance as he was met with a very dusty, dark room. He faced his two servants and nodded even as he felt that the two were subtly worried for his safety.
Activating a spell through his palm, a wisp of light manifested as he walked around the darkened place. Cobwebs and various other indications of age were present, with none of the typical maintenance and care that most of the ancient family lines would keep to preserving the grounds through tradition or simply to maintain strength for the Clocktower. Divided and selfish most families can be due to the nature of magecraft, but they were always onboard on keeping the Clocktower itself strong as a bulwark against the other organizations out there.
Wodime continued on, allowing himself to remember the various traps and other paraphernalia that used to be in this entrance, most of them were non-existent, failed, or with what little evidence remained, completely dismantled down to the very bone. Which was odd, since most of the details that were left painted a picture that indicated that whichever party or event caused those breakdowns were practically ancient or at best by the earliest end of the 12th century.
That in itself was very disturbing yet Wodime continued to walk in the darkness until he encountered the door that led to the many rooms inside the grounds. The locks and special enchantments were also gone as he opened the door quite normally despite its age. The creaking of the cobweb and dust-covered wooden door brought him to a stop when he saw that he was met with what looked like a maintenance room where the janitors would keep their tools and items. The door he opened was covered up by a large shelf and through some effort he managed to get through the gap that existed.
Wodime quickly looked around and tried to remember that the door he came from opened up to one of the lesser-used classrooms within the Clocktower. It was close to one of the main libraries and adjacent to the Department of Archaeology's main suite. To see it being renovated and replaced by this… maintenance room made him feel as if he was completely lost.
Thankfully he didn't need to open the door to this room since it was not locked, but as soon as he got himself out, he was quickly reminded that this was in fact, an alternate world. Given, that the entire area he was now in was a modernized office, complete with technology that would make most of the older heads of the families downright confused or rageful due to it being 'blasphemous'.
Wodime wasn't bothered by the sight but he acknowledged that seeing this, indicated that the Clocktower he knew never existed in its height nor power as it was in his original world. He kept those thoughts away as he continued on, getting out of the office as it seemed to be unused that time of the week. The moment he got himself out, he finally saw something familiar, the gardens and grounds of most of the Clocktower were still there. Maintained and quite reinvented in terms of its aesthetic.
Walking through the hallways, he stopped when he finally saw a familiar door at the end of the one, he was walking on.
"Archer, you may manifest." He said politely as the rather tall and large man compared to his own size materialized out of thin air. The heroic spirit looked around before looking at his master in question.
"I do not sense much in this place. There is a faint trace of magic in the air, though it is the kind that to most would appear negligible in quality… I thought this place was quite prominent, master. Why does it seem like this too appears to be a forgotten, hollowed-out relic of the past?" Archer asked.
"That is the problematic part, Archer… because the Clocktower itself was a special place." Wodime then approached the door he looked at earlier, opening it. "… so special that even if the World collapsed, parts of it will remain regardless of any circumstances that befall upon it. To see that this World's version barely has any traces of mystery at all makes me wonder what sort of event allowed it to degrade into a simple public library that any ordinary man, woman, or child can have access to."
The door to what Wodime used to remember as the Department of Astromancy opened to a rather ironic part of this public library's "Astronomy and Physics Department". He would have smiled had this matter not been as grave as it is. Yet the fact that fate still allowed some form of connection to the memories he had attached to his days within the Clocktower made him feel nostalgic again.
Even if the entire place was in itself a stark change from what he remembered before.
"I see then. So, he was correct." Wodime said.
"Who was correct, Master?" Archer asked.
Wodime did not quickly reply as he walked to one of the shelves and levitated it out of the way before pressing a hand on the dry, white wall. An outline of a doorway appeared, and that section of the wall vanished as Archer followed silently as his master entered this newly opened room.
Like many of the older parts of this building, Archer quickly saw that the entire room, archaic and devoid of almost any object was covered in dust and contained such an ancient, smelling atmosphere that it made even Medea's older tome collections feel tame in comparison.
Wodime however, picked up the only object within the room. Which was a very deteriorated book that had its contents, paper, and hardbound cover almost crumble to dust with each touch.
But he knew that book quite well, in fact, he was familiar with it.
"Master?"
"This was Maribury's favorite book within his private collection. He was very liberal in using technology but when it came to these tomes, he risked life and limb to keep them well-maintained." Wodime said with a low tone.
"This Marisbury, is he a noble man, Master? You seem very fond of him." Archer asked.
Wodime simply shook his head as he looked at his servant. "He was the same as every mage, Archer. For better or for worse, though most of the goals and life-long dreams he had were based upon these books. The fact that they're here suggests that perhaps my master did not exist at all in this world, or maybe, they lived a different life altogether." a small smile came onto his lips, remembering some of the genuine good times he had with this place as he tucked the book by his arm.
"The Observer was correct in the fact that this world is alien to us. To me." Wodime added as a small build of frustration graced his expression. His fingers on his left hand rubbed his chin as he went into a deep state of thought.
"Our objective is still the same, Master, and I will follow you to the ends of the Earth if need be to accomplish it," Archer said with complete confidence as a small smile also graced his features.
"Yes… yes, I believe so. A young man close enough to my age would have wanted me to do such a thing." Wodime said as he recalled the last moments of Olympus before he died. "Still, I feel wary of the Observer, whoever he is, I wish to be ready for what unknown plans he has for us."
"I concur," Archer said as they walked out of the building together. For Wodime he felt a level of peace, as if finally moving on from an older life the moment he stepped outside into the world again. While Caenis watched him sigh.
"Took you long enough," Caenis said, both hands in her pockets as she looked at him.
"Had to sort some old memories, but yes, our trip was successful in a sense."
"Right… what's the next step then?"
Wodime was going to answer until a scream tore the air when they saw a bus with clearly armed hostiles and hostages within it. Civilians surrounding the bus became scared and frozen as the situation escalated. The bus driver being aimed at by a gun forced the vehicle to stop as cries and screams of terror filled the area.
"Master." Archer urged as Wodime watched the scene and looked around. He then saw that the boy earlier that they bumped into was on the street closest to the bus the very moment one of the hostiles within the vehicle pulled out what seemed to be an IED.
"Proceed," Wodime commanded as Archer appeared beside him and Caenis cracked her knuckles.
The two servants leaped into action at speeds that made nobody notice at first until the very last second. Wodime watched in silence as Caenis broke the glass near the driver's seat and pulled out the hostile aiming a gun at the driver. She then threw the poor bastard down the street right after she squished the gun in his hands into sheet metal.
Various people watching the scene pulled out their cellphones as the spectacle continued. Cheers and fearful cries emanated around Wodime as he watched.
Archer dispatched the last two hostiles threatening the hostages faster than some of them could blink and he picked up the IED in his hands, tearing open a hole into the Bus' roof…
… and threw it up into the sky at heights that made it no longer visible.
Archer then readied his bow and released an arrow whose mere escape caused a small shockwave upon release that most people around him felt down to their bones. Moving at velocities that eclipsed even that of a modern sophisticated missile, it hit its target and exploded like a triumphant firework in the air.
The moment was so grand that there was a steep silence of awe at first while Wodime watched the civilians and former hostages gawk in amazement. Ideas began spreading in his head as he looked at the posters of these 'superheroes' that existed in this world before he looked back at Caenis and Archer.
A slew of cheers finally came as the public began encircling his two servants.
While all of that happened, he felt someone tug his suit and Wodime once again found himself face-to-face with the boy from earlier. Starstruck and desperate to ask him a simple question that prevailed in his innocent mind.
"Are y-your friends, heroes mister?"
Wodime's response was a simple pat on the boy's head as he smiled.
PRESENT…
"Miss Stillwell, these reports have been a very interesting read… but I don't believe I get your point in all of this," Wodime said as he placed those papers back on the desk. He also noticed that Archer, sitting beside him was also reading one of those reports with great scrutiny as Wodime felt the building frustration and dare he say it, anger within the great hero.
"Is it not obvious, Mr. Kirsch? Those right there are various situations, events, and evidence that implicate Olympia in various possible crimes or activities that can spark suspicion. Even if not downright illegal in nature, at the very least it would all come off as bad PR."
"Ah… you're going in that direction. I see." Wodime said as he wanted to laugh actually but chose not to. Stillwell maintained a smug smile even as Archer returned the papers back to the desk.
"Yes… and with the full disposal of Vought's legal division, we can… in essence burn Olympia even with its burgeoning power within the economic world."
"What makes you think this will all… stick? Half of these accusations are cursory knowledge at best, unsubstantiated claims at worst… and you're expecting me to feel threatened? Or are you expecting some of my comrades, my heroes to feel threatened with this proverbial gun you have over our heads?"
Stillwell's smile faded into a neutral expression. "Are you too dumb or stupid to see the implications this has for your company… or for how the people around you treat your assets?" she asked as she made a small glance at Caster and Archer. The latter became less subtle with his displeasure as the former could only cough in response.
"Are you in the position to actually claim that you're smarter in this little verbal duel of ours? Or is your head so stuck in the clouds like your golden goose that you think we will simply fall to this… stupidity?" Wodime asked in the politest yet most painful reply to the now surprised and displeased Stillwell who was now visibly twitching via her eyes. Her smile was still there, but anybody could tell that with the atmosphere of the room, she was inwardly seething.
"Let's say I do elaborate on these claims as to how asinine they are… what good will that do with our negotiations… what actual progress can we even infer if we're just here trading blackmail against each other? None… right?" Wodime added as he then pressed a finger on one of the papers on the desk. "Take a look at this for example, you are implying that Archer and the rest of the people present within Mount Nyiragongo's vicinity are the cause of the volcano's eruption? Wouldn't it be much more suspicious when my resources in the area pinged and registered Homelander's presence merely ten minutes before the volcano erupted knowing that he was present in the evacuation and relief efforts of the surrounding communities both pre and post-eruption?"
"But it is not in Homelander's ability to-
"That would be on you to claim that… but if you admit that it's not in your Golden Goose's ability to create such an event then that would create weakness in your brand. Weakness knowing that your strongest hero is not capable enough to stop such an event from killing more people. You admit that then what happens to the confidence and trust in Homelander's image?"
Stillwell quickly shut up as Wodime pointed another finger at another paper on the desk.
"And what are you supposed to gain with the allegations towards the orphanage Archer maintains within Olympia's purview? I could call the media to make them review or even create a documentary of how her efforts have effectively created a symbol for orphaned children around the world with full-fledged support. I could even ask your people to come down with your lawyers to survey the grounds that she maintains closely… and I guarantee you, not only will the families, press, and your own lawyers find her as a resonating, kind figure, they would all reject any such allegations since they are not based on actual fact. You throw this within the justice system, and I'm quite sure no judge or jury is going to back any of your attempts. You would just be bleeding money over nothing."
"You're that confident about it?" Stillwell asked with an entitled tone.
"In the off chance even if… per se, foul play occurs between my company and yours…"
"How dare you-
"… I can point those same eyes and ears to Sage Grove Center…" Wodime said, stopping Stillwell in her tracks. The woman became alarmed as she nearly stood up as he mentioned it.
"Look, the point is… you have no grounds here to create blackmail just to convince Olympia to hand over our assets to yours." Wodime politely said, hoping to steer the conversation back to being amicable. At least, amicable enough to be useful. "The mere fact that you started this with that makes me fear that Mr. Edgar's choice in making you Vought's liaison was a poor one in hindsight. Though, even if it was on the agenda to do this, I reckon it wouldn't have escalated the conversation to this."
The woman sighed. "While you may raise a point, that doesn't change the fact that your company and your heroes have essentially stolen or in this case, created assets that are based upon ours. The legalities and everything attached are nasty and can be problematic for such an up-and-coming company such as yours… even if we did erase and forget all of the nastiness from earlier, the point still stands that we just want what's ours to be back into our hands."
"You act like these assets you keep referring to aren't people."
The woman huffed and almost laughed at Wodime. "Oh, don't be naïve Mr. Kirsch. You may act all high and mighty with that morality clause you're preaching, but we both know that in the business world regardless of what the public feels, superheroes are products. Plain and simple. The people acting their part carry a brand, a brand that a company owns, and that essentially makes them a company's property."
Wodime smiled back. "Oh… I am no saint Ms. Stillwell. If you knew me at my very core… or what I've done, I can humbly say that I'm more of a monster than all of Vought's manpower all at once. Yet, I am not here to argue who has the better high horse in morality. I'm simply doing my best to make my heroes work in the best way they can… to help in matters that actually do more than anything I could have done in my entire life."
"A lousy epiphany then?" she said.
"No, I just believe that the spirit of what is a hero is now lost through all of the fame. I'm a hypocrite in saying that, knowing the things I've done… but I see a child out in the streets, dreaming for a better tomorrow and all they get are pictures of heroes that will likely focus more on their own fame, than helping that child have a better life."
"And that's your goal?" the woman asked, almost genuine in her intrigue.
"In some way yes."
"Idealism doesn't fly in this business. More so with how lax you are with promoting them. I mean, the names alone confuse a lot of people. Even if you don't agree with our methods… you do agree that your efforts in making them relevant are poor."
Wodime shook his head. "Perhaps… though that they are relevant still even without such a thing tells me that people are now leaning closer towards heroes that actually act the part. Everything afterward can be second fiddle, for action in my opinion always trumps popularity."
"That still doesn't get us closer to any of the issues with both our companies, Mr. Kirsch."
"No, actually, I think we've reached the end of this conversation," Wodime affirmed.
"How so?"
Wodime chuckled as he began preparing to stand up. "If you find the means to prove that we use Compound V, Miss Stillwell, then I would be happy to converse with Mr. Edgar about it."
"We still have more to discuss."
"And I refuse… I have exhausted the extent of my tolerance with this conversation, and I am not bound to make sure I see the end of it." Wodime said as he stood up. Archer helped him to wear his trench coat as Caster now returned to his own focus with the tablet he brought along.
"You son of a bitch." Stillwell whispered as Wodime grinned.
"I am open for a second meeting Miss Stillwell, though respectfully I wish it would not be you that I would need to converse with." As Wodime began leading them all to get out of the office until Stillwell stood up and crossed her arms in displeasure.
"Your company's not going to last long in this environment, I guarantee you, Mr. Kirsch." Stillwell threatened. Wodime stopped and looked at her.
"Miss Stillwell, I was born and raised in a pit of vipers. You don't measure to the worst people that I've ever had conversations with… and I know for sure those people can back most of their claims and threats… yours, not so much." He said as they all left.
They were escorted by another no-name intern back to the lobby as Wodime felt quite satisfied with the conversation that just occurred and finished. He even looked at Archer who felt vindicated with how he dealt with Stilwell.
The three quietly waited in the Lobby before leaving as eventually they saw Caenis, accompanied by Ashley walking towards him with heavy steps on her way.
She then grabbed both sides of his coat with both arms and sneered at him.
"Don't you fucking DARE leave me in that shit again." She threatened with a low tone as Archer smiled while Ashley excitedly waved goodbye at her favorite hero again.
"I'll see you again next time, Lancer!" a voice said as they all looked at Vought's golden goose.
The Homelander smiled quite genuinely as he waved at Caenis. The woman did not even look in his direction as she kept eye-to-eye with Wodime.
"I don't care if he eats shit through his anus next time, but if he keeps that up, I'm making sure he regrets it." Caenis angrily said as she joined Caster as they left the lobby together.
"Do know that I'm always available… and I'll respond the moment you call." Homelander doubled down with a laugh as Caenis gave him the finger without facing him while storming off.
Wodime and Archer were what's left but before he could take his attention off of the hero finally, Wodime noticed that the entire lobby's atmosphere became tense when even the security guards and the random employees became quiet in a relatively business lobby.
The reason? Archer was looking down intensely at the shorter Homelander. The blonde man looked at him with his expression changing from genuinely pleased, to genuinely confused… and dare Wodime say it, concerned.
"Hi… do I know you?" the hero asked.
Archer's gaze was unflinching and made purely with utter subtle disgust, but it was enough to intimidate "the strongest hero" of this world.
"Oookay… it was nice knowing you, I guess," Homelander said as he was the first to walk away to defuse the awkwardness and nervousness of the situation as Wodime saw Archer's gaze break somewhat.
"Archer." He said as the man finally looked at him.
"Yes, Mr. Kirsch, I believe it is time to leave."
The two silently agreed with each other as they left the building.
The atmosphere Archer left prevailed even as he left, making most of Vought's employees rather disturbed with the whole matter altogether even as they were both gone.
To Wodime and his servants, however, it felt like a breath of fresh air.
"I believe we did well," Wodime said as Caenis nearly spat something out on the street.
"Fuck you."
He simply laughed it off alongside Caster who was neck-deep with his tablet still.
"Master, did you mean most of what you said?" Archer asked beside him as Wodime looked off into the distance as he thought about it.
"I can always try, Archer. I've done what I can before in an extreme sense, maybe doing it in something simpler and more linear will work out better."
"I see," Archer said, a small smile appearing on his face as they all heard Caenis moan.
"I am not going to do that shit with Medea again, Wodime."
He simply laughed her off as his mind was set on it. "That is an order Caenis, it's for the best after all. Both you and Saber are there, so I think it will pan out."
"Me and Mordred AREN'T HER DRESS-UP DOLLS DAMN IT!" she shouted as their conversations continued in good faith…
Happy that in some way their day was not as unproductive as they expected.
