Broker

Sonya: [busts out laughing] Okay! Okay! [turns to the camera] Hey, Heroes and Villains and all you wicked things in between. It’s time for an AMA! I’m here with Cass!

Cass: [waves uncomfortably] H-hi…

Sonya: [holds up a finger] Book 3 is done! We are on our way to the half-way point! This next book’s a big one, lots of things are gonna happen and some big fish finally start making moves. Also, I’m goin’ in like a certain boy in a green jump suit with his weights off.

Cass: [blinks] …did you get that from Marta?

Sonya: [grins] Anyway! We’ve got a few questions from Royal Road and Scribblehub. Not as many as usual though. [rubs chin] Well, if you want to ask more I’ll leave things open at the end and I might even sneak into the comments section.

Cass: You can’t just break the fourth wall that much!

Sonya: Deus ex Machina

Cass: [throws up her hands] That’s not how that ability works!

Sonya: Ahem! Rekan from Royal Road asks: “What happened to Val. Also, I’m curious as to how Riot can kill using karma, is it like a part of their soul or something?”

Cass: [sighs] I’ll get the first one. Val didn’t join up with Team Crusader. He’s more of a ‘do it for the little guy’ type of person and is happy doing Patrol routes in New York. He’s probably flying around there right now.

Sonya: As for the second bit… Riot?

Riot: [appears] Huh? Oh. This question. [sighs] Karma is like the outer lining or skin of the soul. It’s your identity, connections, memories, all of it. It reflects the soul too, to a degree, which is a sort-of blueprint for who you are. Damaging even the skin of the soul is a violation against nature and it’s pretty-much impossible to heal from. The more karma someone has the more violent the reaction from my threads. It’s like breaking someone down at the molecular level but replace ‘molecular’ with spiritual. It’s messy. The reason why my ability isn’t Mythic is largely output and… monsters don’t have Karma. I’m useless against them.

Cass: That’s… grim.

Riot: Tell me about it. Looks like there’s more for me here too.

Sonya: Have fun.

Riot: Logan427 from Royal Road asks: “Who did you see the golden thread between?” Looks like I answered the rest a moment ago. [He rubs his neck] The Golden Thread was between Sonya and the World when I first met her.

Sonya: [stares]

Riot: I’m… gonna go. [poofs]

Cass: [clears her throat] So! Uh! Next question is from THK from Royal Road, they asked; “What are the most obtuse ‘relatable alternative units’ you can come up with, individually or together? Throw practicality out the window.

Sonya: [grins] Marta ‘harumphs’ per Hijink

Cass: …that one was pretty practical.

Sonya: I could do one about p-[beep]?

Cass: MOM!

Sonya: THK also asks, “Could you lie if you had power sealing cuffs on?” [clears throat] Nope! As long as I possess Broker, I cannot lie, regardless of how much Mana I’m cycling.

Cass: If only anyone actually knew that who was your enemy, Oh wait. Martin.

Sonya: And that’s why I don’t let him talk about me. If he wants to play house, play house. He won’t get anything real done until I ask him a favor. [chuckles]

Cass: [shakes her head] “What thoughts/feelings were going through your mind when Ishtar first appeared before you and the group during the Liberty War? Despite knowing Ishtar well beforehand, you seemed even more affected than Lillian by her presence.”

Sonya: [shifts on her feet] Ahem… um… Sorry about that by the way.

Cass: W-well, Mom doubled up Imperious on me as opposed to the others. I knew it was her, obviously, and she wanted a natural reaction. She’d never used it on me before but it was better to play it safe so my personal feelings didn’t override it. It was… terrifying. [she exhales] If you’ve ever looked death in the face, gotten too close to a dangerous wild animal, stood at the edge of a high drop. That gut feeling but multiplied. I was pretty horrified at first and it drew out all my worries about what we were getting into. [sighs] I knew why you had to do it, still sucked though.

Sonya: Ice cream later?

Cass: …sounds good.

Sonya: [Squints at the screen] Next question is from OBSIDIANxSILVER. Pretty! They ask: “I would like to know what happens to an ability when someone dies?” [taps her chin] I might need Ghost-Pandora for this one. Hey! Pan pan!

Pandora’s Ghost: [materializes] Yes?

Sonya: [points at the screen]

Pandora’s Ghost: [reads] That one is quite simple, the initial part anyway. Your hypothesis is correct about recycling, for the time being anyway. I can’t get into more detail than that though, a certain cackling Narrator is preventing further commentary on that portion. As for the rest, Sonya’s copies are entirely new and are not bound by the recycling, neither are any abilities made from them. Only the abilities formed from the Flash or natural awakening count. Once an ability is merged into one of Sonya’s it is off the table. I can say no more. [Vanishes]

Sonya: [shrugs] It’s something, right? Though I think that does mean that Firestorm’s ability went back into circulation, Lillian got my copy, which is nice to think about.

