Super Sales on Super Heroes: Book 2

Chapter 25 - Self Eval -

At first, it seemed as if Skipper’s forces would steamroll right over the local police, government, and armed forces.

Then the government sent in the army and the air force. The guild dispatched numerous heroes. Vigilantes began pouring into the city of Tilen from the surrounding areas.

Doubling down on their attack, a second government army was sent to retake Skippercity, even going so far as to employ hundreds and hundreds of mercenary Powereds.

The ANet was keeping tabs on the situation by deploying a number of drone assets that Felicia had developed. Many of them would have to return and refuel, but those were exceptions with specialized functions.

An overwhelming majority of them had power supplies that could resupply themselves through other means. Solar, wind, and even a few that could tap into the grid directly. Those could remain in the field indefinitely.

Legion forces had been tasked to sweep, clear, and evacuate the upper floors of the HQ buildings for both locations.

After that, Felix had activated the security protocol, and his powers, that would seal up both locations from the outside world.

It’d appear as if there was never anything below the ground floor.

Legion was effectively safe behind a thick cement barrier and deep underground. Anyone who came to call on them would find only an empty building, and not a trace of them.

The only thing that anyone could find, and this wasn’t something they could change since it was the point to be found, were the emergency civilian bunkers.

They’d filled to capacity immediately, and immediately gone over it. Now they were locked down and closed shut. That didn’t mean the bunkers were invisible though.

Several times Legion Security had been forced to scare off, or eliminate, threats that came to the front entrance. It was an unfortunate reality, but Legion was already taking care of more than their expected responsibility.

Felix was now sitting in his actual office below ground.

It’d only been about eight hours since the attack started. Already the infrastructure of both cities had broken down. It was being carved into two different sectors: the actual government, and Skipper’s. The middle ground was a contested area where both sides clashed.

Whenever Skipper showed up at a location, the government pushed at the other. Skipper was only one person after all. The strength of her alone was immense, but she simply couldn’t be in two places at the same time.

“She doesn’t trust her people to do what they need to do. She can’t conceive of giving them the power to uphold their own sectors, because it’d be the power they need to overthrow her. Even though she practically controls them like puppets through the rings and crowns,” Felix said, reading through another report.

“Nn,” Andrea said at his side, typing into her terminal at the same time.

“Not everyone owns their employees,” Lily said. She was sprawled out on a couch nearby.

She’d been coordinating efforts between the various villainous organizations, the magical societies, and Legion.

Felix snorted at that. “Uh huh. Everyone in Tilen was never a slave, but an employee. Technically speaking, everyone who’s come to Tilen became free instantly. You’ll remember I had everyone sign a second contract when they entered. The contract breaks might be steep, but nothing someone couldn’t live with. You should know, you wrote part of it, Miss Lawyer Lady.”

Lily waved a hand at him dismissively.

“Yes, yes. I admit it. I could have walked away. Everyone could have.” Lily paused and seemed to dwell on her thoughts. “Maybe if it had happened early on I might have even left. But now… Legion feels like home. Like the place I want to return to. I have friends here. Coworkers, colleagues, respect, and a support group. Even the lowest employees are given all the same things.”

“Yeah, you’ve mentioned that before,” Felix said, closing the report and opening one from Dimitry.

“And I stand by it. Even people who fight, disagree, and argue are still coworkers at the end of the day. Everyone wants to simply better Legion. Everyone is equal, no one is different, and everyone spends their money in the way that they want. You’re somehow walking a fine line between capitalism and socialism, and it’s working.”

“A cult, maybe?” Felix said offhandedly. Skimming through the report Dimitry had sent up, he couldn’t help but be mildly concerned.

As a whole, the world of crime in Skippercity was going through an apocalyptic level of change. Dimitry wasn’t sitting on his hands either. He’d leveraged all of the assets Felix had given him, and expanded their territory, membership, and area of control by three times its original size.

Felix had the unfortunate regret of having not created a Dimitry here in Tilen. Even if Legion had to board up its windows, Dimitry would be able to function and provide almost all the same functions that could be done legally. It would have just been catering more to the unsavory types, rather than the general public.

“A cult fits,” Kit said from her chair. She was slouching in it, her fingertips pressed to her temples. “The simple adoration that everyone thinks towards you is overwhelming at times. The constant praise. The unyielding determination to be noticed and move up. One of the big benefits to a meritocracy, I suppose.”

Felix shrugged and started writing a response back to Dimitry. Wondering if he could get someone he trusted to start up operations here in Tilen.

Dimitry had a Telemedic on duty after all. It was a bit late to start, but it didn’t hurt to try.

“Now that word has spread about Legion world, everyone is asking when they can put in for a transfer,” Kit continued. “A world built from the ground up from a Legion point of view seems to fit with a lot of view points. Since we have too many mouths to feed here, I’ve approved a large number of temporary transfers from both Tilen and Skippercity. Michael is drowning under resources right now. I imagine the next time we visit that tiny outpost might be a fortress. Or so I—”

Kit went silent as Victoria trooped in, still dressed in her combat armor. Her blade was sheathed at her hip, the click of the baldric as it swung back and forth as she walked was audible.

