What does it take to rebuild a city? (Zell)

"This is the 7th freak tremor that has opened up a fissure in the city. There where only 2 causalities in this tremor, the first being Private David Grant, and the second being Jericho International's CEO, Robert Vincent. We have reports that Mr. Vincent was traveling to met up with Duval Incorporated's  CEO Natalia's Duval to discuss plans to build new and affordable apartments akin to those of high end apartments. Police and other officials refused to comment on the fissures and the deaths they have caused. However we where able to get a comment from Ms. Duval herself regarding the recent deaths.." said the reporter on the TV. The next thing shown was a image of Natalia, standing outside of her car earlier today when she had arrived at her office.

"These tremors have caused so much death. And I would be damned if it wasn't a by product of these meta humans that run rampant in our streets!" said the Natalia on the TV.

"I myself have only recently heard about Mr. Grant's and Mr. Vincent's death but I promise you that these apartment complexes will get done and they will be dedicated to all those who die in the tremors." said The TV Natalia before walking into the building, despite all the questions being flung at her. The TV went back to the reporter.

"Duval Corporation has recently stated interest in buying Jericho international so that they can continue the project." said the Reporter. The TV turned off suddenly, causing Natalia to look up from the papers on her desk. Looking around she spotted a raven haired-girl with a purple streak down the left bangs. Natalia's face broke into a smile and she stood up.

"Opal! Why didn't you tell me you were coming by sweetheart!" said Natalia, approaching her daughter, pulling her into a hug. If you where to look around Natalia's office, it was very spacious with various book selves and sported a 50 foot tv hanging from the wall. On her table was a computer and with 3 monitors. All around the office were pictures of Natalia and Opal. On some of the bookshelves rare meteorites where on display.

"Come on Mom really?" said Opal, hugging her mother before pulling away. Opal rushed to her mother's desk and picked up a fancy looking letter.

"Oooh what's this?" said Opal, opening the letter and pulling out the paper inside before Natalia plucked it out of her hands.

"It's a proposal from Zell Atterrius."

"Oh! Am I finally going to have a father?" teased Opal.

"Oh ha, you know what I mean, a business proposal." said  Natalia.

"I know, what this one about?"

"No idea, we was cryptic about it but we are meeting up for dinner tonight. Apparently he was confident enough to know I was coming so he already made reservations. I was actually going to leave in a couple of minutes."

"Can I come?"

"As much as I would love to take you darling, I'm afraid not. If it was a meeting with the late Mr. Vincent, I would gladly. But this Zell Atterrius is someone on a completely different level then us, this could be great for the both of us if this works in our favor." said Natalia, walking over and kissing Opal on the forehead.

"I'll talk to you later honey, you have the keys, lock up once you leave."

"Alright, later mom." said Opal, flicking the TV back on and changing the channel so that South Park was on.

---

The trip to the restaurant was brief. It actually wasn't to far away from her skyscraper. She was wearing a high-collared sleeveless black dress that went down to the middle of her thigh with 2 inch black heels. Her log red hair sprawled neatly down her back, covering what the dress left exposed. She walked into the restaurant and approached the maitre d'.

"Atterrius, party of two." said Natalia.

"Right this way ma'am." said the Maitre d' and Natalia followed him. It was time to meet this Zell Atterrius .

Zell's eyes shifted over the television screen, watching and contemplating as the short "interview" unraveled in front of Miss Duval's car. She was openly distrustful of the meta-human populous, which taking that stance was a novel idea when running an aspiring business. Much of the world had an open distrust for the meta-human's as well. Zell was fortunate to have never found himself in such a label. His "powers", for lack of a better term, were simply that he was the product of something far greater than this reality. As "The Existential" he existed in every single realm and verse within the omniverse, which blessed him with existential knowledge and power to be sure, though it was not a conventional "metahuman" trait that one might think. He existed before this realm's humans and metahumans alike, and he will persist when they fade away. This vessel...That was a different story...but even when this Vessel dies... The Archon remains. The only "Safe-Haven" he truly had from being labeled a metahuman in all honesty was his life before he "awoke" as the Archon.