Cass: He sounded like a great guy.

Sonya: [nods] He was.

Cass: Aviator43 from Scribblehub asks: “Sonya, how do you stay motivated with the goal of defeating Otis when it seems like he can just shrug off everything you throw at him?”

Sonya: Rage.

Cass: That’s it?

Sonya: Well to be more specific, I know that every ability has a weakness. There’s a rule to his power, somewhere, and when I find it. And I will find it. I will [bleeeeeep] his [bleeeepitybleep bleep bleep] inside out and skin [bleeeeeeeeep bleep bleep bleeeeeep] until his ancestors [bleeeep bleep bleeeeeep] rubbing alcohol [beeeeeeepity] with a cheese grater. [exhales] Ah that felt good. Does that answer it, Cass?

Cass: [coughs] R-right. Uh. Next question from Aviator43 is… What’s the first gift you’re getting your new daughter?

Sonya: We’re coming out with a new concept sports car at ASTA in a few weeks. Mana-based engine. Amos is a hard worker. Don’t forget we make consumer products too.

Cass: [Gasps] REALLY?

Sonya: [Grins] Lupenthewolf from Scribblehub asks a few questions! “For Ishtar: You and Sonya are finally able to coexist safely, is it everything you wanted?” [turns off stage] Hey bookworm! They’re asking for you!

Ishtar: [pokes her head out] I was reading. [Scowls at the camera] Yes. It’s quite nice. I don’t have to be conscious in her head when she’s binging all those horrible sweets anymore. [hesitates] Also it is good that she is truly stable, well, as much as Sonya can be.

Sonya: Har har.

Ishtar: Is this all you needed me for?

Sonya: Yes yes, go read your romantasy or whatever.

Ishtar: I’m reading informative literature.

Sonya: Uhuh, and that stack of books in the spice cabinet is…?

Ishtar: [coughs] T-those are Marta’s. [Leaves quickly]

Sonya: Sure, sure. Next one from Lupenthewolf is… not a question. “I’m happy you finally have a family that cares about you. No question there, just happy.”

Cass: [brightens] Thank you, that means a lot. As for your last question, “Sonya, did you ever get that weather machine? And what other crazy super gadgets are your people cooking up?”

Sonya: [stomps her foot] No I haven’t! I want that thing so bad! [crosses her arms but grins regardless] Actually, I’ve got Amos prepping for Book 4, he’s gonna upgrade a-

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Colin: [walks in with a suitcase] Did somebody call for a RAFO?

Sonya: [groans] Oh come on! I was excited about that one!

Colin: As your lawyer, I’d like to remind you that spoilers are bad.

Sonya: Fiiiiiine! [Grumbles] There’s actually one here for you, Colin. From BIGLARGEFISH on RoyalRoad. Huh, I’ve seen those words as an Acronym somewhere… anyway. “Colin, What’s the extent of word of power’s vocabulary? Can you just say ‘no’ and make things not happen? Most importantly of all, what’s your favorite word?”

Colin: [Tugs at his hair braid] It’s more limited than you might expect. I can’t just “no” things away, sorry. Generally it needs to be a Verb or Adjective. Adverbs count, kind of. I can’t say “stone” but I can say “petrify” for example. As for the latter part of your question… [grins and takes a deep breath].

Sonya: [eyes widen and clamps a hand over Colin’s mouth] Colin! We’re posting this on PG-13 rated sites!

Colin: [waggles eyebrows at the camera]

Sonya: No means no, you can’t just make people do that with a word.

Colin: Says you, Amos loves it.

Amos: [off screen] No I don’t!

Sonya: Anyway! This one’s for the Inner Circle. [hands on her hips] From Scregg5757 on Scribblehub: “What’s your favorite war crime?”

Colin: I got this one.

Sonya/Cass: [look at one another]

Colin: [deep breath] I’m half-Canadian on my mothers side. I get my looks from her, by the way.

Cass: [Facepalm]

Sonya: Okay! Colin everybody! [whispers] Go away!

Colin: [laughs and waves] Bye everybody! [leaves]

Cass: Has he gotten wierder?

Sonya: No, you just don’t see him as much as I do.

Cass: Right. Anyway, we’re gonna bounce back to RoyalRoad next. It’s a… whole lot of questions for Otis.

Sonya: [scowls] Alright, fine. Otis! You’re up, asshole.

Otis: [steps out onto the stage and flips his hair] I am here.

Sonya: [gags] Die in a fire [coughs] I mean, enjoy.