Billy Butcher watched with a frown as he continued to eat his hotdog.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed a number as he saw the new supes from Olympia and their CEO walk down the street.
The dial tone kept on ringing until finally, someone responded.
Butcher kept chewing on his hotdog as he washed it down with the drink he had on hand.
"Get me, Raynor."
AN: Yay… I'm excited to write the next hahahahahahahah…
Starlight's Lament 1.1
Starlight's Lament 1.1
"Lamplighter's retired sweetie… you know how that goes when one of the Seven vacates their throne." Her mother then shrugs. "Maybe this time, they'll see your potential." An accompanying smile follows as Annie wipes her mouth from the excess foam.
"Mom… the chances of that happening are so small, we'd have more chances winning the lottery than me being invited as part of the Seven." Annie explained as she walked by her mother and started to fix herself through one of the mirrors near their living room. Her mother crossed her arms beside her as Annie began combing her hair.
"It's not that small of a chance. There's not much competition out there, to be honest. You fit quite well with the brackets and requirements that the Seven have. You're pretty, you're fairly strong… and best of all…" Annie feels her mother hugging her from her side. "…you're the kindest girl that world will ever know should you walk down that stage, with your name beside legends."
Annie's imagination allows her to see a world where she smiles next to her heroes…
That imagination drops a second later, far quicker than what she normally would have before. She simply sighs as she glances at her mother. She squeezes her mother's arms affectionately as a frown appears on her face.
"I… I don't know about that mom."
Annie feels her mother perk up in shock and confusion at her words as they release themselves from the embrace. She then walks towards their kitchen to fetch herself a drink of water as her mother stands there in complete silence.
"W-What do you mean, Annie?"
Her mother's question drives her to stop as Annie stares at the world outside through the window of the kitchen sink. Her reflection allows her to partially see her mother through the glass.
"I'm not sure if being in the Seven is something I want."
"But honey… it's the Seven. That's a grand opportunity, isn't that what you wanted all of your life? Isn't that what most people your age would salivate the simple thought of being near those heroes?"
Annie bites her lip. "Yeah, sure… it's my dream. It's always been my dream mom. B-But isn't being an actual hero better than just being a glorified celebrity?" She faces her mother completely now as the stunned woman stares at her.
"Where's this coming from?"
"Well, I've just been thinking about the state of things. Of the world… of everything. With how Lancer is trying her best to help people in need without the need to be in the attention of the media, I often wonder what's really one to do once you do get to become one of the Seven? When was the last time we've heard of any of them doing anything noble… and good for once?"
"Annie… don't tell me you're… siding or hell, even thinking about idolizing that woman? For Christ's sake, look at what she's wearing ninety percent of the time. She can't even hold a candle to what Homelander and the rest of the Seven do, I don't think I even-
"When has the Seven done anything in the last few months that actually mattered Mom?" Annie spat out, she did not want to interrupt her mother rudely, but the burgeoning feelings within her chest just needed to come out. Especially with how much her mother had been nagging her about Lamplighter's retirement these past few days.
Her words seemed to make the woman stop before she stared at Annie with a conflicted expression.
"… why are we suddenly having this talk?" her mother said with a sudden exhausted tone.
"Well… I can't help but feel like you're pushing me into this whole Seven business as if you know who they're picking to replace their empty spot."
Annie saw her mother's expression and despite how much he truly loved and cared about her mother, her expressions were far too easy to decipher.
"Annie… I'm just hoping for the best in your future. You know that."
She can't help but smile at her words. "I know Mom… but it's just, everywhere I go, when I see billboards, posters, TV shows, or even pictures of some of my favorite heroes and heroines, I just realize that some of them are just there for show. Sure, every single person worships them as if they're the most important thing in the world, but when you look into it deeper, they're just… that."
Annie stares at her hands. "I ask you, what makes The Deep any different from any famous handsome guy in Hollywood nowadays? When have you actually seen the Seven, actually do anything with the 'hero' part of their name?"
"They always do plenty, Annie… I'm sure the media just doesn't focus on it."
"And that's the point! Why… why are they just walking down award-season galas? Why are they just signing autographs, making movie deals, appearing, and acting as actors in their own damn movies? Why are they all so obsessed with showing up at these things… when they could be out there? Doing the right thing, like how heroes do?"
Her mother looked stunned, almost fidgeting in place. "I… I don't know Annie."
"Mom… I don't mind fame; I don't consider it as something that's bad. It's just… I look at Lancer, at Archer, and the many heroes out there that are actually making a difference without the need to be popular and I'm just standing here thinking about if the fame of being in the Seven is worth it."
There was a small silence between the mother and daughter as Annie sighed, heavily.
Her hands then glow as Annie laments about them.
"You once told me, that my powers were a gift. A tool to help people in the best of ways. I just… I just want to do my part in upholding it, and I can't help but feel that accepting myself to be part of the limelight is going to help me reach that ideal."
The silence continues and Annie simply decides that she needs some air. She walks outside of her home and leaves as her mother, not left alone in the house now sits in place, thinking about her daughter's words.
Annie walks ahead in civilian clothes. She would have loved to wear her costume and do some good around her neighborhood and the city she was near to, but she didn't want to attract attention. Especially with how heavy her thoughts were.
With how conflicted her entire perspective was on the ongoing debate about Olympia's heroes.
Despite that, even with her childish glee and love for the heroes that she was used to, she can't help but feel amazed at the now infamous Lancer. Essentially the symbol of all heroes and heroines alike as her amazing feats from her prime debut and even to this day just left many breathless. She was essentially the warrior woman archetype that everybody praised and loved to the high heavens.
No matter what people said about her brash, cocky exterior, the many things she heard about the woman caused her to think about her own career as Starlight. Even though she had done so much for her community with her powers and the like, she was nothing to the full number of changes that Lancer and so many other new heroes have brought to the table. She almost felt embarrassed for herself when she heard about the heroine Archer, the green-haired one that Annie was most inspired by. From her feats of opening up and saving various children through her foundations and orphanages, she created a suitable life-bearing symbol of herself for the kindness and loving thought she persevered for everyone around the world. She may have idolized Lancer for how much she made female heroes relevant to the point that there was no longer a divide in how people view sexes in heroes, but Archer was just simply different.
She acted like a saint, one of the kindest ones that ever lived as she heard so many stories regarding her presence around the world.
Of course, there were a lot of naysayers when it came to Olympia's heroes.
Though they were a vocal minority as it seemed like each day, their reputation just grew and grew to the point that those naysayers had nothing to spout out in regard to the actual change they delivered.
Plus, they cared not for the popularity, the fame, or even the name that they built themselves with. Even the most infamous flashy ones, the one called Rider, the fastest hero on record had shown himself to be prudent in proving his worth as his initiative allowed a dozen of people to be saved when a hurricane hit Florida a month ago. The fact that he was present in all facets of that disaster's course allowed him to be a crowd favorite, more so now when he was willing to help rebuild all of the homes that were lost and with how there were practically no casualties with that entire event as a whole.
Plus, he was quite hot. Annie definitely did not buy illegal merch from him online, heh, like at all.
Anyway, most people would often argue who it was that had the most impact around the world when it came to how much they helped. Olympia for how quick their coverage was in making sure that it wasn't just first world countries that would be saved, was a conversational split between Lancer and Caster's effect on their relative stages of action. Lancer was much more direct in solving various crises big and small, even if controversial at times when it came to countries questioning their jurisdictions, and on the other hand, there was Caster who single-handedly changed medical science to a new frontier.
Caster had the biggest effect on the entire world. It was the reason most, if not all countries at this point were willing to allow Olympia some leeway in their operations on their own soils… because Caster was just far, far too important with the change he delivered.
The research and medicine he entailed practically helped curb the worst diseases that mankind was known to. The bigger ones, such as Cancer and the like were still in progress, but given that STDs, most genetic disorders, and even extreme ones even in their deadliest stage, such as rabies at their latter courses were almost wiped out overnight. People that had little possibility of living were healthy again, and while he may not have solved all of the world's medical problems overnight, he damn near pushed it to such a head start that many are still baffled by.
Add the fact that they did not stop his charity at important, key countries, he served to be the world's new, unofficial start to the renaissance in scientific knowledge. Annie did not hear much of how he acted outside of this venture of his, but she knew how important the man was, and what he meant for society… without even showing himself or bragging himself to any media for his accomplishments.
In fact, he was so reclusive that it felt like he was actively avoiding an interview outright.
There were many others of course, that were in Olympia's banner.
Berserker, strangely uncharacteristic of her name has become the motherly matriarch of Asia that seemed to be the West's equivalent of Archer.
There was also Saber, the blonde knight that Annie wished to meet, especially with how close their age was and how casual and easygoing she was around the people she met. She was friends with Lancer, to the point that some asked what their relationship was. Annie did not mind that debate, but she did find Saber cool… and well, she was straight, but she found her cute.
There were many others in the plethora of heroes that Olympia had that made real change and actual heroism for the world. So much so that it pushed some other heroes she knew, before the grand renaissance of Olympia's presence to now actually do shit.
Which is why she was at a complete impasse now…
Given what her mother said to her. Of course, she would want to be in the Seven… who wouldn't? But that meant being a hollow shell of what she actually wanted to be, and that was being a hero.
A real hero.
"Help! She stole my purse!" a voice called out as Annie saw a young girl, barely ten run down the street quickly after nabbing a woman's belongings.
A smile appeared on her face as she went into action, not as Annie, but as the hero Starlight…
Sans costume of course.
Annie followed the girl through a series of alleys.
She was nimble and very fast. She even thought she would lose the girl due to how quick she was, but she inevitably caught up to where the girl was heading. Panting, she stopped for a moment as she wished to shout to the girl. Hoping to stop her, she then watched as a man came out from a nearby door to a building and suddenly punched the girl across the face, hard. The girl fell to the floor, visibly bleeding from the hit as the man forcibly grabbed the bag that she stole.
Annie's world instantly slowed as rage entered her heart.
Her body then glowed partially as she zeroed in on the man.
"HEY! ASSHOLE!" she cursed as her fist glowed.
THUUM!
The man, not expecting company merely saw a glimpse of a glowing fist smashing him in the face before he crashed and broke the hinges of the door where he came from. A loud clang was heard from the entire ordeal as Annie smiled, not even noticing the blood on her fist.
The girl from earlier stared at her in fear as Annie immediately shook herself off from all the adrenaline in order to help the girl quickly. She knelt at her side and saw the awful bruise that was now manifesting on her cheek.
"How bad is the pain?" she asked as her first aid training kicked in; she inspected the girl who was still looking at her in fear as she tried to smile to alleviate the tension. The girl looked Asian with her features and lithe body. Though she wondered if it was because she was starving… or because she was simply like that. She didn't care to know as she looked at the girl with good faith despite her crime from earlier.
"You're going to be alright, okay?" Annie said as her enthusiasm and smile wavered after inspecting the girl for any injuries. Frankly speaking…
It was a lot. Disturbingly many.
From lacerations to scars, to bruises, and lingering unhealthy conditions….
Annie's frown became much more pronounced when there was a sheen of dry blood down between the girl's legs. A bit of rage consumed her heart as she thought about those implications. Especially with how much pain and suffering this little girl was forced into.
Her eyes, tearful, scared, and unsure dawned on Annie as she straightened herself out.
Now was not the time to show weakness. She had to act the part of being a hero, and she needed to show it to this child. "I'm going to get you out of here, safely alright? You don't need to be scared."
The girl nodded weakly as she reached out with her hand. Annie squeezed it for good measure and gave a lovely smile in return. "What's your name? I'm Starlight."
The girl looked at her for a second before feebly responding back. "A-Abbie."
Annie stroked her hair comfortably as the girl showed a slight smile. "You're going to be okay Abbie… I'll make sure of-
Gunfire suddenly raged behind her. Weapons, probably automatic in nature pelt her back like continuous painful nudges, but not enough to bruise or prick her skin. The girl in her arms screamed as Annie covered her. She allowed her free hand to glow and charge up until she looked at the girl who was innocently covering her ears from the assault.
"Close your eyes!" she shouted as she discharged her power behind her.
FWASH!
The gunfire stopped and Annie quickly sprang into action, only to stop suddenly when she saw the stunned gunman, about ten of them, holding weapons against the children's heads. A scream tore the air as Annie knew that despite her enhanced body and slightly enhanced speed, she would not be able to disarm all ten of them holding guns in these kids' heads. The risk was far too great as she kept both hands glowing as she shielded Abbie behind her.
The men, recovering from her onslaught started shouting in a language she did not know but based on their desperation, Annie knew they were threatening to kill those kids if she did not back off. She was unsure of what to do, given that she had no time to call for the police or backup of any kind as she was now forced into a horrible deadly stalemate.
Abbie cried behind her as she held the tattered remains of her jacket…
While the kids with the guns to their heads cried for her to help.
The shouting, angry tones of the men kept at it with her as the tensions rose.
Annie felt scared. She had a ton of experience with various crimes she busted through the years, but not a hostage situation this dense and problematic. She wondered what to do as the clock ticked down.
She closed her eyes briefly, praying that someone would help her…
Only to hear a loud, heavy sound.
THRUD!
Then there was a scream and a spurt of blood within a second. Annie saw the closest man's hand holding the gun, explode in bloody gore. Then, that same heavy thrum occurred again.
THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD! THRUD!
As a literal rain of what she could only identify as arrows, proficiently hit, and disabled every hostile on the scene, despite the quite narrow doorway that was open for whoever shooting those arrows would need. Annie embraced Abbie behind her as she heard a voice.
"Saber, clear the children!" It was a woman's voice. One that was all too familiar to Annie knowing that she idolized the person it belonged to. She opened her eyes and saw with such an amazing scenery, with the sun behind her back, was Archer. Her green hair and cat-like ears flowed through the wind as Annie felt her mouth open partially in awe.
"Wow." She was breathtaking, as the heroine jumped down her roost and onto the ground beside her as she stood tall and proud. Her face was fully impassive and serious as another person arrived beside her as if appearing out of thin air. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell if the blonde person was a male or a female, but regardless they were a beauty wearing that stylish hat and rapier.
And they called themself Saber? God… what was it with Olympia and their confusing names?
"Affimative, madame Archer." They also had a French accent.
Annie returned her gaze to Archer in awe and fascination as she returned herself to focus once more on what was happening. She stood up and saw that the woman was looking at her, almost as if wary and offended by her presence, but she glanced at Abbie still holding her hand and her face softened.
"You have done well. Saving the children was an honorable act on your part." Archer said.
Annie felt like her hair stood upright as she smiled innocently. Almost too shocked that it was true.
"Y-Yes… t-thank you ma'am." She said as Archer nodded with a small smile.
A moment later, Annie helped the remaining children held hostage earlier outside as Saber gathered the wounded gunman inside. Annie kept the children placated as Olympia's personnel and the local police were to arrive anytime soon…
She bid Saber to watch the kids for a moment as she went back inside to join Archer.
The place was a terrible thing to look at. It was clearly a trafficking den with all the nastiness attached to it as Annie watched the wounded, agonized gunman moan with their injuries in pain. Despite being mad at the entire thing she found the image quite justified even with her discomforted feeling towards the violence.
However, as soon as she noticed that all ten men were reduced to nine, Annie heard a loud cry of pain. The kind that made people flinch as an audible crack of broken bones was heard alongside it.
Annie then saw a sight that she would never forget.
"Scum… you, who terrorize and use children for your benefit don't deserve the honor of a painless death." Archer venomously said as she grabbed the man's head and bashed it against the nearest wall.
BRWASH!
The sound of labored breathing was heard as Annie saw a splat of blood in the aftermath.
Archer's aura was far too intimidating, far too deadly like a predator playing with its prey.
Even her eyes looked demonic.
A stark contrast to the woman that Annie knew and praised to the high heavens.
"Even Tartarus isn't fit for the likes of you."
BRWASH!
The splat became stickier this time as no breathing was present, a barely recognizable face was what remained afterward as a wheezing sound came from what was left of the mouth.
BRWASH! BRWASH! BRWASH!
There was nothing left of the man's head after as Annie stared in silence.
Completely shocked at the image as the matriarch of peace and children stood there with bloodied hands filled with remnants of gore.
Annie didn't know how to respond to that…
Even as Archer congratulated her in good faith despite her shock, and even as the children were now being cared for by Olympia's employees and first responders…
Annie couldn't help but feel as if her image of the people she idolized shattered.
One question kept rattling her head…
What the hell just happened?
It was the next day. The shock did not wear off.
Yet Annie was here, in one of the closest orphanages Archer had to her home as she was invited. She did not want to come at first, completely unsure of the image she just saw yesterday, but she was inclined because… well…
She was worried for Abbie and those kids.
She was worried about Archer.
W-Were… were the stories around her true? Was she really as kind as people made her out to be?
She was conflicted entirely last night, mostly because despite the fact that she loathed and hated those men, the act of violence Archer committed just… traumatized her. Even if it was justified, even if Annie found no wrong and believed Archer's actions were correct in some way…
She just… she just found it horrifying.
"…"
Now, she was sitting in the main office of this orphanage, wondering what would happen. Wondering what further discoveries, she would make to shake up her thoughts on her idols. Wondering if she was wrong to idolize a person such as her.
