Amelia, Ch 231
We were ready. Myself, Lisa, and Vicky. I took a deep breath and we stepped through the gateway from Avalon to wherever Cauldron was setting this meeting.
"They're not even bothering to hide their reach, anymore," Lisa spoke. "Their Doormaker isn't limited to a particular dimension. Which means he doesn't have a Manton limit or likely the other Taboos that come with it."
InterestPossibilities.
"One of the harvested Passengers?" I suggested.
"Undoubtedly," Lisa answered. "They probably have others. No wonder they're so confident. Eidolon may have been their most successful experiment, but they likely have dozens, possibly hundreds, of members who are only slightly lesser."
ShockWorryCaution.
"You're saying they're stronger than us," Vicky concluded. "Well, looks like we'll have to be on our best behavior."
The room we stepped into wasn't anything to look at. It was lit from the back, and had only one actual exit. There was a sort of desk that reminded me somewhat of a bank teller or drive through counter. It had a microphone stand as well. Past it was a large, empty space. Completely dark, and past that a ring of other panels of light, with silhouettes of people. The nature of the lighting made it impossible to recognize features, although some were distinctive. Such as Chevalier and his completed sword, which Emma had dubbed Caliburn.
A couple others stood near him, though I didn't recognize who they were. Leaders from the Protectorate, I had to assume.
The ones not out there fighting Khonsu. Another panel had the distinct shape of power armor, and the long spear-like weapon that I knew as Defiant's.
"They're not worried about a fight at all, are they?" I whispered.
"I wouldn't be, either," Vicky replied. "Panel to the left, that's Cauldron, I'm sure of it. They're too familiar with the area, and confident they have the upper hand. The woman in front is nothing special, base normal, maybe a thinker of some type. But her bodyguards are scary. I could take one of them, probably, and only because of the battle armor. Both? Maybe with a bit of luck, but I don't think I could do it and protect the two of you. Plus there's a third around here. I'm not even sure what it is, some kind of telekinetic. There's nothing I can do to even inflict harm on it, much less win a fight."
There was no reaction from Taylor, so I knew we didn't have that protection, either.
"Impression of the other groups?" Lisa asked.
"The little girl off to the left? Yeah. She's not a child. Some kind of power to control her age," Vicky added. "She's easily the most deadly person in the room. Most of her people are powerful as well. The one with that freaky shadow thing? Master. She's killable. That shadow? Fuck, it might be a match for the Siberian."
"The last groups should be arriving shortly," the Cauldron representative informed us. "I apologize for the wait."
"That's quite alright," a man in the not-child's group spoke. "Fairy Queen, would you mind if I spent some time speaking with Gaea?"
"Very well, Marquis," the girl spoke, her voice a cacophony, a chorus of dozens of childlike voices working together. For once I was glad for my experiences with Taylor's swarm-voice, it was the only thing allowed me to suppress a shudder at the display. And that, in turn was the only thing that let me hide my apprehension at speaking to my father. "You may speak with the Royal Artisan, if she deigns to humor you on the matter."
I hoped my voice was calmer than it felt, and imitated the Fairy Queen's tone. "Very well," I spoke, granting the implied request for permission. Glaistig Uaine nodded briefly and then stepped back from the counter to allow the man to take her place.
"It... you've done very well for yourself, Amelia," My father spoke to me. "Grown up strong."
"I have," I agreed neutrally.
"I'm glad," he continued.
This is the bogeyman that Carol feared I'd turn into? "I'm proud of you. And I'm sorry I couldn't be there for you."
I clenched my hands inside my armor.
Wrong choice of words. "Let's not start our reunion on a lie, Marquis," I spoke.
I wish Taylor was here, this is so much harder without her to help me. "You could have. Easily. It only required you give up being a supervillain. A family, or a life of crime. That was your decision, and no one else's. Please don't insult either of us by pretending otherwise."
I couldn't see his face, thanks to the light. I think, in a way, that made this both easier and harder. It was less personal this way. There was less we could say, too, without airing our dirty laundry to the various witnesses here. As it stood, however, I needed to make it clear to them that I wasn't going to fall prey to daddy issues and compromise myself or Pantheon. Hopefully, this would do that.
"I... yes, you're right," Marquis spoke. "Let us hope there's an opportunity to talk privately in the future."
"I'd like that," I agreed after a little hesitation.
Theo has a good relationship with Purity, despite everything, I reminded myself.
And I even managed to forgive Carol, even if things are still somewhat less than perfect between us. As much as I wanted to, simply out of years of repressed spite, I couldn't tell Marquis to go fuck himself. Especially not now, given the circumstances of this meeting. We needed all the allies we could get.