Otis: [smirks] The first one is from Jacky DeathBerg on RoyalRoad, Oh. I hear you’re something of a fan from the Author. Hello Jacky. This one’s for you. [reads] “How do you rip powers out? It’s not a part of your menu, I don’t think?” [laughs] It’s a combination of cheats called Debug Ability and Edit NPC. I can use it to modify an NPC, open up their source code and extract things. Debug on the other hand can temporarily disable an ability or let me grab it physically. [His hand turns gray] Very handy against petulant lightning rods.

Kera: [offscreen] You suck!

Otis: [rolls his eyes] Brainless tart. Anyway! “Is it just me, or are you on your way to Claimancy? It’s been noticeable.” Claimancy? What’s that? [frowns] The next part of the question is… a request. “Kill yourself ‘heart’ thank you.” [scoffs] I’d just regenerate. [pauses] There's a part here for you, Chernovna.

Sonya: Oh?

Otis: What would you do to Riot if you learned about what he’s really been up to?

Sonya: Order him killed or do it myself.

Otis: Really? That simple? No regrets?

Sonya: I think Titania burned those out of me, Otis.

Otis: Ah… so the gloves are off in Book 4.

Sonya: You have no idea.

Colin: [offscreen] Don’t make me come out there!

Otis: Anyway, [winks at the screen] Thank you for the questions, Jacky. I’ll remember you. Next one is from Haurum on RoyalRoad. They ask: “How the heck did Otis get so many cheat powers? How did he die in the Previous Timeline?” [holds his fingers up to his lips] Not. Telling. You’re going to have to read and find out.

Sonya: Please tell me it’s over.

Otis: Nope, a few more I’m afraid. [laughs] Gemiae from RoyalRoad asks: “What is the ranking of the Heralds’ strength among eachother?” I’ll take it by you meaning the Previous Timeline? That’s quite simple. Majordomo was physically my equal but that’s about it. First Wind was next, then Qilin, Liberty, An Set, Astaroth, and finally Craftsman but his effect was more to enhance the others.

Otis: Gemiae also asks, “How much utility does Craftsman provide with his items, and can you provide an example?” Quite a bit, actually. Craftsman was able to create magic items with Forge of Hephaestus akin to mythological objects, rather than the technical gadgets that Technocrat makes. He created a battle standard for Liberty that could retain her Laws and could be deployed at will over a significantly larger area. The United Kingdom was bound by her law at one point. Funny.

Sonya: Now is it over?

Otis: You’re so impatient, Zhyllo from RoyalRoad asks: [pauses] …hm… Chernovna and… pet? I think? Cover your ears please.

Sonya/Cass: Go f- [disappear]

Otis: There we go, Zhyllo asks, “Otis, You’re a gamer right? You power seems fairly inspired by it so I’ve gotta ask. What’s your all-time favorite game? I bet it’s an old school RPG, if so, are you the type who’d want it remastered/remade?” [chuckles] I love classic RPGs. Zelda, Dragon Quest, games with traversable worlds are my favorites. I like finding all the secrets and side quests before using the rewards to overpower the main questline. [frowns] As for remakes. It should be played the way it was intended, changing something that was already perfect disgusts me. Why should it be made accessible to those who can’t appreciate the original?

Otis: [scoffs] With that, I take my leave. Enjoy watching my enemies spin their wheels in the next book. [Laughs and leaves]

Sonya/Cass: [reappear]

Sonya: –then you grab his-

Cass: Mom! We’re back, enough girltalk! [beet red]

Sonya: Oh! Sorry, [coughs] Looks like the golden toddler is gone, good, good. [squints at the camera] Zhyllo still had another question! This one’s for Kingshark. Hey lover-boy! Quit snogging my maid and get out here!

Kingshark: [steps out with a shit-eating grin] Can’t stop won’t stop. Aight, Question for Barry. “Can your power to evolve/change marine life extend to all ocean life?” Yes. “If so, have you considered making a bioluminescent ocean garden as a date venue with Marta? Dozens upon dozens of glowing…” [blinks] Oh shit, I need to write this down. Sonya! Pen?

Sonya: [laughs] I’ll send you a copy of the question in your e-mail.

Kingshark: Hey hey! Wingman-lady, you get it. [finger guns at Sonya] You too Zhyllo, thanks a ton! [Leaves] Marta! I got an idea for a date!

Cass: He’s adorable.

Sonya: I know, right? What’s next?

Cass: Let’s see, Bomb-Priestess from RoyalRoad asks a few questions, “Sonya, If [Broker] had other means of being upgraded that wasn’t orchestrating the death of a Herald, that being non-lethatl measures (such as secure imprisonment or successful therapy), would you make use of it or at least try to? If so, would this be for every Herald, or just a few, and if its just a few then who?”

