Super Sales on Super Heroes: Book 2

Chapter 14 - Discrimination -

“—Campbell is indeed running for governor,” said Jessica. On the screen, footage of the campus was rolling as Jessica gave her report.

“In fact, when I questioned him about that decision, he admitted that it was all due to the prison breakout. He told me the story of how his Legion security forces spent the better part of an entire day and night bringing order to the situation.

“I did some fact checking after my interview with him. Everything he said was exactly as was reported by the National Guard. I took some time to speak with residents in the area as well, and they had nothing but praise for Felix and his Legion.

“By all reports, both official and unofficial, Legion held the line and protected the citizens. Brought order to the situation. And ended what looked like it could destroy a good portion of the city.”

The television switched to Jessica sitting behind a desk, smiling into the camera.

“As a Beastkin, and knowing how Legion works, I can’t deny I’m curious to see how Felix will do in his bid for governor. Back to y—”

Felix turned off the screen on his phone and looked back to the crowd of students all flooding into the campus.

“And she got a promotion out of it,” Kit said into his earpiece.

“Good for her. And good for us. That story was everything we wanted and more. That’s some extreme level exposure for our college, and my run for governor,” Felix said.

“Speaking of your bid for governor. The racists are already lining up to crucify you. Your relationship with Andrea, and endorsement from Jessica, has put them on the other side of us. Of course, they don’t call it racism. Amounts to the same thing in the end,” Kit said. “And then there’s the fact that you own slaves.”

Felix could only nod at that. With so many races running around of every different flavor under the sun, there was no question about intermingling.

The larger issue was that people couldn’t escape mentalities of inferiority or superiority.

It all went back to the simple fact that some races were better at things than others. Like an all-Beastkin baseball team.

As a rule, humans were fairly average at all things. Elves, Beastkin, Trolls, Ogres, Dwarves, everything else, all had a niche they could own for themselves.

Many humans took that with a heavy helping of fear.

Felix just thought of it as being the baseline. Everyone needed baseline employees. Never a five, never a one, always a three or a four. If you were lucky, they made up the majority of your workforce.

“Nothing we can do about either situation,” Felix said nodding his head at a young woman who passed nearby him.

She must have recognized him as she quickly looked away and ducked into the entry hall for the administration building.

Everyone who recognized him shied away immediately. Those who didn’t sometimes stopped and talked to him, or asked for directions.

He was happy to help. It was enjoyable.

His security detail wasn’t far off either, and they didn’t seem to mind the people at all. Andrea was on his left, watching everything with an ear to ear grin.

“Besides, they were already after me before when they realized Legion University accepts all races. If anything, this’ll just draw all those in favor of equality into my camp,” Felix said. “It’s doing me a favor. Less backers I have to worry about soothing. They can be part of the pool of essentials and need little in the way of effort.”

“Ok, I’m tired of you talking about this. I don’t understand what you mean by essentials, and the pools, and backers and—”

“Sorry. It’s how I think of everything when it comes to having power. An essential is someone I need and/or must secure to get into power. In this case, I need certain people in the community to back me and press for votes,” Felix said. He paused to smile and nod to a young Beastkin man who looked up from a pamphlet.

“In this case, I was never going to secure the votes for Humanity First. There was no point in ever trying to get their votes. Now, for the non-human communities, the opposite is now true. I can use them to drum votes in my direction with little or no effort on my part.”

“So… why aren’t they essential?”

“Because with or without my attention, they’ll push for my governorship. This isn’t true for those who respect the police chief. Or those who follow the business leaders of the community. Those are essential for my election, as are their backers. I’ll need their support. So I have to figure out what they need or want from me, and either make that promise, or figure out who I can use otherwise.”

“And that’s why you wanted to know who their replacements and competitors were,” Kit said.

“Yep. Unlike most politicians, I have options available to me. A competitor is a valid piece for me, when it wouldn’t be for anyone else. Hence my need to determine my essentials and backers. It’ll also come down to offering public policies that the general populace want to secure unaffiliated voters.”

“And that’s why you combined the interview with the tour. I think I understand. So… what’s next?”

