Chloe snorted and kept herself from slapping Melinda on the shoulder. "So is Adam," she said.
"Right, right, I owe that fae a surprise or two. I'll think of something. Shame about building 770 though."
"That building had some history behind it," said Hilda. "It was one of the first buildings in the Brahma job district before GVU bought the area and spent the next twenty-three years building it into what it is today. It was kept as is since we had enough capacity, but it didn't get the care it needed over the years. I had hoped that after a few months' occupancy, we'd make an easy case to the board for a major renovation project."
Chloe looked east towards the path of destruction left behind during her fight with Wats, then back south in the immediate area where other office skyscrapers reached up in the air, some even higher than the sky road traffic that crisscrossed around them. She frowned, one giant step for justice destroyed a piece of Brahma's heritage.
"Do not mourn, Chloe,” said Hilda. “Take heart in knowing that your actions saved many lives today, so, celebrate this hard-earned victory. "
“I'm still worried, Hilda. Wats and the others went this far to point out something wrong in the company. Should we leave behind people in favor of high-powered ones?”
“I think you hire the best person you can get for the job,” said Melinda. “You kind of said it yourself when it came to your roster, right?”
“But it shouldn't mean we leave behind others. Should it?”
“In battles and wars that I fought, I made sure no one gets left behind,” said Hilda. “I give you my word that I will bring up these issues during the next executive meeting. There is much to discuss.”
“Thank you, Hilda,” said Chloe.
“No, I thank you. Because of The Market Maidens, GVU will have to build something bigger, better, and worthy of Macmor's stature.”
"Glad to hear that, boss lady,” said Melinda. “I don't think my head can take any more trauma from those short rooms and I doubt they'll hold up against the team of tanks Chloe is getting."
The background behind Hilda spun then zoomed out, from street level to a wide view of several blocks of the city. "I can hardly wait to see the next battles you will take on as your team faces tougher tasks." Hilda glanced behind her and snickered. "A thousand feet in the air helps with getting good selfies. I have a question, however."
"What is it?" said Chloe.
"Will you do this job as superheroes or as employees of GVU?"
Chloe opened her mouth to answer and squeaked. She hadn't thought that far ahead; she gulped and blinked.
Melinda grimaced. "Does it matter? We got the job done."
"That's this time." Hilda rubbed her chin. "Security allowed you to operate as official representatives of the Heroes of Verity because of the circumstances."
"But doing that moved liability and insurance issues outside the company. We dodged a potential PR mess."
"Indeed, but this will no doubt rouse political ire. I expect you two will hold a press conference like the Heroes would, after being involved in an incident."
"Press release and conference call only," Chloe blurted out. There was no way she was going to head home only to put on her old suit from sixteen years ago and stand in front of TV cameras.
"This is something that needs to be addressed sooner than later. You two are the first of anyone in the company who also acted in official hero business while on the job."
"It's supposed to be 'off the clock' like going for a super-long break or somethin' while saving the day, right?" said Melinda.
"That's how most Heroes do it. They keep it separate from their work," said Hilda.
"Hilda, we're directors, can't we make our own Macmor policy on superhero work and usage of high-level powers?" asked Chloe.
Hilda reached behind her head and fumbled with her ponytail. "Directors have to set standards for the brands they manage and high-powered ability use will be essential for some tasks. I don't see why not? Whatever policy you make, it will still have to be approved by the Executive Management Team."
Hilda clenched her hand into a fist and raised it up to her chest. "With all the talent and powers your team will have, I think I might finally have a brand that I can train with, maybe teach, and mentor with my motivating speeches. By the Goddess, I will inspire you all with stories of my legendary battles to help drive strength in our performance."
Chloe laughed uneasily. She wasn't sure it would be a good idea to have a heavyweight like Hilda train and work out with her team. It was always good social practice to have someone not too dominating on the team. Then again, she was bringing in Maylyn and Vanessa.
"One more thing before I let you two go," Hilda continued. "Melinda, you had over a month to build your team roster. Why haven't you submitted a list to me yet?"