"Oh dear, I am very sorry for the wait!" a cheerful, motherly voice said as Annie turned her back and saw a beautiful blonde woman with a remarkable, royal-like white and red dress adorned with an accompanying golden crown. Her entire presence while overwhelming and overall striking to any person upfront, was completely overtaken by how kind, how… comforting her entire existence was.
Her aura, smile, and seemingly genuine and kind nature reminded Annie of her own mother.
Her brightness seemingly illuminated the shadow enrapturing her mindscape as she walked towards the desk and sat behind it. Her charming, friendly, and motherly smile made Annie feel better just by experiencing it.
"You must be Annie… it is delightful to meet another child of mine." The woman said.
Child? "Um… I think you're making a mistake? I don't think we're related, respectfully ma'am." Annie said with a softened expression of bewilderment.
The woman giggled softly. Her tone made Annie truly remember her mother. "Pardon me, I just consider all good boys and girls as my children. It's just a quirk you can say… an innocent quirk."
Annie noticed that her entire presence was just genuine all around. Her responses were innocent and had no subtle meaning behind them. She knew how to spot how people truly acted in their true selves quite well, and with her doubts on the Seven and Vought grew, she was good enough to know how genuine some people were. Well, for the most part after the whole Archer fiasco… but this woman? She was actually pure with her words…
Nothing seemed off. She was just that kind-hearted both in presence and personality.
"T-Thank you for inviting me. I was… I will admit I was a lot more hesitant to come at first.'
"Oh? Oh, forgive me for forgetting about the whole issue yesterday. Though yes, I do understand child, if you feel uncomfortable with the whole ordeal. It… it must have been terrible for you." The woman said as she stood up from her seat and walked to Annie's behind. She then started embracing her while stroking her head in a motherly fashion. "Don't worry, I'm here… and you are going to be safe in my arms."
It felt good. It was… amazing, Annie felt as she looked up at the woman.
"T-Thank you ma'am… I don't know what to say."
"Call me Europa, dear sweet child." The woman then kissed the top of her head as she withdrew from the hug and smiled at her. She then took the seat face-to-face with her as Annie, flustered, could only blush in response. "I am terribly sorry if the nastiness tainted your picture of my grandchild. She did not mean it you see… she's just terribly upset at bad people that hurt children."
"I see… b-but, w-wait… grandchild? Is… is Archer your grandchild, ma'am?" Annie said in shock.
"Oh, dear me, yes! She's the adopted child of my daughter, Artemis… poor Atalanta can be quite the serious child when it comes to how she deals with children. She loves them as if they are her own… more so if they are lost out there in the world. If anything, she even trumps me as a mother, with how dedicated she is… I'm proud of her. Truly. She is as blessed as my betrothed." The woman said with love in her words as Annie tried to digest the revelations.
Wait, did Europa say Archer's true name?
"May I ask, what is it you wish to know earlier? You seemed to ask me of something before you were interrupted by my reveal of Atalanta's name." the woman asked in slight curiosity.
Annie's demeanor then stiffened, and she went downtrodden again for a bit.
"I… I was going to ask if the stories around your… grandchild were true." She admitted unsure of what the woman would say in response. "…and I was scared for Abbie, I just wanted to make sure."
The woman smiled kindly at her. "Why don't you see it for yourself? Dear Atalanta is pure-hearted but she has her flaws. Artemis is no dedicated mother, but through her, she learned the value of children and what they are to the world in general. Their innocence, their grace, and their love are what drive my darling grandchild to be what she is. She may be extreme at times, but believe me when it comes to children… she dedicates her life one hundred percent at a time."
Annie nodded as the woman stood up. A bit of hope and light returned to her as she was offered a hand.
"Come, sweet Annie. Let us meet Abbie and her friends. I believe Atalanta is hosting a party for their arrival." Europa said as Annie took her hand.
It was truly beautiful and wonderful seeing the many children celebrating around her.
It was a full-blown party, with toys, confetti, food, and all as Annie smiled and cheered.
She watched as Atalanta, the symbol and idol she followed cheerfully made fun with the children around her as they played with her harmlessly. Some of the children they saved were already far healthier than yesterday and they were celebrating with cheerful smiles and tears around their welcome party.
Atalanta even allowed a child to ride her back as they sang a song that she did not recognize.
Europa and she joined in on the party as Annie felt so happy with this discovery that some parts of her doubt were whisked away…
Still, even as she stared at Atalanta, images of how she brutally killed that man yesterday still haunted her head. She tried to look away as the two shared a glance for a second before Annie heard Abbie calling out to her.
"Starlight!" the Asian girl shouted as she waved at her after what Annie assumed to be Artemis floating her into the air while the girl held a strangely living teddy bear in her arms.
Abbie squeezed the teddy bear who comically screamed as Artemis laughed.
The girl then threw the teddy bear into the crowd of children who seemingly raced to the ground to catch him first. The teddy bear was mobbed as he screamed funnily in the cacophony of celebrating children around them.
"ARTEMIS! GET ME OUT! PLEASE!!!"
Annie could not help but laugh at that entire image as the party continued on…
It was five hours later, she supposed. She enjoyed herself thoroughly.
Too much in fact.
Too much that there was an emotional whiplash when she was called back to the office from earlier and was now face-to-face with Atalanta who invited her to talk personally.
Annie felt a modicum of discomfort as she tried her best to look the woman in the eye…
Only to come out lacking.
She was embarrassed of course, though the uncertainty still lingered in her mind about all of this.
"You wished to meet me, Annie January…"
"Y-Yes…"
The woman then gave a friendly curt nod. "I believe we should clear the air then…"
AN: haha… the following will be interesting too.
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Starlight's Lament 1.2
Starlight's Lament 1.2
TWO WEEKS EARLIER…
Annie heard the gunfire spill into the streets. Hundreds of people were running away as police and armed men began shooting at each other in a very tense and deadly stalemate. Escorting an elderly lady to cover was her current objective as she watched as the shootout turned a lot fiercer when the armed gunman used higher caliber automatic weapons down on the barricade of police cars.
"Just close your eyes, I'm here… you're not going to get hit," Annie reassured the crying older woman as she felt some bullets ping her back as frustration grew in her head. She was only here after her local Capes for Christ group had toured a coastal city just north of Boston. It was supposed to be a peaceful and harmless side gig where they would feed and give off relief goods for the poverty-stricken parts of the city, but she didn't expect that the city itself had an intense gang problem altogether.
Worse, the fact that the local hero population, perhaps just one man whom she forgot the name of, had been very bad at making sure this city was secure and safe. It was clearly evident given how freely these armed marauders were making the streets feel and act like a goddamn warzone.
"We're almost there! Just hang on." She yelled as she eventually carried the older lady who was hiding in her arms in pure fear. Inwardly, Annie cursed the men and women involved in this whole thing given they were only making it worse as she knew each second and minute accounted for a possible civilian wounded or worse.
She could hear the radios of the cops around her turn into a cacophony of screams and orders and despite the chaos that was ensuing, Annie was asking where in the hell were the local reinforcements for these officers? The heavier equipped units, that whole thing, why was everything so slow, while the entire gunfight was becoming more nightmarish by the second?
Eventually, Annie was able to hand over the old lady to the first responders who were doing tooth and nail to make sure the incoming influx of wounded and such were being cared for. The old lady thanked Annie so much that she had a bit of difficulty getting her off. Despite that, she felt a boost of confidence and determination as people were elated and began cheering her on completely. Some even took their phones out and spoke her name, but Annie knew that more important things needed to be finished first so she ran headfirst back to finally do something to stop the gunfight.
The moment she got to the police barricade; she watched as the entrenched cops began barking at each other again. She sighed as the scene was not getting any better, so she allowed her power to feel the electric signals and currents around her. Passively she let them charge so she would enact a large enough distraction that she could halt the gunfire on both sides. Before she could do it, however, she heard the radios once again tell her another bad development that had just occurred.
"Airburst is down! I repeat, Airburst is down! He got shot in the face, w-we don't know what his condition is, but he's bleeding bad." Annie's frustration deepened as the local hero's handling of this only worsened him in her eyes, despite the obvious worry and pity she had over his condition. Nevertheless, feeling the energy in her palms gather to a sufficient amount, she raised her hands as her eyes glowed in white.
FWASH!
There were shouts of pain that occurred as both the police and the gunman were stunned by a flashing, overpowering light that ate the entirety of their vision. It was Annie's chance to act as she leaped from the police barricade and ran headfirst into the stunned gunman.
"W-What in the fu-
A gunman flew away and crashed into the glass windows of a torn-up shop as Annie blasted him with light. The intensity was enough to sufficiently stun the man out of submission as she fired more blasts upon three others as she made headway into what she could only count as at least thirty or more gunmen in the streets. Some were still recovering, but as the seconds ticked by she knew that her action from earlier would resume the shooting and Annie quickly realized that perhaps she miscalculated how much her entire flashbang would be effective.
She was not as fast as some heroes were and despite blasting two more people out of the count, she noticed the others raising their guns again both at her and the recovering police, and tensions once more escalated.
Fearing another devastating stalemate like earlier, even more so now than before, she heard the gunman calling for their own reinforcements to cover them from the arrival of the heroes. Annie panicked as she painstakingly tried to close the distance with the highest concentration of the gunmen's numbers until she heard another group of screams rattle the field…
"It's Queen Maeve!"
Annie watched in rapt attention and smiles as the heroine of her childhood charged headfirst from the other side of the street she was on as she easily dispatched each gunman with precise, but surprisingly heavy blows. She did not pay attention to that small detail at first as she concentrated on her own part of the fight. She blasted two more gunmen out of the way and ran to another, decking them in the stomach just hard enough that he fell to the ground in pain.
They were making progress, but as more time passed, Annie realized that despite Maeve's appearance, they were only barely making a dent in the fighting force until one of the gunmen threw a device at Maeve's feet.
THWOOM!
The explosion went off like a grenade but had enough punch that Annie felt the shockwave despite being about five meters away. It threw Maeve off her current position and slammed her into a nearby building. The two-story shop which was barely holding its floor above stable was starting to crumble underneath itself…
Annie ran to Maeve's position as the deadly firefight resumed. Some fired in her direction as she tried to unearth her hero from the rubble. She felt bullets ping off of her back as her cape and costume started to get tattered as she began burrowing to get Maeve out. Only to find the heroine rise out of it, without much of an issue much to Annie's elation.
She wanted to help Maeve to get back up only for her arm to be slapped away, forcibly and painfully as Annie saw Maeve's face and expression.
"Get the fuck out of my way." She angrily snarled as Annie saw that up close, Maeve had heavy bags under her eyes, her entire complexion much more pale than normal, and her hair, plus her entire demeanor felt… very familiar or at least close to a memory she always had of her dad.
A memory so hard-wired within her that she could recall waving to a clearly drunk and guilt-ridden father as he walked out the door and was never to be seen again.
That… that same energy was what she felt around Queen Maeve as she dismissed her outright and ran towards the battle again like a maddened woman. Annie was simply stunned after that entire affair as she watched the heroine, she always admired appear this way…
That was until she heard a cry for help. Annie turned around and saw that the crumbling building still had one civilian hiding within it. She ran to his position until she saw that the man's legs were trapped under a heavy beam that had crushed them as he cried out to Annie in pain and panic.
The poor man clung to her arms as Annie tried to get him out but the situation of the building Maeve had crashed into only served to break the already crumbling foundations further into nothing. She may survive the collapse, but this man would not. Desperately, she tried her best to get her out but the pace of her actions and the pace of the building audibly breaking apart around her made her realize that she might not make it.
She prayed that it was not the case as she did her best to get the man out until she heard the last of the building's foundations break and she closed her eyes knowing that it was too late…
… or was it?
Annie opened her eyes and saw something she would never forget, admittedly.
The crumbling building around her that entrenched her and the man she was trying to save where nowhere to be seen as she looked up and saw one of Olympia's heroes, the famous Lancer standing before her, pushing away one of the larger slabs with a neutral expression upon her face.
"You two, good?" The powerful woman asked as she offered an arm towards Annie.
Shakingly, the younger heroine from humble beginnings took the stronger woman's hand as she stood up and smiled. Lancer gave a small smile back as she pulled the thankful man out of the rubble and into Annie's arms to carry. The man looked stunned and shocked senselessly in a good way as he stared at Lancer's face despite being in Annie's arms.
The sentiment was destroyed quickly however as Annie shouted as one of the gunmen threw one of those devices again in their direction. Only to watch as Lancer, without her infamous spear and shield, turned and caught the device in her hands before covering it completely with both palms. There was a small puff of smoke that emanated from in between her fingers as the woman dusted her hands off afterward.
She then grinned at the both of them before she stomped her foot on the ground…
THROOOUMMM!!!
And from the minor, earth-shattering action, released a shockwave strong enough that it basically toppled each and every gunman present into the ground without much of a fuss. The action also caused Queen Maeve to fall on her feet in the background as Annie and the man stood there stunned and amazed at how casual and easy it was for Lancer to end the conflict in the space of two moves.
Of course, some of the gunman's allies would still pose a threat, but as Annie watched, it was mostly not a problem as the prime heroine of Olympia who was already becoming famous around the world had cleaned the entire fight in just a few minutes.
"Wow." Annie intoned, not noticing that she and the man said the same word as they watched Lancer walk away to help with the rest.
Half an hour later, as clean-up was issued the local authorities and some of Olympia's personnel and heroes joined as they began helping the wounded, the casualties, and the damages posed by the gunfight. The local gangs, as it appears, were now on Olympia's priority as two more heroes, people she didn't know at all, began making headway to quell what remained of the city's criminals.
On her side, she was helping some of the men and women who were wounded as they were being cared for by the first responders with Olympia's personnel giving aid to smoothen out their transport to the nearest hospitals. One of the heroes, a small purple-haired girl with a rather long wand was with a very loud, blonde man as she began helping reverse the damages of the firefight back to their prior state, as if no damage had occurred at all. The act was incredible to Annie as even with the loud man speaking out and proclaiming credit for this good deed, she found that the little girl was genuine in helping the people around her. She even curbed the worst of the injuries as she gave an aura of healing that made the odds of those people's chances of survival higher than earlier.
She was in awe actually, with how quickly Olympia responded and how well they were helping the reconstruction despite some few casualties overall. She smiled as she turned her head back to Lancer who was talking with one of the Olympia personnel.
Annie placed two hands on her chest as she took a deep breath. Standing up, she started walking towards the woman, only to be beaten and shoved aside when Queen Maeve began stomping like she was on a warpath towards Lancer.
Annie watched in horror, unsure of what would happen as the clearly antagonistic Maeve began shouting off and pointing at Lancer who looked surprised at the whole affair.
"You don't think I know what you're doing here? You? And your goddamn image, your goddamn heroic front and charitable acts… I know who you are underneath all of that shit… and I know goddamn well that you're not what everybody thinks you are!"
Lancer looked unimpressed as Maeve began snarling.
"You think you're better than us… better than me… better than him? You're all the same! Even with how strong you are, even with how weak everybody seems to be! You're no hero! None of you are… you're just like me… just like me pretending to be one… because the world is too unfair… the world is too mean… the world is too fucked up… and being a hero is just a justification to do whatever the fuck you want." She screamed as people around her went silent. Even the blonde man and the little girl behind her. Annie wondered if the media was recording this… because this entire affair was just simply too unexpected.
"None of us are heroes… I TRIED… I TRIED AND I FAILED… and I KEPT ON FAILING… b-because its pointless… you can't do anything when there's more people out there stronger than you. More people out there that's stopping you from doing what's right because of some goddamn image… because of some goddamn stupid ideal. You can't do anything when you're scared all the time… you can't do anything because… b-because we're all too weak to even make a difference…"
Annie looked as the tense scene proliferated around her. That's when she started noticing that both the Olympia and First Responders around them were pushing people away and trying to stop them from filming the entire thing. For what reason, she did not know, but given how painfully and emotionally vulnerable Queen Maeve was, she was sure that Olympia was giving her the courtesy enough to vent without people making more of an issue with it.
"Then do something about it." Annie blinked when she heard Lancer's words as she turned back to the two. Queen Maeve only proceeded to frown as she aimed her hand to slap Lancer's face… only for the woman to catch her arm.
"How dare you?! You know nothing of what I feel! You know nothing about what it feels like to be powerless… to be-
"I do know what it feels." The low tone of Lancer said as her expression became serious. "… I know what being powerless feels like… I've kept that my entire life. But… I wasn't cowardly enough to just stand around… mope, and cry about it like what you're doing."
Queen Maeve stopped entirely when Lancer said those words. The Olympia hero continued as she let go of Queen Maeve's arm and stared at her deeply into her eyes. "If you want shit to get done, do something about it then… don't go complaining about it… don't go and blame others for a blunder that you know yourself is just you lashing out for no reason. Don't cry into the heavens or to some schmuck that's just going to laugh at your face once you're done seeing them…"
Lancer then sighed as she looked at Annie as well. "… if you want for things to change… for your fortunes to be better or your pain to go away… then stand up and do everything in your power to make that change a reality. Nothing's going to happen if you just cry and make the world feel sad and pity you… no one's going to help you in the end, except yourself… and if you don't take the reins of your life to move on, you're not going to feel any better at the end."