“We’ve already made promises of education, and are carrying out on that. Above board, cheap, easily readable contract, and a job. Security for businesses would be next. I have some ideas on that already,” Felix said. “We do have some seniors transferring in, don’t we?”

“We do. Their contract for work is only set at a year. Why?”

“Send me a list of everyone interested in security, military, or defense. Both physical and intellectual.”

“I can get that,” Andrea said from his side, rapidly typing into her tablet. “It’ll only be a few minutes. I’ve been thinking about what you were saying the other day. Me, holding down the homefront.”

“Oh? Thank you by the way for getting me that data, Andrea.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to be security anymore. I want to lead a department. Or directing security if I have to stay in that. I’ve been speaking about this to Victoria and Ioana. They’re both on board with it. I’ve been making plans to pull all the Others out and put them into other positions. To learn more about Legion, and be in the know for anything you need. To truly be your personal secretary.”

Felix was a bit shocked at that. Andrea hadn’t really displayed any desire for that course of action previous to this.

What changed?

Calling up her character screen, Felix started to read it over.

Name:

Andrea Elex

Power: Multiple Self Projections

Alias: Andrea, Andie, Lex.

Secondary Power: Partitioned Mind

Physical Status:

Healthy

Third Power: Directed Complete Regeneration

Positive Statuses:

None

Mental Status:

Happy; Determined

Negative Statuses:

None

Strength:

44

Upgrade?(440)

Dexterity:

62

Upgrade?(620)

Agility:

71

Upgrade?(710)

Stamina:

70

Upgrade?(700)

Wisdom:

81

Upgrade?(810)

Intelligence:

40

Upgrade?(270)

Luck:

53

Upgrade?(530)

Primary Power:

31

Upgrade?(3,100)

Secondary Power:

79

Upgrade?(7,900)

Third Power:

50

Upgrade?(5,000)

Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.

Everything was exactly as he remembered it.

“I’m curious. What drove you to this? It couldn’t have just been me asking you to defend to the HQ,” Felix asked. He could practically hear Kit asking the same question over the earpiece.

“I… I spent last night with all of my Others with me. No one liked what happened. That we were given a task that took us away from you. That not one of us could be left somewhere else. None of us liked it. We’re going to change our role to fit what we want. We want to be your personal secretary.

“Now we will be. We have Others in almost every department, and spread throughout the ranks. We also enlisted some of the tech department to provide us with a way to communicate with one another privately. I’m… I’m going to be your Andrea-net,” said the Beastkin, looking up from her tablet and meeting his eyes. “And the Andrea-net won’t fail you.”

There was a soft chime on his wristwatch signaling an incoming email.

“I sent you the list, as well as everyone’s scores, home lives, and potential for hazard-duty assignments. I also put in a list of all business owners who were impacted by the prison breakout, and all those who were close enough that they could have been impacted,” Andrea said.

Felix raised his eyebrows at that.

“Remind me to reward the Andrea-net,” Felix said.

“I figured you’d eventually offer something like that,” Andrea said, looking to her tablet. “I need you to sign this requisition form. It’ll build out a floor specific to my Others and me only. It’ll be the Andrea-net, and where we will gather to consolidate information.”

“I… I see. Alright, sure, I can sign that. It makes sense,” Felix said.

Turning his wrist over he opened his mailbox. Almost immediately a requisition form popped to the top of the list. He opened it and pressed the “approve” button that Andrea had attached to the bottom.

It filled out all the appropriate information automatically and sent it off to only Andrea knew where.

“Thank you, Felix. As a mate, you’re good to me, and as a boss, you’re better. It isn’t simple infatuation. You’re a good man, and you do good things, while protecting our pack. You’re a good Alpha,” Andrea said, peering up at him shyly.

Felix only nodded his head, he wasn’t quite sure how to respond to that. Though he had to admit, it gave him a bit more insight into why Andrea wanted to be with him.

Now to build out a security plan for businesses.

“On second thought. Could you use the Andrea-net to gather up everyone you think would qualify on that list for hazard-duty, after all? I want to have a meeting with those seniors and present them with the opportunity to get into a new Legion business expansion. Security. Probably should get a Fixer in there, too.”