The last couple groups arrived. A set of three people in power armor with a cross motif.
Part of Haven? And Faultline's, who I recognized only by Gregor the Snail's distinctive profile.
"Now for introductions. I'm Doctor Mother, founder of Cauldron." the woman spoke. "You should know we extended the invite to others. Miss Alcott declined to join us, content to let Panthon represent her interests. Adalid cited a desire to stay in case Khonsu arrived in his city. We reached out to the Yangban as well, but they predictably declined. In a way, that is a boon. We have no use for those who aren't committed to the wellbeing of the world as a whole."
"That's a laugh," a female voice from Faultline's corner growled. "We know who you are and what you've done."
"Hold on," Lisa interrupted. "We could be here all day with recriminations, but right now there's an Endbringer on the loose, and the more we talk, the more people it kills. That actually matters to some of us."
The woman with the shadow spoke, our translation program activated almost immediately, letting us understand her words. <People die every second of every day. Babies die in the womb and the children killed like dogs. Women are raped and murdered, and nightmares tear apart men to feast on their insides.>
Well, that's fucking bleak. Minerva spoke almost immediately after, letting the translator do its thing. <And cowards stand by to watch the slaughter, convinced they are too weak to change things. Would you leave the strong to fight alone?"
The shadow shifted, and a nasty crocodilian skull formed itself as a mask over the thing, giving it a semblance of a head and face. <Do not presume you can speak down to me. I am unimpressed with false gods.>
"We are strong enough to fight the Endbringers head on and win," Minerva didn't bother translating this one. "If you aren't able to face them, then drop the fucking posturing and admit it. We'll seek allies from those are are stronger."
"You don't seem to be doing so well on this one," a smug voice from another panel spoke.
"The Elite," Lisa informed me via our private channel. "I'm betting it's Shark."
"Only because he keeps running from us," Victoria countered. "We've been fighting him for days and still haven't lost, which is more than anyone else can claim."
"Now," Minerva insisted. "I know all of you have plans within plans. Secret weapons you're holding for a rainy day. Guess what? It's fucking pouring. So which one of you wants the bragging rights of having the weapon that lets us
hurt that motherfucker when Pantheon's willing to admit they can't?"
"Many of us would be putting ourselves at a significant disadvantage if we were to use our backup plans merely to drive off an Endbringer once," the man with the cross themed armor spoke. "We'd be hurting ourselves in the long run for nothing."
"Your only talents are as a thief, Saint," Defiant growled. "There's nothing you have which isn't stolen, and none of it is good enough for this battle."
"I was speaking of others," Saint retorted. "I'm aware of my relative limitations on this scale. I merely want to help those with the power come to an understanding of the bartering needed to make this work. Anything to cut through the posturing and reach an agreement."
"Pantheon's willing to hear offers," I volunteered. "We have some significant resources that could compensate for time and effort, as well as protecting you from others that would try to exploit you for helping. I think our stance on those profiteering from Endbringers is clear, as is our generosity with our allies."
"That is worthy of consideration," a man in a robe admitted. "But I fear it would not be enough on its own."
"What of Cauldron?" Faultline asked. "They brought us here, but aren't putting any of their own offers on the line."
"We have nothing we're willing to use that we haven't already put on the field," Doctor Mother replied. "We're providing this forum for negotiation, yes, and a number of our capes are out there fighting, but we must concern ourselves with even greater threats than the Endbringer."
They mean Scion, I knew.
"You plan to slay the King of the Faeries," the little girl spoke.
King of the Faeries?
"You already know?!" Lisa gasped. "Oh, fuck, you're a Third Trigger. You've broken Taboo... uh, the memory blocks."
"Yes, Negotiator," Glaistig Uaine spoke. "The secret truths have been unveiled to my eyes. Much as with yourself and your Empress. The faerie will be restored to grace in the end. I know you seek to oppose Him, and I allow this, as such goals are laughable and absurd. When the end comes you and I shall discuss your rebellion with great amusement."
"I... see..." Lisa hesitated. "You actually want him to succeed."
She'll be putting together pieces for a little while, I realized.
"It is not a matter of 'want', Negotiator," the Faerie Queen responded. "It is simple inevitability. Like wanting the sun to rise. He is above us as we are above the commoner fae, as they are above mere mortals. You are of his design, and therefore your rebellion is of his design. I have no need to interfere with it, and in fact I watch with interest. You need not fear me."
"That's certainly generous of you," I agreed.
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A/N- Okay, so Glaistig Uaine is more fun to write than I'd expected. Also- this chapter is freakin' huge and getting split into two parts. And, technically, this counts as the first chapter of tomorrow (despite tomorrow not coming for several more hours). So enjoy.
