Johnathan took his last sip of his wine, then put the cup down. It was well past midnight but he had decided to wait up for his girlfriend. As a Royal Elite, Elsa had been sent to hunt down the superhero, Mermaid. Johnathan had wanted to stop Elsa from joining those hunts, but to do so would be to go against the Lord Ruler's command, and despite the fact that Johnathan worked for the man's twin sister, he still wasn't influential enough to change the system. And so, Elsa had joined the hunt as an Elite Royal.
Johnathan was about to prepare himself another drink when he heard the knocking on the door. When he opened it, Elsa staggered in, using the wall for support.
"Elsa, what happened to you?" Johnathan helped her sit down. She looked like she had just been badly beaten, her face was bruised, and she had a swollen eye. A small round burn mark was also visible on her right shoulder, looking like something had burned through her clothes and skin, like a laser. Her Aura was in the process of healing the wounds, slowly mending her skin. Johnathan knew for a fact that Royal Elites, when going hunting for superheroes, they go in teams of at least two. Elsa wasn't weak by any means, and there's no way Mermaid was strong enough to fend off two Elites. Something must've gone wrong.
"I… met your copycat guy." Elsa said. She touched her stomach, another burn mark there, then she caressed her right arm with her left. "The guy's a monster. Never thought I'd have my own ability used against me."
"The Copycat superhero…" Johnathan had expected the man to eventually make a move, now that Specter had gone public during Beodulf's kidnapping. The proclamation of war was clear. The rebel organization was going to need every superhero roaming the city if they wanted to succeed in winning against the Lord Ruler, and thus they had little reason now to hide their main player.
"How many were you?" Johnathan asked, curious to know how many it would take to beat the Copycat hero, if it could even be done. "How many fought him?"
"Me, Hoaqin, and if memory serves, I believe three others who were nearby when we got the Mermaid pinned." Elsa said. "Damn, Heimdall's gonna be passed when he hears we couldn't capture her."
"What matters is that you're okay and not-"
"In the hospital like the rest?" Elsa finished the thought, clearly not happy about something. "Yeah, that's cuz he let me go…hhggn." She groaned in pain, trying to stand, but fell back down, her Aura probably near exhausted.
"Come." Johnathan offered to help. "Let's get you to bed. You need rest." Aura replenishes faster during rest, even more so during sleep.
"What I need," Elsa slapped Johnathan's hand away, then pointed at the open wine bottle resting at the table. "Is a good drink."
Johnathan knew better than to argue so he decided to join her instead. They drank, and talked about the details of the fight. The more Johnathan heard Elsa's details, the more he thought the Copycat to be unbeatable. If a team of five Royals couldn't bring the man down, could the Lord Ruler?
Elsa kept on talking, and Johnathan kept asking for more clarification. They did this for about an hour, before Elsa finally gave in, Johnathan helping her to bed. Johnathan was sure he was going to hear more about it tomorrow at Imperium, and would then have to air the news to the public.
***
The next day, Johnathan bumped into Wren on his way to work, walking through Imperial Square and remembering the fight that took place here only days ago. The square had been perfectly repaired, not a single trace of damage to be spotted. The work of the Royal Repair Company. The people walking by still talked about Spectre's implied declaration of war, impossibly kidnapping the Mayor. Beodulf.
"Our Lady wants you to join her for a… very important meeting." Wren told Johnathan as they walked through Imperium's main entrance, the lobby bursting with the usual activity, people going about their business while gossiping and chatting about recent news and Spectre activity. The Commoners were specially more energetic, no doubt believing that Spectre was the one that will accomplish what the others could not; Overthrow the Lord Ruler. End the Royal Hierarchy System.
"What meeting?" Jonathan asked his friend as they made their way past the main counter that led to the elevator.
Wren smiled. "I can't give you details, but just know that we've all been through that meeting ourselves. It's a way of finishing our Lady's contract of becoming her Royal Knight. My advice, just keep calm and collected. The person you're about to meet is… let's just say he doesn't like strangers knowing who he is. But relax, you'll have Lady Ada's… unique protection."
"... Right." Johnathan already had an idea of who Wren was referring to. Lady Ada had mentioned talking with that 'person' after their meeting with Spectre a few days ago. The Lord Ruler. Her twin brother.
