Chapter Five - "The first meeting at Olympus"
Things were rather primitive in the early days. Our meeting hall was a large long metal-walled building with simple metal folding chairs.
Psyche, Thor, Speed and Janice entered the room with me. I was thinking about all the people I was about to give some pretty horrible news and no good choices. This was still a few days before the official opening of Olympus but eleven other MetaHumans had already arrived. They sat in the front row, surrounded by almost all the members of the Admin team. Behind the 45 or so of them were the twenty Tech and nearly one hundred Security personnel.
172 people -- about to discuss the fate of the planet.
Janice opened the meeting by presenting a summary of what was said, and learned, when we spoke to the President and his cronies (my word not hers). You do know her right? Her title back then was Lead Administrator which translated into President. She ran, and runs to this day, Olympus. I have overall Command but she handles everything else.
Psyche and I watched everyone but especially our brother and sister Metas.
The presentation only went up to our leaving the meeting place it did not include any other events. Some of the people in the room knew we had brought guests home with us but nobody knew who they were until right then.
The news that six MetaHumans were in federal custody without having committed any crimes was trumped only by the description of how they were treated.
Shouts. Curses. It got rather noisy. Going and getting them seemed pretty much the consensus.
Now I stepped forward.
I waved away the mike. I do not need one.
"Everyone, please."
"Alright. I have a question for all of you. But before I ask it I want to make one thing perfectly clear. Psyche got the information about the six right out of the President's mind. She also read a doctor who is involved. There is no mistake."
I let them think about it for a moment as I looked as many as I could right in the eyes. Not everyone was together implications were beginning to creep into people's minds.
"So here is how we stand. We have made our offer to the United States government, they have a counter-proposal."
"For myself, Psyche, Thor, and of course Speed, our answer to the President's offer is no. Since we four are currently all of Olympus this means that Olympus stands in defiance of the United States of America."
"We also feel that we must rescue our imprisoned brother and sisters. To do this means we become criminals, federal criminals at that."
"So here is the choice that faces each of you. The people on this stage are likely to come into conflict with the United States of America. We do not wish this to be so but we see few other options."
"I believe that the world has changed. Not might. Not could. Has. Only we can see it because we are the change. We do not know how many of us there are but we know it is more than enough to reduce this planet to a cinder."
From the front row a pleasant young female voice said...
"There are at least 600 but more than half of those are just the basic type ones. People like you Mr. Pulsar sir, around 300."
I responded to this remarkable statement with a brilliant question of my own, "And you are?"
"Cindy Smith"
[Not her real human name. I will never use the actual human name of any MetaHuman resident of Olympus or any friendly neutral. 'Villains' are different, if we have the name I will use it.]
I looked back at Janice with the obvious question.
She responded with "You have been busy so have we. There is every reason to suspect she is correct. There are more of you than we thought."
Turning back towards the crowd I said to Cindy, "Ok, thank you for that information Cindy."
I got serious again.
"This is the game we are playing, the stakes are the life of every child, every bird, every man, woman, or creature that walks this Earth. Nothing human society can do will stop this but we at least have a chance. The authorities will get out of our way but I do not know how far it will go before that happens."
"If you wish to defy the U.S. government which means risking having to leave the country then stand up. If you are willing to help us free the six MetaHumans then join me on this stage. If you do not... we will understand."
I was playing for keeps
you must understand. There were all sorts of middle ground choices. We could have spent all day talking about the things we might do. I knew what I had to do and everyone was either going to come along or leave. This would trouble me later.
"Those of you in our employ. If you wish to leave we will grant you a six month severance package. We understand that for you this is not going to be an easy choice. Do what you feel is right.”
"There are eleven other people who, while new, and here before they were supposed to be..."
A scowl and a smile from me at the row of Metas met with smiles and laughter from them.
"Who will be special parts of Olympus if they still wish to be. I realize this is a huge thing to deal with. But as I fear it will be for a while time is against us."
"If you are wondering what I am worried about it is just the U.S. military nothing trivial. Maybe nothing will happen. But maybe the 101st Airborne is about to drop down on our damn heads. I need to know how many of you I can count on and I am afraid I need to know now."
"If you are uncertain then stay sitting. Please do not be afraid to do this if you feel it is the right thing for you to do. I will make it easier... anyone so much sends a harsh glance in your direction will answer to me. Everyone hears me and I am not kidding."
"But if you are indeed with us... please step up here."
I moved back a couple of steps which turned out to be a good thing. Two of them kinda vaulted up onto the stage, complete with midair somersaults and pinpoint landings.
Another flew she was quite pretty.
Hoots and catcalls were traded back and forth between the three on the stage and the rest. All eight of them made their way up to join us. 15 superpowered MetaHumans in one place. I got a little chill I do not mind saying. A taste of things to come.
“I am honored by your choices. Probably going to need you because the fact is that we already rescued the six and they are here now. Not in the best of shape but alive and grateful.”
Stunned silence.
More chaos, questions, cheers, the usual.
As for the rest of the people at the meeting, and those who remained on duty who watched the tapes, we did rather well. Only three from Admin, four from Tech, and eleven from Security choose to leave.
I got to know the new Metas and we dug in ready for anything.
Nothing happened.
Granted almost every third truck that made a delivery was driven by someone who was trying to spy on us. But nothing overt. Eventually I sent my own spy to Washington in the form of Psyche.
Turns out they simply did not know what to do. They were searching for more MetaHumans of course but things were different now and the Metas were being elusive.
The final days till the official opening of Olympus came, and went, without major incident.
600?
The Early 11
Apollo, Athena, Nike & Webs
Atlas, Medusa, Pathfinder & Mantis
Nova, Geo & Kid Flash
MetaWar Chapter Six
MetaWar Chapter One
MetaWar Chapter Two
MetaWar Chapter Three
MetaWar Chapter Four