Chapter 12: Chapter 12

One utterance of her name was enough to start a wildfire, though Sonya supposed that was entirely the point, after all. Still, there was absolutely no reason to make a public spectacle of her new persona. Only an idiot created an advantage only to expend it immediately. There were better ways to use what she had fostered over the past few weeks. It had felt too easy, in retrospect, but she supposed having Genius Level Intellect on pretty much at all times helped. Though it had quickly demonstrated to her the limits of her powers.

One to six hours, depending on use, simply having it active reduces the strain a great deal but eventually it does cut off, She mused as she watched the city through the window of her apartment. A fire had broken out a few blocks away and a chime rang out on her phone. She checked it and saw that the automated monster alert system was already working. She’d had nothing to do with it, personally finding it kind of annoying, it was going to start going off a lot soon. Rather, the Department of Homeland Security had set it up shortly after the formation of her corporation.

Sooner than last time, probably didn’t want to look like they weren’t doing anything, typical. She snorted as a pair of figures hopped from one rooftop to another towards the blaze. The heroes were showing up more and more often, it was trendy now for the light touched to don capes and cowls and run out to fight monsters. Still, the government hadn’t sanctioned any of them yet which was obvious, it would happen during the next election. Eight months? She hummed thoughtfully to herself, Not a lot of time to build up a company large enough to do what I need.

I’ve figured out how I’m going to spread my influence in the underworld, take control of city gangs and turn them into ability users, she turned away from the window, deep in thought, I’ll also grab ahold of the bigger players by offering them my Gift of Youth, hold parties for an exclusive club of sorts, keep them close and loyal.

That said, I have nothing to offer heroes except sell them goods, I could single them out and subjugate them somehow but… she smirked …that’s not really my style now is it? Just keeping my hand pressed down on the government side through the old farts isn’t enough either. I still haven’t even had enough politicians try to track Ishtar down. I’ve had two people show off their new youth already, what more do I need to do? Even worse, all the investment money is going straight into research, besides selling munitions to police departments open to the idea, ASTA isn’t making any money.

She sighed, Let no one say it’s easy being a supervillain.

“Sonya?” Marta’s voice drew her sharply out of her thoughts.

Sonya jumped, “Holy-shit-balls! Marta! Oh! Hey…” She gasped, clutching at her chest and leaning against the couch.

Marta was standing at the threshold of the living room, she’d taken to wearing a long skirted english-style maid outfit. It was a little much in Sonya’s opinion but apparently it was a bit of a cosplay fantasy of Marta’s so she hadn’t really spent a lot of time on the topic. The young woman frowned at her, “You really should find a way to relax,” Marta sighed, shaking her head, “You’ve been on edge for a couple days now. Go outside, ma’am, get some air or find some other kind of distraction. You can’t change the world frayed at the seams.”

Sonya coughed, “Ah-aha,” She rubbed her neck, “R-right. Maybe a change of pace could help me clear my head.”

Marta nodded agreeably, “Speaking of a change of pace, you have a visitor.”

Sonya raised an eyebrow, “I didn’t invite anyone.”

“She says you gave her your card last time you were out shopping,” Marta said, holding up a business card, “Mikayla Summer.”

Sonya blinked and tilted her head, thinking back, her eyes widened, “Oh! The cutie that helps me get fitted for my suits! She’s here? Wow! I’m a bit surprised,” She thought ruefully of the past few visits to the high-end clothing store that the young woman worked at. Sonya’s lips formed a line as she recalled the number of times she’d posed in front of the mirror and the flustered look on the girl’s face. “Hm… did I overdo it?”

“Ma’am?” Marta asked, looking confused.

“Oh, haha, nothing!” Sonya waved her hands defensively, “Let her in.”

Marta inclined her head and turned away, Sonya rubbed her neck. She is taking this whole ‘ooh look at me I’m a noble maid’ thing way too seriously.

A few moments later, Marta returned with Mikayla in tow. The tan-skinned girl oozed the word athlete, short dark hair, pierced ears, and legs for days attached to a street-fashion skirt and top. She wore a baggy jacket over it all that had fallen down to her shoulders. It wasn’t the classiest look, but it was pretty darn cool. Mikayla looked around, her eyes wide, as she took in the expensive apartment. “Oh man, I’ve never been in a place like this before. I can’t believe you let me in.”

Marta said nothing as she was guided to the living room where Sonya had set herself up on the couch, she got to her feet and brandished a winning smile, “Miss Summers! Welcome! This is a surprise!”

Mikayla flushed a little and scratched her nose, “You said I could stop by any time. I uh, wanted to see you, ma’am.”

“Call me Sonya,” Sonya said, gesturing at the couch, “Have a seat, do you like soda? I’ve got a hell of a sweet tooth.”

“Oh! Uh, sure,” Mikayla said nervously, heading over to the couch and sitting down.

Sonya nodded to Marta who stepped away and made for the refrigerator. Mikayla glanced over her shoulder at Marta and blinked, “Wow, really is a different world.”

“Naw, it’s just her hobby,” Sonya said playfully, winking at Marta who gave her a petulant scowl before handing Mikayla her soda and thrusting the other into Sonya’s hand with an aggravated huff, “Sorry! Sorry!” Marta walked off to do who knows what, “So!” Sonya began, popping the can open and taking a sip, “What brings you here?”