Annie felt like Lancer's words were a lot more personal, given its tone. She wondered… deeply why it seemed like the woman was very much engrossed in this as Maeve was. The heroine who started the spat however seemed to go quiet, before walking away in silent tears. She did not even care about the outburst she started as Annie watched her in clear disappointment as she disappeared.
"Hey… you." Lancer's voice said as Annie perked up.
"Y-yes?"
"You did well today."
"T-Thank you…" Annie said, as her heart steadily beat into a rhythm. A smile appeared on her face as Lancer's neutral expression looked at her as if judging her, even with the compliment.
"Don't mind that bitch… if you wanna do some good, best I can recommend is to do your job as a hero and nothing else," Lancer said with finality as Annie smiled with a nod.
"Why are you still staring at me for?" Lancer asked as Annie blushed in embarrassment.
"I uh… I wanted to… well… it's embarrassing." Annie said as Lancer's eyes widened slightly.
PRESENT…
"You asked for her autograph? I'm surprised she even gave one to begin with." Atalanta said as she looked at the embarrassed Annie with an earnest smile. "She's not one that likes people and crowds that much, but given how much that backfires on her, I'm surprised she didn't just walk away in annoyance."
"I uh… well, I think she was impressed by me… at least I think that was the case." Annie blurted out, her words jumbling over each other as Atalanta chuckled.
"Is that so? Well, old Caenis is more of a softie once you get to know her more… that robust, brutish front while volatile and impersonable, can be sometimes penetrated once you do in fact show the gut, merit, and determination to impress her enough to make her show it. Though that's fairly rare to begin with despite how I describe it."
"Oh… that's great," Annie said, surprised at Atalanta's words as her heart bloomed in heat knowing the famous Lancer found her interesting enough to show that caring side to her. She was also surprised to hear Lancer's name in the process as she looked at Atalanta behind the desk.
"What do you wish to achieve with this conversation, Annie?" Atalanta asked, her features becoming serious but soft as Annie sighed deeply.
"I'm just… at a crossroads with how I want to be Starlight. With how I want to be a hero." Annie then began rubbing her hand reflexively as her emotions started to spring out. "Growing up, the idea has always been this cool, and unimaginably amazing prospect to make a reality. Making people smile, saving them from harm… making them cheer your name in support knowing that you've done a lot to change those people's lives… that you've changed them all for the greater good."
Atalanta continued to listen as Annie's smile vanished. "But… being a hero isn't about that, unfortunately… there's no glory in it. There's no smiles for the most part. There's only violence, terror, and negativity and even if you do save someone, sometimes what good you do only amounts to stopping the blood from spilling further out the already painful wounds." Annie sighed once more before continuing.
"That's always been the reality of this life, Annie. No amount of sugar-coating changes it." Atalanta provided with a supportive but contemplative frown on her face.
"I know… it's so different when you're just going on press tours, live participation, and meet and greets. You'd think all the smiles and happiness you give to people through fame and parties make up for all the stress… but it can't. Even if I'm making a difference through smaller acts of kindness… it just all rings hollow because you're not out there where real people are in danger… you're not out there when innocent people need real help. You can't make a change when you just sit there and look pretty to the TV."
"And how does this relate to your frustrations… and dare I say it… fear about me?" Atalanta frankly asked as Annie felt that small little jab right to her chest.
"You see… all the people I admire… all the heroes out there are embarrassingly the same popular individuals that everybody looks up to. My whole dream, my whole career is hoping to step up on their league, their level to be the best hero I can feasibly achieve to be that can make a difference like all of them. Only to understand… and know, that they're literally just celebrities… with extra steps."
"So, it's disappointment, meeting your idols… the people you've essentially praised and worshipped throughout your whole life…" Atalanta said as Annie nodded.
"Yeah… I just want to be better you know. I just want to be more than just Starlight… a name that people remember by through the media. I just want to be an actual hero… l-like you. L-Like L-Lancer, I mean, C-Caenis."
"What makes us… better, Annie? I admit, that I am not what most people call nowadays a saint. Despite what the world thinks about me, I am merely doing my part to preserve the lives of children… as it always should be."
"…that's exactly why…. Ma'am. I just want to do what you guys do, without the need to make myself famous to justify it. You're better, because you're actually heroes, not just as a fancy name, but as the real deal." Annie hears Atalanta hum. "Which is why I was… s-scared to see you kill that man y-yesterday."
"That scum?" Atalanta voiced out, her ears visibly standing up as her frown worsened. Annie deflated until Atalanta pulled back some of the anger.
"I was… just scared, ma'am. With respect, I've been thrown disappointment after disappointment of people I admired and thought I knew, only to know that they're basically doing nothing to justify their names in the first place. It's only you, Lancer, Homelander, and a few others that still make me believe in the idea of heroes… and seeing you kill that man, just made me scared… scared that maybe you're not who you seem you are."
Atalanta's expression became difficult as she looked at Annie. "And what's your opinion now? After seeing everything here, at one of my orphanages?" Her voice was soft but genuinely curious at what Annie was to say.
"I… I don't know ma'am. B-but I'm happy Abbie and the kids are safe… and I'm thankful, Europa and you all were able to give joy to these children." Annie admitted, despite her conflicted feelings.
"I see. Can I ask you, honestly, why you're so bothered with how I dealt with that man?"
"Because… even if it was justified, h-heroes don't kill people. We're supposed to be better than them, right?" Annie asked, unsure as Atalanta stared at her.
"Who decided that?"
Annie paused at Atalanta's words. Shocked even.
Annie looked confused. "Because heroes are supposed to be people that do good. People who go above and beyond to show that a better path can be made, criminal or otherwise. We can't just kill people… especially people that are already beaten and defenseless."
"And if that man were to be judged fairly by a court and ruled in favor of being released, somehow, what guarantees would there be that he won't do the same thing again?" Atalanta asked, confused as well.
"How guaranteed are you that they won't change? That they won't do better? Isn't that what we're supposed to do? To make people understand what it means to be good? What it means to be a better person? To learn from even the worst mistakes?" Annie argued, her words heated as Atalanta remained in her seat, a bit of understanding and at the same time pity making up her expression.
"I don't guarantee it at all, Annie. I chose to do it on my own will. Not because I viewed it as right or wrong… but because I wanted to make sure that those children were given justice. That they will no longer live in a world where those captors will find them again, in due time." Atalanta said with finality and pure honesty as Annie stared. She slowly sat back in her seat as she looked at Atalanta.
"Please understand… idealism can only get you so far and I know I'm quite a hypocrite in saying that, but at the end of the day, that was my decision. I chose to do it, on my honor as a hero, and protector of children, because I believed it was the right decision to make sure Abbie and her friends get to sleep soundly in peace and that they will never be in danger again."
Atalanta stood up and walked beside Annie as she placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"Children are important to me, Annie. More so than anything in this world and making sure that they live a life that's far from terrible circumstances such as that is one that I will uphold."
Annie stared back with uncertainty as Atalanta continued, "… you don't need to like me, with my methods… but I swear to you on my name and honor, that I will always be a champion for children. You can never doubt my will and determination to make sure such a dream to prosper, and that every child, even with my own flaws and limitations, are cared for within the best of my ability."
"I know… I… I saw it." Annie admitted as she thought about the hours before. Enjoying with the Archer as she truly cared for the children alongside her comrades. She was still unsure about the whole debacle of how violent the woman was in making her own dream a reality…
B-but, she would be a liar to not understand why she did it.
Still, was there… was there a limit to where that line of good and evil stood for Atalanta? Or for any hero, she thought she knew?
She hoped… she just hoped that the people she actually admired were worth investing that admiration with. With Atalanta, despite some of the image, being tainted, she could never doubt her drive for children, it was all true… it was all genuine. None of it was fake, which was something she could never say for the other heroes she knew.
"I do have to question you of your admiration for Caenis…"
"W-Why?" Annie asked, fearful of the answer.
"Nothing too bad, I promise you. It's just that, I never thought I would see a world where she's what most people look up to. I can confidently say that I'm a lot more tolerable than her, personality-wise."
"R-Really? Is she really that bad?"
Atalanta laughed. "It's complicated, Annie. Everything is… this business with heroes. We're all just people after all. People with flaws, no matter how high praise some might give us. Pedestals and names after all are just temporary things, and Caenis is correct, in saying that what you do with that name is what matters in the end."
"Right… t-thank you," Annie said as a smile finally appeared on her face.
"Perhaps the best advice I can give is to be the hero that you want to be. Make the name Starlight, be something worthy that people can look up to. Make it be an ideal that you can foster and preserve to the best of your ability… and who knows, you might earn your dream in the future. You just have to start somewhere to enact it."
"Thank you… Atalanta." Annie genuinely said again as they shared a smile.
The ice might not have been broken between them fully, but there was progress.
Atalanta then headed over to her desk and pulled something out of it. It was a small card that she lent to Annie slowly as the younger woman looked at it.
"If you wish to talk more… or perhaps if you need guidance on which path of being a hero you wish to traverse, I have a good friend who's a tutor on matters such as that."
"A tutor?"
"More like a teacher, one that I trust with absolute confidence, given the people he's trained," Atalanta said, and before she could elaborate, the door behind them burst open much to Annie's shock as an energetic voice and personality came through.
"Hey, sis! I'm here to pick you up for the gala!"
"Loud as always, Achilles," Atalanta grumbled as Annie realized that it was Rider, the… ah shit, the one she had a crush on… and goddamn he was… he was just as handsome, even more up close.
Also, wait, did he say that Atalanta was his siste-
"Annie, the friend we discussed, trained this dolt," Atalanta explained as Annie blinked in surprise.
"R-Really?"
"Yes, and despite his exuberance, I can assure you Achilles is sound, in character."
"What the hell is happening? Who's this pretty lady?" Achilles asked nonchalantly as Annie blushed.
"… for the most part." Atalanta finished as she and Achilles began speaking with each other.
Annie on the other hand, had a lot of thinking to do.
Arriving home, Annie continued to stare at the card that Atalanta gave.
Her mind was still reeling on what choice to take and if the offer Atalanta gave was something that she would accept in full. Though seeing Olympia's heroes, at least on Atalanta's part made her already complicated evaluation of them much more, colorful in a way. She understood their flaws and their perspectives, and despite seeing the legitimate good they did, there were still things she was very unsure of.
Regardless, she found them as genuine people. The kind that was not hiding behind a lens, or a second face and identity. What they were, were people that were honest to a fault, and she respected it.
She decided that she needed to sleep on that offer as she walked to her doorstep and opened it with her own key. Doing so, she went inside and tucked the card into her jacket pocket. As she walked inside, she began calling out to her mom…
Until she stopped short at the doorway to their dining table and saw two people sitting there with her mother. One was an agent that had Vought's symbol on their briefcase, and another was no other than, Homelander.
"Evening, young lady. Where have you been?"
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD...
3 HOURS LATER
Walking through the halls of the temporary outpost, a woman kept her composure and disciplined training into full account, even with the way she walked. Moving past multiple personnel, with Olympia's brand tucked on their chest, each man or woman she passed gave her a nod or a greeting.
Part of her did not wish to have such attention, but given how she attained the rank, she knew that forcing that issue down would not help. She was too afraid and ashamed to do it.
Reaching her destination, she found two guards flanking the door as they greeted her in kind.
Entering the room, she quickly sat with utmost respect as she bowed her head. Fear wracked her mind as she heard footsteps come closer. Her heart began beating faster as those footsteps stopped entirely just in front of her.
"Good evening, Raikou-sama." She spoke. Her words measured. Her voice was still new to her as adjusting was still a hurdle to overcome. Yet she would do it all in a heartbeat.
"Mou, didn't I tell you to stop calling me that…" Raikou said as she felt a motherly hand touch her head. "Kimiko-chan, please raise your head… mama will hug you."
Kimiko blushed as she did just that and found herself being placed in a motherly embrace with her savior, or better yet, the woman who adopted her and her brother. "Y-Yes… okaasan."
"That's better…" there was a loving giggle afterward as Raikou patted her head. "Have you succeeded?"
Kimiko's face turned serious as she nodded with full determination. "Yes, okaasan. The heads of the snake are here."
"Excellent."
AN: New POV next time…
P.S. As a joke and a reference, the setting of the flashback is in Brockton Bay… hahahhahaahahhahahahahhaahhahahahaha
My roots as a Wormfic guy still remain.
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(Side Chapter) Kore Act 1
Kore
Act I
Act I
She [Persephone] was filled with a sense of wonder, and she reached out with both hands to take hold of the pretty plaything.
And the earth, full of roads leading every which way, opened up under her.
It happened on the Plain of Nysa. There it was that the Lord who receives many guests made his lunge.
He was riding on a chariot drawn by immortal horses. The son of Kronos. The one known by many names.
He seized her against her will, put her on his golden chariot, And drove away as she wept.
- Homeric Hymn to Demeter [Verses 15-20]
A loud sonic boom could be heard as seconds later, the once cleared, early morning sky just breaking the dawn was now occupied by the world's strongest man. Slowly, he breathed the clean air and its ever-peaceful scent. His eyes were filled with happiness and contentment as he slowly floated down to the ground as if the will of heaven itself carried him to safety.
He could feel the wind blow across his hair as it coursed forward making his already treasured mood all the fancier when his toes first touched the lovely grass. Slowly, but surely his feet finally allow Mother Nature's warmth to grasp it as his soles allow him to feel his environment. It allowed him to take in the scenery as his smile grew ever-pleasant and ever-beautiful. Peace blossomed within his chest as he saw his destination clearly ahead of him, and what a sight it was.
"It's good to be home." He says.
John never truly had an official home. Due to the responsibilities attached to his name and the many problems the world had that he needed to fix, he was never one to think if he would have a normal life, until now. He was the world's savior, after all, its champion. The face and power that allowed humanity to be as joyful and prosperous as it is. He was the hero of the modern world.
He was the man that rivaled the many before him in history. From God-kings to demigods…
…to Alexander and Caesar…
…to Napoleon and George Washington…
He was better than them all. All of them were merely mortal, larger-than-life characters brought forth with a sense of importance, a sense of destiny… yet they were all human still. Unlike him.
He was the right of God if history ever saw one. He was the second coming if any man of faith can proclaim, and he was the absolute savior that would guide humanity, way long into the future. A throne not created through conquest or desire, but of a throne created through birthright and true, absolute destiny. John smiled as he allowed that self-importance to glisten and whistle into his head.
His ego may have been bigger than the heavens, but it was natural, given his status and the real authentic power that he held within his hands.
Despite that, he was kind. Truly kind. Sympathetic and above all else, compassionate.
He never allowed such thoughts to destroy his perception of what was right or wrong as he allowed the virtue that was humility to take root within his heart. He never bragged his power at all, for he was meant to be the symbol that every man, woman, and child was to follow for a better world.
Sighing contently, he began walking forward as he saw his home. Simple, and elegant, but had all the trappings of a modern-day, typical American home. One that spoke of his humanity and drive to showcase how human he truly was despite all of the lights and bluster. A large tree overshadowed the property as a small makeshift swing stayed placidly in place as he smiled towards all the memories, he had of installing it. The house was typically simple, from the white painted walls and the two-story getup that smelled and sounded like home.
He was proud of it. He didn't need tall, bustling mansions that were barely livable due to their size. He didn't need to project his power because he already didn't need to show off, ultimately. He can do with such a nice, settled scenery, along the countryside as the sun slowly crawled upwards after breaking the dawn.
Reaching his door, he proceeded to open it with sincerity. He didn't wish to bother who was inside. Given that they were the most precious thing to his world.
Yes, the lonely man who sat on the chair of Olympus in the modern world was no longer lonely.
He was even happy when he heard the running footsteps of his son, Ryan greeting him with full attention and love. He patted the boy's head as he smiled in complete comfort. He even lifted him as the little boy laughed and giggled in his arms.
Heading towards the kitchen he heard the sound of bacon being cooked as he placed the excitable Ryan into his seat on the table. John smiled with glee as he saw the back of the most wonderful person in his life. Sneakily tiptoeing his way closer to her, despite knowing that he was already found out…
John sneakily put his arms around her. His hands snake all the way from her sides, towards her waste as giggles can be heard. Her scent was magnificent. Her aura, was indescribably warm and affectionate as he felt her lean into him even as he teasingly sniffed and kissed her neck.
Their bodies were close to each other. He could feel her every curve even as he heard his son angrily call them out for how gross they were being. He laughed it off as he heard her giggle.
That sweet giggle… as he continued to kiss her neck in spades.
His arms then moved closer towards her belly. Feeling the roundness of life sprouting and growing within it, the firmness as he sniffed her white, glorious hair behind her as she called his name.
Yes… this was the life.
This was-
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Homelander, otherwise known as John was woken up from his little nap as he heard three soft knocks emanating from his 'office' in Vought Tower. Blinking his eyes, he saw that it was Stillwell waiting for him patiently as he sat up from his couch.
Immediately he noticed that his couch was rather wet… both with fluids that were sticky and smelly, as sweat proliferated his entire form. Additionally, he was also bereft of his clothes.
He looked around and saw how messy the surroundings of his couch were as multiple pictures and a phone still unlocked showed him notifications of Stillwell having called him barely a minute ago. He didn't bother covering himself as he looked at the time. He had slept for about forty-five minutes after rescuing a very taxing mining accident down in South America. Olympia was deployed there, and he had hoped to see her, and he was very frustrated as he went back home empty-handed.
What a waste of time it was.