"Anyways, Elek will come over to your office when it's time. Until then…" Wren waved goodbye after they walked past the lobby counter, past the identification gate. Johnathan took the elevator to his office's floor. 22. On the way up, two others, Commoners both, got in. They remained awkwardly silent, pointedly avoiding eye contact. Johnathan let out a sigh. Ever since his promotion to Royal Knight, all the Commoners who once conversed with him in confidence, now were actively avoiding him. They ridiculously believed that he'd somehow betrayed them. He didn't blame them though, knowing full well how it might look from their perspective. They didn't know about Lady Ada, aside from the common facts of her being the founder and president of Imperial News Co. To the Commoner's she was just another self important Royal, preoccupied with power and authority. Even Mila, who had been closest to Johnathan, and was respected by most Commoners at Imperium, did her best to avoid conversation with him. Aside from the usual "good morning" and "good evening." Mila kept her distance. That actually hurt Johnathan in a way he never expected. It saddened him that he couldn't tell her anything.
He went into his office, his team needing little supervision, and watched the news delivered live from his laptop. It had been like Elsa had said last night. The Copycat superhero appears again, fighting and severely beating five Royals last night, rescuing Mermaid from capture. And just like Johnathan had expected, the comments posted by Commoners were plentiful, calling the Copycat superhero the Lord Ruler of the common people. The Commoners even started calling him the Vigilante Lord. A catchy title. The few Royals that commented, those still skeptical of the strength of this new rising superhero, defended the Lord Ruler.
A specific comment caught Johnathan's attention. It was from a Royal. Johnathan read it. "If this Copycat guy is so powerful, why hasn't he challenged our great Lord Ruler." It intrigued him, as he too was curious about who would win in a fight between the two.
Elek walked into his office a few minutes later.
"Heya, John. Been awhile." Elek glanced out the office's see-through glass, towards the news counter where Mila and her companion were currently delivering the news. They had just finished with the Copycat superhero and were moving on to Project Eden, as per the Lord Ruler's request, which dealt with the new construction of a district outside the dome. It was a somewhat honorable attempt, to give a secure home for those families that wanted to have, then raise their child, outside the dome's area of effect. This meant that at age 13 they would awaken to Aura and their abilities.
"They're right, you know." Elek said, a moment later. It took Johnathan a moment to realize what he was talking about. "That Copycat guy IS a threat to the Lord Ruler, and he's just as powerful as they say, if not more so. I… speak from experience. Anyways, I'm here to cover for you. Lady's waiting for you on the 31st floor. I'm sure Wren told you about the… important meeting?"
"He did." Johnathan nodded. "Thank you, Elek. And… It has been awhile."
Elek smiled, then waited for Johnathan to stand to take his seat and make himself comfortable. "Just don't be too intimidated." He said, waving Johnathan away.
***
Johnathan walked up to the elevator and pressed the button for the 31st floor, then wait. The door slid open. He was about to walk inside when he paused.
"Hello, Johnathan."
He looked over. Lady Ada was waiting for him inside wearing her typical white suit, white hair tied behind her back. Her air of authority still hung about her, her composure regal and dignified. She looked like a queen.
"Ready to meet my brother." She said, "Your Lord Ruler?"
Johnathan nodded, taking her side in the elevator.
Lady Ada proceeded to press the button for the 37th floor. Floors beyond the 34th were accessible to a select few, so she scanned her bracelet, confirming her rank among the high Royals. There was a confirmation beep, and the elevator started its ascend.
"Pardon my boldness, my Lady." Johnathan said, as the elevator dinged through another floor, the screen showing the numbers changed from 32 to 33. Because they were heading past the restricted floors, the elevator would become unavailable for anyone else trying to enter it until it reaches the destined 37th floor. It meant they couldn't be interrupted unless Lady Ada wished for it.
Johnathan continued speaking. "I'm wondering why you chose me to accompany you. Wren, or Elek, would've been better choices. They have already met with the Lord Ruler and know what to do in his presence." He was mostly curious about what she planned. Lady Ada was a cunning woman, a strategist planner, and every move she'd made in aiding Spectre had been carefully intentional.
A smile spread across her senior face. "It's true." She said, not looking at Johnathan, rather up at the changing floor numbers on the elevator. 34... 35… 36…
"They have all accompanied me ample times before." She continued. "But this meeting is far more important. And what I require for it is intelligence, not experience. A fresh set of eyes, if you will. A new perspective." She seems to have noticed Johnathan's attempt to protest because she spoke again before he could get a word out. "Wren and Elek are smart, true. Particularly Klaus. But you, Johnathan, you have deduction and reasoning skills to match even my own. I cannot tell you everything I wish to tell you for you to understand, but I hope you'll understand nonetheless. All I ask of you is to remain quiet at my side, and simply observe. Take note of everything that is being said. Words have a lot more value than you think, especially when their importance depends on how you perceive them."