Melinda's eyes widened and her ears rose up, "You see, with all the changes and commotion going on I kinda…uh..."
"I'm helping her with that," said Chloe. "Because finding good talent isn't easy, right?"
"That's right. In fact, I'm doing interviews tonight."
"Tonight? After what went on today?" said Hilda. "You two are indeed the Super Sales Warriors that I had envisioned when I formed this brand."
"We're that and a whole lot more, you can count on us," said Melinda.
"I look forward to it, ladies. May the Goddess' spirit drive you to success. Until we meet again, I bid you farewell." Hilda waved and the tablet screen went blank.
Chloe sighed in relief. "Does she ever let up?"
Melinda sighed. "Nope. She ain't the typical high-powered executive, that's for sure."
Chloe leaned over and spotted Melinda's right arm in a sling that hung over her shoulder. Lower down, her right hand and forearm were also in bandages.
Tears formed in Chloe's eyes. "Lin, I'm sorry that I didn't act before, I should have moved, but I couldn't and I almost lost you!"
"Hey, stop that right now, Greenie," Melinda patted Chloe's shoulder. "Don't ya be so dang hard on yourself. We've been through enough scrapes to know we've been lucky a lot of times."
"But your arm."
"This? Just a sprain or strain. Not your fault. Just something I picked up from winning a fight against an old rival.” Melinda frowned and her ears drooped. “Truth be told, Felina almost broke me."
"But aren't you a better fighter?"
"I thought so too. Don't get me wrong, she's good as hell but something happened. During our fight, she got real strong all of a sudden, like, tank strong."
"What do you mean?"
Melinda leaned in closer. "Towards the end, she became like a wall when I pushed her and she just up and lifted me over her head like a cub. I think she might have had a breakthrough."
Chloe's voice lowered to a hush. "Are you serious? Did you tell the authorities?"
Melinda shook her head. "I've already called it in as an emergency with the Heroes. Someone should be here soon. But for now, I'm letting the medical people do their thing while she's still out cold. Can you even remember the last time someone normal went high-powered in Brahma?"
Chloe thought about it. Most of the powers people had on Neerg were innate, not really gained from what she could remember. “I don't even know if someone has gained new powers during my lifetime.”
"Exactly," said Melinda.
“So what will happen to her? She's also facing charges.”
“I don't know.”
She looked up, and Chloe followed her gaze toward something approaching from the air. Another woman landed in front of them with a thump, and the ground cracked beneath her bare feet.
"Hey," Lieutenant-Commander Bridget Ebony waved at them.
"Hi Bridget. You're looking much better," said Chloe.
"I'll say, dang." Melinda took a couple steps back.
Bridget's skin color was now a deep forest green, her eyes glowed magenta, her hair retained its brown color. Bridget was only wearing her bodysuit, the rest of her bod
y armor having not survived her transformation back to normal. Chloe was still at eye to eye level with Melinda, but Bridget now looked down at them, taller and wider with her hands on her hips. She must have more than doubled her muscle bulk compared to her small form.
"Heard the traitors are in custody," said Bridget. Her voice had also deepened.
"The Market Maidens took care of it, Commander," said Melinda.
"Your hero group?"
"That's right."
"We're superheroes," said Chloe and smiled.
Melinda turned to Chloe and smirked, patting her on the back. "Prrrow… Damn right we are."
Bridget's smile shifted to a frown and bowed her head. "For all my own blessed power, there was a lot I did wrong and they got me.” Bridget raised her head and faced the two heroes. “I had to be rescued by you, thank you. It won't ever happen again."
Chloe winced and glanced at Melinda, who had an eyebrow raised.
"Bridget, it could have happened to anyone, and they probably got lucky," said Chloe.
Bridget gazed at Chloe before a smirk spread on her face. "You're right, Chloe. They feared me and relied on tricks to win instead of facing me like true warriors. Not awesome."
