Sonya adjusted her sunglasses, taking in the view of the snowy city. A lot more of it was intact than she had expected. The monsters had clearly preferred to use the standing buildings as lairs rather than just rolling over them. She scratched her chin and sat down on the stool behind her before reaching into her warehouse. The low-tier ability to stave off variances in body temperature wasn’t overly special, but it was definitely handy in this case. A minor catch from a handshake she could barely remember. There were so many. I think I’m going to add it to my merger list, though.

Finally planning on doing another? Ishtar asked.

Always looking for that perfect build, and I need to get ready for the confrontation with First Wind in a week. I just have a few things left to do. Tomorrow I need to go to Val’s funeral as well.  Sonya thought and rested her elbows on her knees, leaning forward a bit. It was weird not feeling tired after going so long without sleep. I wonder what he meant by ‘kicking myself’? I don’t feel any different. “Are they coming?”

“Kong is on his way, Miss,” Marta said next to him.

She sniffed. “Kong, huh? That ability is something special.”

Marta glanced up. “Here he is.”

Sonya raised an eyebrow and looked up to the sky. The martial-artist hero was heading in their direction atop a cloud that he reclined on like a couch. Her lips twitched upwards. “He’s got style,” she chuckled and rose to her feet. Kong hopped off his cloud and landed before her, his feet barely making a sound as the snow didn’t even dip beneath his weight. He put his hands on his hips and took her in for a moment, an odd look passing over his face for almost a microsecond before he schooled it away. She crossed her arms and looked him up and down as well. “Scoping me out?”

“Seeing if you live up to the hype,” he said offhandedly.

“And what do you see, Kong?” she asked.

His right hand twitched once. Was he trembling? “You pass,” he said with an impish grin. “The lady who came outta nowhere and saved my ass. I’d be another tally if it weren’t for you.”

She tilted her head before her expression turned hard. She glanced towards the city and crossed her arms. “I see. Did you find your old home?” she asked.

His easygoing expression faltered just a little, and he reached up to cup his hands behind his head. “Yeah. Obviously there was nobody there, so I torched it.”

She looked back at him and sat back down on her stool. “The President said he’ll be building a memorial at the center of town,” she said.

He shrugged. “Clearing this town out is memorial enough in my opinion. People don’t need a reminder of suffering. They need proof that there's hope of bouncing back. Pave it over and build something that can really help people on it, I say.”

Hoh? I think this guy actually has more layers than he lets on, she wondered. “What do you have in mind?” she asked. “I don’t know if the President would approve, though. That’s up to him.”

“No, it isn’t,” Kong said flatly, his red eyes glowing with amusement. “He promised me any one thing I ask for if I won this thing for Nepal. I asked for Dharan. This is my land.”

She whistled and glanced up at Marta, whose usual stoic expression had broken slightly into wide-eyed curiosity. Sonya leaned forward and fixed the young man with another stare, tangling her fingers together. “Sounds like you already know what you want to build here.”

“I do, but I gotta talk to Black Lotus first.”

“You ask for a lot,” she teased.

“Would it help if I told you I don’t want the token-thingy?” he asked.

She snorted out a laugh. “You too, huh? What is with you kids?”

He grinned. “We’re just unique, I guess. Nietz, right?”

“You’re a good judge of character, aren’t you, Kong?” she pressed.

“Very good.”

She laughed and got to her feet. “I’ll get you in touch with Black Lotus as soon as she’s done playing dungeon runner in India. We’ll go over the specifics of your sponsorship later, and you’re free to recommend a new recipient for the token, if you’d like.”

He yawned. “Sure, sure. Just give it to Nietz’s friends or something. I don’t really know anybody.”

“Not one of the other Nepalese heroes?” Sonya asked, surprised.

He raised an eyebrow. “I guess, but…” He scratched at the shock of red hair on his head and turned to look towards the city. “He probably already told you we're looking into forming a team. I don’t know good people, but he does. Sounds more beneficial to me if the support staff for our team was as tricked out as possible, right?”

Sonya whistled appreciatively and put her hands on her hips. “You’re very good at hiding all that cold pragmatism under the cheeky wit and mirth, aren’t you? Does Nietz know you’re like this?”

“I’m pretty sure he has an idea,” he snickered. “I could say the same about you, though.”

“Hmph,” Marta grunted behind Sonya. “There’s two of them.”

Sonya burst into genuine laughter. “I like you, Kong!” she chortled and stepped forward, holding out a hand. “Looking forward to working for you.”

He chortled as well and took her hand, giving it a squeeze. “You too!”

Analyze

You have acquired a new Product: Seven Lifetimes of Wukong

It really is Sun Wukong’s power. Incredible. And now it's all mine. She resisted the urge to chuckle. Now who to give it to? Or should I keep it?

He pulled away and hopped onto his cloud, snapping off a lazy salute. “Gotta get back to it! A landowner should take care of his property!”

“Take care! See you at the awards ceremony!” she called out to him, and he flew off. She glanced down at her hand and felt it tremble once, an odd feeling going through her arm. She flexed her fingers curiously and glanced up at his retreating figure. “Cheeky little brat,” she snorted and went back to her seat. “I hope you’re careful with what you just learned, young man, or we will have problems.”