Johnathan nodded, but he honestly didn't know what Lady Ada was trying to say. He suspected she wanted him to figure something out, to decipher her words, though he didn't know what quite yet. Still, he knew her to be cunning and calculating enough to hide meaning and messages inside her sentences. This had been the case since her meeting with Spectre, where she revealed that for some unknown reason she couldn't directly reveal the Lord Ruler's weakness to anyone even if she wanted to. Something bound her to secrecy against her will. Johnathan had to learn to read between the lines with her.
The elevator dinged, the door sliding open on the 39th floor. Johnathan didn't know what to expect as he followed Lady Ada through a wide hallway, and then through a double door. The room inside was large, dimly lit, and mostly empty aside from two rows of long tables and chairs on either side. The windows were covered, the room empty. Johnathan couldn't find a better description of the room's layout, other than a medieval throne hall. At the back end, a small set of stairs led up to a raised platform, and on it a large metallic chair. The throne. Johnathan could just barely make out the silhouette of someone sitting there. No doubt the Lord Ruler. A silhouette of a second person stood firmly beside the metallic chair, looking like a statue. Most likely one of his four Royal Knights, though which one, Johnathan couldn't tell. Beodulf, impossible. Heimdal, unlikely, the man was in charge of the Royals hunting superheroes. It could either be the woman, Natalya, or the shadow Royal, Symvasi.
"Sister." The person sitting on the throne, the Lord Ruler himself, spoke. His voice orated, rehearsed. "It's been awhile…"
"Still hiding in the shadows, I see." Lady Ada said, walking up to stand a few feet from the set of stairs that led up to the platform. A light shone down on her spot from the ceiling, like a spotlight. Johnathan followed, quietly standing right behind her and doing as she'd ask. Observe. Listen. Though at the moment there was little to see. The Lord Ruler's face was still masked in shadow, the light not reaching the throne.
"Hiding?" The Lord Ruler let out a slow, methodical laugh. He stood, then took slow, measured steps forward, the light washing over him, his face finally revealing itself to Johnathan, making him part of those 'select few' who had seen the Lord Rulers face.
The Lord Ruler looked almost identical in features to Lady Ada. Same colored eyes, short white hair, and like her, he wore a white tuxedo suit. But it was the handgun, held in his hands, that drew Johnathan's attention. Raised and aimed at him, finger on the trigger.
Johnathan instinctively ignited his Aura, feeling the familiar warmth fill his body.
The Lord Ruler smiled, but did not lower the weapon. Johnathan stood still, a bit confused. Guns were useless against a Royal, or anyone who had Aura, really. Aura could heal gun wounds easily enough. In fact, when the Lord Ruler banned the use of firearms in New Miami, it was mostly for the Commoners safety. If the Lord Ruler meant to intimidate, a handgun wasn't going to do much. Not to a Royal.
"Johnathan," Lady Ada said, her tone serious. "Repeat the words I'm about to say… and please, say them like you mean it."
"What words, my Lady?" Johnathan said, puzzled by her tone of voice. His eyes on the Lord Ruler, on the gun.
Lady Ada said the words. "I promise that no vital information delivered here will leave my lips, lest I become Adrian Doe's servant slave. To obey his every command."
Johnathan paused for a moment. Strange thing to promise, he thought, and what was that about obeying the Lord Ruler? Still, Johnathan did as asked. "I promise that no vital information delivered here will leave my lips, lest I become Adrian's servant slave. To obey his every command." Despite not understanding the situation, he said the words seriously enough. Like he meant it. As soon as he finished saying the words, he felt a sudden weight fall over him. He flinched, then, in his mind, he saw himself shackled and chained. It was a strange sensation, but it was over quickly. If he didn't know any better, he'd guessed an ability was just used on him. He looked up at the Lord Ruler, eyes wide. Was it him? Or…
Johnathan looked over at the Royal Knight standing by the throne, their face obscured in darkness.
What did that ability do?
"Now that that's done." The Lord Ruler said, lowering the handgun. "Tell me, sister. Why the sudden visit?"
"You know why." Lady Ada said, her voice calm and collected. "The purpose for all my visits remains the same, Adrian. I want to help you."
Johnathan was still trying to process what had just happened a second ago. What was that ability used on him? He suspected the words he said had to do with it. He was beginning to feel concern and worry.