It was the look of her that’d gotten everyone’s attention, however.

Blood was splattered up one side, and ash and soot down the other. She looked very much the picture of someone who’d gone through hell and back.

“We fought off a government incursion that wouldn’t take no for an answer,” Victoria said. “Then bounced back an attack from Skipper. I think both sides will leave Legion territory alone. I sent your communication to both sides, per your orders.”

Felix finally broke his attention completely from his computer and turned to face Victoria.

One must give respect where it’s due. And the greatest respect must be given for a hard job done well.

“Thank you, Victoria. You and your department weren’t meant for combat duty on the front line, but you’re performing extremely well. Please give everyone my gratitude, and that I’ll not forget this,” Felix said, meeting Victoria’s eyes evenly.

She blinked twice and then nodded her head slowly. “Of course, Felix.”

“Great. If they listen to the message, and actually heed it, then we’ll be in the clear without anyone worrying about us. I’d like to play the neutral party if possible, and let them blast away at each other until they tire of it,” Felix admitted. Sighing he shook his head and smiled ruefully. “I should have been celebrating my successful bid for governor by now, rather than worrying about military matters.”

“Isn’t that why Skipper attacked?” Andrea asked. She was leaning over her terminal, poking at something with one finger. “I mean, the day before you were more or less guaranteed to become governor, and take ownership of the city. Perhaps not in a purely contractual sense, but certainly as a temporary caretaker. I can only imagine the resources you’d have at your disposal then.”

Everyone in the room went still.

It makes sense. She wasn’t ready. Her takeover of Skippercity was so much more planned out. So much more… ready.

Already set in place. It was merely a matter of springing the attack.

This time was nowhere near that level.

“I really wanted to ride on a helicopter, too,” Andrea Prime whined. “That or go to a fancy five star restaurant with the governor. See if they can make better pancakes than me. I bet they can’t. I’ll turn Skipper into a Sausage and then feed it to a dog.”

“Not to mention how many of me have died,” Adriana Prime said from Felix’s other side. “It’s a fortunate thing we don’t have to create Death Others anymore. We’d have three more already.”

“Stupid Skipper!” the Elex sisters said in unison.

Stupid Skipper? Stupid me! I’m the instigator in this whole thing. If I had taken control of Tilen as a whole, could I have leveraged it to take Skippercity?

Maybe? It’s possible.

The better question here, though, is would I even want to?

I just wanted to live comfortably. The idea of being anything more than Legion is… terrifying.

“What do you want to do with all those civilians?” Lily asked him. It was in the small hours of the morning. Everyone else had shifted off at this point to grab some sleep.

With how much was going on, Felix didn’t feel like he could actually sleep right now.

“Dunno,” he said honestly. “Everything is just… going to hell. And so quickly. It’s only been a day and already it’s becoming clear that this isn’t going to be a victory for either side. I think this’ll become a city under siege, with the citizens losing, no matter who wins.”

Felix was sitting on the couch in his private room. He was tired of looking at screens, reports, and files. The only thing he wanted to see right now was the back of his eyelids.

“It does seem that way,” Lily agreed. She flopped down onto the couch next to him, her skirt slipping upward with the movement. She went to adjust it, then sighed and let her hands drop. “I think I’ve recruited more magic based Powereds today than I have in my entire career in Legion. If anything, I can certainly say that this war is certainly driving our recruiting.”

Felix nodded his head a bit at that. “Safety in numbers, and Legion has a track record for taking on the odds and winning so far. We’ve matched against Powereds and come out on top. It’s only fitting, really.”

“Oh, there were a few spies in those reporters you brought over with your new pet Beastkins, who are desperate to speak to you by the way. The Fixer on duty dropped the spies off as soon as there was time. Last I heard they were under the fine ministrations of the Death Others.”

“Hm. Those really are rather separate from Andrea and Adriana. Maybe they need a third sister after all.”

“Maybe. They seem to split the Death Others between them and let them circulate freely. I get the impression they’re acting as information carriers and welcomed between both. Still surprising that they separated into two, though.”

“Yes and no. Andrea Prime wasn’t actually the original Andrea. Or Myriad, as it were. I get the impression that Myriad was the original personality, and Andrea… Andrea was what was left over when a horde of Myriads converged on a location and lost. Died.”

Lily frowned, her eyebrows lowering over her eyes. Leaning to one side, she rested her head on Felix’s shoulder.

“That makes sort of sense. And also why Andrea is… well… different. She’s the remainder… so to speak.”

“Somewhat. Definitely makes you think. I think them separating into two different personalities is probably a good thing in the long run. We’ll see. Good, bad, neutral. It’s done, and she was the one who wanted it.”

Felix sighed and laid the back of his head on the couch, staring up at the ceiling above.

“I find myself wondering how Skipper managed to do all that she has. Is she seeing the future? Alternate universes? What ifs? And if that’s the case, how does she not lose herself in it. I imagine I’d probably chain a what if scenario to a what if scenario to move ever further into the future and find my path.”

“Does it matter? Whatever her power is, she uses it to her advantage in all things. She also keeps a tight lid on it from others. I imagine the guild has some thoughts on it, but not the reality. As does the government,” Lily replied.