–

Kong looked down at his trembling hands as his cloud shot him towards the center of Dharan. His heart was pounding in his chest and sweat was beading on his neck. Controlling his bodily functions was second-hand after spending so much time with his ability, so showing certain emotional responses were at will rather than involuntary. He clenched his fists and took a breath to steady himself. He could still see it, the flash of premonition that had come when he first laid eyes on Sonya Chernovna.

One slap and I’d be dead. I’ve never felt certain death before. Holy shit that was scary, he snorted out a laugh. That was awesome! She’s so much cooler than I was expecting! How has nobody noticed yet? Her meridians are primed too! He sighed and fell back onto his cloud, kicking a foot left and right. I better keep this to myself if I want to fight the real her someday! He threw his head back and howled with laughter. “Man, this is going to be fun!”

–

He checked our Meridians, Ishtar said.

Yes, yes he did, Sonya thought. I don’t think he really will be a problem, though. I’ll make a deal with him later to make sure, but… I have a good feeling.

Your evidence? Ishtar pressed.

He’s like me in a lot of ways, Sonya thought. I wouldn’t blab until telling the secret was more beneficial than keeping it. Or more entertaining. He probably thinks I’m just hiding that I used a token on myself.

Ishtar hesitated for a moment before conceding the point. I got the same vibe from him. Fine, you should make that deal though, just to be safe.

Agreed, Sonya thought and crossed her legs. 

She turned to look up at Marta. “I’m thinking about doing a merger session soon,” Sonya said. “You want to join me?”

Marta shook her head. “Not quite yet, Miss. There are a few more things I would like to explore and unlock about my new ability before we take that step,” she said politely. Her eyes drifted towards the city around them. A bang rang out in the distance, and a few raised voices cheered. Another monster down. “I need a bigger challenge. A way to really test my limits.”

“Kingshark wasn’t enough?” Sonya asked.

Marta smiled and shook her head. “I learned a lot from that fight, but there’s more to do. I want to be patient; I feel like there’s something missing.” She tilted her chin up and looked over the wall. “The next one is coming. I believe his name is Hui. He doesn’t appear to have a movement feature to his powers.”

Sonya pursed her lips. “Right, the rune kid or whatever. Go pick him up.”

Marta bowed. “Right away, Miss.”

Marta took two quick steps and hopped off the side of the building in a flash of movement. There was a gasp of alarm, and then Marta’s form flashed up and over the lip of the roof. She landed in front of Sonya with a young man in her arms. He looked around wildly for a moment before his eyes settled on Sonya, and he rubbed the side of his head. “Well, cut getting carried by Handmaiden herself off of my bucket list,’ he said awkwardly as Marta let him down. He turned and gave her a slight bow. “My respects, ma’am.”

Sonya’s lips twisted up into a smile, and she rested her chin on her palm. “So polite. No offense, but when I heard how far Ma was going to stack the deck for the event, I figured most of his picks would be arrogant little brats.”

He turned her way and smiled back at her. “None taken. Most of my peers are, unfortunately.”

“You don’t like them?” Sonya asked.

“They’re good heroes and do their job well,” Hui said matter-of-factly. “They do need some more experience putting on the right face for others and getting into the hero mindset.”

“You’re from Nepal, right?” Sonya pressed.

“Yes, ma’am, though my extended family is Chinese,” Hui confirmed.

“Is that why you accepted Ma’s offer? Get your whole family together?” she continued with her little interview. 

The young man assessed her for a heartbeat and then laughed. “Yes and no. The money was a good offer, and I was not exactly wealthy despite my education. I completed high school and was getting ready for university when the flash happened, to answer your next question.”

Sonya snorted and raised her eyebrows, looking him over. “What do you think you’re missing as an ability user?”

“Personal strength,” he said without hesitation. “I empower or change what already is. My runes require something to affect and are not only a large draw for mana when used at their maximum, they are temporary.”

“Then let’s hope that’s what you get, Hui,” she said and got to her feet. She extended a hand to him. “Welcome to the team. I’m looking forward to seeing you grow as a hero, young man.”

He took her hand and shook it quickly.

Analyze

You have acquired a new product: Grey-Bound Grimoire

A… grimoire? Interesting. She released his hand casually and put her hands on hips. “You already know when the award ceremony will be. I’ll be out of the country tomorrow for a funeral, so if you need-”

“A funeral?” he asked with a frown. “I’m sorry for your loss.”

She gave him a sad smile. “Thank you. He was one of Crusader’s friends from her hero camp. He decided to become a patrol hero rather than go on wild adventures. It’s hard on everyone that we lost him.”

He looked contemplative. “I’d… like to pay my respects as well. If he was anything like his peers, then his choice was a truly heroic one,” Hui said. “Would you be opposed to that, and me telling a few of the others?”

This boy would have died in Nepal as well in the Past Timeline, right? she thought. How cruel that all the good ones were lost in the initial chaos.