Sonya: [scratches her chin and frowns] Well.. Technically the notifications just say cutting off their path to being a Pillar of Otis so I think it would work, maybe. I doubt it. Killing them is just more efficient and generally speaking they all … suck. If the option presented that I could get Craftsman on my side, I would. I think his personality could be curbed a little with some heavy handed attention. Qilin seems like a possibility but the fact is she’s absolutely psychotic underneath all that so that’s a hard pass. First Wind’s just a dick and I promised Blight I’d murder his ass so… also no. [hums] Astaroth is somewhere between a eugenicist, a blue-blood supremist, and probably got the wrong idea out of Animal Farm so big no there.

Cass: …and Majordomo?

Sonya: How is that even a question? He killed Chunhua in the last timeline. Of all of them, I want him dead the most. He just hasn’t shown his face, at all. Bastard.

Cass: Fair enough. Next one we’re gonna give to Pandora if she’s available.

Pandora’s Ghost: [Reappears] I am here, let me see. “Pandora, You gave Otis his ability but we know everyone has an innate ability. What was it and what happened to it?” [sighs and shakes her head, snaps her fingers. Sonya and Cass blink and look around] They can’t hear, now. His original ability was Place of Learning. Shame. He discarded it and I put it back into circulation. It ended up in an interesting place. [Snaps her fingers again and she disappears]

Sonya: Hey now! [stomps her foot] No fair!

Cass: Would you have rathered Colin come out and her not give them anything?

Sonya: [pouts] Fine. Next question?

Cass: Skip this one to give to the special guest… “What’s your favorite color?” Directed to the Heralds and pretty much everyone.

Sonya: [brightens] Oh! Mine’s pink!

Cass: [deadpan] We know. [smiles] Mine’s yellow.

Sonya: I thought it was green.

Cass: He isn’t green!

Sonya: [Laughs] Here’s a list for you!

Handmaiden

White

Kingshark

Maroon

Mephisto

Baby Blue

Technocrat

Steel Gray

Charon

Green

Kerauna

Black

Black Lotus

Orange

Crusader

Red

An Set

Black

Liberty

Blue

Craftsman

Whatever aesthetically compliments my project.

First Wind

Brown

Qilin

Green

Astaroth

Gold or Red

Majordomo

Sky Blue

Cass: … Craftsman, really? [sighs] The next to questions, one from Bomb-Priestess and one from redun on Scirbblehub are for a special guest! Sonya?

Sonya: Give it up for Old Man Set! [claps and steps aside as the old man steps out of a rippling portal and looks around in confusion]

Set: …where do I look?

Sonya: [points at the camera] Questions are next to it, there’s a translation for you.

Set: [squints and leans on his cane] Ah… I see… “What exactly is Primal Rarity?” [coughs and clears his throat] Ahem. Primal is a parallel to Mythic. They’re on the same level for the most part. Primal is ‘pure’ and something you do not want to acquire if you’re on the path to Claimancy. It makes the process difficult. Primal abilities are unstable like… [snaps his fingers] like an unstable atom. They need additional input to stabilize. The Kerauna girl, hilarious name by the way, she consumed the electrical power of that poor man in The Hague. That is an example of a Primal ability seeking stability.

Cass: …I had no idea.

Set: It has effects on the mind as well, [he taps his noggin] Mild, but noticeable. [sighs] The next question, it appears to be the final question of this event, is from Redun. They ask: “For Set, did Osiris really deserve all that? Or is it just all slander?”

Sonya: [coughs]

Set: [frowns] I have read your myths about my extended family. They are hyperbole. My on again off again rivalry with my brother was blown out of proportion. Also, the whole… dismemberment thing? It was a statue made by our mother. We were children, I was jealous. I hid the pieces because I was afraid of punishment. I didn’t actually cut my brother up, madness! He never did let me live it down, he always liked to sneak a jab into one of his poems or songs. [sighs] I miss Osiris. He was so funny.

Cass: …that’s… honestly kind of hilarious that the legend got twisted to that point.

Set: Hah! You should hear the truth about Anubis! That party animal was beyond help. He and Dyonisis would get into so much trouble together. Then if you threw Thor into the mix, the heavens themselves would shake. Bah! I should go. [Disappears]

Sonya/Cass: [exchange a look]

Sonya: W-well then! That’s all the questions we got for the AMA!

Cass: I was surprised it went as long as it did, are you still sticking around for the Comments section, Mom?”

Sonya: For the next few hours, sure, why not?

Cass: [shrugs] Alright then, you heard her! Thank you guys so much for submitting your questions. I hope this gave you a lot to think about going into Book 4! We’re almost half-way through Broker, it’s been a crazy ride!

Sonya: Can’t wait to hear your thoughts as the adventure continues! [blinks] Oh right! Selfie time! [pulls out her phone and grabs Cass, pulls her coat off her daughter and tugs it on.]

Cass: Wait! What-

Sonya: Gotta look good for the photo! Smile!

Sonya: See you later dears! Thank you for all your support!