Broker-Chapter 2Volume Prologue - 1

“...to say a few words, Sonya Chernovna.”

She’d prepared words. She could see them written down on the paper in front of her. She could even understand what she wanted to say. They were all truths, honest words from the bottom of her heart. She knew the words, but for a moment they just wouldn’t come. All she could do was look down at the polished silver card resting beneath the first line. At the eye looking back at her. Sonya took a breath and began.

The hours that followed Nicholas Adder’s funeral were a blur that cloyed at her mind. By the end of it, she had to replace a conference table. Another one. She barely recollected coming home after the incident, only that Marta had walked her into the apartment and prepared dinner. She knew, intellectually, what was wrong with her. She could grasp it well enough. She’d always been a little more self-aware than others.

The next thing she knew, she was standing in her bathroom in a robe, her long white hair hanging over her face as she looked at anything but the mirror. She’d been fine immediately after Vegas. The euphoria of the formation of her new ability had been a remarkable experience. Deus Ex Machina was one hell of a name for a power. The temptation to use it was… otherworldly. The only problem was that she couldn’t grasp at all what it did. The instincts were all but absent from it, a stark difference from what she was used to.

If that had been the only problem, she would have been fine. All she could think about, though, was that young man’s happy smile and the hope he gave so many people. She bit her lip and forced herself to look in the mirror. Self-care was the first step in recovering. She knew that. Grief wasn’t an easy monster to beat, but if she was going to beat the world’s worst monster, her own heart couldn’t possibly be that difficult.

It was… her face, but not.

A button nose and soft lips. Long white hair that sparkled like starlight. Skin pale as snow that glittered like she’d forgotten to wash it off. Thin eyebrows set just over the plates embedded around her eye sockets that held her mechanical eyes in place. The lenses inside twisted and adjusted in her head as she felt them click and tick and whirr. Yet when she saw them in the mirror, it seemed out of sync. That was the first hint that it was happening again. She clenched her teeth and tried to concentrate. To clear her head.

The other her closed her eyes and shook her head.

Sonya’s fist hit the mirror before she knew what she was doing.

Marta was there not long after, bandages at the ready as Sonya sat on the stool and stared at the ceiling. She tried to work through what she could do to clear her head, but everything was coming up blank. Her nose wrinkled as the antiseptic stung her skin, and she hissed out a breath. Marta just kept working, dutiful as always. Sonya closed her eyes and tried again to put together words. “Any words on the camp legislation?” she asked quietly.

“The Pandora Committee passed it during their last session along with the Vegas Act,” Marta said. "They approved two camps for hero aspirants in the US.”

Sonya tilted her head and looked at her beloved friend. A simple young lady with brown hair and deep brown eyes, beautiful, kind, and fierce when she needed to be. She’d been there when it happened. Stood up to her. Sonya clenched her teeth and shoved the memory down viciously before exhaling through her nostrils. “Do you think they could use a hand-to-hand instructor?” Sonya asked. "I’m pretty good with a knife.”

Marta smiled at her. "I think that can be arranged, Miss. I’ll make some calls for you. It would be good to get some fresh air. I hear the East Coast camp is in a very pretty place, far away from just about everything.”

Sonya sighed with longing. "That sounds nice. I definitely need some air. How long will it take to be built?” she asked.

“It will be ready in a year,” she began before putting a hand on Sonya’s as Sonya frowned. “You made quite a scene in Vegas, ma’am. You mentioned wanting to lay low for a time, focus on ASTA, and expand your influence as Sonya. Keep the villain work to a minimum and let your Inner Circle handle finding your next targets. It’s why you recruited them, isn't it?”

Sonya let out a breath and glanced down at one of the shards of mirror still on the floor.

“Yeah, I think you might be onto something. Amos, Beyol, Ozzie, and Barry need time to build up their groups, and the new girl is still getting used to her new powers,” Sonya said thoughtfully before glancing again at the reflection and feeling her stomach twist. She closed her eyes and squeezed them tight. “Marta, I have a favor to ask of you.”

“Anything.”

“I… I don’t think I can look in a mirror right now. Can you…”

“I’ll get the hairbrush, ma’am.”

–

Sonya leaned back in her chair and stared into space, pulling her knees up to her chest and tangling her fingers together. It had been a month since Vegas and the funeral. A month since one really bad day. Her jaw shifted a bit in her mouth as the thoughts came back, and she pushed them away with a huff, closing her eyes and trying to center herself. She glanced at the cold can of soda that had been left for her on the desk and reached out before flicking it with her finger, getting that nice noise out of it.

