Carmen Dei 14: The Musicians of Bremen (Patreon)

Beta’d and edited by Dr_Feelgood, The Grand Cogitator, Philosophysics, and October Daye.

Fists trembling with rage, Richard looked out over the devastation. It had been ten days since the attack on the Berlin facility, and now he stood upon the ruins of the Frankfurt facility. Walter slapped the face of Schutzstaffel, and a small explosion went off as the woman staggered. Anyone else would have had their head blown off, but her kinetic barrier had dampened the blow enough for her to survive.

“Fifteen! I gave you fifteen of our strongest capes, and what do you show me?! An entire facility, demolished!” Walter raged, gesturing to the empty ground before them. Before, this had been a top-end laboratory with hundreds of millions of marks worth of equipment and even more in specialized construction. Now it looked like an empty parking lot.

“T-there were more of them than we expected, Herr Lotus,” Schutzstaffle protested weakly. “W-we were outnumbered…”

“BY FILTHY JEWS AND HOMOSEXUALS! YOU ARE PURE BLOODED ARYANS! THE STRENGTH OF YOUR BLOOD AND THE MIGHT OF YOUR POWERS SHOULD HAVE OVERCOME THIS UNTERMENSCH FILTH!” Walter screamed, spittle spattering against Schutzstaffel’s barrier, where it fizzed and popped as it evaporated.

“I… I accept full responsibility,” Schutzstaffel stammered, head bowed in shame. She had once been the third most powerful and respected of the Gesellschaft’s leadership, with barriers that were strong enough to repel Endbringer attacks, as well as be used as offensive weapons when her foes ran into them and had all their inorganic gear shredded. Now she was dirty and clothed only in rags, with dark circles under her eyes.

Behind her, the other Gesellschaft capes were similarly in disarray, with their costumes completely destroyed, and with most of them wrapped in blankets or with oversized clothing on to hide their shame.

Putting a hand on Walter’s shoulder, Richard stepped forward. “What do you mean, more of them, outnumbered? Last time, it was this Venti and two others.”

“There were at least twenty of them this time, All Father,” Schutzstaffle explained, shifting nervously. “Not all of them were capes, but they were all parahumans. Most of them were not even from Frankfurt. Half of them we didn’t even know. They were Untermensch and race traitors, but they came out of nowhere in broad daylight. We fought back, but… they simply would not die!”

“Would not die?” Walter snorted. He pointed to another cape. “Panzerfaust should be able to blow any of them in half!”

“We attempted that, but, ah… it did not work so well,” Panzerfaust said, looking ashamed as he should. My bombs, they were thrown back at us by the wind. Schutzstaffel’s barriers mostly protected us, but…”

“Excuses! Incompetence, and excuses! You are relieved of command, Schutzstaffel,” Walter said, stomping away. “We cannot allow another of our facilities to fall!”

Richard went over with Walter as the shamed capes slunk away. Walter was red-faced and breathing hard, his eyes unfocused, his hands glowing slightly with his power. “I can lead a strike team to take down Venti, and these so-called knights.”

“Will you? Or will you fail me again?” Walter demanded, turning his baleful gaze on Richard.

In response, Richard shrugged. “If you do not believe I will succeed, I can always return to America.” A reminder that unlike most of the capes here, Richard was a natural trigger. He considered the Gesellschaft allies, but he owed no fealty.

“No. Venti is a threat to all of the Aryan Race. Even if you flee to America, will he not simply follow you one day? We must end him here, now,” Walter declared, and Richard felt an icy hand clench his gut. That was his greatest fear: That Venti would come and destroy the Empire 88 and Medhall, which Richard had worked so long and hard to build.

“Then we will stand together as brothers,” Richard said, holding out his hand. Walter took it and shook, and Richard grinned. “I will see to it that this problem vanishes into the Night and Fog.”

That earned him a grin from Walter. “Yes. A most appropriate end. I knew entrusting Herr und Frau Schmidt to you was a wise choice.”

“They’ll be here within 48 hours,” Richard vowed, and left to go make the call.

Soon, the Tone Deaf Bards would vanish, and the enemies of the Gesellschaft would remember the terror they should feel for defying the Master Race.

“... and with that, I bid you all a very fond farewell!” Venti said, waving to the crowd of parahumans that were crowding around the van.

