The Conglomerate part 5

New York…

Hyperion’s Light flew over the state on its way to New Jersey. “Once our drone does its job, we can lure them out,” Ryan Bennings told his team as he gazed at the data in front of him, “Hopefully, my ascertain is correct and they decided to head to Sawyer’s building in Jersey.” “Remember the plan, everyone,” Intrepid told them, “They want us to switch opponents so that’s what we’ll do, but only on our terms. Before that happens, though, we have to make it personal to them for once.”

Jersey City…

“No, I’m nothing like you,” Miles Cady protested, “I’m an academic!”

Queen Faith laughed uproariously at the comment. Cady noticed it but continued his rant toward Jennifer Sawyer all the same, “I’m not some right-wing, corporate, sociopath out for power.” The six figures were gathered on the top floor of Jennifer Sawyer’s New Jersey lab. After their battle in Boston, they retreated to the nearest available meeting place, which was in Jersey City. Once there, they made an attempt at a plan but the conversation quickly broke down.

“Everyone here seeks power in their own way,” Sawyer stated calmly, “That’s all I’m saying.”

“No, you seek power!,” Cady shouted, “I was a Harvard professor! People like you sit on seats of power that people like me wish to see topple!”

“Professor Miles Franklin Cady,” Recall stated flatly, “According to public IMD records, you were arrested for illegal metahuman enhancement, particularly in the ability to control minds. Additionally, you seduced and attempted to sexually assault a female student in your own office. Many would argue that is a sure sign you crave power.”

“Not to mention he’s a rich, white, American from a world-famous university,” Mano added, “Very much in a seat of authority.”

Cady turned to Mano thoughtfully, “I’d like to circle back to that in a moment.”

“Go ahead, but I won’t be here,” Mano turned and walked out of the room.

Cady let him go, opting to confront Recall, “As for you people, you’re little more than terrorists and your leaders have crackpot ideas with no basis in real science. The Second Phase is a joke.”

“Our advancements in cybernetics prove our experiments are more sound than your theories of the mind,” Recall fired back, “We base our philosophy in logic.”

“There’s nothing logical about `abandoning the flesh’ you idiot,” Queen Faith sneered, “Your people destroy nature. You spit in the face of creation.”

“We simply don’t subscribe to ancient superstitions,”

Faith stormed forward despite her lack of vision, “The Second Phase is lucky it does not have Iseda as an enemy!”

“We have nothing to fear from religious zealots.”

“You really shouldn’t speak to a woman of color like that,” Cady said righteously.

Faith turned in the general direction of Cady, “I don’t need your help, pervert!”

As the three continued to argue, Jennifer Sawyer watched them silently. Syfire stood next to her and whispered, “When you said that to the old man, you knew it would start a fight.”

“I stand by it as the truth… but yes, I knew it would upset him and likely get most of them into an argument.”

“Why do it?”

“Because if they get along with one another, it’s possible they’ll conspire against me. They’ll be more compliant to my plans if they’re exhausted by the idea of having any more arguments.”

He shook his head, “And humans consider the U’ntari the monsters.”

Outside the room, Mano spoke to Nadie on the phone. “How much longer do I have to endure this, sir? I’m not sure which one I hate the most.”

“They’re evil men and women. Terrorists. Killers,” Nadie said calmly, “Entertain them long enough and our goals might be achieved. We’ll get you home soon.”

“Just so you know, I might end up killing them myself.”

Outside, a single drone flew through the air and found its way through a window in the Nantox lab. The sound of broken glass could be heard and a loud alarm immediately sounded. Disconcerted, Jennifer Sawyer brought up a holographic screen.

“Someone’s entered the building,” she told the group, “The Commission is playing their hand faster than we anticipated,”

Syfire growled, “We were too busy arguing to formulate a plan.”

Sawyer brushed him off, “The plan for now is to fight opponents we’re not used to fighting. They’ve barely survived the last two times. This time, they’re in an area I’m familiar with, so they’re less likely to escape.”

