The building was tall, a fairly standard office-building all things sidered. There was a small retaining wall around the perimeter of the building with a gate that restricted curious passers by from poking their heads in. The paved ‘courtyard’ had a few trees to decorate it but otherwise bore a very stark urban feel as one made their way to the gss double-doors. She traced her eyes up the building, six stories above ground with a few beh for other matters. It took up about a quarter of a blod had been ludicrously expensive given its location. Then again, the Pandora ittee did subsidize half of it, she thought with a smirk.
She returned her attention to the doors and the lobby inside where the others were waiting for her. A few voices rang out behind her and she turo see some pedestrians having stopped to stare. One shouted her name and waved, she beamed at him and waved back before making her way into the building and reveling in the climate trolled enviro.
“No autographs this time?” A snarky voice called out.
She turned and raised an eyebrow, grinning at the youthful face marred with dark bags under his eyes and a mess of brown hair on his head, he was standio Cass and the two looked like they’d been talking by the smile on the girl’s face. “Amos! You came out of hiding?”
He shrugged, “Figured I’d greet you guys at least,” he said and put his hand on his hip, “I gotta take a flight to Minneapolis in a few hours, most of what we recovered from the old building has already been moved over.”
She met his gaze, what he meant to say was that they’d finally finished s through the rubble and dug out anything incriminating. Now, he was satisfied with leaving the rest to the demolition crew. She nodded, “Good to hear,” she said, “Anything proprietary missing?” She asked, gng towards Otis and nodding to him with a pleasant smile, her stomach ed a little at it but appearances were important. Jessica stood a few paces away from him, marveling at the lobby befng her way and a sweet smile that didn’t sit quite right with Sonya before walking over to the front desk and leaning on it.
“Nah,” he said, drawitention back, “We had security get there pretty quickly,” he shoved his hands into the pockets of his b coat befng at the new heroes standing off to the side, watg their versation. Sonya walked over and put a hand on Lillian's shoulder and gave it a squeeze when he spoke, “Well, now that you guys are here I start w on improvements for your hardware murly,” he said with a grin before shooting a look at Snow, “sidering my offer?”
The petite girl crossed her arms, “I’m thinking about it,” she said, “I don’t want to lose out on opportunities for field work,” she added and gowards Lily.
He gnced betweewo of them and shrugged, “Sure, no problem. Just let me know. Door’s open,” he said before walking past them and gng at Marta with a sleepy grin, “See you at the new pce?”
She ined her head, “Looking forward to it, Doctor.”
He snorted and meandered away, “Later newbies! Enjoy my old room Cass! Later Blue! Say hi to Bandit for me!” he called and walked out the door.
–
Lillian g Snow who gave her a rexed smile as the new heroes looked around the lobby for a few moments. It acious with a post-modern design that hirongly at Sonya’s personal aesthetics. Sleek with lots of emphasis on the grayscale. The walls were a stark white while the furniture had bck ats and cushions. She spotted Marc turning in a full circle, admiring the pce while Bluestar looked them over thoughtfully. A bubble of excitement welled up in her chest, Here we go!
“Wele tuild!” Bluestar began, brushing her brown hair bad crossing her hands at her waist, “This is the lobby where you will see the occasional pandora or local representative ing iher to speak with me or to represent a freence hero looking to be recruited. We’re closed to business at the moment as I want to give you guys my full attention,” she began befesturing to a set of elevators to the rear of the room, just past the front desk where a bright eyed young man sat, cropped bck hair hiddeh a bck cap with the ASTA logo on it. He eaking with Jessica wheraightened and turo everyone, waving at them. Lillian waved back awkwardly and g Jessica, restraining a frown. I don’t know how to feel about her. She’s a good hero but… Greg.
“That’s Grant, the head of security in the building, his ability allows him to be an unparalleled security guard and desk operator,” she said quickly.
“Hi guys! Wele to the family!” He said brightly and sed their faces with his gaze, “Alright! Got you memorized! Go on through!”
“Thank you Grant,” Bluestar said politely before turning to Sonya and Marta, “Are you staying?”
Lillian turo Sonya who blinked and g the others, “I hang around for a bit, sure. Marta? you get everything to the apartment please?” She asked.
Marta bowed at the waist, “Yes ma’am, of course. I will see you at home. Takeout?”
“Please!” Sonya groaned.