Andrea grinned at him, flashing her bright white teeth. “Nn! Consider it done, boss.”

“Kit, we’ll need time to prep the seniors who volunteer and skill them. In the meantime, could you get me in front of whatever board is in control of the prisons?”

“Of course. I’ll have it set up as soon as possible,” Kit said.

From here on out, there is no backtracking.

And on top of everything else, there’s been no news on the data we stole from the heroes. No news at all tends to mean that there is nothing to report that’s favorable, or they can’t even get in.

Everything is just getting more complicated.

Felix adjusted the cuff on his left arm.

Out of habit he touched the ring on his right hand. He’d taken to wearing it since the prison break a few weeks ago. It was a construct Lily, Felicia, and White had built for him.

A very simplified version of the crown, which only blocked the powers of other mind readers. The only exception to that was anyone wearing a Fixer’s version of the ring.

It was a simple silver band. The crown of it was flat with a red background. Stamped in the middle of that was a black L.

Everyone in Legion was being issued one with the instructions to never take it off.

Mind reading was the easiest form of espionage. Just because Kit was the strongest, didn’t mean there weren’t others who could read your mind as easily.

Unthinkingly, Felix then checked Lily’s charm that rested on the inside of his dress shirt. He could feel it just under his tie.

“We’ll be right here,” Victoria said. “Should anything go wrong, we’ll be in there in a heartbeat.”

Miu fixed him with her flat stare.

He knew her mind now. Knew her fractured thoughts.

She didn’t want him to be alone in there and was contemplating disobeying him. Felix feared her twisted mind could rearrange his orders into whatever she wanted it to be. He’d been getting large doses of her crazy as she began to teach him hand to hand combat in a more unhinged fashion. There was no doubt in his mind she was insane.

Andrea nodded her head emphatically at his words, and the other two calmed at her unspoken cue.

Kit and Lily were already talking about something privately and had taken seats.

“It’ll be fine. I’m just meeting with the prison board. This should be a productive meeting,” Felix said with a smile for them.

Reaching out he turned the doorknob and opened the door. Stepping into the conference room, he found seven men and women staring at him.

The door shut with a quiet click behind him.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Campbell,” said the woman in the center position.

She was older with touches of gray at her temples. She also looked exactly as he expected. Stern, pale faced, and bureaucratic.

“Good afternoon, chairwoman,” Felix said with a smile.

Running down the line of men and women, he found there was an eighth chair off to the side of the table, and one chair facing those eight.

Felix moved towards that chair and took a seat, unbuttoning his jacket and letting it open at the front. He set his manila folder down on the table and then folded his hands into one another.

“We’re waiting for—”

A side door opened and a man in a super hero outfit walked in, causing the chairwoman to pause.

The Hero looked at Felix, then sat down in the eighth chair.

“Ah, we’re all accounted for. A representative of the Heroes Guild asked to be here to represent their interests,” said the chairwoman.

“As you will. First, I’d like to have permission to record this meeting,” Felix said. After a pause he produced a recorder from his pocket. Laying it down on the table he continued. “With my governor bid, I want to make sure that all of my dealings are above board, and without any type of conflict of interest.”

“That is… I see no reason why not,” said the chairwoman.

There was no grounds to stop him from recording the proceedings. He’d already had Lily look into it. If they had tried to shut him down, he would have recorded the meeting anyways and released it to the public at some point.

“Great,” Felix said. Tapping the record button he glanced at the display. “This recording is a meeting between Felix Campbell, CEO of Legion, and the committee of prison affairs. The date and attendees are as follows—”

Felix said the date aloud and then read through the names for each of those attending. He paused, staring at the hero.

“We’ve been joined by one representative of the super heroes guild by the name of…” Felix paused, waiting for the man to introduce himself.

“Not needed,” said the man.

Felix nodded his head.

“The representative has refused to identify himself. He’s dressed in a dark black outfit with red pinstripe accents running up and down both the arms and legs. Estimated height at five foot ten,” Felix continued.

Without missing a beat as he talked, Felix pulled his phone out of his pocket and took a photo of the super hero.

“I’ve taken a photo of the hero for my own notes on my personal cell phone—”

“You can’t do that!” shouted the hero, standing up.