But he had to put those feelings aside. He trusted Lady Ada enough to know that he wasn't in any immediate danger. He decided to focus on the conversation between the twin rulers of New Miami.
"I know you plot behind my back." The Lord Ruler was saying. "You're aiding Spectre now? They will fall like all the rest. Tell me, sister, what makes you think this rebel group will be any different?"
Johnathan agreed with that. Spectre was not the first rebel organization to form and challenge the Lord Ruler, or to inspire the Common folk to rise against tyranny, or even to attack the Royal's seat of power: Imperium. However, none had succeeded in what they set out to do. Beodulf and his Royals Guards stopped them before they became an actual threat, and in the cases where Beodulf wasn't enough, Heimdal would step in and succeed on what Beodulf could not. That is to say, if Spectre somehow gets past Heimdal in battle, then that alone would make them a real threat to the Royals.
"When will you stop this?" The Lord Ruler continued. "I cannot be overthrown. You know that better than anyone. I cannot be defeated."
"Then perhaps you shouldn't be." Lady Ada said.
"What?"
She shrugged. "Perhaps stopping you requires more than simply fighting you, or your Knights."
The Lord Ruler said nothing, just stood there looking at his twin sister, searching for something. Jonathan knew what Lady Ada had meant. Spectre's goal, though ultimately the same as all other rebel organizations, slightly differs in method. What Spectre aimed to do was much worse than fight to overthrow the Lord Ruler. Their actual intent made them a real threat. If Johnathan was the Lord Ruler, he would actively be trying to stop Spectre by any means necessary, unless…
The Lord Ruler started laughing. "Ah, I see. You must be referring to their secret weapon. This 'Copycat' hero I've been hearing about, roaming in my city, beating all my Royals consequence free. Sister… the reason that man continues to roam free is because he is not my immediate concern right now. I have made plans to deal with Spectre."
"Plan?" Lady Ada sounded surprised for some reason.
"I will let them continue to build their reputation." The Lord Ruler said. "I will let them raise the hopes of every Commoner in the city. I will let them believe, to hope, that maybe it can be done. That maybe my throne can be taken from me. And then I will make my move. I will use Spectre's destruction to set an example. When I'm done with them, none will dare challenge my rule ever again." He made a waving gesture at Lady Ada. "So go ahead. Continue to aid them. It matters little to me. The end result will be the same."
It took a moment for Johnathan to fully understand the reasoning behind the Lord Ruler's words, why he doesn't consider Spectre a threat. Why he hasn't retrieved Beodulf yet, and why he seems so unconcerned. It's because he doesn't know, Johnathan realized. He doesn't know that Spectre's true goal is the destruction of the dome. As far as the Lord Ruler was concerned, Spectre just wants what every rebel wants, the ending of his reign. And if Johnathan hadn't met with that Spectre woman, Claudia Dia, he himself wouldn't have believed it either. No sane person would consider destroying the dome, losing access to Aura and their abilities. It was preposterous. Ridiculous to even consider. Yet Spectre was willing to lose everything just to end the reign of a tyrant ruler.
Johnathan remembered Lady Ada telling him about a secret weapon to take down her brother. That was it: The perfect plan to destroy the dome. It wasn't what Johnathan had suspected, which was Spectre's champion, the Copycat superhero.
"So you're not going after the Copycat?" Lady Ada asked.
"I said he's not my immediate concern." The Lord Ruler said.
"When will you do it?" Lady Ada said. "When will you go after him? I know his ability interests you. It's of a special kind, like yours and mine."
The Lord Ruler didn't answer immediately, Instead he walked back to his throne, stepping back into the shadow, sitting down. "Why bother asking? You know you can't warn them. But, for your benefit… very soon. I'll have Heimdal pay him a visit at his little bar. What was it called? Ah! The Calming Clam. Interesting name, considering it's been anything but lately."
Lady Ada turned to leave, but paused for a moment, looking back at her brother. "I will get you back Adrian. You will be the brother I once knew again, and if plotting behind your back is the only way to do it… Then you leave me no choice." With that she walked out of the throne room. Jonathan followed her, stepping out through the door and into the white hallway of the 37th floor.
In silence, they walked back to the elevator, got in, Lady Ada pressing the button for the 31th floor. "Well?" She said once the elevator started its descent.
"My Lady?" Jonathan said, looking at her.
She smiled. "Did you pay close attention to all that was said back there?"
Johnathan nodded.
"Good." Lady Ada said, nodding herself. "Think on it all carefully tonight, because I'll have you deliver a message to Spectre soon."