Her lip twitched up into a small smile as the intercom buzzed on her desk. She let out a breath and reclined, spinning in her chair before reaching out to tap the button. “You have reached the boss among bosses, Sonya Chernovna,” she chirped, putting her best cheer into her voice even if it was a little forced.

A small chuckle came back on the other end. "Miss Chernovna, Miss Mint is here to see you.”

Sonya sat up straight. "Carla’s here?” She asked, surprised. She hadn’t seen her since the funeral and, well, everything else. Their encounters had become a bit of a regular thing after that first exciting evening, and while she didn’t want to put a label on it, it was kind of nice to have at least one sure thing she could count on in her.

She paused and let the thought trail off, that face popping up again, and she reached up to pinch herself. Stop it. “Send her in!”

The door in front of her slid open, and the adorable raven-haired woman stepped in, bob hair swaying a little bit as she adjusted her glasses and inclined her head to Sonya. "Miss Chernovna, good to see you.”

Sonya got to her feet. "It’s good to see you too, Carla. How are you?” She asked, walking over and taking her hand before leading her to one of the chairs in front of her desk. "Please, have a seat. Coffee? Soda?”

Carla raised an eyebrow. "That excited to see me?”

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Sonya froze, halfway turned. "Uh- I mean-” She cleared her throat. "You’re here for business, right?” She said and turned with an awkward smile. "Of- of course. It’s just been a while since you were last here, and I-” She rubbed her neck.

Carla let out a small laugh. "I finally got to tease you!” She said and relaxed. "Sonya, it’s fine. I just came to check on you. At the funeral, you seemed like you needed some space,” she said and reached up and played with her black hair a little. "I uh… I wanted to come sooner, but after that things got a little busy.”

Sonya melted, just melted. That little bit of kindness just blasting all of it away. Even if it was temporary, it felt good, really good. She hopped up onto the desk and snatched up the cold soda before popping it open and taking a sip. She passed it over to her guest with a grin, her feet swinging back and forth. “You have no idea how happy I am to hear you say that.”

Carla flushed at the lip of the can before glancing up at Sonya and sighing. "I guess I deserve this,” she said with pursed lips.

“You got one in,” Sonya winked.

Carla laughed and took a sip of her own before setting it down. "You seem stressed.”

“Do I?” Sonya asked, tapping her fingers on the table. "Yes, a little. It’s a lot.”

Carla tilted her head. "I think we’ve seen enough of one another that you can talk to me about it,” she said. "I’ve told you a lot of my problems during our… visits,” she emphasized her words with a light cough.

Sonya smiled at her and reached up to run her fingers through her hair. She threw her head back and let out a long, suffering sigh and crossed her legs. She tilted her head and squinted playfully at Carla for a while. There was so much trust there now, after everything. What she needed more than anything was someone she could trust, like Marta. Even for a moment. Even if it was taking a small risk and talking about it just a little. She wasn’t ready to tell her who she really was, but maybe she was someone who could know eventually.

She exhaled and sipped at her drink. “There’s a lot I can’t say, but…”

A few minutes later Carla was on her feet with her arms wrapped around Sonya’s neck. Sonya rested her chin on the woman’s shoulder as a hand ran over the back of her head. She didn’t say anything. There wasn’t much she could say. That didn’t matter, though. The hug felt nice.

Carla pulled back a bit. "Sonya, I want to check on you more often, if that’s okay,” she said, brown eyes searching hers. "I’m going to be in New York a lot going forward.”

Sonya tilted her head. "I don’t mind. I like having you around, but what changed? I thought the Chairman had you running all over the place the past month.”

Carla smirked. "Well, apparently that was his way of introducing me to everyone I’d be barking orders at in the future,” Carla said with a raised eyebrow. "I’m overseeing the North American Branch as administrator. My predecessor is stepping down next week. With the Vegas Act, they need someone organized to lead the charge in regulating the activity of licensed Mythics.”

Sonya brightened. "From New York administrator to North America, Carla! Congratulations! You should have opened with that!”

“I wanted to check on you first,” Carla said, flushing a little and stepping back.

Sonya raised an eyebrow. "Well, aren't you a good girl?”

Carla squinted at her. "Sonya, we’re having a moment here.”

Sonya chuckled and rubbed her neck. "Sorry, I couldn't help myself.”

