Though their system of government seemed barely to scratch the surface of feudalism.
It was likely that his usual armor would cause more of a problem than relying on other defenses.
“Yeah… let’s head in. Everyone, follow your orders. Lily, hang back with me, I want to ask you a few questions,” Felix said. Making a sharp turn, Felix walked into the portal, and onto another world.
It was more or less another Earth, as far as they could tell.
Everyone went through the portal and spread out, going about their tasks.
“Something’s been on your mind for a bit,” Lily said casually, standing beside him.
You don’t fool me. You’ve all known something’s up. Kit has been the most persistent, asking twice to get the ability to read my thoughts turned on.
“Don’t make that face. I’m trying to be nice. Kit said I’m still coming across too strong at times,” she said. Apparently he hadn’t been as neutral as he’d thought reacting to her statement. “I’m still getting used to this whole, everyone isn’t trying to scam me, kill me, or rape me thing. Corporate life is certainly more fun than being a villain.”
“You and her have certainly been getting along,” Felix said. “I almost wonder if that friction I imagined ever so long ago even existed.”
Lily blew out a breath. “Don’t change the subject.”
“I think you were right,” Felix said, watching his people working. They were putting out stake markers, measuring off distances, and general prepping what would be their base camp. “There is a higher power. Or at least, one that has control over my own powerset.”
“I… don’t understand. What do you mean?” She sounded concerned to Felix. He could only imagine her dilemma, as having taken the souls of a number of people certainly wouldn’t endear you to the heavens.
“Erica didn’t sign her contract. She tried to, but died before she could.”
“But if that were true, you wouldn’t have been able to bring her back. And I know you did. We watched her report yesterday evening. She’s on Legion payroll.”
“And that’s all true, and correct. Except the part where she signed her contract. She managed to press a bloody thumb to it. That was it. She died. And I wasn’t able to bring her back.”
One of the Legion employees leaned to one side and spoke into a microphone.
They must be getting the materials ready.
“Then I started talking aloud. Arguing that she signed the contract. With her blood and thumbprint,” Felix said.
Behind him he could hear carts being rolled out of the freight elevator as everyone began getting ready for the second phase.
Watching them go by, Felix took in a slow breath. “I said something about knowing someone was there. That my power was too… directed, for there not to be. I offered up a favor, if they’d agree that Erica had meant to sign.”
A breeze came through the plain and ruffled Felix’s hair.
It was strange to have the interior of a building behind him, and an open field in front of him.
“Then I offered two favors. I don’t know why I did, but I did. Then a window popped up after that. It had a point cost, and said that I owed two favors, and Erica would come back to life,” Felix said. “The point cost was rather low. Far too low. Which means that the favors had some type of value attached to them. That’d mean that it was a choice. Planned, calculated, and thought out.”
Large wheeled carts skirted around him and Lily, moving to the designated area markers. Stacks of bricks, paving stones, steel, bags of cement, and all sorts of construction materials were being hauled over.
“That… that definitely sounds like you’ve come into contact with a higher being. A god? I don’t know how to take that, really,” Lily said after the last cart trundled by.
“Yeah, pretty much where I’m at myself. It throws a number of things out of perspective for me. I was never one for religion… not really. It all sounded so strange growing up. Now I find that not only was it not so strange, but real. Where does that leave me? And why did it, they, him, her, whatever, decide to answer me. That seems really… the whole thing feels weird.”
“Ok… so… what did you want to ask me? I’m guessing you wanted to talk about souls, given the conversation.”
“I did. But I’m not sure it matters anymore. I kinda answered it myself. There’s not much I can do. Until such a time as they decide to collect a favor, at least.”
“That’s true,” Lily said. “How about a subject change. I’ve read the reports that Andrea sent back. I read through the basic outline you put together for department heads. But you always hold back and keep your thoughts out of those. As if you’re worried they might go further than you want.”
Felix snorted at that and started walking off to one side of the area his people were working in. He wanted to keep moving.
Standing still didn’t feel right anymore.
Victoria noticed him moving immediately. She made a gesture he didn’t recognize to Andrea, and began to move parallel to him.
She kept her distance as he’d requested though.
“Honestly, my plan was to turn this world into a recruitment drive. As far as we can tell from what the scouts sent back, it’s a world inhabited by humans and beasts. There aren’t any other humanoid races. At all. Not one. Just humans,” Felix said. He gestured to the west. “The closest settlement is several rather large tribes over that way. Large enough that you could probably consider them the local powers. With any luck, we’ll be able to start working with them.”
“You want to… work with the locals?” Lily’s skepticism was palpable.
“Yes. I do. And not in the conquering explorer kind of way either. I want to offer them things in exchange for service, materials, and other things. I don’t plan on giving them any technology, or letting them into our encampment without being in Legion. But I’m not against giving them food. Leather, hide. Basic cloth, even. I wanted to turn this world into Legion’s world. Now though…” Felix trailed off, staring westward.
“Now you worry that you might piss off a god who doesn’t take kindly to you mucking around on different planets,” Lily finished the statement.
“Yeah. I mean… in the ancient history of our world, it’s said many times that originally it was just humans. Medieval humans.
“Then the humanoid races came. From where they’re not sure, but they were just there one day. In cities, villages, and homes as if they had always been there. Everywhere, not just in localized places.
“I have to wonder if that wasn’t an intervention. And if I’d be provoking another one.”
“I’d say let the god tell you that when they decide to talk to you again. If they didn’t want you to, would they even have let you come here?” Lily asked. “Assume the answer is permission granted, until shown otherwise. In fact, I would argue just by having this conversation aloud, you force the god into an unstated acceptance until otherwise said.”
Leave it to the lawyer.
Felix smiled and shook his head. “I suppose that’s about right. At least, that’s all I can do until otherwise stated. And the day after tomorrow, the Death Others will be returning with the three leaders of those tribes.”
“Death Others? How do you know?” Lily asked.
“They all volunteered for security, guard, or interrogation work. Apparently being on your own for that long gave them a different outlook on life. I can’t imagine their personalities would have merged very well with Andrea after that. It’s the very reason she cut them out to begin with. The memories will be gone, but does that change the personality?”
“Hmph. That’d explain why the Security Others are separate from the Corporate Others now,” Lily said.
Stopping in his tracks, Felix glanced over to Lily. “What?”