The Bargainer 3 (Patreon)

Commissioned by Kejmur

The Bargainer
Chapter 3

-VB-

“Who’s that?” David asked Nathaniel.

Nathaniel, currently costumed and outfitted in his Legend cape persona, turned and looked at the oddly dressed - and more importantly unmasked - man following Contessa. “Don’t know. Why?” he asked. He and David had been just discussing the new threat posed by the Fallen, which have established a presence in the Deep South. The closest incident they had caused to either of them was in Mississippi, which was right next to David’s Houston Protectorate branch.

“Just curious.”

Nathan saw that David’s gaze continued to linger on the man and he also heard a bit of anger. And then he got why David was staring so angrily. “You don’t think that they’re trying to replace John…?”

John, otherwise known to the world as the heroic Tinker “Hero,” passed only a month ago when he and they had fought the Slaughterhouse Nine and their new member, Siberian. It still felt like the world was mourning. Nathan knew he was. It’s been a month, and he’s still woken up once a week from nightmare of his friend’s graphic death.

Only Rebecca didn’t, but that’s because she was Alexandria, someone who’s body and mind were in her complete control.

Nathan also knew that David opposed anyone less than someone of John’s caliber joining them.

Finally, David couldn’t hold it anymore and he stood up.

“Wait, D-Eidolon-” Nathan tried but Eidolon was already over by the two of them, drawing their attention to him.

Contessa saw him and quirked an eyebrow, which meant “what are you doing and interfering my Path?”

“Who’s this?” he demanded to her.

“A new member of Cauldron.”

“Wow,” the new guy spoke up. “I haven’t even agreed.”

“But you will,” Contessa dismissed him, and to Nathan’s surprise, he shrugged. Most parahumans, which the man certainly looked the part of except for the lack of a mask, didn’t take lightly to someone challenging their decisions or someone forcing decision on them. The man didn’t even seem fazed.

“If I like what I hear, then sure, I’ll join your club.”

“This here is not a club-” Eidolon growled and then stopped.

Nathan looked at the man to see what stopped David.

The man stared at David with dead eyes, ones he’s only seen among veterans.

“The universe is far bigger than your little parahuman Earths, David,” the man sighed as if he was chiding a rude child. “Entity can only do so much harm in the multiverse where men are worse than cockroaches.”

David, however, snapped right back with righteous anger. “Then what are you here for?!”

Contessa stepped in. “Eidolon. I need to take him to talk to Doctor Mother.”

Eidolon pushed her hand away. “You want him in the conspiracy? Fine! But I am going to take a note of him before anything is final, and you know him meeting Doctor Mother is final.”

Contessa didn’t bother to stop him. Instead, she glanced at the man, and when he nodded, she stepped back.

“Tell me,” the man asked. “Have you been challenged enough, yet?”

The odd question asked at such a weird timing threw both David and Nathan off.

“Huh?” David uttered. “What are you asking about -”

And then the man morphed.

Standing in his place was a … monkey?

How does one describe a monkey wearing a wizard’s robe and carrying a gnarly staff-?

And then the “monkey” glared.

Immediately, Nathan felt his body snap-freeze as he felt like his entire being was in danger. He wanted to scream and run. He wanted to bring his hands up and fire his lasers until there was nothing left of the “monkey.”

David was in a worse shape. He was so much closer to the monkey, and the man was on his knees, gasping as he tried to hold on.

Then the monkey was gone and replaced by the man.

“This world, for all of its troubles, is nothing in the greater scheme of things. Understand humility and know when to use it, David, unless you run into someone like me who is far less restrained.”

Finally, the man left with Contessa, who was also very shaken.

It took both of them a long time to finally grasp control of their own bodies.

“W-What the fuck was that…?!” Nathan hissed as he grabbed the edge of the desk he’d been sitting near to keep himself stable. David was on his knees, unresponsive. “David…?”

The man jolted up.

And then Nathan saw something in the man’s eyes.

Determination.

Determination for what, though?

-VB-

“You want me to help you.”

“Yes,” Doctor Mother replied. “You obviously have access to worlds Doormaker and Clairvoyant cannot reach if your claims are true, and I saw how you disabled all three of our members easily.”

I stared blankly. It wasn’t easy. Merely summoning that particular monkey was enough to halve the magic in the artifact’s reserve, never mind the fact that the upkeep was monstrous, too. I didn’t say anything, merely waiting for her to continue.

“It’s clear to all inner members of Cauldron that raising an army to fight our ultimate enemy will be hard on any parahuman worlds. That is, those are worlds where our enemy has their influence and leads to creation of parahumans.”

“You’re awfully forward about this,” I commented.

“You are powerful. It’s only natural to lay down some cards to understand each other.”

“But not all.”

“But not all,” Doctor Mother repeated in agreement. “You are someone new. As a result, I cannot simply give you an inner position until we can trust you.”

“You talk as if I’m already joining.”

Doctor Mother smirked. “Contessa doesn’t bring anyone who won’t join us.” She leaned forward. “You also seemed to know about her.”

“I do.”

“And you knew Eidolon’s civilian name. The one from before he got his power.”

“I do.”

“Would you care to explain?”

“It’s only natural to lay down some cards… but not all,” I replied.

“But not all,” she repeated with a hum. “Very well. What would you like from us in exchange for your help? And what can you offer us?”

I thought about it.

And then I remembered something about my Blood Magic and Rituals, the latest power I’ve gained by exchanging… what did I exchange?

I mentally shook my head. If I gave it away, then it wasn’t important.

“Well, I can do magic and rituals.”

“...And?”

“There is this thing called a tantric empowerment ritual…”

I might just score some women to join me in bed…