Shaking his head, he let that thought go away as he thought about his dream.
He smiled actually. After having met her yesterday within Vought Tower, he was already smitten.
John then looked at one of the pictures strewn across the floor that were not affected by the mess that he put on his lap with both hands. Smiling, he kissed the picture with love before rubbing the picture itself onto his face and neck as he began putting clothes on again.
Perhaps someday…
Someday he would get her.
AN: Consider this as a kind of sidestory breathing in the background that will build up to arc one's ending. It's not really an interlude, because that one is still in-progress.
Anyhow, the script of the Homerian Hymn to Demeter is taken from one of my books on the topic, but there is a site that I can readily share, should you guys wish to read it. As to why I chose such a name for this side-chapter of shorts and why I took those verses… well, speculate! 😊
Lastly… God. Writing this little piece was terribly uncomfortable… and terribly disgusting… and I had to cut a ton of shit out from the initial idea because I very much pictured how HL would make up such a fantasy. But I had to do it, because the build up would help how the final scene of Arc one would play out… Kore Act 2 would be less uncomfortable, with the nature of its topic, but I won't spoil it of course.
Homeric Hymn to Demeter - The Center for Hellenic Studies
Hearth
Hearth
She could not remember what the occasion was, but the amount of fish Papa had caught seemed to be abundant enough that Mama decided for them to eat outside, beside the hearth where she and her brother would usually play and camp while watching the moonlight shine over the palm trees. Mama would tell them stories under the hearth, the yellow-orange blaze becoming something that warmed their hearts with pure, large smiles while they feasted in silence.
It was a jolly occasion, yet she could no longer remember the specific words…
Nor even the voice of her Mama. It was a far cast-off memory, lost in time, lost in translation.
A world no longer reachable even if she wished to return to it.
Still, even with the muted tones of a memory long gone in regards to her Mama and Papa, she would always remember their warmth as she stared at the hearth. She would always remember the affectionate touch of her Mama as she stroked her hair and embraced her. The warmth makes the silence breathable and best of all, everlasting.
The cinder of absolute joy was always kindled as she remembered the face of her brother, laughing and giggling as their Mama and Papa sang. Their family, such a crucial part of her memories…
Memories that were steadily vanishing as the warmth of the hearth, its ever-present comfort, began changing into something else.
It was night, the hearth was no longer present. Snuffed out completely as she snuggled underneath the covers of her mat. She remembers smiling as her little brother offered her a drawn picture. It was crude. It was simple. Merely a portrait of their family in the most innocent, loving sense while colored with crayons of green, blue, and yellow. Smiles peppered their faces as she took the piece of paper and touched it briefly. A large grin appears on her face as she embraces the innocent creation before closing her eyes and opening them briefly again as she stares at their window where the palm trees lay.
Peacefully, they swayed under the breeze. Peacefully, she slowly drifted to sleep as she recalled imagining another day when they would sit in front of the hearth again, celebrating life at its most mundane and kindest sensibilities.
She always prayed for it. Silently. If not for a Kami or God up above, but just to the heavens to grant her another day to see it. To make her remember it for all time. To allow the warmth of the hearth to be the centerpiece of her dedication and love for her family.
The heavens did in fact grant that wish. For her to remember it. Vividly.
But not in the way that she desired.
"hhhhhhhhuuuuahhhhhhhhhhhh…" she recalled the sound of labored breathing as her brother's cries became morose, unfiltered, and painful. Her cheeks were also inflamed. Tears wetting it as if a perpetual sense of sorrow took hold of her completely. She did not remember if she cried out… or if she just laid there in silence as monsters held her down. The voice of her brother became hoarse as the labored breathing persisted. The darkness gripped the edges of her vision as she watched it all unfold…
THWACK! Said the noise. It was loud. Horrifically audible… and unforgettable.
Her brother continued to scream as the labored breathing became weaker with each strike as if it were a musical note.
THWACK! THWACKSH! Thundered the loud boisterous sound as she felt droplets hit her face.
Her brother was pleading as she continued to watch, stunned and perpetually shocked as Papa's voice, gone as her memory of it was, had finally joined the void of silence. Her brother was crying now. She sobbed as the puddle of darkness reached her face. Wetting her lips… wetting her tear-stained cheeks as she saw Papa's head gruesomely divorced from his body.
She remembers opening her own mouth as she tasted the iron within the puddle of blood dripping upon the floor. Her eyes were completely downcast as she sobbed. Cried with all her might as the monsters laughed in her face. All the while as the monsters continued that sound.
THWACKSH! THWACKSH! THWACKSH! THWACK! THWACKSH!
Laughter persisted as she and her brother cried. Their desperate, harrowing tones filled the cacophony of voices that seemed to strangle the world around them. They cheered, their cruelty unrivaled as they continued to erase Papa forever from their minds.
The cold, caress of wet blood touching their cheeks became so much that she wanted to close her eyes and wish that this was a nightmare. She begged. She prayed. She tried reaching out to the heavens, asking for anyone to answer for it all to end… but it did not stop.
The monsters only stopped when the cry of a very loud gunshot was heard.
The world silenced for a moment even as she and her brother continued to sob in full. One of the monsters stepped forward and threw Mama at their faces. Their mama weakened and bruised hastily grabbed them both in an embrace as she too cried. Within their hasty embrace, she weakly called out their name amidst the dark silence while she pressed into her bosom.
She always asked herself, why… why did she forget Mama's voice?
Why? When it was the only left to remember home by. Why…
She always knew the answer. She just did not accept it.
For they were all separated again. The monsters grabbed her and her brother as they screamed and sobbed in their arms. They were cast outside of their home, crying as their heads were forced to watch and hear as their house emitted noises of their mother crying out in pain…
Laughter of two monsters left with her in there.
She could not remember how long it lasted… for even as the two monsters exited their home, even as Kenji screamed out asking where their mother was, Kimiko only remembered the screams that came after as their home was set ablaze.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
Heavy but increasingly weakening thumps were heard on the chained-up front door as Kimiko and Kenji cried out with their arms outreached. The screams were gone, becoming part of the blaze, as was the voice and memory of their mother as the searing heat became oppressive. Painful.
Heart-wrenching.
The flames in all their yellowish, bloodred color and chaotic, hellish aura had tainted each and every memory moving forward as if it was not there. The palm trees inevitably burned. The sky was no longer in its peaceful, bluish-black color. What was left was a searing red and orange against the darkness. The moon was nowhere to be seen as thick, grey clouds forced any illumination to just be the flames.
Kimiko had lost her voice entirely that night, that was for certain…
For nothing again would ever compare to the monstrosity of that memory.
To bury it deep inside of her heart. Never to be reopened and unlocked again…
For rage… sorrow…
And vengeance would never heal such a scar…
It would be burned forever, like the blazes of her home as the hearth became malicious.
They never left them alone…
How many years has it been? How many… days, months… or lifetimes had she lived?
Kimiko's memory had been foggy. For she and her brother had been sent all throughout different locations that she had no knowledge of or complete understanding of. Yet she and her brother were always together, never separated as they held hands, tightly as the downward spiral of days slithered on. It was always dark. It was always dirty.
It was always painful. For each smile was always reciprocated with a lash.
For each glimpse of hope, there was absolute agony.
It was a never-ending process, but her hold on her brother's hand was always there. It always persisted as their bond grew and increased. Their memories were always locked behind a painful embrace as it was far too agonizing to return to. Her brother would always speak to her, understand her, or communicate with her but Kimiko was too far gone…
The scar had just been too deep. Too deep that it left an unending gash that would always remind them both of that night. Her voice was lost in time as everything had, but Kenji knew deeply within himself that they … they just did not want to remember the voice of their Mama. It was a question that rattled in their minds whether Kimiko's own voice resembled their Mama's, but uncovering those pieces of the past only served to remind them of where they currently were…
And why they could not escape the monsters keeping them captive.
The loud thumping was also present in their minds as the hearth and blaze swallowed their home whole like a snake. The monsters were simply relentless. The struggle to sleep, eat, or even live at all was so difficult that the two wondered why they were still alive in the first place… when they could have easily been killed right then and there.
It was as if their suffering made the monsters entertained.
Even as they were forcibly trained into their ranks, with the scars and bruises to prove it, the two wondered why there was no hope in sight. Why they always felt as if their world was always shackled by the dark corners of fear and hopelessness like an ever-present phantom holding them down.
Lately, that entire matter became exhausting as the monsters beat Kimiko down to the ground emotionlessly while Kenji begged in tears once more for them to stop. Kimiko allowed them for she felt numb from all the darkness around her. They propped her up and stabbed multiple things into her skin as she numbly stared in withdrawn silence at Kenji as she was stripped to the bone…
And thrown into a cage.
The cage was rusty, terribly ill-maintained, but serviceable enough as the monsters stared at her like she was an animal being placed as a main attraction. None of them laughed, however, nor felt entertained as Kimiko silently watched them throw cigarettes at her bare skin as two of them chained her wrists and legs. One even spat at her face as the drool trickled down her eyes. Kimiko could not care less…
For she was tired of it all.
She and her brother had tried and tried again to escape. Some attempts often succeeded to the point of their freedom being assured, only to be betrayed as men and women, strangers they did not know, kept returning them to the monsters.
She would rage before. Sometimes she became completely vengeful with violence as her main tool, but like her brother, she was weak. Too weak to do anything as the spiral of hell continued to push them all down the drain to never-ending suffering.
This cage almost felt like a symbolization of that state. For she and her brother would always be stuck in it, forever forgotten as hope no longer existed within their hearts.
"…" Kimiko sat up with a low groan as she covered herself while the chains clinked. She was shivering as the cold iron entrapments licked her skin. The bruises and scars peppered said skin becoming an itchy and painful rash as her frown worsened. Her hair covered her face as she bit parts of it with her tongue and teeth. She wanted to cover both of her ears as the dark silence continued to make her mad. She wanted to cover it and close her eyes, hoping for death to take her knowing that it would be better than this…
B-but she couldn't. Kenji was still here. Her brother was still there.
Small painful sniffles were cast against the loneliness as Kimiko once again began to softly sob. Her bare skin made her cold and chilly as she hugged her arms and legs. She wished to quickly drift into sleep so that she would force this day to finally end, until…
THLIK!
Kimiko's eyes opened slightly as she stared at a lone candle being lit by a single match.
She then saw Kenji, a small smile appearing on his face as his tired, withered form, pushed the candle placed on top of a small plate towards her. Kenji was on the other side of the bars of her cage as Kimiko's frown slowly curled into a smile.
The warmth of the candle's light became a central hearth as Kimiko's chains clinked with the feeble movements she created. She moved her entire body closer to the candle and despite the cold still being present, what warmth there was made the two contented.
It made the two smile for the little things as a similarly shivering and weak Kenji pulled out a piece of bread. He grinned at her as Kimiko's eyes widened. Wordlessly, her brother began taking apart the bread carefully and slowly before taking one piece from his lap and offering it to her.
Kimiko's expression said it all. The sullen sorrow and concern enveloped Kenji, but he simply shook his head as their bond progressively made them both understand a silent means of communication that would make up who they were, even into the future. A small accepting smile and grin said a thousand words as he gingerly moved the piece of bread toward her sister's mouth.
Kimiko tasted the bread, eating it completely but sedately as the two exchanged a small giggle.
Kenji then pulled out a water bottle from his rags and offered it to her. Kimiko accepted it without issue as they placed the bottle in the middle of them.
She then urged her brother, even against the chill to eat some for himself.
Kenji however, stopped completely as he stared into Kimiko's eyes. All of their burdens and memories came back to him as he reached out with his hand and meshed it with hers.
Kimiko closed her eyes even against the chill as that small gesture pushed them both to sigh.
Heavily… and steadily…
As they made the once oppressive silence become… peaceful even for just a moment.
Both their bodies were trembling, but the warmth of the candle's hearth made them feel as if everything was alright. That everything was protected under the small cinder that was illuminating their proverbially dark lives.
Sleep would take them both, at least until early morning.
THWACK!
The clinking of chains rattled her cage as she was forced awake when the cries of her brother began to occupy the silence again. The monsters were shouting. They were angry… they were so enraptured by wrath that they began hitting Kenji harder with their guns, batons, and sticks. Kenji begged for forgiveness as the language the monsters took, their vague tongue that none of them cared to understand was loud and vulgar.
They were accusing Kenji of a crime that Kimiko had no understanding of…
None of them were laughing as they continued to kick and beat him. His begging became less and less strong as Kimiko's chains startled to rattle in a chaotic fashion.
"RaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaghhhH!!" she screamed as the chains violently pulled her back. She tried reaching for Kenji as more of them came inside and seemingly watched in curiosity as her brother began pleading for them to stop, crying that he did not steal any bread…
Or any water as Kimiko's screams worsened in intensity. "Aaaarrrruuuuuuuuuuughhh!"
PRBLINK!
Unbeknownst to her, due to her building rage, some of the ends where the chains were attached began bending and breaking as her roars intensified.
Her little brother was all she had left as she forced her arms and legs forward…
CRACK! THUNK!
The gravity of the situation made her endure all of the pain even as her body screamed at her to stop, but the machinations that the monsters had forced onto her from the night before were starting to take hold.
It was then too late for any of the occupied monsters to notice her as the last chain, the one holding her neck broke and exploded from its wooden contraption. This forced her forward against the bars as Kimiko grabbed the nearest man, the nearest monster, and started acting like a ravenous beast.
BRACGKSH! Flesh and bone were broken so casually that Kimiko did not notice it first as the occupants of the room screamed. Her mouth was filled with the iron taste of blood as she spat out what was within it and crushed the monster's head against itself.
Gunfire roared in her direction as the panicked monsters, for the first time afraid of her began tearing her apart with bullets, only for her battle lust to increase as she began bending the bars of her cage. Kenji watched in awe and fear as her sister began making the impossible happen.
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENNNGGG!!!
There were screams of panic as their gunfire intensified… only for Kimiko to finally be free as she began rampaging at the monsters. Her eyes filled with red as she began tearing them apart. The tent where they were held was broken and ripped apart completely as Kenji was left to his lonesome in shock.
Kimiko began running around the camp, tearing apart any monster she saw as her body count steadily rose. She was completely relentless as bodies began piling around her wake, the most recent being a monster that she ripped their entire heart out as an unmitigated punch had collapsed their chest.
She roared without fail in a berserker rage only to stop when someone shot a loud gun towards the sky. Through her lust for battle and vengeance, she did not notice that the monsters had encircled her with guns and various other weapons as the chaos she created allowed them to regroup and recuperate.
One of them, perhaps their leader, stood with a gun that he shot earlier as he got her attention. She would not hesitate to run over their lines and kill them too, but she was stopped completely when they dragged Kenji and aimed a gun at his head.
Kenji yelled at her. Begging her to run away and leave him as the monster pressed his gun at Kenji's temple. Kimiko stood there, completely wrapped in blood as her breathing became slower from the amount of adrenaline she had consumed earlier.
She was… unsure of what to do as the burning and broken camp around them once more made her freeze, the unstoppable thought in her head making her realize that any hope of escaping again and killing them all was now…
…gone…
The leader of the monsters, seeing that she was now becoming docile, began smirking and grabbed Kenji's hair before dragging him to one of the fires created by her assault. He then called two other comrades of his and forced Kenji's arm to burn into the fire as her brother began screaming…
Kimiko once again roared in rage as she began running towards the leader with haste.
The leader forced Kenji back while the other monsters aiming guns at her fired.
Their ammunition was not simply bullets, but darts began peppering Kimiko's arms and body. She forced herself forward with each step only for her body, despite being enhanced, no longer taking the various drugs now coursing through her system…
Until she fell into the grass, her last memory being one of the monsters, standing before her as the heat of the flames behind him made an image that would burn itself into her memory permanently.
The least she could be happy about, was the leader of the monsters looking at her as if she was a failed experiment.
THUNK! THUNK! THUNK!
Three heavy knocks were heard.
Kimiko was forced awake again as she was now in a dark, metal box of sorts. She began panicking, angrily, yelling, and groaning while she started banging against the walls like a feral animal. Her rage increased with each strike as her newfound strength made her dent some part of the walls as concern began dawning within her about what happened to her brother.
"Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!" she cried out, her voice echoing within the metal box.
It was like its own form of torment as the entire scenario seemingly depicted how she could not escape her own suffering as the corners began closing around her perpetually.
Yet at that moment, her concern and fear for her brother overrode everything entirely as her rage deepened. Her perception became red and violent again as she reared both her legs back and kicked the end of the box with all the strength she could muster.
THWANNNGG!!!
The metal box's lid violently burst open as Kimiko rapidly ran out with as much rage within her heart as before. All for her little brother as she was now exposed to a burning town while some of the monsters in their panic began shooting at her. Their bullets were normal again, but they still stung as Kimiko brought them down one by one. Blood once more coated her hands as what appeared to be a broken caravan, she was supposed to be transported in prior to her escape had forced her to go into a never-ending lust for violence as she tried to find her brother.
Against the burning landscape of this small, isolated town Kimiko tore apart everybody in her way. She was never sated as her burning desire and hunger to find her brother worsened even as she was now unaware of who exactly she was killing.
It got so bad that as she tore apart a screaming monster within her grasp…
She froze completely when a soft, terrified voice was heard.
And then Kimiko's rage dissipated almost instantly.