“Very well,” Marta said and turned on her heel, grabbing the bags and walking to the door. She stopped for a moment and gnced over her shoulder before smiling at Lillian and the others, a small wink before pushing through.
Lillian smiled, These are some good people here, she thought.
Bluestar cleared her throat, “Alright! Follow me!” She began ahem to the elevator that opened, revealing a rather spacious interie enough to fit all of them. The doors closed and Bluestar poi the trol panel. “From top to bottom, basement three is for maintenance crew only. There’s two yers of security between us and it as well as a reinforced floor on basement two where you’ll find the training rooms. The rooms are spacious and have sound and mana isoting walls,” she tinued, “You go all out without w about triggering monster formations outside the building.”
“Really?” Marc asked, his eyes wide. He turo Lillian with a grin as Jessica walked over to stand at his side, equally ied judging by the tension in her fingers, “We should put it through its paces ter!”
She ched her fists aurned his grin, “You’re on!”
“Cool the bravado,” Bluestar warned, smirking at them despite her words. Lillian saw the eagerness on Alex and Val’s faces as well. Cass popped her knuckles and shifted her head left and right, shooting a look at Lillian and smirking. She grinned back. They were ready to really test themselves. “Basement one is the barracks, you stay there during yrace period. You have a month to get your affairs in order after your first paycheck. If you’d like to tiaying in the barracks we have that discussion at that time. I’m fih it but there’s limited spad we usually reserve it for new recruits.”
Lillian nodded with the others, it made sense, and apparently they’d be making more than enough to get a det apartment in the area. Especially if a few of us decide to stay together. She thought, giving Snow a brief gnce before clearihroat and fog on the Guildmaster.
“First floor is general offices and security. It’s the only spa the building primarily managed by ASTA Corporation. Sonya has a offi there that she works out of when she’s in the area,” Bluestar tinued.
Sonya nodded, “I have several hero representatives here in the building. It’s a big part of what ASTA does after all,” she said brightly.
“Representatives?” Alex asked, “Wait, besides making us stuff what does ASTA do?”
Sonya bli him and shook her head, “Did the rest of you pay attention at the beginning of the interview?” She asked with a sigh.
Everyone else nodded and Alex’s face fell, he scratched the back of his head, “Sorry. I’ve gotteer about that kind of thing sihen but…”
She gave him a pitying look, “It’s fine, well-” she paused and pulled her pho of her pocket as music started to py. “-her cherry chapsti-” Sonya grinned sheepishly at the others and answered it, “Speak of the devil!” she ughed and turned slightly, “How are you dear? Yes! Just got back to town!”
Bluestar frow her with a raised eyebrow and Sonya held up a finger apologetically, “Hmm? I ask!” she turo Lillian with raised eyebrows after tapping the mute button on her phone, “Lillian and Marc,” she started, turning his way as well, “Do you like Co Co? Any problems with the pany that you know of? I’ve looked them over myself and they’re and above board.”
Lillian blinked, what the? “Uh, yeah. I drink it.”
A few paces away, Marc shrugged and g Jessica with a grin, “I’m open to it.”
“Great!” Sonya beamed at her and hit the button again, “Send a tract over and I’ll look it over with her, hun,” she said brightly, “Yes! I’d love dioodles!” she hung up and turo Lillian, “We’re doing dionight, hope you two don’t mind. I know you must be tired.”
The others all looked at one another. “Huh?” Alex blurted.
Sonya put her hands on her hips, “Like I was going to expin a moment ago, ASTA acts as an intermediary for you guys. Funding heroes isn’t cheap and making sure you’re taking care of and have the hardware you need is just part of the process. Private panies like Co Co seek to sponsor popur heroes just like one would sponsor an athlete,” she tinued, “Most freence heroes have a hard time getting in touch with otiating with those pahat’s where we e in. We hahe tracts and make sure you get the most out of it.”
Lillian stared, “So… what? Do I o wear the pany logo on my uniform?” she asked hesitantly. Alex snorted out a ugh and Cass shook her head. What? She squi them.
John actually chimed in with his usual monotone, “No, ercials and product pt are strictly used during public events, they also publicly cim to sponsor you, there are ws about branding on hero uniforms,” he reminded her.
She blinked and thought back to the Pandutions course and nodded, “Right, there was that,” she flushed a little, “I had a hard time with that test,” she muttered and Snow pat her on the shoulder.
“I did too,” Val sighed.