“You’re leaving? So soon? But, what about the Knights of Favonius?” Vorreiter asked, trying to wipe the tears away. The normally bubbly woman in the goggles and red costume that looked vaguely like a rabbit had snot running down her nose as she wept, looking to Venti and Naomi with pleading eyes. “You’re supposed to lead us!”

“Yes, we were expecting you to stay, to help us continue what we started by driving those damn Nazi’s out of her city,” Rächerin agreed, offering her friend, and lover as well Capri suspected, a handkerchief. The tall Brute had the sword Venti had given her on her back, and had removed her mask, her own eyes puffy and red from her own tears.

“Oh, I’ll be around,” Venti said with a wink. “But, well, hands on management isn’t my style. I was thinking you two should run the Knights here!”

“Us?!” Vorreiter and Rächerin gasped together, pointing at themselves.

“Y-you don’t understand!” Rächerin stammered. “I, I simply desire VENGEANCE! I would make a terrible leader, I’m not at all suited-”

“-only been a cape for a few weeks! I just want to fly around and make my Baron Bunnies, not run a cape team!” Vorreiter agreed.

“Nah, you two would make great leaders!” one of the other capes said, and the others nodded in agreement, voicing their assent.

Sighing, Capri stepped forward and passed the two gobsmacked new leaders several numbers. “That’s for Leon and Gunter, who run the Munich chapter, and Cookie, who is in charge of Berlin. They can help you figure things out.”

“Uh, thanks?” Vorreiter offered, looking stunned, her tears forgotten.

In contrast, Rächerin had already collected herself, and put a hand on Vorreiter’s shoulder as she nodded. “Very well. But know this: For thrusting this duty upon me, I swear ETERNAL VENGEANCE upon you, Venti Luft!”

“Ha ha! I’ll keep that in mind,” Venti said, winking at Rächerin playfully. “If you need something, call for me upon the wind! Even if I’m not here in body, I’m always with you in spirit.”

Rächerin nodded, but Vorreiter looked nervous. “So, you really are…?”

“He is the Anemo Archon,” Capri said with all the gravitas she could muster when she was in her stupid costume. She felt half naked in the stupid thing, but everyone else was dressed up in their Adventure PJs, so she went along with it. “He’s like Raiden.”

“He’s the Angel of Freedom,” Naomi added hastily. “He says he’s not really Elohim, just one of His angels.”

“An Old Testament one,” Capri agreed. Which earned her an eye roll from Naomi.

“Aw, you’re making me blush! Anyway, Barbatos is the Anemo Archon and all that, but really! I’m just a Tone Deaf Bard!”

Rächerin was the first to kneel again, as she had before, her sword thrust point down into the ground, piercing the asphalt like it was made of soft loam. Her sword was much more functional looking than Capri’s, though it was still comically oversized, with a silver inlaid guard and pommel, and while the blade looked like it was steel, the metal had a sheen on it that was unearthly, especially when it was being used in combat.

“Then know this, Lord of Anemo. I and these brave Knights of Favonius of the Frankfurt Chapter do pledge our eternal fealty, to spread Freedom as far as the Wind blows, and to safeguard this city and its people, for as long as we still draw breath.”

The others made to kneel as well, but Venti clucked and gestured for them to stand. “Aw come on, I already told you! I’m not that kind of god! I want people to stand beside me, not kneel before me! So stand and be proud, Knights of Favonius!”

And so they did, albeit still saluting in various forms much to Venti’s weary smile.

With that, it really was time to leave, and with one final goodbye, Capri put on her jacket and got into the van. Naomi climbed in beside her, while Venti got into the back. They drove off, with the newly anointed Knights of Favonius (Frankfurt Chapter) waved behind them.

After a minute or two of driving, Capri looked into the mirror to see Venti looking out of the window, watching the other cars go by as she turned onto the highway. His eyes were unfocused, his expression almost mournful. “Shouldn’t you be happy? We kicked ass, and we recruited a whole bunch of new people. You sorted this city’s shit out in just a few days, just like in Berlin and Munich.”

“Hmm? Oh, yes, great work! Plus, our performances were pretty rocking, weren’t they?” Venti said with a laugh, but Capri could tell his heart wasn’t in it.