She hovered closer to them. "I flew around the area within a fifty-kilometer radius and I couldn't find Rose. No signs, no sounds, no scents; whatever group he's working with, they had him prepared for this."
"I think he works in some kind of Villains' Guild or a major black-market company," said Melinda. "But what's the point? There's a lot of people that can hold their own on this planet."
“Maybe it's the payoff,” said Chloe. "But I thought most people already made a good living."
Melinda shrugged. “Loverboy probably needs the cash to fund whatever harem he has.”
Bridget glared. "You don't have to worry about Rose anymore." She clenched a fist. "My rugby sisters and I will be on the lookout for him. When you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us."
Chloe wasn't sure what that meant. At face value, the entire Nyxazon Knights Rugby team was a squad of twenty-five Elite Nyxazonian Athletes. Then, you add the staff and coaches who were also powerful Nyxazons. If they all decided one day to go after someone or something, the sheer amount of firepower in their normal forms alone...
Chloe gulped and shook her head at that prospect.
"Something caught in your throat, Chloe?" said Bridget.
Damn that Nyxazonian hearing.
"I'm fine. I just remembered that I needed to prepare for that press conference later tonight, then write some reports," said Chloe.
"You might as well order dinner too," said Melinda "I think the Cafeteria is open ‘till nine. I'll catch up with ya later, okay Greenie?"
"Okay. Take care Lin, Bridget." With a wave, Chloe made her way back toward the main building leaving Melinda and Bridget behind.
Melinda turned to Lieutenant-Commander Ebony, who had a slight smile on her face while watching Chloe walk off into the distance.
"So, how much did you hear, Commander?" asked Melinda.
"Everything," said Ebony.
"Everything? Nice. Any more juicy stuff you wanna tell me? You can also tell Chloe yourself if you feel better about it."
Ebony snapped her attention to Melinda with eyes wide. Melinda smirked. "Oh, I meant for the report. You sure you wouldn't want to go see her instead of me?"
Ebony snorted. "No, I wanted to talk to you about what I heard."
"All right, so lay it on me."
"Were you serious about the deal you offered Ensign Vadas?"
"You mean the bribe? Course I was. Thought I could lead him outside so Chloe could escape. My budget is a small price to pay, but I knew it was a long shot. Gotta give the man credit, he was willing to stick with his boss to the bitter end. Don't know many people who are loyal like that."
"You'd be dead if he had his pistol set at full."
"Don't remind me."
"It also sounded more like you were being sympathetic to him and making me look like the bad guy."
Melinda tilted her head to the side. "What? Aren't we on the same team?"
“It didn't sound that way to me.”
“Well, I'm sorry if it sounded like that to you. Maybe my acting was too good. But ask yourself, why would I be against you? I got nothin'.”
Ebony sighed and nodded. “You make a good point. There was so much hate that I heard from Wats' squad. It surprised me.”
“Being in the security force for some time, I thought you would have seen more of that,” said Melinda.
“Not that much,” said Ebony. “When I was on Planet Davos, my rugby sisters and I crushed our opponents with a mercy win, pretty awesome. We had some free time, so I took a tour around the planet to check it out before we flew off to our next game. I saw a large contingent of security forces at a conference center which was odd to me. As I got in closer, my eyes picked up one of the officers taking out a bag with a highly volatile explosive that I recognized. I went in, and asked the officer what he was doing with it. That's when the other security forces noticed and everyone got pushy." Ebony folded her arms. "I stopped them before it got out of hand."
Melinda's eyes narrowed. "Oh, that must have been a heck of a challenge to do all of that on your own."
"A better one than the rugby match,” said Ebony.
“And ya didn't hear Wats when he said not to go in?” asked Melinda.
Ebony stared at her for a moment then looked away. “I disobeyed an order and everyone lived. I still think I did the right thing. Goddess, I don't understand why law and security forces try to dominate each other when we have a common goal: to protect the peace."
Melinda kept quiet as Ebony paused.