Once she led the group to the lab, they found a drone embedded in the floor tiles, but none of the Commissioners were present. The small device on the floor lit up and projected images on the ceiling. The team stared at them curiously for a moment and when they made sense of what they were looking at, Sawyer spoke, “That’s a picture of my company headquarters in LA.”

Cady was next, “Is that…?,” he squinted to make sure he was correct, “Yeah, I think that’s my old faculty office from Harvard. Why are they flashing a picture of my old workplace?”

“Someone tell me what’s happening,” Queen Faith asked, her eyes still wrapped in a bandage.

Cady answered, “There’re photos of random places that appear to be linked to us. The picture of Winghaven is meant for you, I think.”

“There’s a star-map indicating my home planet,” Syfire gazed at the image, “Their ship is a reengineered U’ntari vessel. It’s… possible they could travel that far.”

“But it’s unlikely they would want to,” Recall explained helpfully.

“That’s the capital of Costa Triste!,” Mano remarked, “They’re targeting my nation!”

Recall once again responded, “They’re unlikely to attack populated areas if that’s-”

“It wouldn’t be the first time Americans attacked my people!,” he interrupted bitterly.

“The High Command first presented their theories in that lecture hall,” Recall pointed to a picture of an old facility, “Luckily, I have no personal feelings toward that building anymore than I do for the one we’re in now, but I believe our enemies are making an obvious attempt at manipulation.”

“I agree,” Sawyer answered, “We should go to my headquarters in LA.”

“No, take me to Costa Triste,” Mano demanded, “I’ve gone along with your plan long enough.”

“We need to know what they want to do with these locations,” Syfire explained.

“We’ve already determined there will be no attacks,” Recall fired back.

“Yes, but they’re planning something! We just need to understand what that is.”

“Precisely, which is why we need to retreat to my LA offices and find out,” Sawyer answered.

“Why should we go to your building?,” Queen Faith asked, “Why not go to Winghaven? Why not go to Costa Triste? You’re sure they won’t do any harm to your precious building, so why should your property take precedent?”

“I’ve been leading this team thus far, so it makes sense for us to-”

“Maybe we’re through with you being in charge!,” Syfire growled.

“I’m only here for a ride home and someone better deliver,” Mano shouted.

“This helps nothing,” Recall added, “Perhaps it’s best if we simply go our separate ways?”

“What if they want us to split up?,” Sawyer asked.

“I’ll take my chances,” Queen Faith barked.

“Someone better get me on a goddamn plane!,” Mano ordered.

“You’re hardly in a position to make demands,” Recall informed him.

“You’d be surprised by what-,” Mano stopped mid-sentence and stared at Recall blankly.

Recall returned the stare curiously and noticed no one else was speaking. He gazed around the room and saw that Sawyer, Faith, and Syfire had the same blank expressions. With his analytical mind, he quickly figured out what had happened but it was too late. Sawyer’s limbs reached out and he was wrapped in super strong tendrils and pulled in close to her, completely pinned down. His cybernetic enhancements were no match for Sawyer’s raw power, which was why she was the one chosen to restrain him. After all, Miles Cady accurately surmised his partially-cybernetic brain would be immune to his mental powers.

“Did you predict that one, asshole?,” Miles shouted as he used his cane to march toward his captured foe.

Recall looked at him calmly, “While this is certainly a surprise, I’m not -,” he was cut off by a tightening tendril slithering over his mouth.

“Jesus Christ, it was a rhetorical question,” Miles rubbed the bridge of his nose, “The Second Phase has such a superiority complex and yet, you’ve obviously not found a cure for autism,” Miles leaned in close to Jennifer Sawyer’s blank face, “I betcha you regret kidnapping me now,” he continued to move around the room, ranting as he did so, “I know what we can do, everyone! Let’s antagonize Miles Cady! Sure, let’s all bully and undermine the one member of the group who has any amount of decency! Yeah, we’ll ignore the fact that he has the power to turn us into vegetables or make us kill each other… not that it would be too difficult with the way you people keep sniping at one another,” he stopped at Syfire, “Alien bastard,” then he continued to Mano and Queen Faith, “I tried to help the two of you as I knew you were from oppressed groups but you refused my olive branch one time too many,” he positioned himself within the small group, “It’s not fair that I got stuck with psychopaths and criminals! I have a doctorate for God’s sake!,” he pointed to the picture of the Harvard office, “I was a goddamn Harvard professor! I don’t need to be here! I didn’t need to be in prison! I just wanna be left alone!,” he once again approached Sawyer, “But you couldn’t let that happen, could you? Well, here I am, good ‘ol Miles Cady! Just like you wanted! And guess what, you twisted bitch, I’m in control now! I know you can hear me so I’ll say it again,” he began rapping his cane against the floor, “I’m! In! Control!”