For Kimiko saw a mother and child trembling close to her as the child cried out for the man, she had been tearing apart a second ago. The man had his arm ripped off as he begged Kimiko to stop.
Memories of that night came back as the mother and child pulled the gravely injured father away. Fear was present in their eyes as they ran away against the burning town, leaving Kimiko to her lonesome.
"…"
She stared at both her bloodied hands as the realization dawned on her.
Kimiko then closed her eyes and began kneeling in place…
Even as the monsters that captured her took her away later without resistance.
They chained her up again and put her in a cage.
Kimiko lay on its cold, uncomfortable surface in silence as she let her grief, guilt, and sorrow overtake her mind and soul. She was just… tired.
She was exhausted to every inch of her body as hope… hope no longer existed in her world.
She just closed her eyes, praying that Kenji was alive even as she heard thunder around her.
Even as she heard screams again…
Even as the camp was ravaged, she remained within the cage. Hoping to drown the sounds away she heard rain hit the surroundings of her form.
That was until she heard her cage being opened, and her shackles taken apart as she emotionlessly went through the motions as two men took her out of her cage carefully. They walked her outside amidst the ruins of the camp as thunder and rain began showering the burning remnants of her tormentors.
She did not care nor notice the aftermath of the violence around her wake…
At least until her eyes were cast on an image of a monstrous-like figure standing in front of her as a blaze burned bright behind them. The rain and thunder were slowly making the flames weaker, but the image still haunted Kimiko as the monstrous figure withdrew their large sword back to its scabbard.
"KIMIKO!" she then heard Kenji's voice yell as the weakened, tired Kimiko stared towards her left and saw her brother, looking concerned and horrified by her current appearance.
Kimiko then realized that she was going to be tortured, mentally and physically again as she returned her gaze to the monstrous figure again and took a step forward…
…and another as she eventually knelt and sat in front of the monstrous figure.
Then… she started crying. Sobbing with all of her heart for how exhausted she was.
Even as the rain washed all of the blood away, she sobbed, hoping her gesture, her will, and her complete love for her brother through her actions would convince the monsters to spare him from more pain. She cried as she trembled within the cold, shivering aura of the rain begging even without words to make it all stop…
To make it all… end.
B-Because she couldn't take it anymore…
She just wanted it to-
"You are safe… dear child." A voice said. Her tone was so loving and filled with such empathy and concern that it made the kneeling Kimiko stop for a moment. Her bowed head was raised slowly as she finally, after so many years heard words that belonged from her home.
Blinking her tearful eyes as the snuffed-out blaze was no more, Kimiko saw a woman…
Staring at her with similarly tearful eyes as a loving hand stroked the side of her face. Kimiko leaned to that small gesture as she began crying. Nobody….
Nobody had ever given her this much concern and care in years.
She started crying in exhaustion as the woman placed her into a loving, heart-filled embrace.
An embrace filled with love as Kimiko continued to sob silently…
And happily, for the first time in years.
The warmth of the hearth was once again restored within her chest, as she continued to lean into the embrace. The heartbeat of the woman's chest makes her feel comfortable, secure, and safe.
It was like she was reunited with home, once more.
After believing for so long, that it was impossible.
After believing for so long, that the world was devoid of hope.
"…you are safe…"
AN: First thing's first… this is a 1st person POV with an unreliable narrator at its core. Filled with emotions and a perspective so dark, that she believed within herself that any light was impossible to see once again. It's why I foregone any such dialogue to begin with and just let the actions, speak for themselves. I do hope that the thoughtful nature of this piece is felt through the writing as despite its very dark and bleak nature, I wanted to pull Kimiko out of it with a powerful glimpse of hope at the end, as it would strengthen her bond with Raikou and steadily make her believe again that the world is not just darkness and tears. The next time we see her, the chapters will be much lighter in tone as Raikou and Kimiko herself go into a journey of rebuilding their own selves back from the brink.
As to why events here have forced her to go into a V very early, well, I would rather let that plotpoint unravel itself hehe.
Palm Trees
Palm Trees
Kimiko felt her eyelids move, and light returned to her sight in bits and pieces, but as her body slowly recovered from the foggy trance, her hearing began picking up the slack.
"It's as I thought. Doses, even in the most minute of cases create some very unstable changes to the human body. Debilitating ones, even." A voice said, their words, not known to Kimiko, for they spoke of a language that she did not understand in full. Their tones, their accents did not resemble anything that she had encountered at that point in her life, though she may have forgotten a lot of memories due to all the trauma created from her past.
"Oh dear… will she be alright?" another voice said, female this time. Her accent and her tone were something that Kimiko felt estranged from, for she knew deep down that she heard it before.
There was a deep groan that followed as Kimiko's blurry vision stabilized slowly. The voice from earlier was a lot less friendly and it reminded Kimiko of the monsters that once held her at bay. A bit of panic settled in after that thought yet her body was still recovering from however long she was placed unconscious. Yet as she struggled to move her fingers, she found a bit of weight and warmth touching her left arm as she found herself becoming still.
Not because of fear, but because the gesture felt different. It felt genuine.
It had a certain depth of emotion shared through a single touch.
"Yes, she will be fine… though the circumstances surrounding why she is fine is very peculiar."
"Peculiar how… Caster?" a third voice asked as Kimiko felt the hand touching her arm squeeze a certain bit in full concern while her eyes finally adjusted and she saw an entirely white and clean ceiling. A woman, one that Kimiko was still piecing together as to why she was so familiar was sitting close to her left, with a man standing over her on the other side wearing a mask for half of his face.
Kimiko focused her gaze towards the woman as memories of a fiery expanse returned to her…
"You are safe child…"
… and heavy, exhausting tears afterward.
"The doses should have killed her. They were administered in quantities and processes that were far too inefficient, clumsy, and above all else, inexplicably foul. The fact that they chained her up like a common animal was proof enough as to how idiotic her captors were, and how scared they were of the consequences of the drug they introduced to her bodily systems."
"…and?" the woman asked. The man stared at her as the room's temperature rose a bit.
"By some amount of luck, perhaps through the overload of adrenaline or some other unknown variable, the conditions within her deteriorating body manage to stabilize itself. Though stable is a terrible term to place it in, it's still in a state of perpetual chaos that essentially balances everything out, but otherwise she would have lived on without issue nor would she feel the grueling and terrible consequences of what such concoctions did to her body."
"What sort of damage are we talking about if our intervention was not made?" the third person in the room asked, Kimiko could still not see them, and even if she did not understand their words, the tone, and atmosphere of the room began to worry her. She felt her fingers twitch, but the woman simply squeezed her arm affectionately as Kimiko's gradual rise in panic started to calm back down again.
"She would live for a maximum of three years. Five if we were to scale it optimistically and frankly, less than a year if she taxed her body to the point that the invasive, mutating nature of the compound would have rendered her entire body overridden at a cellular level, essentially killing her from the inside out. The dosage introduced to her is far, far too great and inefficient that whatever stable reaction was doomed from the start." The masked man flatly said as Kimiko felt the woman's grasp tighten.
"… but, does she not heal her injuries, Caster? Not a scratch was present in her wake the moment we found her. Dirtied, yes… but our first responders deemed her healthy and stable for transport." The woman asked, concern filling her voice as she stared right back at Kimiko's eyes, being the only person it seemed that knew she was waking up.
Kimiko did not know how to feel about it, especially with how caring and genuine her gaze was.
Even the slight tremble of the woman's lips enacted a deep emotion within herself that she had never felt in a very long while.
"Yes… superficially. The compound accelerates the healing process to monstrous levels, at least for this world, but unlike the perfectly recovering and rejuvenating quality of healing mysteries and the like that we use, the compound juxtaposes itself within the tissue growth. What cells that are replaced or regrown are subtly cancerous in nature. They may look normal, but in time, those tissue growths will become unstable, and eventually necrotic, had she sustained any further injuries down the line, we are looking at the possibility of her looking like a corpse once those cancerous tissues overtake even seventy percent of her overall body mass."
"Oh dear… that's terrible. What monsters those fiends were…" the woman said, her eyes becoming painfully angry and at the same time saddened immensely as Kimiko felt her grasp becoming warm and affectionate again.
"Can we extract this strain for further study, without killing her of course?" the other man asked.
The masked man simply nodded in their direction as he pulled up what looked like a tablet.
"I already have, master. I also proceeded to inoculate her so that the compound would acclimate and stabilize itself into her genome. The samples of her peculiar strain are already catalogued as are the other forty-three samples of prior individuals we have examined."
"Do we have any further observations of her entire being?"
There was an uneasy silence before the masked man hummed. "None that are notable. She is essentially mundane. Containing the relative genomes of her race and location from the farthest data we have from Olympus' catalog. Though… the mystery as to how she was able to stabilize herself remains unanswered."
"Would the answer simply be that fate and sheer force of will, allowed such a miracle to be born?" The woman asked with a small, innocent smile.
"I do not discount that, given our… situations, but given the nature of this world, I'm inclined to believe there is a much more rational explanation."
"We shall discuss it further later, Caster… for now, I believe our guest needs more rest."
The masked man nodded in return as he stood up and left the room, at least to Kimiko's assumption. The woman however stayed and before Kimiko could enact any sort of action…
The woman suddenly kissed the top of her head.
Kimiko found herself pausing in shock and surprise as the gesture of love and kindness, the kind that she had not been exposed to in a long time made her eyes grow wide in uncertainty… and sadness. Or perhaps, the tears were of a happy tone this time.
"It's alright little one… you are safe." She said, her words clear to her. She understood each and every emotion completely wrapped within such a simple sentence. Inwardly, Kimiko was scared, she was unsure how to trust this woman, given the many times she was already betrayed before, but she could not doubt the emotion that was present upon her face, nor the emotion dripping within her words.
"Your brother is safe… you, are both safe."
Tears started rolling down her cheeks as Kimiko began sniffing weakly. Her chest and soul could not help the relative comfort and ease that she had not felt in years. She sobbed, mostly to herself as the woman smiled in understanding with each breath and tear.
For the first time in so long, she found herself at ease.
"They are… kind people sister. Very kind." Kenji slowly said as he sat beside her, as she was still lying in the comfortable, fluffy white bed for the past three days or so. Her brother immediately visited her along with the woman as it was a reunion filled with smiles and love to the best extent.
Yet, even as it seemed they were both happy and safe, Kimiko was still very unsure and doubtful of the intentions of the woman and the company that trailed her. She was also starting to get impatient given that she knew she was already healed, but they insisted that she was to stay in bed, despite her very obvious gestures of wishing to leave, she was always chastised by her brother, and the woman to stay.
…and the woman did stay.
Kimiko remembers the first night after she wept at the end of her suffering after a long while. After Kenji and she reunited, he quickly returned to sleep on a bed supplied by the woman in a cheerful song all the while Kimiko reveled in the silence of the white room as the woman sat by her side. She kept conjoining their hands affectionately even as the night passed, or even as dawn broke. She remained in place, unbothered and totally concerned for both their well-being, and Kimiko was shocked after waking up that she was still there.
She sang to them, night by night, even through the day in a melody and tune that they both did not know but relished in due to how comfortable and sweet they were. The woman was not a perfect singer, but the feeling of comfort, warmth, and grace allowed the siblings to cherish the moment with a smile on their faces.
It invoked a memory from a time long past. One that they kept denying even to this day.
Oftentimes, the woman would also embrace them, lovingly without any such fanfare. She was so overjoyed simply to be in Kimiko and Kenji's presence that the road to recovery became much easier for both of them in terms of their injuries from having been saved from their captors.
What surprised Kimiko however, was that despite the doubts and feelings of suspicion burgeoning in this whole situation, they never felt overwhelmed by the woman's loving advances. They never felt an ounce of fakeness within her actions or expressions…
What they just felt and experienced each time the woman was there was simply happiness.
The kind that they had longed for yet still deny to this day.
The woman never felt overbearing too. Kimiko expected Kenji to not be as comfortable towards her, but she only saw that the absence, the void left by the dark pit they were thrown into was far too damaging that any resemblance of genuine care and love was quickly reciprocated in full.
Through that, she could not fault Kenji for being more open in trusting them…
Kimiko, however, was still on the fence, for reasons she did not fully know herself.
It was not simply suspicion or doubt over the extreme altruism and care presented to her and her brother. No, it was a thing deep down that she was unaware of, and one that she was unsure as to how to express towards Kenji. Especially with how it seems like he was already being swayed by their kindness.
"They… they promised to get us home. They promised me that we could go back…" Kenji said.
Kimiko's eyes widened as the two looked at each other. Wordlessly, Kimiko reached out for her brother's hand and grasped it slowly and carefully into her own. The simple action got both of them to smile and look to understand each other through the small details within their expressions.
Kenji was the first to move after their silence that stretched for many minutes was finally halted. His face became nostalgic and painful as he placed his other hand on top of their already established connection. The warmth in each other's presence made the both of them chuckle and laugh as a small sliver of tears trickled down their eyes.
Then, Kenji squeezed both of their hands further as his laughs slowly faded out into a happy sob.
"I miss home… Kimiko. I-I miss it so much…"
Kimiko nodded, opening her lips partly with only a small understanding hum being her response as slowly Kenji began crying. The number of emotions bubbling within his chest finally being released as the absence of constant fear, stress, and suffering allowed him to finally break from the brave and determined mask that he was slowly deteriorating from when they were in captivity.
The soft tones of his voice made Kimiko frown as Kenji continued to squeeze their conjoined hands. Slowly, Kimiko used her free hand and pulled Kenji in towards her shoulder. Their heads then leaned against each other as Kenji continued to cry.
They let the comfort of their own embraces settle in until the door opened, and a cheerful voice came in as the kind woman entered their room, bringing a trolley filled with food with an aroma that made the two hungry. The cheerful nature that the woman brought with her as she entered, however, transformed into full-blown concern as she looked at the two of them.
"What's wrong?" she asked before she immediately walked over to Kimiko's side and checked both of their forehead temperatures with her hands. She sighed in relief as she stroked both of their hair and kissed them kindly on the cheeks.
"Mou… why did you make me scared? I was tasked to watch over you both to make you feel happy and comfortable, but I come in and you're both crying."
The wholesomeness of the gesture made Kenji and Kimiko feel a tinge of heat blossoming upon their faces as the woman smiled at them with all the genuine love she could muster.
"Though, while I do not wish to pry, I do wish to ask what it is, that ails you both? And what can I do to make it feel better?"
Kimiko did not know how to answer that, but Kenji spoke on their behalf.
"My sister wishes to stand and walk, m-my lady."
Kenji's horrible attempt at respect merely made the woman frown, not in a terribly rude way, but in a sad demeanor that made the two cringe in guilt.
"I do not wish for formalities, especially in situations such as this, we are all but family within this building and it will not do if I parade such a moniker to guests such as yourselves."
"B-But…"
The woman then pressed a finger onto Kenji's lips, silencing him with a wholesome smile as the woman knelt in front of her brother and tied his unlaced right shoe, even if she did not need to.
"You may refer to me as Raikou, as our esteemed guests, I will make sure you feel like you belong. That we are all family in the best of senses." the woman emphasized with heart as she patted both of Kenji's shoulders. "Now, I believe it is in fact time for you both to go outside…"
Kimiko nodded with affirmation and excitement, but just as she began sitting up, she noticed that her legs were still sluggish. She attempted to get them down slowly to the ground, only for Raikou to beat her as the woman gently and slowly placed her legs and feet properly situated on the floor.
It was… cold. Yet the sensation of her feet finally being moved again made Kimiko chuckle in delight. The gesture made Kenji smile as well as Raikou before the woman rolled a wheelchair for her to sit on.
"Now, my comrade tells me that you need to slowly make use of your legs gently at first until your sense of balance and strength returns back to you eventually. I will help you each step of the way… but not within this room. Preferably, somewhere much more beautiful."
Kenji and Kimiko looked at each other in question as Raikou grinned.
"Oh, I'm excited already to show you! Come, we must go with haste…" Raikou said as Kimiko settled herself into her chair while Kenji followed beside her. The woman rolled them through white corridors with almost endless rooms as men and women of different kinds and looks greeted them as they passed by. They greeted with reverence the most towards Raikou but it was very shocking and surprising to Kenji and Kimiko that each and every person that greeted them had true, genuine smiles upon their faces.
It was complete whiplash compared to the treatment they had when they were in captivity.
None of it as far as the two could tell were hollow lies or simply masks of conveniences.
Like Raikou, they were simply floored by the simple fact that this was the most amount of kindness they had ever received in life, next to…
Next to…
Kimiko felt herself shuddering, as the memory of a long-forgotten empty face with a motherly smile resurfaced. There were also palm trees…
The hearth outside of a house.
A beautiful moon against the dark blue sky. Cheers and laughter with her and her brother in the warm embraces of their parents, whose names and faces they no longer remembered with clarity.
Kimiko delved into those heavy thoughts, until she was rolled through a set of doors, and rays of light started to shine upon her eyes as those doors opened. Blinking while her vision cleared, Kimiko felt two affectionate hands squeezing her shoulders as she found herself marveling at the sight before them.
The air was crisp, fresh, and full of life as the sounds of waves clashing against each other filled their ears. A beautiful space of sand stretching upon both sides greeted them as the waves lapped the shoreline. The sun was high above with sparse white, healthy clouds giving an aura of comfort and grace upon the cheerful, sunny day. Some grass littered parts of the beach as trees sprouted from their wake.