“What’s wrong, Venti?” Naomi asked, turning around in her seat to meet the bard’s eyes. “You seem melancholy.”

“Oh, I was just listening in,” Venti said with a heavy sigh. “Walter and Richard, that is, Red Lotus and Allfather, they were talking. We defeated the Gesellschaft, but, well… they didn’t learn. They’re going to keep coming after us, keep attacking. I don’t want this to turn into a bloodbath, but…”

“Venti, you know I love you, but,” Naomi sighed, and Capri could just see that she was biting her lip in that cute way she had when she was royally pissed, even though Naomi’s back was to her. “They’re Nazis. I don’t really approve of killing people, but if they’re Nazis…”

“Then it doesn’t count as murder, it counts as doing the world a fucking favor,” Capri agreed fervently.

“Exactly. You know the Torah, right?” Naomi prompted Venti.

“Well, I didn’t write it, but yes, I’m familiar,” Venti joked. The sudden chill in the air made him cough a moment later. “Sorry, wasn’t trying to offend you.”

“I’m sure,” Naomi said, her tone still cool. “But, what’s written in Shemot, what the Christians call the Book of Exodus? ‘You shall not murder.’ And killing Nazi’s is not murder. They’re evil, Venti. You know that.”

That prompted a heavy sigh. “I do. But… they’re also mortal. Death is…well, it’s not permanent so to speak, but, well…it is the end in this world. And I’d rather give them a chance to repent, to make amends.”

“Don’t waste your breath on those fucks,” Capri said, glaring at Venti in the mirror. “Listen to Naomi. They’re Nazis. The solution is to kill them.”

“You really should have let us just finish Schutzstaffel off. She burned down two synagogues and a catholic church, you know,” Naomi lectured. “She’s beyond redemption.”

“You know, for how much you insist I’m an angel, I would think you’d argue with me about forgiveness and mercy a little less,” Venti said, his tone wry.

Sniffing, Naomi turned around and sat back in her seat. “Well, you clearly haven’t read the same rabbis I have.”

“I suppose I haven’t. But I’m not wrong about this. Freedom is the right to choose. You both need to understand that,” Venti urged, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes as if in pain.

“And they freely chose to be nazis. So they die,” Capri snarled, starting to get really angry now. “Didn’t you have really evil people back in Mondstadt, or wherever it is you came from?”

“Yes,” Venti said quietly, looking down at his hands. “And when I smote their cities and broke their bodies upon the winds, even they begged for mercy. But I did not listen. I’ve had to live with their screams of pain and agony, with the blood of their children, upon my hands for 2000 years now. Forgive me if I am not so eager to wipe out another civilization for its sins. Did not Elohim tell Abraham that he would spare even Sodom and Gomorrah if there were but ten righteous men?”

“But He could not find ten righteous men, and He DID destroy Sodom and Gomorrah,” Naomi pointed out.

“Not until Lot left,” Venti said, clenching his fists in a quiet vow. “And I won’t destroy the Gesellschaft until I’m absolutely certain that not a single one of them can still be saved.”

That went way beyond Capri’s knowledge of religion, and she shot Naomi a questioning look. Naomi sighed and nodded her head. “I have heard that argument before…”

“Great! Well, just trust me on this. I won’t let the Gesellschaft continue their wicked ways, and I certainly won’t let them keep any fragments of dead gods. But I will save all of them that I can,” Venti said, then lay down in the seat, not even bothering with the belt. “Now, I’m taking a nap. Head for Bremen! There’s another lab there.”

“That’s four and a half hours! Do you have any idea how much gas costs?!” Capri protested, looking in the mirror at the napping Archon in horror.

“Naomi can handle it, she has the money from Cookie,” Venti yawned, pulling his mask off and grabbing his hat from somewhere, which he proceeded to use to cover his eyes.

“Um, I ah, I sort of…” Naomi winced, and looked over at Capri.

“I SAW you give that cash to Vorreiter to help them set up their headquarters,” Capri growled. But then she relented. “It was the right thing to do though. But it means we’re nearly broke again.”

Venti cranked down the window, which made Capri swear as the wind blew through the van, whipping papers and making her hair a tangled mess. Then a 100 mark note flew through the window and pressed itself against Naomi’s face, causing her to gasp. Venti rolled the window back up.

