Chapter 45

START OF A RIVALRY

Alexander found his suite occupied by the rest of the team, seated around the holo while Talia flicked through building schematics of one facility after another. One section showed lines of scrolling text, detailing the intel they had along with force projections for each location.

“You’re late,” Talia said, voice even. “But we’ve narrowed the best option to a research facility in the city.”

Alexander joined them. “Walk me through it.”

She flicked back through the schematics, revealing a modest facility with a dozen subbasement levels.

“Moderate security compared to their primary facilities, two registered supers on-site. One is a basic physical augmentation-type, while the other is unknown. I estimate both to be early Tier 2 based on their history.”

Alexander nodded, then stole a snack from Annie.

“Hey!” she growled, shielding the rest with an arm.

Talia ignored their antics and continued. “The facility's director has been stationed there for a couple of years now, but his prior posting was at one of the organization’s European black-sites.”

“Good. We need someone who might provide intel that won’t be on the servers,” Alexander said, glancing up at Talia. “It will test the limits of what your Mind Palace can do. Are you up for it?”

She nodded. “I’m looking forward to it.”

He turned to Annie and Augustus. “Talia and I will head straight for the servers, then track down the director. That leaves you two to deal with their defenders.”

“Hell yeah!” Annie said with a mouthful.

“Shouldn’t we deal with them together?” Augustus asked, frowning.

Alexander hesitated a moment, weighing how much to explain and whether knowing more would skew the results of the test.

It shouldn’t matter if they know… clearly there are people out there who do, and they are rapidly growing in power.

Alexander sighed. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that your stats grew considerably over the course of a day’s worth of fighting.”

Augustus nodded.

“In fact, the growth we had over that single day matched or exceeded what we earned over three months of training in many cases,” Alexander concluded.

Talia frowned, but he could see she was running her own comparisons. “Not consistently, Alex.”

“You’re right. There were areas where training was superior; specifically those where we were roughly average at baseline or the areas we focused on. However, growth across all stats, including those that are harder to push because they’re higher, has been consistent through combat.”

Everyone paused at that.

“I suspect that all the powerful players know this. It might explain why the serum is relatively affordable, and why the corporations and the government seem so content to allow more and more superhumans to be created.”

“It would also explain why there has been an exponential increase in supervillain activity across the planet,” Talia murmured. “They want… no, they need enemies.”

Alexander nodded. “Exactly. Conflict is driving superhuman growth. If you examine the most successful guilds and superheroes, they all have equally powerful rivals. Then there are the military supers, of which there are many Tier 3s, because they’re constantly fighting one war or another.”

“That is a terribly dark theory, Alexander,” Augustus said, eyes closed. “It would mean—”

Annie jumped to her feet. “That a lot of fucking people have died just so some assholes can get stronger!”

“Assuming it’s true, and I can’t deny it’s a neat explanation that would likely be a very well-kept secret,” Talia said, “but there is a flaw in the theory, Alex.”

Alexander shot her a questioning look.

“It’s not just superhumans,” she said. “While at AEGIS, I learned that several of our regular cybernetically augmented contractors were also growing stronger. Some of them didn’t even have implants.”

Alexander considered her words. “You’re right. That’s a pretty big hole in the conspiracy idea. But I’m confident about the rest, which is why we are going to test it today. Annie and Augustus will deal with the superhumans on-site, while you and I get access to what we need.”

The team murmured their agreement.

“And… that’s why I also notified the Throne of Scales about our plan to go after Santiago Systems,” Alexander said nonchalantly, chewing on the stolen snack.

“You what?!” Annie shouted.

Augustus and Talia looked like they also wanted to have words.

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Before they could, Alexander raised a hand. “Not the entire plan, obviously,” he said. “Just enough to make sure they arrive within a reasonable timeframe.”

Annie stalked toward him. “Dude! That dragon almost ate us. And your girlfriend nearly broke my wrists. My metal wrists!”

“Not my girlfriend.”

“This dumb idea better have a good reason or… or… I’ll be annoyed with you for at least a week!” Annie huffed, coming to a stop in front of him.

The others had come to their own realizations.

“Rivals of our own,” Augustus muttered.

Talia frowned. “You’re scheduling a fight for us to get stronger.”

Annie whirled on them. “So? They have a fucking dragon!”

Alexander chuckled, drawing Annie’s ire again. “Which is why we’ll make them fight where a dragon won’t fit. You guys picked a good place. And they’re here at Santiago Systems' request; there’s no way they can afford to trash the entire facility.”

“Okay, fine,” Annie said, relenting slightly, before identifying another problem. “What about the killer chains?”

“I’ll deal with them,” Alexander said.

Annie glared. “Your stupidly strong girlfriend.”

“Not my girlfriend, but you can deal with her. Don’t you want to show her who's boss now that you’re all healed up? I’ll let you in on a little secret: she’s weak to dirty tricks.”

She perked up at that. “Okay, but there’s still the super-fast guy.”