The remaining office windows were then kicked in, and while it was heard by everyone in the room, only Cady was able to turn his head. Astra Machina was the first to enter and as she was a mechanical being, she was immune to his telepathy. “No! No!,” Cady shouted angrily. Then came Ryan Bennings, the Cavalier, Intrepid, Alysa Saraki, and Shujai. He searched for their minds but a familiar frequency blocked his path.

“Always one step ahead,” Ryan tapped an ear piece, which was identical to the ones the rest of his team wore, “No mind games.”

Cady gazed at the images on the ceiling above, “Your team played some mind games of your own. You got personal, made them fight amongst themselves. They nearly went their separate ways, y’know. You came this close to breaking up the band, but I had them stay put and, to be frank, I like that I have control over them.”

“You always do.”

Cady made eye contact with Recall, “I’m sure you’re not happy with the current situation but you don’t have much of a choice other than to fight alongside me. I’m going to release you and I’m sure you’ll find the logic in that.”

“Can I hit him now?” Astra asked.

“Be our guest,” Intrepid answered.

Cady stepped back and his team gathered in front of him for protection. Recall was let go and, as per his silent agreement, he had little choice but to fight against the Commission. Astra rushed forward with the rest of the team following. Cady gave a telepathic command and the Conglomerate leapt into the air to meet them.

Intrepid’s idea was to use Sawyer’s strategy against her. The first phase was to promote in-fighting through pretending to target areas that had personal connections to the Conglomerate. Next, they would implement a variation of Sawyer’s plan; they would individually target foes they wouldn’t normally fight but try to avoid engaging with the members who step up. Instead, they carefully chose which Commissioner was best suited to defeat any particular Conglomerate member – Intrepid flew toward Mano, Alysa Saraki set her sights on Jennifer Sawyer, Ryan Bennings sent a pocket-sized drone to distract Recall, Shujai slammed a fist against Queen Faith’s forcefield, the Cavalier planned to use his energy weapon against Syfire, and Astra Machina tried her best to maneuver toward Miles Cady.

Syfire avoided Cavalier and tried to tangle Astra up in his tendrils. She somersaulted away from him and made a b-line toward Cady. Meanwhile, Cavalier slammed his shield against the U’ntari assassin to distract him. “Stop her!,” Cady was far too slow to avoid Astra and had no offensive abilities to use against her. Instead, he commanded all teammates to focus on her. As they were already busy fighting others, they couldn’t break away fast enough. Astra moved in before she could get mobbed and gave a tap on top of Cady’s skull. The older man immediately fell unconscious and as she looked down at the prone man, she exclaimed, “That’s for hurting Labrat!”

The Conglomerate were released from Cady’s control with Jennifer Sawyer being the one to react first. While Cady was a temporary misstep in reaching her goals, everything was still going according to plan.

Alysa tried to telekinetically stop Sawyer, but Syfire wrapped a tendril around her ankle. Even though she began to feel her strength disappear, a quick concussive blast forced him to let go. Sawyer, meanwhile, produced a small disk from her black blazer and threw it at Astra. The disk landed on her back, releasing a stream of nanobots. Suddenly, Astra found herself unable to remain in a solid form and dropped into a near liquid-metal state in a second. She resembled a mound of chrome plato and was having difficulty reconstituting herself. Without missing a beat, Sawyer snatched Astra up, shifting her arms in a bucket-shape to carry her, then raced to the nearest stairwell. “She got Astra!,” Alysa ran after Sawyer.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team were forced to contend with the Conglomerate.

Continued…