“Eh, I’m sure the Gesellschaft won’t mind buying us gas and some food,” Venti yawned. Then the cheeky little bastard started snoring.

“Put that in my wallet,” Capri ordered, and Naomi sighed and obliged her.

“Manna from heaven,” Naomi giggled. “It’s like living stories from the Torah, out in the desert with Moses.”

“Yeah, well, I wish that he’d tell me he could do shit like that,” Capri muttered, though she couldn’t help smiling as she drove. “We’ll stop in Echte, there’s a little kebab shop there I like. And yes, they have kosher options. The falafel is great.”

Naomi beamed at Capri. “I wasn’t even going to ask.”

After a stop at the admittedly excellent kebab place, they drove the rest of the way to Bremen, though Capri still wasn’t sure what the plan actually was.

“So, we’re broke again, and we have Nazis to fight. What exactly should we do? Because we’re too broke to even afford another tank of gas once we buy dinner. So unless you plan on pulling in more 100 mark notes, I think we have to find a gig,” Capri told Venti as they rolled into the city.

“Well, we should always start with that! Besides, even if we clear out the Nazis, the city will need the Knights of Favonius to keep it safe once we’re gone,” Venti said with a grin. “Plus, I’d like to do a little sight seeing as well in our spare time.”

“That shouldn’t be too hard, we’ve played here before. Should we hit up your friend Chaim? His theater wasn’t a bad place to play, and maybe they’ve heard of the Tone Deaf Bards by now,” Capri suggested to Naomi.

“Sure! I’ll give him a call,” Naomi agreed, pulling out her cell phone.

Half an hour later, they pulled up to a theater near the center of the city. Once, it had been a very fine building, but there were signs of dilapidation, and a few windows that had been broken recently, as well as freshly painted walls that showed where the graffiti had been. It was only the middle of the afternoon, but there were a few cars at the rear of the building where Capri parked.

They all hopped out of the van and went to knock on the rear entrance, which after a few moments was pushed open by a woman in her 30s wearing glasses and with modest unremarkable clothes, which only accentuated how shockingly beautiful her features were. Upon seeing Capri and Naomi, she broke into a smile and came out to give them a hug.

“Shavua Tov!” the woman said, hugging Naomi and kissing her on the cheek.

“Gam lech!” Naomi responded, returning the kiss.

“Capri! So good to see you again, welcome, welcome!”

“Good to see you again too, Malka,” Capri said, giving the woman a tight hug.

“And who is this?” Malka asked, turning to Venti.

“Venti Luft, at your service,” he said, giving Malka a sweeping bow.

“Well please, come on, come in! I know it’s Shabbas, but well, Elohim will forgive us, yes?” Malka said, ushering them inside.

Within, they found a plain looking man with a neatly trimmed brown beard and glasses. Capri noted the gun Chaim set down to come over to them and exchange greetings with them.

“That bad, huh?” she asked Chaim, nodding to the weapon. “We saw the broken windows.”

“Yes,” Chaim said, his expression falling. “I… I’m going to have to close the theater. I can’t keep up with the attacks. We scared off one arsonist last night. They know it’s the sabbath, and they attack us even then. Our children are with my mother, but…”

“She’s talking about leaving for Israel again,” Malka said, her face sagging in weariness. Capri noted the dark circles under her eyes, and that the other woman looked far more haggard and worn than she had the last time they’d met. “This time… I think we might have to accept.”

“Have there been any Gesellschaft?” Venti asked, his tone serious as he eyed the room.

“Thank heavens, no, but-”

“Chaim! Who’s there?” a man’s voice called, and a young man with long brown hair poked his head in. “Oh! Capri, Naomi, what are you two doing in town? I thought you left while the getting was good!”

“No, we’re not running off, Thomas,” Capri said firmly. “We’re looking for a place to play, actually.”

“Well, keep looking. We’re basically toast. I just came to help scare off the skinheads. We haven’t had a show or a play in weeks. Everyone keeps canceling,” Thomas said with a sigh. He waved to Venti. “Hello! I’m just one of the hopeless thespians that can’t let this place go. You a friend of Naomi and Capri’s?”

“Indeed, I have joined their merry band,” Venti agreed. “We heard of this excellent theater, and figured you needed some bards to bring in the crowds!”