“I can do that. It’s perfectly within my rights to take a photo whenever and however I see fit. This is not a closed door meeting, and recording was allowed by the chairwoman. Nor is this under any type of government oversight. This is a contract meeting,” Felix said.

The hero continued to close in on Felix, coming around the table.

“I don’t recommend that,” Felix said. Miu and Victoria were both on the other side of the door. Both had enhanced senses. “You have no right to touch me, my person, or my belongings. I’ll ask you to stop right there.”

Apparently the hero wasn’t used to someone telling him what to do. His response was anger, and what could be seen of his face was telling.

Miu appeared between Felix and the Hero. She stood stock still, her arms hanging at her sides.

Victoria opened the door and stepped through, her blade moving backwards as she prepared to lunge forward towards the hero. Andrea was a step behind her, an SMG snuggled up into her shoulder.

“Stop,” Felix commanded.

Victoria came to a rest, her blade held at the ready and a single muscle movement away from impaling the Hero.

Miu stood as she had previously. Waiting for the Hero to get too close.

“Now, I’ll say it again. I’m a citizen, in a meeting that is being conducted publicly,” Felix said. He caught Lily and Kit entering the room and closing the door behind themselves. “You are acting in a hostile way that will force my bodyguards to defend my person. You can take your seat, and we can begin this meeting, or you can leave. It’s that simple.”

“You’re telling me what to do!?” shouted the hero. He’d stopped two feet from Miu and was glaring down at Felix. Ignoring the petite woman.

“I am. Because you have no right to do anything to me. I’m giving you the best advice you’ll ever get. And probably the only warning you’ll get,” Felix said.

He didn’t think this situation was going to deescalate. The guild of heroes was full of people who believed they knew what was right and wrong.

He doubted this particular Dudley would hear the reason in Felix’s voice.

Reaching over Miu, the Hero made for Felix’s phone.

Miu snatched the man’s wrist, bent it to one side, then turned his arm around with a crackling sound. She held his arm back behind his head as her left hand snaked down around his throat.

“Miu, don’t kill him. Release him,” Felix said.

The Hero fell to the ground, shrieking and holding his broken arm.

Sighing, Felix turned back to the committee. “My apologies. Often I find myself the target of discrimination on the part of the Heroes guild. Kit, could you get him out of here and seated in the lobby? Lily, could you notify the guild of the situation and that I’m contemplating charges?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll see it done.”

“Great. Now, madam chairwoman, could we please move on to business? I’d like to make an offer towards taking responsibility over a number of prisons,” Felix said. “We have no interest in any prisons containing super villains, as that’s the domain of the guild.”

The chairwoman was staring at him.

He imagined she was shocked at what had just happened. Heroes weren’t supposed to lose. Be overpowered. Cowed. Beaten with logic.

“I would like to operate them as non-profit entities. Any and every penny the prisons in my care would make would be reinvested back into the prison itself. Higher walls, more guards, more rehabilitation programs, more opportunities to curb their behavior. We can’t save them all, but if I can save even a fraction of them, I’d consider it money well spent,” Felix said.

“Non-profit?” she asked. She seemed as if she were coming back to the world.

“That’s right. I don’t need to make money off the prisons. I’d rather spare the tax payers, and give them some security,” Felix confirmed.

Miu was standing on his right, in almost the same position she’d appeared in. Victoria on his left. Kit and Lily had both already left to take care of the matters he’d asked them to.

Andrea was lurking behind him. He couldn’t see her, but he could feel her there.

“I… we have a lot of contracts with the guild. They—”

“Failed,” Felix said, interrupting her. “And the citizens suffered for it. Paid for it. Are still paying for it. Legion and I can handle all the normal prisons. The guild and their super villains can go outside of the city. It’d be best for everyone,” Felix said.

He now had every intention of releasing this recording to the public later on. If the committee turned him down, it was likely that there’d be a harsh backlash from the public. Felix idly wondered if the chairwoman realized that she was effectively trapped. Taking a moment he looked into her eyes and saw anger there. Amongst her wariness and dislike of him was pure anger.

She knows.

Felix grinned at her from across the table.

Good.