Carla reached out. "Look,” she said and took Sonya’s hand. Sonya looked down at her fingers and up at Carla. "I don’t know what we are doing here, or what’s happening, or any of it, but I’d like to be around more to help you when I can. We can see where things go, alright?”

Sonya squeezed Carla’s fingers and played with them. "I met a girl here in town and took her with me on my Florence trip,” she said thoughtfully, tilting her head and running her thumb over Carla’s nail. "I was… projecting on her. It was unfair,” she said hesitantly. "I don’t want to do that to you. I don’t want to make that mistake again. You’re you, and-”

Carla tilted her head down a bit to catch Sonya’s eyes. "Clearly you’re already doing a better job, aren’t you?” she said. "Thank you for telling me that.”

Sonya shifted a bit in her seat and scratched her nose. "Quit it.”

“Quit what?” Carla asked, smiling a bit wider.

“I know what you’re doing,” Sonya grumbled, trying to hide her smile.

“No idea what you’re talking about, Mistress,” Carla quipped.

Sonya groaned and slid off the desk. "That’s it! We’re leaving!” She declared, marching towards the door and tapping the button to open it. "Marta, cancel all my bullshit for the evening and call that French place I like. Table for two,” she barked, poking her head out of the door. Marta looked up from her desk with raised eyebrows and smiled before nodding and getting to work.

Carla hustled up behind her. "Sonya? What on earth are you up to?”

Sonya turned on her heel and reached out to grab the woman by the chin. "You go this far to cheer me up and are surprised when I decide to take you out to dinner? Silly thing,” she said and tugged the woman closer with a grin and a raised eyebrow. "I am going to spoil you rotten tonight, understand? Dinner, a nice dinner, for a nice, real first date.”

Carla melted in her grip, and her smile pushed the dark clouds away for now. "Yes, ma’am.”

–

The date had been nice. Really nice. She had even managed to get a whole four hours of sleep after all the fun was over. Then another nightmare came, and she was on her feet again. It hadn’t been anything coherent. Images, flickers, confusion, and feelings of loss and distance.

After she woke up, before she had even realized it, she was standing in a hoodie and pajamas on the gritty blasted soil around a wide pool of water. It was dominated by a twisted tree that reached towards the sky. Sonya looked up at it as the portal closed behind her.

“Hey, Nick,” she said and looked down. "I shouldn’t have let you come. You were going to be…” she trailed off. “Better. An example.”

She sighed and reached up to run her hands through her hair as a patrol team moved by. One of the heroes turned to acknowledge her, and she pulled that evil witch’s power out of her warehouse. Violet light glimmered behind her eyes, and the heroes walked away, paying her no mind. She clicked her tongue. “I… don’t enjoy using her power, Nick,” she said quietly. “It feels like an insult to you.”

She looked back up at the tree. “I made that,” she chuckled. “Crazy, right?”

She looked down at the dirt beneath her feet. "You deserve a better memorial. Everyone who fought in Vegas does. That statue at the Pandora Committee Headquarters isn’t…” she cleared her throat. “It isn’t enough.”

Amethyst Sorceress went back into her warehouse, and Sylvan Monarch came out. She closed her eyes and felt Heavenly Jade Heart beat, power rushing through her veins as she drew mana from the air. She felt the soil around her, sensed the water, touched it gently, and absorbed just enough into the soil. She turned her palms up and breathed. Grass grew and spread like a carpet across the ground around the watery crater.

She took a step back and twisted her hand. The tree’s leaves grew brighter and began to glow a little, just enough to glimmer at night with a fiery red-orange. She let her hands fall to her sides and looked out over the park she’d created.

“...That’s better.” She turned away and set her jaw, her thoughts drifting back to the battle. She was about to open a portal back to her apartment when a call came through in her head. Blackrazor?

<”Yes?”>

<”Mistress. I have news for you from my agents.”>

Sonya pursed her lips. <”Go ahead.”>

<”A cult in the southern United States operated by the Hanks family went through a violent leadership change recently. Estella Hanks has taken over. She’s calling herself ‘Liberty.’ That was one of the names you instructed me to look out for, yes?”> he said quickly.

Sonya froze. The warlord. Otis’ flagbearer. People flocked to him because of you, she growled. I can see her sneering face even now. So she’s starting to move. She cleared her throat. <”Get your men in that cult as soon as possible.”>

<”Yes, Mistress.”>

She ended the call and exhaled, a smile stretching across her face. Liberty. I’ll turn the whole world against you if I have to. You’ll be the next step in uniting the Heroes against people like you, like Otis.