Broker

Chapter 249

“What a mess.”

Sonya pulled her hair back and crossed her arms as she looked down at the crime scene. Blood had stained nearly every surface of the rear of the cell. It was like Liberty had been torn to pieces. There were obvious signs of someone using some sort of large, blunt weapon as well, cracks and divots in the wall and ceiling. She looked down at the hammer on the ground with an evidence tag next to it. It looked a lot like Cassiopeia’s. 

“A war maul,” one of the investigators said, drawing her attention. “Looks a lot like Hero Harbingers, but there are some differences.” The investigator was a young man with a comb-over of black hair and cold eyes. He wore the grey uniform of a Committee Hero. He crouched next to the hammer and ran a gloved hand down the shaft. “Wrong color, for one.”

Sonya’s eyes narrowed. “They tried to frame her.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the investigator said and got to his feet. “We have enough footage of Harbinger’s fights that we were able to pick out specific details to identify it.”

“Chernovna,” Leiandra’s voice came from behind her.

Sonya didn’t turn around, her eyes fixed on the hammer. “Call me Sonya, Leiandra,” she said and nodded to the investigator. “Thank you. My only wish is that you were one of the first on the scene.”

He gave her a sad smile. “They only call me after the fact usually, ma’am. I’ll see myself out.” He got to his feet and walked away as Sonya continued to stare at the hammer.

I know you did this, Otis. I don’t know how. Have you already made contact with Craftsman?

“Sonya, a moment,” Leiandra pressed.

Sonya turned to face the red-eyed woman. “You have my attention, Leiandra,” she said quietly, her smile not quite meeting her eyes. 

“There will be an internal investigation concerning the actions of those representatives,” she said. “I know you’re angry. I would appreciate it if you didn’t retaliate against them.”

Sonya raised an eyebrow and cracked a grin. “Oh? And how are you going to show that appreciation, Leiandra?”

Leiandra frowned. “Please be professional, Sonya. I’ve already told you that won’t work on me.”

Sonya chuckled. “Killjoy,” she said with a shrug and shot the woman a sidelong look before putting her hands in her pockets. “Well?”

“I don’t make those kinds of deals. I still intend to investigate the methods you used to acquire those companies. I can’t make exceptions,” she said with a sigh and shake of her head. “I can tell you care about your people, but-”

“Leiandra,” Sonya said and approached her. She put her hand on the prosecutor’s shoulder. “Listen. People call me the Voice of the Hero Movement because of that day at Congress. I have a pretty good reputation, I know that,” she let out a breath. “But I’ll be frank with you. I’m a businesswoman. I don’t do things for free, and I can be ruthless when I need to be. If you’re looking for a nice person in me, you won’t find it. I’m kind to those I care about. That’s it.”

Leiandra met her eyes. “You’re being very forthcoming.”

“You earned my respect today,” Sonya said, and patted her shoulder. “Nothing more than that.” She walked past the woman and out the door. “I’ll have Mister Matthews prepare the documents regarding the purchase of those companies.”

“Just like that?”

Sonya snorted. “Of course not. I’ll have him prepare them, but you’ll have to work for it,” she said and turned her head back to grin at the woman. “You’re a good prosecutor, right? Prosecute. If you can beat Colin, you can have a peek.” She winked at Leiandra and turned away.

“Challenge accepted, Sonya.”

Sonya raised a hand and waved as she walked away.

–

Sonya met Marta outside of the room where Cass was resting. She met her friend’s gaze and gave her a half smile. “It’s a mess in the cell,” she said quietly. “They used a hammer that looks a lot like hers.”

Marta scowled and glanced back at the door, reaching up to run her fingers through her brown hair. She looked down at the ground and then up at her. “You really think it was him?” she murmured.

“Fairly certain, but the hammer complicates things,” Sonya said and glanced down at her shadow. The silent supervillain within didn’t react, patiently waiting for his next order. She looked up and into Marta’s eyes. “I can’t rule out that Craftsman is involved,” she said quietly, and she felt the shadow shift slightly. “If that’s the case, he’ll be far more cautious in the future. The guy’s a coward to begin with, so…”

“It may be some time before we find him,” Marta nodded. “Understood.”

Sonya glanced at the door. “How is she?”

“Tired. It was a long day, and she didn’t get a chance to sleep. Then all of this,” she said. “Do you want to see her?”

“Of course,” Sonya said, and Marta turned to open the door for her. The small room was a break room for Committee personnel that was made up of a quartet of bunks, a small table, and a kitchenette. She found Colin sitting at the table reading over a few documents, while Lillian sat on one of the bunks, her eyes focused on the one across from her. 

Lillian was the first to look up. She smiled wearily; the bags under her eyes were pronounced. “Hey, boss.”

“Not your boss,” Sonya teased and walked over to peek at Colin’s documents. “Having fun?”

