Broker

Chapter 215

“I know she doesn’t respond to reason, but you could have taken a different tactic,” Chunhua said as they moved through the parking garage. It was late and Ishtar was beginning to get a little tired of the nagging. “You kept your word, but you had a funny way of going about it this time,” the hero continued as they reached the waiting vehicle. Ishtar huffed out a breath and shook her head, not dignifying it with a response. Black Lotus stopped pushing her wheelchair and stepped away, “This is where we part for now?”

Ishtar turned her head towards Black Lotus, “What matters to the people is there was a genuine attempt. That’s all they need to know,” she said before offering her a small smile, “Yes, this is where we part. Where I’m going, heroes are not welcome. Companion?”

A few steps away, Marta moved in to gingerly help Ishtar to her feet. They made the few steps towards the rear seat of the vehicle and slipped inside. Ishtar settled into the comfortable chair before sending her senses towards the open door. She felt the hero standing there, watching. “It’s best if you go,” Ishtar said and rested her hands in her lap, “Just coming here with me was not good for you.”

“I didn’t know you cared,” Black Lotus growled.

“I don’t,” Ishtar shot back, “But Sonya does.”

“Have you…” Black Lotus trailed off.

“Tonight,” Ishtar said soberly, “I feel strong enough to make my first attempt tonight. Go and make your own preparations. You have less than fifteen days to be ready for what’s coming.”

She felt Black Lotus stiffen, “You know,” she said, “You could do a lot of good just by being up front about everything. I really think Ishtar doesn’t have to be the bad guy.”

Ishtar snorted, “Someone has to be,” she said, “Good-bye for now, little Hero.”

“See you on the battlefield, Villain.”

–

The black taxi took them out of the small city and into the countryside, north and out of Alabama. Before long they were just over the border of Tennessee. Ishtar remained quiet for most of the ride though she did enjoy a little small talk with Charon through his puppet. Sitting to her right was the ever faithful Marta who was wearing her Companion outfit, armor and a veil. To her left was Kerauna and resting quietly in her shadow was Blackrazor. Three of her strongest subordinates surrounded her as she traveled.

It was about as secure as she could possibly be.

“We’re arriving at the blacksite, boss,” Charon said through his puppet zombie, the creature driving the taxi switched the vehicle into a new gear and Ishtar felt the car leave the road.

“Good. I’ve been looking forward to this for a while,” she said with a sigh and turned to Companion, “What about you? The original offer is still on the table.”

Companion shook her head, “No, I thought about it after Tokyo and while I do want the extra attack power I think you might find a better use for that ability than giving it to me. This one is just as good and I think it might pair well.”

Ishtar shrugged, “Fine, suit yourself. I was actually thinking of using it in an experiment since you declined.”

The vehicle continued over the bumpy road before slowing to a stop, “Oh? What did you have in mind?” Companion asked.

Ishtar smirked, “I wonder if investment works on familiars,” she said thoughtfully.

To Ishtar’s left, Kera barked out a laugh, “Now that’s an idea! Fuck yeah. Dragon puppy! I wanna hang out with Levi, when are we going back?”

“Patience Kera, We don’t know if it’s actually dragon related,” Ishtar reminded her, “Bahamut could be a giant fish for all we know. The lore is varied but the origins suggest a fish rather than a reptile.”

“Boo,” Kera jeered, “Couldn’t you just pull it from that warehouse thingy and try it out?”

Ishtar made a face, “I am disinclined to experiment with that ability, something tells me it would be a poor decision,” she said as the vehicle finally stopped. The zombie driver got out and walked around to pull the wheelchair out of the trunk and then open the door for Companion. Companion was quick to help Ishtar out and Kera followed suit shortly afterwards. In just a few moments they were in front of what Ishtar knew to look like a rusty barn in the middle of nowhere. The door opened on the side and they entered, passing through a wall of fresh air and climate control. 

Ishtar rose to her feet, swaying once before drawing on her powers and levitating a few inches off the ground. She exhaled and felt her regalia wrap around her body, the helmet forming over her face. The soothing embrace of her gear made her feel stronger even if she knew it was purely psychological. She connected technopathy to the helmet and the sensors provided her with additional information about her surroundings. It wasn’t true sight, but it was a close second to it. She took in the room around her, a large concrete and lead lined structure disguised as a barn. There were only zombies present in her immediate vicinity, all heavily armed and acting as an extension of Charon’s will. 