“I offered to help you study,” Jessica said offhandedly and got a gre from Val. She held up her hands in an appeasiure and rolled her eyes, stepping behind Marc. She’s really ged since hanging around Marc more often. I wonder if there’s more to the break-up than just Greg leaving. Lil out a sigh, Best not think about it, drama isn’t my thing.
“Where does the money go?” Marc asked pointedly.
Sonya turned his way, “Fifty pert goes towards ASTA which basically ght back to you guys, hardware, equipment, transportation, this building, and all that,” Sonya said, “The rest is yours. For parison, Marion and Wizake about seventy-five pert,” she said as the elevator chimed and she gasped, holding her hand to her mouth, “Oh! Sorry Bluestar, I’m butting i I?” she apologized as Lillian reeled from the information. Wait, wait! Isn’t that a lot of money?
Bluestar shrugged, “It’s something they o familiarize themselves with,” she said and stepped out inte louh several ss hanging from the ceiling. There were a few men and women ialking to one ahey gnced over but got a look from Bluestar and o her, making themselves scarce. Lillian frowned but Bluestar pcated her with a smile, “You’ll get to meet the others ter,” she said quickly, “Now, brief overview of the other floors.”
She cleared her throat, “Sed floor is for the rest of the ma team. The agents who support you on your assigs. It’s also where the miners meet ahead of joining you at a dungeon site,” she said, “Third floor is the Armory, it has a few yers of security as well and it’s where you store year between assigs. It’s also where items from dungeons are stored that are sidered to be too dangerous to be on dispy.”
She gestured around herself, “This is the fourth floor, dispatch. Your daily schedule, patrol routes, the carter radar report, and other information all be found here,” she poi a door to the left, “There’s a cafeteria over there,” she said before pointing to ao the right, “That’s the briefing room,” she pointed up, “Above us is the fifth floor where there is space for a portal from the Pandora ittee and where the Pandora ittee liaison is stationed. Her name is Tina, make sure to say hello when you get a ce,” she let out a breath, “Finally, the sixth floor is administration, including my offid the offices of the iigative team.”
She put her hands on her hips, “And that’s the general yout, feel free to explore,” she said, “Once you’re ready we’ll meet in the briefing room and talk about specifics. You all learned about patrol patterns and assigs at the camp so I don’t o go over that,” she said before turning to John, “John? With me please?”
He nodded, “Ma’am,” he said and moved to follow her as she made her way to the briefing room.
Lillian tilted her head and Snow leaowards her, whispering directly into her ears with her ability, “John’s her uudy, he wants to join the guildmaster’s team directly and work with administration.”
She nodded slowly, surprised. Maybe she’d just been so focused on her own stuff that she hadn’t picked up on it. He had been talking to Sonya a lot, now that she thought about it. This must be why.
“Ollie?” Sonya cut into her thoughts, “You’re free to go upstairs if you’re still ied. They’ll be happy to show you around,” she said and Lillian g Ollie whhtened visibly. It was weird, unless he was the ter of attention it felt like it was hard to notice him.
He adjusted his gsses, “Oh most certainly!” He said eagerly, “I wao join the iigative side of hero work ever since I heard about it,” he added and shot a gowards Mard Jessica, “I’m ly built for the more intensive field work, but I handle myself if necessary.”
Marc shrugged, “Suit yourself,” he said and Ollie made his way to the elevator, he turned and waved at everyone before sending a sheepish look towards Cass who gave him a smile and a nod, “Later!” He said and dipped inside.
“Bye!” Lillian called after him, her lips turning down a little. She hadn’t thought about the fact that several of their group would not want to do the more standard fare of hero work, but she was gd that someone as talented as Ollie would be helping learn about the bad guys out there. She brightened a little at the thought and turowards the ss hanging around them, putting her hands on her hips. Snow, Val, Marc, Cass, Alex, Jessica, and Lillian herself all looked around the room. Behind her, Sonya cleared her throat and checked her watch.
“Alright, I’ve stayed as long as I , I’ll be ba a few hours to pick you up, Cass. The rest of you,” She squared her shoulders as the others turo face her and she brought her hand to her heart, “Thank you, finning your service, and wele to the life of a Hero. We’ll all speak again soon. I’m looking for sponsorships for all of you,” she said sing their faces, “Today, your story begins,” she said and walked to the elevator.
Lillia her chest swell and she ched her fists, looking back to the monitors. A few paces away she heard Marc murmur beh his breath, “Couldn’t have said it better myself.”