“Uses it to her advantage. Am I any different? I use everything I can to build myself and my people up. To the point that we find ourselves here, today.”

“Yes, yes you are.”

Lily jabbed a finger into his side and dug it in. Felix grunted and brought his elbow down to fend her off.

“You know how Skipper empowers her people? Hm? Those she can’t corrupt to her side of things?” Lily asked, getting her finger into his side again despite his efforts. “She uses her power to view every instance of what it would take to power them up, make them stronger, more powerful, more anything, so long as it isn’t something she can’t handle, and then does it. Regardless of what it might do to them, the problems it’d cause, she does it.”

“Quit it,” Felix complained, turning sideways on the couch to face Lily. “And how do you even know that? There’s no way you could.”

“Kit and her people have been filtering in to active roles on missions when they can. Scanning minds when the possibility presents itself. Buried in those wiped minds, those empty thoughts cleaned of personalities, is a story of broken men and women forced to endure.

“She’s filled me in on the situation. I was curious about it, since the rings and crowns clearly serve a purpose, but wouldn’t empower these people as they have. I’ve seen a few people I recognize with powers I don’t remember them having, or strength they didn’t.”

“Great. And? I’m not exactly any different. You’ll remember I’ve been forcing powers on people for a while now.”

“No. You haven’t. In fact, you seem to go out of your way to make sure the powers you do hand out match personalities or existing powers. You’re not turning people into living bombs either, which I get the impression Skipper would do.”

Felix snorted at that, eying the sorceress warily.

“Ok, you want a more clear-cut example?”

“Sure, why not,” Felix said, the sarcasm dripping from his voice.

“Miu.”

“What about her?”

“Miu is insane. Clinically so. She murders the Andreas and Adrianas that sleep with you. She paints her walls in their blood and dyes her sheets in it. That isn’t a normal thing. The only thing holding her in check is you, your commands, and her contract with you.”

“I’m aware,” Felix said dryly. He’d gotten the biggest helpings of Miu’s personality that anyone had.

Other than the Andreas she killed.

“Why not fix her?” Lily asked.

“Huh?”

“Why not just… remove that part of her personality. Eliminate the insanity. You could. Easily.”

“I…”

“Go ahead. Try. Pull it up. Tell me how many points it would cost.”

“I don’t think—”

“Do it, Felix. I want to know. Humor me.”

Annoyed, tired, and frustrated, Felix felt like arguing. He had no intention of doing what she wanted. Gritting his teeth he lifted up his hand.

“Please?” Lily asked. Her voice was soft and there was an entire undercurrent he’d never heard from her before in it.

Deflating, Felix hung his head. His anger cooled instantly and his will to battle fled.

“Alright.”

Felix focused on the simple concept of making Miu’s power a positive thing. To remove the negative aspect that drove her towards insanity. Or at least, controlling that aspect so she could be free of it.

Status Correction: Insufficient Control -> Sufficient Control

Correct Status? (11,150 points.)

“Well?” Lily prompted when it was clear Felix wasn’t going to immediately offer the information.

“Eleven thousand. That’s all it’d cost to give her control over it.”

“What about removing that aspect entirely?”

Chewing at his lip, Felix tried again. Simply wanting to eliminate the negative aspect to Miu’s power.

Power Upgrade: Multiplicative Base-Positive aspect only

Required Primary Power: 70 (Met)

Required Wisdom: 60 (Unmet)

Upgrade?(35,000)

“Thirty-five thousand. With a few point changes in another category,” Felix admitted.

“In short, you could make Miu into a better person.”

“Sure could.”

“And why haven’t you? Or changed my luck? As far as I know, you haven’t modified anyone without them asking you to.”

“I changed Andrea’s intelligence a few times.”

“If I remember correct, she complained to you about it, and you modified it. That’s the way she tells it, at least.”

Felix thought back on that. He could vaguely remember Andrea complaining that she’d been taken advantage of.

The more he wracked his mind, the more he felt like Lily might be right. His modifications and changes were always in his interest. Always.

But they were never counter to the person’s wishes either, or at the very worst, they were neutral.

“The single defining character trait that you have, that makes you so different from Skipper, is you genuinely care about your people. It shows,” Lily said, leaning in closer to him. “Everyone sees it. From the lowest, dirtiest job, to the highest heights of your inner circle. No one would ever mistake you for not caring for your people. Sometimes you say or do dumb things, like wanting to put people who don’t belong into the sausage machine.”

Felix mentally winced at the memory of that. He’d thought on that one a number of times. His reaction had been dismissive and not at all thoughtful.

“Kit tells me you berate yourself for that one. And I’m glad to hear that.”

Meeting her eyes, he didn’t look away. “And why’s that?”

“It makes it so much easier to care for you. Knowing that you’re just as human as the rest of us,” Lily said with a grin.

She laid a hand to his jaw, leaned in, and kissed him tenderly.

When she finally pulled away, Felix felt like the world was spinning around him.

“Now. How about you treat me to a meal, and we try not to think about all this for a bit,” Lily whispered.