“I told you, we’re closing. There’s a buyer coming in on Monday,” Chaim said with a shake of his head. “I’m already looking to sell all of our possessions, or just leave them. They were right, you know. Well, I’m not sticking around to see what happens this time. We all know what happened the last time these sorts got into power.”

“Ah, don’t be like that, things will get better! Not everyone has forgotten,” Thomas said, though his spirit wasn’t in it, and the young man looked deeply saddened.

“Have they?” Malka asked, sounding bitter. “Frederick joined the Land and Social Labor Reform Party. Called us a pair of filthy kikes. I’m half convinced it was him that Chaim winged last night trying to set the fire.”

“Well, that stops now that we’re here,” Capri said, making a fist. “We’re putting on a show, just to prove those bastards wrong!”

“What? That’s madness! Capri, these men are dangerous! You, Naomi, you should go to Israel too! If a rabbi endorses your partnership, they’ll let you both in. We could go together,” Malka urged.

“Not as dangerous as we are,” Naomi said, and drew her vision out of her purse. That earned gasps of shock from Chaim and Malka, while Thomas’ eyes grew wide, and he took a step forward.

“You’re a cape!? That’s crazy! But, maybe… you could turn things around for this place! With a cape on our side, we could-”

“She’d end up like David did! Trying to be a hero and dying! The Gesellschaft would hunt her down!” Chaim snapped. He turned to Capri. “Please, you have to talk her out of it! You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders. You know, Capri. The Romani have it nearly as bad as-”

“I’m not here for the suffering olympics. I’m here to kick Nazi ass,” Capri declared, and drew electro about her arms as she summoned forth Skyward Pride. She didn’t slam it down into the floor though, feeling Cookie’s ghostly glare, but let the tip rest on the old wooden boards of the floor.

Chaim made a choking sound, while Thomas laughed and clapped his hands. Malka looked concerned, but shook her head. “No, even with the two of you… I’m scared, Naomi. You saw what happened to David, when he started calling himself Magen and going out… they say it was just a normal cape fight, but the Gesellschaft went after him!”

“Things are different this time,” Naomi said with a shake of her head. “We’re not alone. Elohim has broken his silence, Malka.”

“What!? How can you say such things?! The rabbis, they would-”

Be not afraid, Malka.

The air in the room hummed, Barbatos hovered between Capri and Naomi, his wings filling the entire room. There was a loud thud as Thomas fell to his knees, his mouth open wide. Malka and Chaim clung to one another, unable to speak for several moments. Chaim’s throat bobbed up and down as he tried to speak, and Malka was trembling all over. After a few moments, however, she swallowed. Smoothing her skirts, she stepped forward.

“Ah, no offense, messenger… but haven’t you taken your sweet time!? Where were you three years ago?! You could have put a stop to this by putting your foot down when David was trying to change things, or five years ago when Behemoth attacked! I’ve got a thing or two to say about this, and if you think you can just show up now and have us just act as though everything is fine, you’ve got another thing coming!”

“M-malka!” Thomas gasped, “He’s… he’s an… an…”

“Angel,” Naomi said firmly. “Don’t argue with a messenger from heaven, Malka.”

“Oh, you just see if I don’t, Naomi Cohen! And you, Mr Venti Luft! Trying to sneak in here and just put on a concert! Well, you’re supposed to have a great big sword-”

“Bow, actually,” Barbatos said, a look of clear amusement on the slightly glowing divine face. “But do continue.”

“Yes, well, whatever weapons you have, why aren’t you out there, putting a stop to… oh…”

“Frankfurt,” Chaim muttered, shaking his head. “Berlin. That was… you?”

“I had some help,” Barbatos said, nodding to Capri and Naomi. “But, well, heaven works in mysterious ways, does it not?”

“Well, you could stand to be less mysterious and do a little more smiting,” Malka muttered, blushing heavily.

“That’s… sort of what the show is about,” Naomi admitted. “We’re not just here to fight the Nazis, Malka.”

“We’re here to dig them up by the roots and burn their whole house down,” Capri agreed. “And for that, we need fighters. Knights.”

“And a concert is just the way to do it,” Venti agreed. “Now, I’m going to change back. Please, Thomas, stand up. I really don’t like it when people kneel.”

“Right, ah, yes,” Thomas said, getting up on shaking needs. He looked pale, and for some reason, his hands had gone to his groin.