"I was born and trained as an honorable warrior with the blessed power to protect people. There's never any doubts about how awesome I am at doing this and I hope you'll stick to only doing what you're awesome at."
Melinda's ears twitched. "I'll keep that in mind, Commander."
"Plus, you'll tell security if you run into another potential breakthrough, right?"
Melinda grimaced. "Sure, just let this one go. It's best that the Heroes handle Felina instead of her being whisked into some government secret agency or something. It's already gonna be a lot of paperwork as it is."
“Since you two rescued me, it would be my honor to let this slide.”
Melinda's stomach growled, and a thought crossed her mind now that she had the company's most powerful security officer available.
"Hey Commander, since you're here, you wouldn't mind helping me out with something? You being normal makes it even better."
"You need me at full power?"
"That's right. I need all the strength you can muster for this, follow me."
Melinda walked toward a crowd of security recruits, officers, employees, and other professionals who lingered around the convoy of food trucks that served snacks and coffee. She whistled.
"Listen up! I have some new sales and marketing jobs at the agency we're opening up at GVU. So, if y'all were thinking about switching careers, you can do it, right here, right now. I intend to fill those positions tonight."
Murmurs and talk washed over the crowd, then someone raised their hand. "Tonight? But, what about dinner? I have to check in with my partner!"
"That's fine, sweetie. You can go home if you don't want it. But I'm only hiring people who can answer when the call goes out. When it does, I need people who can hustle, 'cause big deals can go down anytime, anywhere,"
Ebony leaned forward. "What are you doing?" she whispered.
Melinda kept going, "Here's how it's gonna go. I need y'all to show me you can fight. Don't care if you know martial arts, brawling, or throwing rocks and sticks. Whoever wants to even be in line for these jobs is gonna have to compete and fight against each other in their own way."
"By the Goddess, you're inciting violence?"
"Not exactly," whispered Melinda. "Besides,
you won't let it get that far. That's what you're awesome at, am I right?"
Melinda grinned and gestured at Ebony as if presenting her as the ultimate weapon, which was an understatement. She was literally the company's living, hulking nuke at the moment.
"You need to show me you're willing to fight to make things happen in sales and marketing. No slackers or people sitting on their butts all day. By the way, Lieutenant-Commander Ebony is here to make sure y'all play nice. I don't have to tell ya what she'll do to you if you try to fight dirty."
People looked at Ebony and many winced or stepped back and a couple people screamed and ran in terror. Definitely can't have people who can't stomach the sight of an extreme high-powered.
Ebony sighed and touched something on her ear before speaking, no doubt giving Central the heads up on Melinda's latest jaunt and trying to stop it.
"Anyone who doesn't want in, get the heck to safety!” said Melinda. “Everyone else, get ready for a job battle."
The people remaining in the area looked at each other and the tension snapped tight. They steeled themselves, ready to unleash their competitive might. Some of them, from the finance department, had hands which glowed and summoned demonic counters with buttons made out of raw bones. There were others who left their food carts, armed with pans in their hands and pots on their bodies. She didn't know whether that would work, but who knows? A couple deep fryers saved her life today. She was especially interested in seeing how a certain sharp toothed, golden-orange and blue haired Bettan might do.
Ebony's mouth dropped. "Central just ordered me to follow your instructions and use me as your deterrent," she said. "Why would they defer to you? I thought those traitors were the monsters of this company, but what you're doing, what everyone here is doing..."
Melinda turned back to the mighty Nyxazon and gave her the biggest smile yet.
"Commander, you're green. So, I'll clue ya in. Everyone in front of you is hungry for something and they are willing to take a risk. They're willing to become monsters to win, and that's exactly what we need at Macmor."
Melinda walked over to one of the food trucks. She picked up a donut along with an extra-large cup of coffee and sat, putting her paws up on the table and leaned back. Watching this match was going to be the last fun thing she did today before getting back to the mundane stuff: press conferences, job interviews, report writing, and parenting. Well, that last one ain't so boring. She had bedtime comic book reading duties with a future superhero in-training tonight.
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