Mikayla sipped at her drink, “W-well, I wanted to thank you, ma’am-er-Sonya. In person.”

Sonya tilted her head, “Thank me for what?”

MIkayla looked down at her can, “For all your business at the store, you only come and see me, and the higher ups noticed. They gave me a promotion for bringing in so much business-” She hesitated, “-a-and because of that, one of the company designers saw my work during a meeting. They might be moving me to the main studio!” She said happily.

Sonya raised an eyebrow, “You’re a designer?”

“It’s… well it was a hobby. I’ve always wanted to design clothes but well… I never got into a good school for it and most of what I’ve designed is cosplay and stuff,” She rubbed her thumbs together around her soda can, “This is my first chance at the real thing.”

Sonya leaned back in her seat, “Wow, that’s pretty incredible, Mikayla, congratulations.”

Her unawakened ability was Attention to Detail, right? Clothing is profitable, especially high end clothing, She thought, eyeing the girl for a moment. Her stare must have been rather intense because the girl flushed and looked down at her can again. Oh my, what’s this?

Sonya tilted her head and smiled, “You know what, why don’t we celebrate? That’s a big deal for you and to be honest I’m looking for any excuse to get out and have a little fun, Marta is going to chase me out of the apartment soon I suspect. How about I take you out for dinner, maybe even to a club, oh that sounds fun!”

Mikayla nearly dropped her can, looking up with a startled look on her face, “H-uh?!”

“Oh, don’t be so surprised! You’re a cutie! Come on, let me take you out, mm?” Sonya teased, leaning forward and resting her chin on her palm, “It’d make me happy.”

The deer-in-headlighs look was something Sonya would treasure for a while. The look of scorn and ‘you're the worst’ from Marta standing in the doorway on the other side of the room was just as delightful. Sonya shrugged at Marta as Mikayla stammered and struggled with her words. She really needed to work on her confidence, she sounded cool headed when she came in, why couldn’t she relax a little. Nothing a few drinks won’t fix.

Sonya got to her feet and walked over to the girl, “Come on, lets have some fun, yeah?”

–

A few hours later, Sonya was getting out of the back of a car, wearing an all white suit and pink tie. For show, she’d experimented a bit with Technopathy and found a use for it that gave her the biggest look of scorn she’d ever gotten out of Marta to date. She could change her eye color. Marvelous. With glowing hot-pink eyes burning bright in her head she turned around and reached inside to take Mikayla’s hand. The wanna-be designer was practically trembling as she pulled herself out, looking around like a wild animal caught in a trap.

Not surprising, since they were at Club Starlight, every person walking up the steps was worth more than everything Mikayla had ever earned in her entire life. Even more harrowing for the poor thing, she was wearing an outfit of her own make. The skirt went down to her knees before splitting and going all the way up to her thigh, it had a crisscross design around the thigh, holding it neatly together while providing a good view. Her top was equally showy and elegant with the cloth folding over itself going up towards the neck and making it look like the top was wrapped around her body.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Sonya whispered, “But you really shouldn’t be.”

She held out her arm, “Shall we?” She glanced over at the driver's seat and nodded at Marta who pulled away. Marta would follow them inside shortly and keep a respectful distance.

Mikayla looked at Sonya’s arm for a few heartbeats and with what looked like something between resignation and an attempt to will herself to be more confident, slipped her arm in.

“Good girl,” Sonya said and started walking, leading the flushed designer up the steps and towards the bouncer.

He looked between the two of them, “Hot ain’t enough to get in here.”

“Knowing the owner is,” Sonya said with a wink and held out a metal card, the guy took one look at it and stepped aside. Sonya smiled at him politely and continued on in.

Mikayla stared at him then at her, “You know the owner?”

“He was a client,” Sonya said offhandedly so as to sweep the topic under the rug, easier than coming up with a half truth since she couldn’t lie about it. More like I gave him twenty years of his life back, but that’s neither here nor there.

They stepped inside and the music washed over them in a wave, the lights, the sounds, the smells, the overwhelming charisma of damn near everyone in this place. It was a huge room with a wide dancefloor and a bar that wrapped around the entire space, dozens of bartenders working tirelessly to fuel the people searching for respite in these ever changing times. She walked Mikayla over to the bar and quickly ordered a pair of drinks before turning to her.

“Never been to a club before?” Sonya asked.

“A few bars, but nothing like this,” Mikayla admitted, looking a little embarrassed.

The bartender returned with their drinks and Sonya snatched hers up, “Cheers, then! To your first time, and to a dream come true.”

Mikayla’s smile was as bright as the sun, “Y-yeah!”

As Sonya sipped, she listened in on the conversation around her, turning on Mikayla’s own ability. Attention to Detail had a lot of perks, but the best part was being able to parse conversations out from one another. One conversation in particular caught her attention.

“...two new sponsors for the race, can you believe it?”

“Figures, I bet they basically wipe his ass now.”

“Still, makes the company look good, investors are happy.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Enough about business, boys!”

Sonya turned her attention away from the brief conversation, Corporate Sponsorships, now there’s an idea. She mused as Mikayla set down her drink and let out a breath, a small flush coming to her cheeks. Oh no, is this girl a lightweight? Maybe I should ease her away from the bar, otherwise this could be a rough night.

“Hey Sonya? Can we dance?” She asked, looking up at her with those big doe eyes and playing with her earring.

Oh dear.