He looked at her and gave her an impish grin. “Deciding on what kind of lawsuit I want to bring, what I should milk them for, that kind of thing. What do you think? I might be able to make a workplace injury argument if I do some gymnastics,” he said and crossed his legs, flicking one of his stiletto-clad feet left and right. “Or maybe…”

Sonya leaned in and tapped him on the nose. “Let’s talk about it during our trip, mm?”

He met her gaze, and then his eyebrows rose. “Got it,” he said easily, and started putting his documents away.

“You’re going on a trip?” Lillian asked as Marta found a place to sit across from Colin.

“See a bit more of the world, that kind of thing. I need to follow up on some business in China,” Sonya said offhandedly and leaned against the wall at the entryway. “Why do you ask? Wanna come?”

Lillian laughed. “No, thank you,” she said and looked down at the floor. “I’m so tired. I feel better after what you said earlier, but-” She shook her head and ran her fingers through her hair. “I need a break before I jump back in. I don’t know how you do it.”

Sonya chuckled. “I take breaks too,” she said. “Don’t feel bad about being tired, Lillian. You fought in a war a few days ago. If you weren’t tired, I’d be worried,” she said and approached her before gesturing at the spot next to her on the bunk. “May I?”

Lillian nodded and shifted over a little, letting Sonya sit. Sonya gave her a warm smile and patted her back before turning to the girl sleeping soundly across from her. Cass looked just as tired as Lillian, if not more so. She rolled in her sleep, and her eyes fluttered. Sonya tilted her head and smiled as her daughter opened her eyes. “Hey there, sleepyhead,” she murmured.

Cass smiled drowsily. “Hey, mom.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Better,” Cass said and rolled onto her back. “That’s a lie. I’m beat.” Her lips thinned into a frown as she stared up at the ceiling. “Think I had an illusion broken for me today.”

Sonya frowned and nodded. “I know,” she said and reached out to her. Cass reached back, and Sonya took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “You… know why they picked you up, right?”

Cass nodded, her throat bobbing. “Yeah,” she croaked. “I hated her. But I wanted her to face her crimes. I thought maybe… I don’t know. She’d have some moment of clarity before the end. There was no way she wasn’t getting the death penalty.”

Sonya leaned forward and held her hand with both of hers, rubbing her palm with her thumbs. “I’m so sorry, Cass,” she said. “You aren’t alone, though. I’m here for you, and so is Lillian. You have a family.”

Cass' lips trembled as she stared up at the bunk above her, nodding slowly. Her expression broke as a pained sob rocked its way out of her. She reached up and gripped at her shirt, clutching at her heart. Tears streamed down her face. Sonya slipped off the bunk and pulled the girl she’d taken in as her daughter into an embrace, holding her tight as she wept out all of her grief and pain.

–

Sonya walked back into the hotel room just as dawn was beginning to break. She wandered over to the couch and nearly threw herself into it before she spotted Amos sound asleep where she’d left him. She let out a whine and trundled over to the recliner, falling into it and letting out a groan, her face pressed into the upholstery. She heard Marta make a disapproving huff, but she paid her no mind, rolling onto her back and kicking out her feet. “I’m gonna have to stay up all day, aren’t I?”

“If you don’t want your sleep schedule to be completely ruined,” Marta said.

Sonya puffed out her lips in a pout and turned away, looking out the window. “You think Cass will be okay?”

“She’s back with her friends now,” Marta said. “She’ll be fine. Fortunately, she has a mother with remarkably good instincts. I have your memories from the previous timeline, but I get the feeling you hid something.”

Sonya rolled her eyes and turned to face Marta. “No, Chunhua and I didn’t have science babies, you weeb.”

Marta laughed. “You really are back, aren’t you? Calling me a weeb.”

Sonya sank into the chair. “Yeah,” she said. “Feels good to be in control of my emotions. Not just faking it all the time. I think my compulsion to tell the truth was making it harder.”

“You guys are loud,” Amos grumbled, sitting up.

“There he is!” Sonya cheered. “Lucky bastard, getting to nap.”

“Not my fault you don’t put me on the field,” Amos said with a shrug. “You still want those deets on Firth?”

Sonya frowned a little and rested her chin on her knuckles, looking off into the rest of the hotel suite. She drummed her fingers on the arm of the chair. “Mm… yes. I think it would be good to know as much as I can about her. Even if I don’t think she’s going to be a huge problem.”

“She’s tough but fair,” Marta agreed.

“Good at what she does too,” Amos added. “Her trial victory rate is off the charts. Colin’s got a nemesis. Anyway, I’ll send ‘em over,” he said and fell back onto the sofa, looking up at the ceiling and stretching out his legs. He winked at Marta when she gave him a disapproving stare.