“You really think a concert will help? That we shouldn’t sell?” Chaim asked, stepping up as Venti went back to his mortal disguise.

“Give me a week. If you still want to leave, I’ll fly you to Israel myself,” Venti vowed. “But here’s the plan. First, we-”

“Do I— Do I need to get circumcised?” Thomas suddenly squeaked. “I, uh, well, I am sort of a Christian, but…I mean, the Jews were right, all along?”

“Thomas!” Malka gasped, rounding on him. “This isn’t a joking matter!”

“I’m not joking! If an angel came down and told you your religion was wrong, what would YOU do?!” Thomas demanded, pointing to Venti.

Naomi sniffed. “Inform him he’s mistaken and explain all the rabbinical teachings that prove it.”

Chaim and Malka nodded, and Thomas groaned.

“Uh, no, that’s, er… let’s not get the wrong impression,” Venti said with a nervous chuckle. “I, uh, well, you’re getting side tracked. No conversions necessary at this point. Besides, wasn’t Jesus Jewish too?”

“Well, I guess,” Thomas admitted, looking rather relieved. Capri went over and patted his shoulder.

“It’s OK, Venti’s sort of an idiot, but we can be goys together and he’s cool with it. Now, how about that concert?”

Stepping out of the portal, Keith extended his hand, offering a broad smile to the group waiting for him. “Vornehm, a pleasure.”

“Legend,” the gentleman cape said, clasping Keith’s hand in his own white gloved one. He turned to the woman next to him, who was dressed in a cape outfit reminiscent of a ninja outfit, though it left her midriff bare, with a mask that covered the lower half of her face and left her eyes exposed. “Allow me to introduce you to Shinobi.”

“One of the Shuumatsuban?” Keith asked, his eyebrows raising in surprise as he offered a bow. He’d thought Raiden had departed Germany more than a week ago. What was one of her wetwork agents doing here?

“Nah, I’m not one of Raiden’s, just a big fan,” the woman said in perfect English, though to Keith’s shock she had an Oxford accent of all things. She offered her hand, which Keith took.

“Well, it’s a pleasure I’m sure. It’s been too long since I’ve been in Germany, I’m afraid I don’t recall all the names of the Meisters.”

“Oh, she isn’t one of mine,” Vornehm said, stroking his mustache in amusement.

“Nope, I’m Chapter Master of the Knights of Favonius of Berlin,” Shinobi explained. “We’re an expanding team, but we have outposts in Munich and Frankfurt already.”

“I see, I was briefed on that, actually,” Keith said with a smile. So, this was Katherine ‘Cookie’ Schmidt then, one of the people who’d been spotted in Venti’s company. Her file said she was an electrical Vision holder, and had spent a brief time as a rogue cape a few years ago before suddenly returning to civilian life, only to then take her Vision back up after meeting with Venti.

“I think she’s probably the one you’re more interested in speaking with, so I invited her to our meeting. Hope you don’t mind,” Vornehm said with a nod to Shinobi.

Keith shook his head. “No, not at all, I’m grateful. The PRT is rather interested in the Knights of Favonius, and Venti in particular.”

“Aren’t we all?” Vornehm said with an amused smile. “Ah, but where are my manners? Come, come, I have refreshments prepared in a meeting room. Just this way.”

The headquarters of the Meisters was located in a grand old building in Berlin, with a statue at the center of the lobby that depicted Brunhilda and Beowulf, along with several other capes from the predecessor team, the Mächtige. After the near total destruction of Germany’s heroic capes, Vornhemn had formed the Meisters with a few of the survivors of Colgonge. There hadn’t been many, and most of them had died from radiation poisoning and cancer by now. Despite the bright lighting and fine decorations, it was a sobering reminder of the hazards of being a hero.

“I would have come sooner, but we had another attack by the Slaughterhouse Nine to deal with,” Keith said, feeling a pang. They’d lost three more heroes in that battle, for the price of Virulent and Cacophony. Three of theirs, two of the Nines. But not Jack or Siberian. The Nine would be quiet for a time, only to reemerge with two more monsters, possibly even worse than the ones that had been defeated at such a high cost.

“Ah, I heard about that. Nasty business in Houston,” Vornehm said with a grimace. “They’re basically your version of the Blasphemies. I’ve battled them often enough.”