Their leaves swayed towards each gust of the air as Kimiko found herself breathing deeply in satisfaction and happiness.
How long was it since they saw a beach? A beach this beautiful that it felt like paradise.
Paradise, as if everything was just too good to be true.
Kimiko stole a glance at Kenji just staring in awe at the view, until she felt Raikou touch her hand. The woman walked in front of her as she smiled. The most infectious and heart-warming smile that she had ever conjured in her already impossibly, heartfelt face.
"Kimiko…" Raikou said, the name making her twitch in place as memories of a similar, older voice called out to her from her mind. It was not one-to-one, but the way it was spoken put her into a trance. "…dear one, let's get you up."
Kimiko stared at Raikou for a few seconds before she gingerly accepted the woman's hold as Kenji came in and helped her up. Her feet now began touching the sand. Her toes were digging into them slowly and happily as the sensation made her smile.
"Slowly now… okay? We don't want to rush it." Raikou said with concern and love as Kimiko took another step. The woman holding onto her as Kenji eventually let go of her.
Feeling and strength returned to her legs as she proceeded to take another step…
"That's it…"
…and another…
"Easy now…"
… and another, until her excitement bloomed as she felt like running, only for her to slip and lose her balance.
"KIMIKO!" Raikou's voice said as she nearly fell, only to be caught in the woman's arms.
Kimiko's world, however, slowed down to a crawl. Another memory was uncovered. Two children, laughing and enjoying the farm fields as a woman watched over them with joy. Only for Kimiko to slip against the mud as the woman similarly shouted her name.
"Are you alright, dear?" Raikou asked as Kimiko stared wide-eyed at her.
The memory of the woman also mouthed almost the same words of concern as that, as Kimiko recalled how she cried with love into the woman's chest.
"Kimiko?" Raikou asked again as Kenji loomed over her too.
The only response Kimiko could foster was a heartfelt laugh and tears of absolute joy as she clung to Raikou tightly. Happy that she uncovered that memory… and relived it again.
Happy that despite all of their experiences, she truly felt safe again.
"I'm here, you don't need to falter while I remain at your side," Raikou whispered as Kimiko clung to her tighter.
"…And I ran them over with my big bike and shouted… Golden DRIVE!" the man known as Kintoki said as Kimiko and Kenji found themselves laughing at the hilarious story. The man, apparently Raikou's son was very energetic, very likable, and was very friendly as they enjoyed each other's company under the hearth created next to the Palm Trees by the shores of the beach.
They each had their own sticks, which the local catch of fish was attached to as they cooked them in front of the fire. The siblings were huddled against a blanket together as Kintoki continued to tell his story, much to Raikou's dismay.
"Kintoki! I did not raise such a delinquent son!? Where are your manners? What if anybody was harmed by that stunt?" Raikou heatedly said, though with concern and love as she always did as she pulled the larger man into her chest into a rather tight, embrace.
"ACK! I-I did not! I made sure of it! Stop it, Raikou-sama!" Kintoki shouted out as he struggled.
"I will not, unless you call me okaasan, like you always do."
"B-But-
"~Kintoki~" Raikou stressed as the man deflated, much to Kimiko and Kenji's laugh.
"Yes… okaasan..." Kintoki said, his words slurring into a whisper as Raikou beamed in a positive but alarming manner as a large loving blush appeared on her face a proud, motherly smile coming after. Her grip on Kintoki tightened to the point that he was choking and trying to pry Raikou's arms off but he relaxed when Kimiko and Kenji saw the woman rescind some of her strength before lovingly embracing the large man by leaning their heads together side by side.
"My cherished boy… okaasan always loves you, you know," Raikou said with a low, loving tone as Kintoki visibly sighed. He tapped Raikou's arm as he was eventually released. There was a frown that appeared on Raikou's face before it disappeared quickly as she was reigning in some of her impulses.
Especially in front of the two. Still, Kimiko and Kenji felt very enamored with the sight as there was a small curve on their lips as Kintoki took another chug of his beer. He then looked at Kenji with a smile and an offer.
"You want to join the others for a bit of fun?" he asked as Kenji smiled. Kimiko then recalled that they were not alone on the beach, or better yet a good distance away some of the people working under Raikou were happily having their own party, most of them consisted of males while the women watched in heightened laughter. They were far enough that their current spot was still quiet against the calm, splashing waves, but were animated enough that they could see the joy oozing out of their group.
Kenji looked at Kimiko, to which she simply nodded with a smile, only for Raikou to intervene.
"~Kintoki~, no heavy rough housing, okay? Keep Kenji safe, and above all else don't sleep naked again after being drunk. You two might catch a cold." Raikou said in a motherly manner as she stroked Kintoki's back, much to some of the man's discomfort.
"We will be fine, Raikou-sama." Kenji said as Raikou smiled.
"Very well… do enjoy yourselves." She acquiesced as Kintoki and Kenji began walking away side by side happily laughing with the larger man putting an arm around Kimiko's brother. If anything, the sight of them being this close and happy would make people think that the two were siblings.
It had been more than a week since Kimiko and Kenji were saved. Once Kintoki introduced himself to them both, it had been a smooth sailing ride, particularly for Kenji who began to stick quite a lot with the man, as if he filled the void that Kenji had lost since their captivity. Kimiko similarly found herself enjoying the company of Raikou's son, so much so that each time he arrived, he would always gift him with a slew of trinkets. Trinkets that Kimiko then fashioned into a makeshift necklace to always wear upon her neck. It was a token of thanks, one that she wished to keep if the day came that they were able to finally leave.
And… Raikou did promise that. So much so that they were free to leave any time after she and her brother were sufficiently recovered. They had so much fun during their stay however that ever since the man, Caster, approved of their health, the prospect of leaving became… sort of secondary.
The reason being? Was the woman across her, watching Kenji and Kintoki walk away with a certain degree of concern and parental fear.
Raikou was a very affectionate person. So much so that Kimiko and Kenji were overwhelmed with how possessive she was of them. Some might argue that she was far too extreme with how much love she gave them, but… the siblings never found that as an issue.
Perhaps they were just starved dry of any sort of love and attachment that the kind of affection Raikou freely gave without issue or problem was a… godsend. Much of the doubts that Kimiko had about this place were quickly thrown away when she saw how the woman simply cared.
"~Kimiko~, did you… wish to join them?" Raikou asked.
Kimiko found her own lips curling into an open smile before she gestured slowly with her hands as to what she wished to communicate.
"Oh dear… that is so sweet. M-May I sit beside you then?" the woman quickly replied, understanding her wordless sentence so quickly and carefully that Kimiko already found that as a blessing. She nodded as Raikou walked over and carried a folded blanket in her arms.
Many days ago, she saw Kenji and her sharing a moment to the point that Raikou asked how they understood each other. Her brother explained as best he could as Raikou listened calmly with understanding and care. The next day, she then asked to learn how exactly this was possible…
And with Kimiko's help and Kenji's, the woman gradually learned as if she was already fluent at it.
She went through all of the effort, time, and day to simply try to understand them better.
She even… took the time to help Kimiko draw as a way to release some of the untold emotions deep within her. Those little interactions, wordless and mundane as they were, were the point when Kimiko began to look at Raikou differently. It was the point where she realized her degree of trust was already cast with the woman.
It even went far to the point where Kimiko deliberately made an effort to slowly speak again in small words. Little, simple ones to describe and communicate better with Raikou helping her read the most basic of things. Stories, imaginative ones, even if they were for children, Raikou made sure to read them to her night by night with Kenji as a final gift before ending the day.
Gradually progress was made between them, and Kimiko could not thank the woman more because of it.
"The winds are starting to get colder… but since you wished to sleep outside, I will oblige your request with every fiber of my being," Raikou said as she placed the blanket around Kimiko while she sat beside her. Kimiko snuggled herself into the blanket as they both watched the hearth as its sparks disappeared into the dark blue, starry sky.
Kimiko then remembered that she had a gift. She snuck into her pockets and unfolded a piece of paper slowly as the sounds of the waves once again crashing into the shoreline soothed their ears in a calm repertoire.
"What's this?" Raikou asked as she took hold of the paper. They exchanged a glance as Raikou slowly looked at the drawn picture of a woman sitting by the bed of two children as she read them a book. Raikou teared up as easily as she always did when it came to them, but the smile on her face was unforgettable. She then put an arm around Kimiko and made her towards her as they enjoyed the unspoken thanks. Raikou then kissed the top of her head as Kimiko's smile widened.
Then, she looked at the older woman and tried to ask a question that always lingered in her head. A question that she was curious to know the answer to ever since Raikou showed how much she cared.
The wordless set of gestures was cast between them as the woman watched silently.
Discerning the meaning behind it.
There was a pause after Kimiko finished. A pause that worried her a bit as Raikou seemingly became placid before she turned towards the sea and sighed. A calm, loving smile appeared once more on her face before she refocused back to Kimiko.
"I am… inhuman, dear Kimiko. Neither human enough to act the part nor demonic enough to be a scourge of humanity. My outlook is very different compared to yours. My soul, bereft of much of the love that a parent or a child share amongst each other within the own hearth of their homes…"
Kimiko's eyes widened at that admission as Raikou stroked her hair. Wistfully.
"Many call me a monster, an inhuman beast who knows not of love. I… I believe them. I never lie to myself that I can be human, nor do I hope that I will reach a day where I will live a normal life with children and a home that I can truly call my own…"
Kimiko felt Raikou pressing her head against hers.
"…yet, that does not mean I don't appreciate the value of life. The value of the beauty that exists within the world. From small, simple deeds of kindness that make children smile, that make people laugh and feel comfortable, to acts of bravery that inspire many to see hope and a new tomorrow across the starry skies. I envy them every day just for the simplicity of it all. I envy you and your brother's trust, love, and determination to continue on despite all of the strife and pain."
Raikou then stared deeply into her eyes.
"…I cannot be as human as you, but that does not mean I cannot appreciate the joy and heart that it gives to my very soul. I cherish you and every other child and person out there who sees what it means to live with the most amount of happiness in the world. I will do everything to make sure that spark of humanity lives on… that the simple joys and happiness of a human life is not cast away by the darkness."
Kimiko then found herself in awe as Raikou's free hand squeezed her own.
"… you ask me why I care… why I go so far to make two strangers I barely know, happy…"
The tearful face of Raikou then smiles lovingly as Kimiko follows suit. Her own cheeks, now riddled with tears as Raikou finishes…
"… my only answer is, do I need a reason at all? Do I need a reason at all, to see that joy I cherish once again? Do I need a reason at all, to make sure that the spark of life within you breathes on?"
Kimiko's only response was to lean her head against Raikou's own as they both smiled underneath the moonlight, within the comfortable watch of the palm trees gazing at the seas.
Their connection already solidified as Kimiko eventually rested her head on Raikou's lap.
She steadily went to sleep minutes later as the woman hummed while stroking her hair. She adjusted the blanket to cover her from the cold breeze as Raikou felt comfortable.
She felt content.
"Your mother and father are proud of you both, dear child. You need only to live your lives as happy as you can to honor their memory…" she whispered as she settled her gaze back to the sky.
Kimiko and Kenji were riding in a vehicle alongside Raikou for a special trip that nobody would tell the destination to. It had been about half an hour since it started, but they were making headway across the countryside as Kimiko continued to hold her brother's hand.
Raikou had not told them anything about the trip, remaining silently smiling at their expense as their vehicle went on.
Eventually, the vehicle stopped, and as Raikou invited them outside…
Kimiko and Kenji stopped dead in their tracks, as they saw what welcomed them.
"Master… I will owe this debt to you, for as long as I remain in your service." They heard Raikou say in English as the blonde foreigner who was the woman's overseer stood beside some of his employees while Raikou bowed her head.
"Don't… this was a genuine request. One that I'm always happy to freely give."
The woman smiled with such joy that she lifted the man into the air while he let it happen.
To Kimiko and Kenji however, they were focused on something much more important.
One that had them squeeze each other's hands like children, as they looked at their surroundings.
The familiar farmlands surrounding their wake. The palm trees overlooked the spot where memories of a family lingered… and above all else the spot, where their home once stood.
A lovely small temple now laid in its place, as a shrine was made within.
Kimiko and Kenji walked slowly in their shock and bubbling emotions until Raikou guided them inside. Slowly and surely, they arrived at the small shrine. With two familiar names placed upon it.
They wept silently while Raikou consoled them both.
Despite all of the sadness, it was a good day.
The best of days…
Hours later, Kimiko embraced Raikou and spoke the first word she would say in so long.
"Thank you…"
PRESENT…
"Were you injured, Kimiko?" Raikou asked with full concern as they walked down the halls of the center of Olympia's operations in Asia. They just came out of a briefing after the successful raid that Kimiko led against a vital terrorist cell of the Shining Light Liberation Army.
Their leaders and key officers were now in their grasp while Kenji followed Kintoki along within Thailand to route out similar cells that broke off within the Southeast Asian region. The heads of the snakes were already dwindling down to the last of their numbers and they were already making headway into making sure the region they were in, specifically the Philippines was now secure.
Kimiko however, determined as always wished to find the leader of the cell that kidnapped her and her brother in the past. She had not succeeded yet, but in time she would put all her efforts into repaying the debt that her new… mother had given them since they found them.
Mother… heh. It was not an easy word to say.
But it was an easy word that Kimiko was now used for Raikou.
She no longer locked away the memory of her true mother in the past like before, instead focusing her efforts on honoring their memory of living on, continuing their lives with hope. Raikou on the other hand, the person who gave that hope was now dear to Kimiko's heart.
And she would always treasure the woman now and more than ever.
"No… I'm fine." She slowly said as Raikou smiled dearly.
"That's wonderful… why don't we eat out together once again after this? I know of a spot where we can enjoy the breeze again."
Kimiko smiled as they walked in silence while Olympia's personnel walked behind them.
Another operation to rid the world of scum was to commence again.
Hopefully, this would be the final thrust to end the threat of the Shining Light Liberation Army. Hopefully, justice will soon come to the many slain by their acts.
Hopefully, Kimiko would finally end that chapter of her life forever.
With renewed purpose, she walked with Raikou…
It was a good day.
"We have confirmation of it being Vought-owned associates themselves inducting these groups with the serum," Wodime said with a frown as he mulled over the report Raikou had given after a decisive success of her operations within Asia. Standing close to him as he fixed his suit and tie were Achilles, Atalanta, Caenis, Tesla, and lastly, the knight, Mandricardo.
"Shall my efforts on the study of the compound be hastened, Master?" Caster, otherwise known as Asclepius said through the communicator on speaker as the current inhabitants of the room watched Wodime with a degree of focus.
Rubbing his cane reflexively, Wodime finally came to a decision. "No, continue at the pace we discussed… for now our focus is making sure our excavations in the Mediterranean are not discovered."
"Understood. I will relay my findings once it has concluded." Asclepius replied before he left the call. Wodime then looked at the rest as he allowed himself to relax.
"Master, is it wise for us to attend this gala?" Atalanta asked.
"You nervous sis?" Achilles said with a grin as he was quickly elbowed by his side.
"Yes, Archer, while you are still undergoing the observations that I tasked Europa for your recent debacle, I trust you enough that this will all go smoothly. More so since this gala is for you specifically."
The small jab made Atalanta frustrated, but she let it slide.
"What exactly is the motive here master… I was never good at the politics game that Edison perfected for himself, but there is an ulterior objective here, right?" Tesla asked as Wodime smiled.
Wodime merely smiled as the cogs of a plan formed within his head.
"Stand straight." A woman dismissively said with a degree of anger and frustration in her voice. The shorter, younger blonde woman beside her quickly adhered to her orders as the formal attire she wore crumpled a bit due to her impatience.
The older woman simply sighed in disappointment much to the younger woman's shame while she fixed her mess. Still, while they were not as impressed with the palace and the current ruling monarch that resided within it, they both adhered to the respect and values that they upheld in their time.
Or at least in the older woman's case, she tried even if her disappointment was clear in every facet of her being. This was all her companion's fault and she wanted nothing to do with it, yet she was obligated all the same both for how her master supported it and for how this would benefit Olympia's mission as a whole.
"F-Father… I didn't mean to-
"Shush." The woman said with finality as her companion froze in place and in fear as a small subtle release of the dark aura, she carried emanated with her form for a few seconds.
"You got us into this mess… you will definitely make sure that your 'accident' is met with good results. Either way, I'm not pleased with you, but if you fumble again at the expense of our objective, there will be consequences."
"Y-yes… father." Her companion said.
There was a silence that followed as eventually the doors to the room they were in were opened, and out came a servant of the current monarch.
"The Queen, her Highness shall see you both now," he stated with pride as the King of Storms remained unimpressed. Her frown still cast and while her expression looked neutral, her companion, a certain Knight of Treachery continued to feel guilty about this entire affair.
"Let us go then…" Artoria Pendragon, the once cruel ruler of Britain in her world, was now to meet the current Queen of England, and she was very keen on knowing how well this person would match her own standards.
Time will tell…
1 DAY EARLIER…
"Bout' time you arrived, I was thinking of just busting in, no questions asked… maybe tag a bloke or two for questioning." William, otherwise known as Billy Butcher said as he opened the door to the hotel he was staying in for how close it was to the gala that was about to happen tomorrow.