She rubbed her neck and looked up to the sky for a moment before laughing. “Alright, I think Val would have liked that. His family gave the Guild permission to handle everything, and he wasn’t the type of person to turn anyone away.”

“One of the good ones,” Hui said with a nod. “I’ll see you tomorrow then.” He reached down and placed his palms on his knees before looking up and winking at Marta. “I can handle the trip down. Thank you for your help earlier.”

With that, he turned and ran off the side of the building, hopping off and darting back towards where the other heroes were hard at work. Sonya watched him go with a tilt of her head. “I think…” she muttered, “I may have just caused something I wasn’t intending.”

“It’s possible, but I don’t think this time your antics will be a bad thing, Miss,” Marta chuckled.

Sonya whirled on her. “Since when are my antics a bad thing?” she demanded, and Marta gave her a deadpan look. She snickered. “Oh, okay, fine! So I’m a troublemaker. I just like a little excite-”

BOOM!

The building shook, and she spun, almost reaching for her knife when she saw the young woman standing up from within the cloud of snow and debris kicked up by her landing. Sonya blinked a few times and cocked an eyebrow. “That was quite an entrance, hero!”

Dragoon rose to her feet and crossed her arms behind her back. “I saw Hui leave and figured it was my turn for a one-on-one, ma’am.” Unlike the casual Kong and the polite but smooth Hui, Dragoon was clipped and precise. She reminded Sonya a little of Chunhua, actually, which was amusing. “I am guessing this is just an informal interview to get to know me a little better?”

Sonya tapped herself on the nose and winked. “Smart girl.”

“I think I was quite candid in my interview for that magazine,” the hero said.

Sonya pursed her lips. “Sure, sure, but indulge me. How would you like your powers to change if you could choose?”

Dragoon hesitated. She looked back towards the camp and then down at her feet for a moment before clearing her throat. “Since you’re my sponsor now and from what I know about your ability, I believe I need to be honest about something that is a bit shameful. I do not need or desire an additional ability. Like Nietz and Kong, mine is more than sufficient.”

“How is that shameful?” Sonya asked, walking over and holding out a hand. “May I look?”

Dragoon sighed and took her hand. “I was holding back. I did not want a decision to be made based on the true nature of my ability.”

That’s… interesting. Analyze.

You have acquired a new product: Raiment of Athena

Oh! Shit!

She pulled her hand away and looked the girl over. “I see.”

Dragoon’s shell of militant sharpness fell away a bit, and she rubbed her arm, looking back towards where the others were working again. She sighed. “My ability comes with inherent wisdom and self-awareness. I knew that if I came out with what it was, then I wouldn’t have a chance to prove myself as Dragoon. I would just be ‘the woman with that ability’. I did not want that, as shameful as it is. I could have done more during the fighting here, and I wonder if-”

“That’s arrogant,” Sonya said bluntly.

The girl whirled towards her. “Huh?”

“It’s the height of arrogance to sit there and think that about another hero’s life after it’s already been lost,” Sonya said. “A hero makes a choice to put their life on the line. What you were about to say was an insult to their memory. Don’t do that again.”

Dragoon stared at her with wide eyes and then rubbed her neck. “I didn’t think of it that way.”

Sonya exhaled. “You’re young. I don’t expect you to be perfect. That’s why I’m cutting it off now. You may not realize it, but the fame you got from your initial showing after camp and your magazine modeling moment went to your head. Not in the way it normally does, but I can see it,” Sonya said and put a hand on the young hero’s arm. “You can only do better in the future. That’s the point. I happened to know a few people who were a bit like you at first; still are sometimes.”

“Who?”

“Me?” Sonya laughed. “Crusader.”

Dragoon barked out a laugh. “You know, I look up to Crusader, which is funny because we’re peers and-”

“She’ll be Mythic before you know it,” Sonya said. “That growth ability of hers isn’t slowing down, kid. She’s applied to go international already, and I have a sneaking suspicion that the Pandora Committee will be inclined to grant her request.”

“Is it bad that I want to compete with her?” Dragoon asked.

“As long as it’s the kind of competition that does more good in the world, do whatever you want. I’m gonna teach you something for you to keep in mind as you go forward,” Sonya said, “Consider it my first act as your sponsor.”

“What’s that?”

“See the path, take it to the end, stand at the peak, and look back with pride. It’s not just about sticking to your guns, it’s about being able to look back at what you did while on your path and be proud of it and your accomplishments. You are a hero, just like the others, and that means holding yourself to a standard and doing the right thing. Not just for yourself, but for everyone. It’s a hard path, but I think you can handle it. It’s time to stop holding back, hero.”

Dragoon’s chin rose, her lips formed a thin line even as her eyes got a little misty. She clenched her jaw and nodded. “If you’ll excuse me, ma’am, I need to get back to work.”

Sonya grinned at her. “Kick some ass.”

Dragoon turned away and raised her hand to her face. She grabbed the air and pulled down. A radiant hoplite helmet made of iridescent metal formed over her face. A shield of the same material took form over her arm, bracers, a breastplate, shin guards. She took one step and with a blast of force, launched into the sky.

Sonya watched her go. “I think,” Sonya said, “the heroes are gonna be alright.”