Alexander nodded agreeably. “I have an idea for that, but he’ll be Auggy’s problem.”

“Which means Draven is mine,” Talia concluded.

“Jules and Maximilian are the only heavy hitters on their team,” Alexander said. “Draven and Cash have interesting powers, but seem relatively weak. I don’t know what Raelene is capable of, but everything indicates support of some kind.”

“It’s risky, but as long as we control the battlefield, we’ve got a chance,” Augustus said.

Talia nodded her agreement. “Alright, I’m convinced. I want to get stronger, too. How far are we willing to go against them?”

“Not all the way. They’ll be trying to take us in, and as long as we don’t cross certain boundaries, I think they’ll avoid crossing the line, too. Think of it as a training match. With our freedom on the line.”

With their course decided, they split to gather their things before regrouping outside the hotel. They moved swiftly across the station, heading for the private room and their assigned exit door.

Alexander noticed they were under increased surveillance, with dozens of drones and supers holding recording devices watching them from a distance.

“Seems my meeting with the Throne of Scales didn’t go unnoticed,” he muttered.

Annie glared at him. “You met with them? Alone?”

“Did I leave that part out?” Alexander asked innocently.

Augustus shook his head. “That’s why he was asking so many questions about the law,” he said to Talia, who just sighed and turned toward the arrival rooms.

As they rounded the corner, Alexander carefully stretched out his senses until he’d reached the limit.

“BLACKOUT,” he commanded.

Drones and recording devices sparked and exploded all across the plaza behind them, followed by cries of surprise.

The concierge was waiting for them. He bowed, hat to his chest. “I trust your time here has been both rewarding and productive. Will you be departing now?”

Augustus took point. “It was, thank you. I’m sure we’ll return before long.”

Rising, the concierge settled the hat back on his head. “Then allow me to thank you for visiting Astra Omnia. Please know that our Doors are always open to you, Grimnir, and that the Queen looks forward to your next visit. She is especially looking forward to seeing you again, Mr. Greaves.”

Alexander caught a hint of red slip onto Augustus’ face.

“Ahem,” Augustus croaked, then adjusted his tie before tipping the concierge. “Of course. Next time then.”

They approached the doorway, Annie poking Augustus in the side and demanding answers. Stepping through, they found themselves beside the lake once more. The constant roar of the waterfall washed over them, mixing with the midday sounds of the surrounding forest.

The door swung closed, then vanished.

Augustus conjured a portal back to the mansion. From there, it was a matter of minutes to drop things off and pick up some last-minute gear for the fight ahead.

A second portal in the living room spun up.

Alexander glanced around at his team, then slipped his black demon mask on.

Annie grinned at him, then pulled her red mask down over her face. Talia’s white fox half-mask was already on, failing to hide her own smile. Augustus pressed the blue dragon to his face, allowing it to seal.

“Ready?” Alexander asked, holding out a fist.

The others bumped their fists against his.

“Let’s kick off a rivalry.”

Several portals later, Grimnir stood on the opposite side of the road from the Santiago Systems R&D facility.

Unlike the prison facility, this building stood in the middle of Argentum’s central business district. It was just like every other block of glass and steel, nestled between a bank and a law firm.

And at this time of the day, the city was in full swing. Which is why there were so many people screaming at their sudden appearance.

They crossed together. Alexander took the lead, drones floating around him in tight formation, flanked by Talia and Annie, with Augustus a step behind.

He lifted a hand, and the building’s front doors tore loose in a screech of metal, flung end over end down the street. The civilians who weren’t already fleeing screamed and scattered.

The lobby beyond was wide and open, with a kind of corporate sterile look meant to project professionalism and confidence. White-tiled floors, glass dividing walls. At the center of the room was a single reception desk, and behind it stretched a central corridor with elevators and stairwells.

The receptionist had already vanished, while other staff scrambled for the exits; they hurried around Grimnir’s formation, eyes averted. Nobody dared get in their way.

They waited patiently. Alexander sensed that multiple silent alarms had been triggered, and he could feel two powerful individuals with implants rushing down the stairs. Behind them were dozens of weapons and communicators.

It didn’t take long before they arrived.

A man nearly seven feet tall, muscles bulging from a pink tank top. Beside him, a bald, ebony-skinned woman in a fitted combat uniform wore a calm expression. Behind them poured armored guards into a crisp formation, rifles in hands.

Alexander exhaled. “Auggy, Annie… deal with them. Talia with me.”

He stepped toward the defenders without hesitation, Talia falling in just behind. A portal shimmered open mid-stride. He passed through and reappeared behind the guards before they could react.

Without looking back, he flicked his hand up. Rifles tore free of their owners’ grips, spiraling into a tangled mass above their heads. He clenched a fist. Screams followed as weapons discharged wildly in the crush of steel. Sparks spat down in a brief shower of fire before Alexander released his grip and the ball collapsed, useless scrap raining across the floor.

They kept walking.