“Someday we’ll put them down for good,” Keith said with a tired smile, but he didn’t feel it. Right now, he was just tired. He wanted to be home with Arthur and Keith, resting and spending time with his family. This was important, however. This was part of what meant to be a hero.

The conference room was well lit, but instead of looking like a modern corporate office, the table was real wood, carved into shapes of leaves and forest creatures, while the chairs were old and upholstered. There was a full silver tea service on the table, along with some sandwiches and light snacks. It was quite charming, if a little eclectic, and Legend sat down with Vornehm and Shinobi.

“Tea, or coffee?” Vornehm asked, gesturing to the two steaming pots.

“Tea, please,” Keith asked, while Shinobi took coffee.

Vornehm took tea himself, then leaned back in his chair. “Well, I’m not quite sure where to start. To be honest, I don’t know Venti terribly well.”

“We didn’t have him on our radar at all; do you have any background on him?” Keith asked, though he suspected he knew the answer. Cauldron had dug around, and found essentially nothing.

“Showed up in Munich about two weeks ago. Got into a bit of a fight with a villain named Stuka defending a bar of all places,” Vornehm said with a shake of his head.

“He met a friend of mine, Red Oni, in Munich. They’re both sort of morons, but Venti has a good heart. He’s the Anemo Archon,” Shinobi said, which made Legend cough as he had been taking a sip of tea.

“Beg pardon?” Keith managed, setting his tea down and feeling a bit dizzy.

“You heard me. He’s the Anemo Archon. Just like Raiden is the Electro Archon,” Shinobi said, leaning back and draping one arm over the back of her chair as she crossed her legs.

“And…the incident where they ran all over the city for several hours?” Keith managed.

“Apparently Venti recited a bit of dirty poetry about Raiden at the Reichstag. Raiden took offense to this, and chastised him,” Vornehm supplied.

“They’re old friends, and they’re both from another dimension,” Shinobi said bluntly, causing Keith to suck in a breath. While he was still stunned, she added, “Oh and they’re gods or angels or something, not really sure.”

“I…see,” Keith said, feeling both dazed and rather dubious. “Those are rather extraordinary claims.”

“Which require extraordinary evidence,” Vornehm agreed, taking a long sip of his tea. “Raiden herself is a special case, but I am not quite willing to believe she is more than a woman with a god complex. As for Venti, from what I’ve seen, he’s a drunken clown. A powerful one, yes, but a clown.”

“Nobody ever said gods had to make sense. Look at Greece and all that nonsense with Zeus’s dick and crap,” Shinobi said with a shrug. “I haven’t even seen him go wild personally, but the stuff he knows…he’s not just a cape. And what he’s done to the Gesellschaft? I mean, we all knew they were Nazis, some of us even tried to fight them. But Venti? Venti’s winning.”

“Perhaps…I had hoped…” Keith coughed. “Well, as you may know, LGBTQ rights are something of a passion project of mine, and I had heard Venti might be an ally in that regard…”

“He’s the God of Freedom, so as long as you’re not a fascist dick he’s on your side,” Shinobi agreed, smacking her lips and setting down her empty mug. Keith blinked. When had she drained her entire cup of coffee with her mask on?

“I would be inclined to agree with your belief,” Vornehm said with a nod. “But, I think what you really desire is a face to face meeting. Shinobi, could you contact Venti to set one up?”

She shrugged and nodded. “Sure. The Tone Deaf Bards are playing in Bremen this week according to a text I got from them. That’d be as good a time as any to see what Venti’s about.”

“Certainly. I’d be happy to purchase some tickets,” Keith agreed. He lifted the briefcase he’d brought onto the table, and opened it up. “I’m here for a few hours at least, and I’d like to talk about potential future cooperation between our groups.”

“Sure. Actually, what do you know about PRT licensing agreements,” Shinobi asked.

“Ah, I’m afraid I’m not a legal expert, but…why?” Keith asked, feeling slightly mystified.

Shinobi’s eyes crinkled, and he just knew she was grinning like a cat who’d caught a mouse. “What do you know about Collectable Trading Card Games?”

Author’s Note:

Please welcome October Daye as a new beta, who will be my legal and cultural consultant for Naomi.

PHILO: I added in that one comment about Zeus and his dick. That is all.