Zell Atterrius was known for many things. Helping in rebuilding NYC, for being a boy genius who turned Gene-Tech into the worlds leading genetic research and genetic engineering corporation at the young age of 16. He was even deemed the title of the smartest man in the world, and he was still only 18 years old. He was specifically known for his "secret life" as the exo-suited crime fighter "Ancestor Dragon", Canada's poster boy of a fighter...and for the defeat of Elena Vexus and saving the president of the united states... the very battle where he reclaimed his life from "Ouroboros". But now he was going to meet someone with the potential to do great things for this world if she so chose too. Of course one does not find The Archon...The Archon finds them. That is why he sent out his note to Miss Duval. Handwritten to seem more personal, but specifically forged in someone else's style of writing to be safe, someone from an entirely different dimension as to keep enigmatic. He was certain that his reputation would precede him, and though it may have seemed rather "arrogant" of him to go ahead and make the reservations ahead of time he would claim that it was simply him being confident in her abilities to make sound and professional business decisions.

As Zell was buttoning the last button on his crisp white button down undershirt he cracked his neck and cleared his throat, the door behind him opening up and a little step being taken in. He was so familiar with these people around him that he could immediately tell who the little puttering belonged to. "Well Hi Si." Zell said as he began to make use of his cuff links quickly and skillfully applying them with almost inhuman haste and proficiency before turning to look at the little disempowered child looking up to him with dull indigo eyes and sporting his "trimmed" hair.

"You tricked me..." He said with a little pout. Zell just smiled and chuckled. Of course Zell tricked him, trying to get the kid to get a haircut took the same amount of effort as it did to build a damn house without nails or wood. "So are you and dad going out?" He asked, finally peering past his pride to notice his father was actually dressed up.

"No I got a business m--Blech!" Zell began, Silus cutting him off and jumping up, throwing himself into the hotel bed with his tongue lolling out as if the word business had killed him. Zell rolled his eyes but brought his arms in a circle around him as the threw on the dress coat and tugged on his black tie with little colorful "paint splatter" like effect on them. One of the ties he let Silus get ahold of when Silus was in the painting phase.... he had to laugh at the fact he thought that phase would have ended by now. Joke on him apparently. "Castiel will be back in three minutes sharp. Don't let anyone in who doesn't call you by your Ethername. Got it?" Silus didn't even move other than raise his little arm up in the air and give a little thumbs up as Zell turned out the door with a smile and shaking his head.

He had left with substantial time left, ensuring that he'd reach there with plenty of time to spare. He entered his 2020 Hennessey Venom GT, customized with an internal computer to hold his A.I Sadrith. He buckled himself in and drove while he decided to entertain himself a little. "Sadrith. Humor me and get me all the information regarding Jericho International and their latest development. More specifically I want to know of Miss Duval would have any reason to have this man killed." Zell asked. A holographic rendering of an "older form" of Silus was rendered in the passenger seat and looked with a strained look as if he couldn't understand why Zell would request that. "Uhm...why? You don't think she really has anything to do with this do you?" He asked as if Zell's fear were entirely unfounded. Zell turned and looked to Sadrith, his eyes off the road for a good while as he glared at the man, the engine roaring as they sped. After Sadrith obviously was uncomfortable with how Zell was able to drive with only the little perception out the corner of his eye, Zell then returned his gaze to the road. "I...don't understand why..." Sadrith sighed as he began to process information.

"Need I remind you of the Seiss CEO guy? What about Miss Magic? Oh wait, let's turn around and discuss Alistair's Armory first! Sadrith, every time I walk into one of these things I'm expecting to die. Walking into dinner with pretty woman is pretty much like sending me on an undercover espionage. Besides.. Seven "freak tremors" and only two casualties? The ONE death just so happens to be a man who stand between this woman and devouring his company whole as a part of her every-growing...though very impressive industry." Zell said with a sigh. He had no proof mind you, and he didn't want any. If he found it, it wasn't his issue, not until she made it his issue and endangered his family. Killing the competition was a very, VERY common thing done in the (literally) cutthroat world of business. You wanna be at the top, you gotta fight for it. When you fight for it...you're willing to kill for it. Murder was not beyond anyone who owned a corporation or an industry...especially a growing one.