A very important, televised gala of the world's new golden girl.
It was all rubbish of course, but the opportunity was just far too good to pass on.
"You only have one chance at this, if you get caught, I'm making sure we're severing all ties." Susan Raynor said as she entered the room while he scoffed.
"You always say that luv, but I know… you can't resist me." he snarked as the woman shook her head with a heavy sigh.
"This is serious… Olympia is not as closed as Vought. Certain people of a higher rank above me have vested interests in the company. You break any goodwill that tracks back to me, I'm denying your complicit activities completely."
"Well, it ain't complicit at all if we prove how the two giants are just shitheads taking advantage of the lot of us, ey?" He said with a grin before transitioning into a quick frown. "Don't worry, even if I don't get anything at all from those altruistic pricks, I'm still tagging what I need from Vought."
"Butcher… are you really certain you're going down this route?"
That was the main question, wasn't it?
A question, that Butcher himself didn't know how to answer.
AN: Once again, thank you for reading this story! And I'm very happy to get this out. My week hasn't really been stellar to begin with so delays kept happening. Hopefully since I'm a lot more free now, I can write more. So stay tuned.
Oh, and yes… surprise! I too didn't expect her at all to be mentioned in Lostbelt 5, which is why I combed through it again just for confirmation, and oh boy… I am excited to tell her side of the story soon.
Of course, Butcher's gonna be fun as well.
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♦ Topic: Lancer Appearance in Brockton
In: Boards ► Supe discussion ► Brockton Bay incident
Bagrat (Original Poster) (Veteran Member) (The Guy in the Know)
Posted On May 6th 2019:
So, some basic info for any of y'all who don't know:
Around 1400 hours a week ago, a massive shootout occurred between two members of local gangs.
1600 hours, A hero affiliated with Capes-for-Christ called Starlight shows up to assist local hero Airburst and police with evacuation, Queen Maeve arriving shortly after.
1700 hours, Airburst is incapacitated, Queen Maeve crashes through a building after being caught in an explosion, Starlight assists Maeve out of the rubble and rescues civilians, Olympia heroes (Lancer, Saber, and Caster) arrive, Lancer causes a shockwave which ends the gunfight and disperses the gang members.
1730 hours, Olympia and Starlight remain to repair damages and assist in first aid, at this time Queen Maeve begins shouting at Lancer. Exact details are unknown as no footage was recorded and we only have eyewitnesses from outside of hearing range.
What do you guys think happened? Why did Queen Maeve start an argument with Lancer?
(Showing page 50 of 50)
►TitaniaButterflyGurl (At Ground Zero: Brockton Bay) (Entomology expert)
Replied On May 6th 2019:
Don't know much about the Maeve drama, but it was probably just stress, being a supe seems like a pretty intense job. And Brockton Bay sucks, this is what, the 8th gang shootout this year? Thank God me and my dad are moving out soon.
►BadSamurai
Replied On May 6th 2019:
My bet is that Maeve's worried about her rankings, Lancer's a fair degree more popular than her as THE female supe. That kind of pressure would make anyone a little snappy.
►TheGnat (At Ground Zero: Brockton Bay)
Replied On May 6th 2019:
I was actually there at the shootout! Scariest moment of my life. Saw Maeve get helped out of the building, Starlight actually looked kinda…concerned when she pulled Maeve out. I was getting healed by Caster (the purple-haired one with a staff, not the one who makes medicine) and heard the first bit of the shouting: it sounded like Maeve was really struggling with something. Couldn't see much more before I got pushed away.
►Aloha
Replied On May 6th 2019:
Starlight was likely just worried about Maeve because she just watched her get sent into a building. Don't overthink this everybody.
►VoughtOfficial (Verified Account) (Verified Vought Employee)
Replied On May 6th 2019:
To clear up all misinformation involving the incident at Brockton Bay: At that time Queen Maeve was going through a difficult and tumultuous period. Lancer was able to help her on the right path and the two ended the conversation amicably, a sign of the amazing teamwork between Vought's heroes and Olympia's.
►AseRainbow
Replied On May 6th 2019:
Yeah, it's like what? The tenth time you guys keep saying this, and it's pretty clear that you're not as effective as Olympia was in dealing with things. When was the last time anybody under Vought done anything useful, outside of Homelander? He's been pretty consistent even after Olympia came into prominence.
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 … 37, 38, 39
♦ Topic: Berserker's Operations in SEA
In: Boards ► Supe Discussion ► Massive thunderstorm in the Philippines, related to Japanese Berserker? (THREAD LOCKED)
MoonfallBeliever (Original Poster) (Banned)
Posted On May 2nd 2019:
So I was watching the award ceremony in the Philippines for one of Olympia's heroes: Berserker and then just 4 days later, there was this massive thunderstorm that showed up out of nowhere and get this IT WAS CENTERED ENTIRELY ON THE PHILIPPINES! TELL ME THIS ISN'T CONNECTED
(Moderator's note: While this isn't an official rule, it's a common guideline to please use proper punctuation when posting)
(Showing page 1 of 1)
►doteEnergy
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
Mean, not really? Berserker is strong I agree, but none of her powersets indicate that she can do weather control, coincidences happen.
►MoonfallBeliever (Original Poster) (Banned)
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
CMON, she's using lightning powers and it was a thunderstorm! Why the hell aren't they related, I think Olympias hiding something major about their supes, they're probably poached from Vought, Liberty disappeared during the 1970s and now they have an "unrelated" supe with lightning powers show up, it's connected!
(Mod note: this is your first warning, spreading misinformation is against the forum rules)
►doteEnergy
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
I was kinda with you on the fact that Olympia is keeping something about its supes, especially since their official backstories are…weird but you completely lost me at the end. Japanese Berserker is y'know Japanese, speaks fluently, and has a noticeable accent, none of which Liberty had and how the hell is Berserker the same as Liberty when Berserker is like, middle-aged at most? The 2 are also just entirely different in looking and acting, this you just making stuff up.
►ChronoHyperion
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
You know, it's kinda insulting that the very first thing you Americans (I'm assuming you're American) talk about is stupid speculations about a superhero that's ACTUALLY here, doing a major change for our country. Where the hell was your Homelander, your A-Train, and even The Deep to solve the issue of the Shining Light Liberation Army? If Berserker, (I'm tempted to call her mommy) can solve this crisis in just a month and a half tops, why did nobody bother to even lend us a hand before she and Olympia came in the first place?
►PewPew
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
I feel very safe now, walking the streets without any interruption from the local warlord cells that inhabited my home, in Abra. Our place was not as important as any other province in the region, so our government just didn't help us in that regard. Berserker came in and basically evicted those pieces of filth out, almost to the point of complete victory. I heard some sympathizers of the Shining Light say that they're basically too scared to even face her or not take her demands with seriousness. I even got her autograph as a result, she's far too kind for this world. So much so that Olympia has stationed a temporary outpost just to make sure the Shining Light doesn't come rolling back in with ideas of retaking the place.
►MoonFallBeliever (Original Poster) (Banned)
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
They have caster, if they can make all these medical advancements, they could easily do plastic surgery and stop aging, they are just hiding it from us and learning Japanese isn't that hard, I spent a month on an online course and can do it easy, your just a shill for Olympia, wake up and see the truth!
►Brilliger (Moderator)
Replied On May 2nd 2019:
*Due to repeated infractions on this thread and others, MoonFallBeliever is hereby perma-banned, this thread will be locked as well, since it's just baseless speculation over a non-supe related topic*
End of Page. 1
♦ Topic: Queenly Visit
In: Boards ► Supe discussion ► Red Saber meeting with the queen, plus One Unknown Lady
Posted On May 8th 2019:
The title should be self-explanatory, alongside all the news coverage. Red Saber did a damn fine job at keeping a political protest from becoming violent and was invited to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth herself soon afterward. I know it was all too sudden, but it's surprising that the Queen paid attention to our lovable cat lover(?) that she invited her along, with what I'm assuming is her… I guess Mom? I mean they kinda look alike.
(Also please keep RL politics out of this thread, there's a whole sub-forum for that thing for a reason)
(Showing page 1 of 40)
►Antigone
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Was at the protest, when I first heard of Red Saber, thought she was faking the accent but now that I've heard her speak. Only a true Welshwoman could tell a crowd to piss off so fluently, here's the video of her speaking,
link:
[Video description: A video showing Mordred Pendragon telling the crowd to "piss off", none of them are right or wrong and calling everyone "a bunch of no good **** that haven't touched grass in years". Both Pro-Monarchist and Abolitionist crowds that were close to getting violent near Buckingham Palace were instantly silenced after that.
Pivotal Quote Transcript:
"Bugger off! All of you are stupid. None of you are correct or wrong! Yer all just a bunch of idiots complaining for the sake of complainin' on my day off!"
"Who're you to judge us?" a crowd member yells.
"Someone whose bloody day is already ruined because a bunch of wankers decided to be pissed off for no good reason other than they have nothing more to complain about with their own insecure, useless lives!"
"What?"
"Yeah, I said it! Bunch of no-good twats that haven't touched grass in years, have no right to complain about anything when you haven't done anything useful in the first place!"]
►Vinixie Infinity
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Ran into Red Saber with that unknown woman before the protest at a convenience store! She was pretty blunt but did allow me to take a photo, also like Red Saber is built! Photos don't do it justice. Her mom(?) is pretty hot though, however, she was pretty scary for a beautiful woman. Just her stare made my skin crawl.
Link:
[Image description: Mordred in a casual outfit posing next to a checkout line, a half-eaten "Strawberry and Thunder Crunch" bar is (poorly hidden) behind her while a very angry(?)/disappointed(?) Lancer Alter is eating a bucket of ice cream]
►DarknessDragon
Replied On May 8th 2019:
So y'know that drippy tuxedo that Red Saver and her mom showed up in for the palace visit? I work at this small little tailor's shop near the area where the protest happened, watching the news and suddenly, none other than the knight herself bursts in, asking me about how to get a suit for two pronto. I tamp down the request for an autograph and start working her through how to get measurements, type of suit, etc…and Red Saber's like weird, lemme know if you guys want the story.
►Le Shak
Replied On May 8th 2019:
C'mon, tell us. Don't just end on a cliffhanger, what do you mean by weird?
►Darkness Dragon
Replied On May 8th 2019:
During the measuring and fitting process, she kept mumbling in very odd Welsh with her mom(it wasn't like bad or someone who wasn't fluent, it was just weird). I could recognize some of the words, but it was stuff like: "Oh, this is just like when I got fitted for my armor back when I was young, don't you remember, Father?". Here's a photo of the finished suit for proof:
Link,
[Image description: Mordred compares a suit with Lancer Alter as she glares at her.]
►Xith
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Considering how mysterious Olympia is about its Hero's backstories, this is pretty major info. We at least know that Red Saber started working for Olympia fairly young or at least got her gear made when she was fairly young. Also, what the heck did she mean by father? Plus, doesn't this woman look important? I… I kinda get the feeling that just by looking at her, everything just screams authority and an innate feeling of just prostrating at her feet. She kinda reminds me of Black Knight, which is also a Lancer that's pretty active here in Europe.
►Drunk Bee
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Isn't the Black Knight a guy?
►Gabi Duck
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Dude, look at them curves in that armor. I'm pretty sure Red Saber's mom is the Black Knight. Why she calls him father, is anybody's guess. But hot damn, kudos to the dude who was lucky enough to score with that woman, even if we assume her older age, she looks beautiful still. I'd say even more beautiful than the Lancer.
►Good Ship Morpheus
Replied On May 8th 2019:
On Red Saber's palace visit itself, she and the Queen got along famously, seriously this was probably the happiest I've seen Her Majesty in any broadcast ever. Even with what we assume her mother was glaring the whole time while giving away some very heated insults, she had an air of amicable authority that just made Her Majesty smile. Red Saber herself was notably a lot more polite for someone who's just told a crowd to piss off. Also, we have a sibling to that famous video of Mordred playing a cat, Mordred playing with a corgi, which is hilarious since her mom just dragged her away by the ear for I quote, 'showing weakness in front of the pretenders'.
Link
[Video description: Mordred pets and plays with the Royal Pet Corgi, before being dragged away by Lancer Alter as the Queen happily sends them off with a genuine smile and wave]
►Tuvi
Replied On May 8th 2019:
Firstly, I am sharing that because it is adorable
Second, during the end of her visit and the last chat with the queen, after being (jokingly) asked what she thought of the Arthurian Court, she started speaking pretty in-depth, The Queen was pretty intrigued at her "origin", though she was shut up faster than she could explain everything by her mom, but some other highlights are:
Red Saber calling Sir Gawain a "Lunkhead"
2. Tristan apparently always keeps his eyes closed and having tendency to fall asleep standing up during meetings or playing his harp at random intervals
3. Bedivere being the straight man to the rest of the round table and having a "kick-ass silver arm"
I don't know if this is serious or anything, but given the whole motif this side of Olympia has, (they're probably an entire family packaged into one) Red Saber probably has siblings… and my God, who IN THE HELL IS THE FATHER OF THESE KIDS? Are we expecting more of her Siblings to come out of Olympia and be just as powerful as the Black Knight and Red Saber?! What the hell is Olympia packing???
End of Page. 1, 2, 3 … 32, 33, 34
Wodime stares at the most recent post regarding the whole debacle with the current ruling monarchy of the United Kingdom. His mind already thinking of the various serious complications, as well as boons brought about by this development. Most countries in the European continent were already quite welcoming of Olympia and he was glad that this little misstep by Mordred had produced a stronger, symbolic tie that would push public support further for them in that region.
For now, he was readying his comrades for the gala, officially sponsored by Vought. The reasons were already there, clear as day as to what they wanted. Especially when this was supposed to be a Pharmaceutical Gala between Olympia and Vought. Asclepius cared not for such theatrics, he was tolerable to it, especially when he agreed to come along to meet their representative in Vought Tower, but he had more important matters to deal with.
Given that they were now very close to cracking down what made Compound V special.
He would have wished to be there with the good doctor to see it done, but his presence was needed and dare he say it, required for this gala. Especially since he saw a possible strategy that would get him closer to a soft objective against Vought. A soft objective that would render some of Vought's established legs to falter under more pressure.
Raikou had already reported the presence of Vought's resident speedster coming in contact with the remnants of the Shining Light Liberation Army, he was deterred quickly due to Kintoki's presence, but he was documented with enough crucial evidence enough that it would be solid regardless with how Vought would spin it.
It was already starting to look like a tempting row of dominoes that awaited one piece to tip over the other. The only issue was the roadblock regarding Homelander. Wodime was quite glad actually, the man was not that much of a fool compared to how he first saw him. Even with his obsessions with Caenis aside, he was a competent enough player in this chess game.
The problem was, however, that when you compared the current number of players, playing this political game around the world, it did not amount to how effectively good and masterful most of the head families were within the cutthroat factions of the world of Magi. Wodime missed it actually, because as good as some players were within this world…
He still felt as if he was a grandmaster playing against amateurs.
That was not a slight against them, of course. He was still very respectful and admittedly admiring with how Vought kept their empire for this long. Yet, the playing field was just a tad bit lower than what he expected at first, and while he was never as perfect at this game as Marisbury was…
He knew when lady luck would aid and spite them, despite their current advantages.
There were a lot of close calls. None of his current line of comrades was deliberately problematic in nature… but he knew that his leash had holes in it. He knew his limits when it came to how much authority he had with all of them, but he knew that some temperaments were better than others…
And it was only time when some of them might slip to their tendencies.
He trusted them all still.
Far more than anybody in this world, but he had to be ready for anything.
Wodime eventually sighed as he looked at the papers on his desk. The calls for a proper Public Relations manager for Olympia were a priority that needed a seat already. He mulled over those thoughts as he began thinking about what to say for his speech at the gala.
"You have done exceptionally well, boy."
Wodime stiffened as he heard those words.
He turned his head and through the imperfect reflection of his glass windows, he saw a figure sitting in front of the chairs facing his desk.
"If you continue at this pace, I might just reward you with something useful…"
"I do not require it." Wodime flatly said without an ounce of respect, which was atypical of him.
"I see… I will give it regardless, should you reach that specific milestone. It might prove useful in hastening your progress…"
Wodime frowned as he looked at the figure through the reflection.
"I am doing quite fine… which is why I humbly thank you for your generous offer, but I believe that little gift will just be wasted."
There was a bit of silence between them before the figure nodded.
"Very well…" his voice echoed as he faded away and disappeared.
Wodime was disturbed.
The Observer was already growing enough power to manifest this way when several months ago, he could not even achieve a simple form outside of his little cave. His timetable needed to be moved in order to respond to this.
He began dialing a number on his desk phone until another voice invaded his thoughts through the servant-master connection.
"Master, I have something to report."
The voice came from the great Heracles.
Wodime began to wonder for what reason the man would call him at this hour.
AN: Special thanks to A Cool Name (From Spacebattles) for setting up that PHO interlude. I hope ye enjoyed some of the reveals, for some of them would be expanded on once we get to other POVs.
With that, I hope you enjoyed and I will quote a message from A Cool Name themselves for this chapter:
AN: Y'know, when i first made that omake and the suggestion for a PHO style thing, never thought i'd end up writing an official interlude. Thanks to y'all for the support and thanks to Lazyfrog for giving me the chance to write and writing this story in the first place
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