At the center of the room was a square of metal embedded into the floor with railing around it. 

“Right this way,” Charon said through the nearest soldier as the driver turned and walked back through the door they’d come through. “Tenebra is downstairs.”

“How is she progressing?” Ishtar asked as they made their way onto the platform. Kera leaned on the railing while Companion maintained her spot just a step behind Ishtar and to the right.

Charon hit a button and they began to descend, “I think it was that first meeting a while back. When she first saw Taurus. It sparked something in her, I think,” he said with a chuckle, “The brat has been working twice as hard to master her ability and get more out of it. She says she’s found more parts of instinct, new features.”

“She wants to join the inner circle,” Ishtar mused as the hydraulics drew them further and further down, “Jealous that someone her age got in before her?”

“Seems like it,” Charon huffed, “Ambitious twerp. Being my henchman isn’t good enough, I feel like I should be offended.”

“You think she’s worth considering?” Ishtar asked.

Charon paused and tapped his finger on the rail for several seconds before answering, “I think that’s a question I’ll revisit after the war,” he said finally, “Right now? No. A villain? Yes. Your kind of supervillain? Nah, not yet.”

Ishtar nodded, “I’ll respect your opinion then and wait.”

“I’ll give her a test if you want,” Kera snickered as the lift came to a stop, “Just a couple rounds with me and we’ll know if she’s worth half a damn.”

“I don’t want you killing a high potential ally, Kera,” Ishtar said with a scornful laugh. The rails in front of her lowered into the floor and she drifted into a stuffy hallway deep beneath the ground. Ahead of her she sensed three shapes. Two more armed zombies and the delicate frame of Tenebra standing in front of a door. 

The musical villainess strode forward and swept into a low curtsey, “Mistress Ishtar. Boss Charon,” she said politely before glancing up and hesitating, “Uh… Kerauna, I think?”

Charon sighed next to Ishtar as Kera put her hands on her hips. Ishtar chuckled and reached out from her spot in the air, patting the girl on the head. There was something about a young up and coming villain that warmed her a little. Tenebra sucked in a breath but said nothing as Ishtar pulled her hand away, “I hear you’re working hard, Tenebra,” Ishtar said, “Make sure to put just as much effort into the task I’ve given you when the time comes.”

Tenebra kept her head low, “I won’t disappoint, mistress,” she said, even as Ishtar could sense her heart rate spike with excitement. She could only imagine the grin on the girl’s face. Ishtar considered her for a moment, I need to speak with Taurus. 

Ishtar drifted past her and the two guards on either side of the door turned, Ishtar felt them put their hands on the wall and a heavy door opened. Inside was only one figure, sitting on a comfortable bed in a corner of the room. Ishtar felt the power suppression cuffs on his wrists through her technopathy. “Drastic.”

“You,” he growled, his voice deep and heavy as he got to his feet.

“I know you’re upset,” Ishtar said, “You’ve been waiting a long time. Consider it a reprisal and your earlier rudeness towards me and my own repaid.”

“You think you can just demand a conversation with me? That you can just walk into my land and tell me what to do?” he growled as he marched across the room. Kera and Companion started to make their way in as Blackrazor swelled in her shadow. 

Ishtar held her hand up and waved for them to back off, “I do.”

“Take off these cuffs and I’ll show you what I think of that,” he snarled.

“Drastic,” she sighed, “I wanted to make an arrangement with you. Unfortunately my information about you was limited at the time. You have quite the motivation for South America. A tyrant protector. I will be the first to admit I did not know what your goals and ideals were and I approached you in a way that clashed with them. That was wrong of me,” she admitted.

The man froze and she sensed his heart rate drop a little bit, he tilted his head, “What are you doing?”

“Apologizing,” she said bluntly, “I respect villains with a clear motivation and self control. Ideals. A purpose beyond wanton violence. I knew you were a cut above but I didn’t know the full extent. Was your stay comfortable at least?”

He hesitated, “Yes. I may be locked in this ugly box but it’s not so bad. I’ve been in worse cells.”

“That’s gratifying to hear,” Ishtar said and floated down an inch or two to get to his eye level. She couldn’t see his face, but she hoped the message was clear in her actions. “I want to come to an arrangement with you, Drastic. I think a villain like yourself is worth keeping around in the world.”