Sonya shrugged. “As much as this was an interesting road bump, investigating and throwing my weight around won’t do us any good. I’d rather take advantage of our existing plans and use them to exact appropriate vengeance.”

“Vengeance?” Amos asked. “What I miss?”

A few minutes later, Amos was on his feet, stalking back and forth with his hands in his pockets. “Could use the Night Society and give them the reputation assassination of the century,” he grumbled as he fumed. “Cass is a good kid!” he barked and rounded on the couch. “Fuckin’ assholes!”

Sonya laughed. “Calm down, Captain Badass, we’ll get them. Using the Night Society for this isn’t what I have in mind, though. Not personal enough. That said,” she grinned. “Those idiots did give me a wonderful idea!”

Amos and Marta looked at one another uneasily. Marta cleared her throat. “Details?”

Sonya pouted. “Oh, it won’t be that bad,” she said and activated Regalia enough to call Ishtar up to the surface.  A moment later, a Legionnaire portal appeared, and one of the statue warriors stepped out, its stature much shorter than the usual imposing height. A faint glow wrapped around its body before it changed to take on the appearance of Ishtar’s new look. Pixie-cut, short white hair with bangs, muscular arms and shoulders covered in scars. 

“Hey, sis,” Sonya said brightly as Ishtar turned to her with a raised eyebrow. “You mind trying to assassinate me?”

–

Sonya yawned noisily as she walked down the hall of the hotel, scratching at her waist. Marta had dozed off, giving her an opportunity to sneak out long enough to make it to the vending machines. She grinned impishly, looking forward to some decent sugary snacks. Nectar and Ambrosia was great for taste, but there was something about binging junk food and getting full on it that was just so satisfying.

She hummed to herself, stopping in front of the machine and looking it over. “Mmm… Cola sounds tasty, but man, I need a pick-me-up,” she mumbled and waved her card over the reader. I could use Technopathy to just force the machine, but I’m not an asshole, she thought, and tapped the button for the sugariest energy drink she could find. “Now for the snacks…” She rubbed her hands together. “Doughnuts.” BOOP “Sour candies.” BOOP “Are those flavor-stuffed, cherry licorice sticks?” She gasped. “I’ll take three!”

The junk food filled the outlet, and she gathered it all up only for her senses to pick up on someone approaching her from behind. She didn’t look up, piling the snacks into her arms as her Technopathy connected with the security cameras above her. She rolled her eyes. “Hello Martin,” she said. “Or is it Mimir now?”

“You are hard to sneak up on,” he said from behind her.

She got to her feet, cradling her darling snacks and turning to face him. She brandished an easy smile and then looked down at her snacks again. “Oh, sorry, I’m being rude,” she said and adjusted her arms a little until she extended one of her hands in greeting.

He looked down at her hand and then up at her, his face deadpan.

Her lip twitched. “Spoilsport,” she said with a laugh before glancing down at the gun in his hand. She raised her eyebrows pityingly before meeting his eyes. “Really? This is kind of sad.”

“Sadder than toying with the lives of children?” He demanded.

She pursed her lips and squinted at him. “Huh?”

“Lillian Landrey and Cassiopeia Hanks,” he bit out.

“Cassiopeia Chernovna,” Sonya corrected testily. “Don’t make that mistake again, or this conversation will get a lot less jovial.” He frowned and looked down at his gun before looking at her again. She snorted. “Oh, come on,” she said. “You know you can’t kill me with that. Even with Pandora-grade munitions.”

He sighed and put the gun away. “Why did you do it?”

“Why don’t you just use those eyes of yours and find out yourself, smart guy?” Sonya teased.

“You are impossible to talk to,” he growled.

“And you need therapy, buddy,” she said before shaking her head. “What do you want, Captain Vigilante?”

“I’m here to ask you one last time to give up and turn yourself in,” he said. “I know you want to be punished for your crimes, so just get it over with instead of dragging the whole world down with you. There’s a decent person in that crazy head of yours.”

She barked out a wild laugh. “Oh, you’re about two or three hundred years late, buddy.” She ignored the confused look he gave her and went on. “If you’d asked me sooner, I might have even engaged you on the topic.”

“And now?”

“I’m going to save the world, Mimir, and get away with it,” she said with a smug smile. “You aren’t going to stop me. No one will.”

“We’ll see about that,” he growled.

“Bring it on!” She snickered before looking down at her snacks. “Now, if you don’t mind. I want to binge eat all of this. Go away.”

“Last offer, Chernovna,” he growled. “After I leave, I won’t stop hunting you.”

“More power to you,” Sonya said before winking at him. Something sparked in his pocket, and smoke rose from it. “Nice try on the recorder, by the way.. Good attempt. It was even insulated against wireless signals. Took me a second to notice it.”

He scowled and turned away. “I’ll see you soon, Ishtar.”

“Looking forward to it, Mimir.”