“I won’t allow foreign influence in my territory,” he growled.

“Drastic, I think we both know that isn’t going to work. We don’t live in the era of seafaring,” she said flatly and held up a hand to stop him from biting back, “That being said I’m not interested in social politics or influencing the day-to-day lives of the people in your homeland. If you want to play king, play king. In fact, I encourage it. You’re a proper supervillain after all.”

“Then what do you want?” he demanded. “Why go to all this trouble?”

“I want access. I could go around you and set up my club throughout your homeland and you wouldn’t be the wiser but I figured I’d show some respect by approaching you first,” she said, “The villain network that Charon has created for me has yet to get a strong foothold there. Even in the time after your disappearance. You have a very strong following amongst the criminal element.”

“Loyalty is everything,” Drastic growled.

“That it is,” Ishtar agreed, “Treat your people well and you benefit in turn.”

“You want me as one of your people?” Drastic asked.

“Hardly,” Ishtar laughed, “You’re too independent to join my group and I don’t want every supervillain out there answering directly to me. It goes against my own goals. Which would you rather have? An external power who won’t sit down at the table trying to push its agenda in your homeland, or me? I’m happy to talk.”

Drastic stepped away and began to pace, she felt the fury burning beneath his skin even as he kept shooting her glances. Even in his reduced state he was like a beast ready to strike at any moment. Ishtar just floated there, waiting for him to make his decision. When he finally stopped pacing he rounded on her and hissed out a sigh, “And what do I get out of this, besides my freedom? Since I assume that’s a given.”

Ishtar smiled behind her helmet, “My support. Just like any other villain with access to the Styx and Charon you can ask me for favors, aid, materials, weapons, whatever you need to push your goals forward. So long as you succeed, you owe me nothing. However, that’s just the general membership and not really a gift,” Ishtar said and floated forward, “I happen to possess the property rights to several plots of land in your homeland. One of them contains a dungeon.”

He stiffened, “Go on.”

“This dungeon is rare-tier. Nothing overly challenging for you, I’m sure. It’s a cave system according to the agents I sent in to investigate. It also has the type of anchor-monster that must be awakened through a very specific set of steps, meaning its very large boss chamber is quite empty,” she said with a tilt of her head, “Sounds much more comfortable and private than where you’ve been staying. Doesn’t it? A dragon living in a dungeon filled with endlessly regenerating resources and monsters to prey upon.”

Now she had his full attention, “And you’d just give it to me? For access? You swear you won’t interfere with the people?”

“All I want is access to the big wigs. My eyes are on the other dungeons in the territory as well as the heroes. I will not touch the people. That will be between you, the other villains there, the heroes, and the day-to-day politics,” she said and held out her hand, “It’s a promise.”

He stood there for a long time, “I’ve heard about your deals.”

“Then you know I can’t go back on my end either,” she said.

He reached out and grabbed her hand, “Fine. It’s a deal.”

Finally… Analyze.

<You have acquired the product: High Dragon, Western>

<A deal has been struck. Proceed?>

Proceed.

Ishtar felt Broker activate and the power rush from her for a brief moment, the terms being set between them. Both would be held accountable to their actions. She grinned and pulled her hand away as the power suppressing cuffs fell from the man’s wrists of their own accord. She floated there as he rubbed his wrists, staring at her thoughtfully. He let out a low growl that sounded far more predatory now that his powers were his to use again. “The dungeon?”

“Ownership transferred the moment we made the deal,” Ishtar said, “I’ll inform my people to vacate the area, though I would suggest you get there as soon as possible so that it doesn’t overload. It’s a bit isolated,” she teased and a slip of paper appeared in her hand with a flicker of blue sparks, “Here, the coordinates.”

He took them from her and looked down at them, he looked up at her, “And if I’m not satisfied?”

“We’ll work something out, you’re free to go, Drastic,” she said before adding; “Do you need transportation?”

“I prefer my own wings,” he growled and stalked past her. Ishtar felt the others part as he stormed past, only stopping briefly to stare at Kera. Soon he was on the lift with one of Charon’s clones, ascending to the surface. 

Ishtar waited until she heard the hydraulics stop above her before speaking again, “I like him,” she said and turned to face the door leading out into the hallway. She floated higher to look down on those who had gathered, “Now. Companion and Blackrazor. I have gifts for you. Come and receive them.”