"So I got nothing... there've been SEVEN tremors and only two deaths, why is that concerning?" Sadrith asked, dismissing the search for information. Zell sighed and shook his head, admitting to himself he was likely far more paranoid than he was given cause for. "THATS WHY though... seven...since when does nature strike FIVE times and never hurt anyone? Their called natural disasters for a reason." Zell said the car decelerating as they were pulling into the valet lane. "Miss Duval says she thinks it's the metahumans." Sadrith said matter of factly, like he were some form of fan boy defending a druggy rocker. Zell face planted forward, his forehead hitting the top of the steering wheel. "If a toddler puts a fork in an electrical socket they blame metahumans... she'd blame metahumans if the rent had a freaking increase! Metahumans are a scapegoat! Why would a metahuman cause SEVEN tremors just to hurt a man and not make sure the job was finished? What kind of metahuman would target that man in particular? If this were a metahuman it would be trying to send a message by causing damage and racking up a body count... It looks to me like someone is causing these tremors and fissures sporadically to make them appear normal as of recent....then killing off competition." Zell said as he lifted his head up and sighed the valet boy opening the car door. Zell held out his hand, Sadrith put his hands around Zell's and was immediately sucked into his wristwatch, the young man looking shocked at Zell, who just smiled, stepped out and walked around to take his ticket from the manager before walking in.

Do you think she did it?[i] Sadrith asked finally. Zell sighed as he entered the door and walked up to the maitre d' and smiled, the man immediately recognizing him and escorting Zell. "No...but I think someone is and we need to find out. Besides...I think Miss Duval and I can help each other out." Zell whispered to himself as the maitre d' returned moments later with. [i]Speak of the devil. Sadrith said before being blocked out through the cognition block protocol. Zell smiled widely and stepped around from the table and pulled out her chair for her and offered up his hand. "Miss Duval! It's wonderful to meet you. Zell Atterrius." He said sincerely, though he was already prepared for the "you're so young" comment considering that most people never took his age into consideration. But maybe this woman would be informed, or not shell-shocked that the rumors of his age were true. It's painful that Zell would never know the irony of what Miss Duval's daughter said about having a new father...one that would be younger than her.

A warm smile crossed Natalia's face as she shook Zell's hand. She sat down and the chair was pushed close to the table.

"And here I was begin to think chivalry was dead. I know your repertoire is quite massive but it is nice to know gentlemen is able to fit in Mr. Atterrius. I looked into your exploits and I must say I'm impressed. To complete such amazing tasks at such a young age, it's quite an amazing feat." said Natalia. She hid her shock well. She had expected him to be young, but she didn't expect him to look so young. Usually full time jobs then to make people look like they aged. But then again, Natalia was one to talk. But still, If she where to run into Zell on the streets she would just expect him to be just out of high school.

"I will be honest, I was shocked to see your letter on my desk this morning. But I am interested in your business proposal. It doesn't surprise me that a genetic corporation would want to work with a science and medical company like mine, but I want to know what you have planned in that head of yours, thankfully I had a relative free day today. I... I regrettably was just helping to organised a ceremony for all those who have died in these tremors. I wish I didn't need to." said Natalia with a sigh. One could tell that the deaths did bother her, at least on the surface and anyone who watched the news would know why.  Even though in actuality she didn't particularly care. At this point a waiter approached them asking if t hey would like anything to drink. Natalia simply order some wine and then took a look at the menu. Deciding on what she wanted, she order a filet mignon and once the wait got Zell's order he left to put the order in.

"But the least I can do is help cover the cost for families who lost loved one. Not everyone was blessed like Mr. Vincent's family and have the money to recover the bodies. I know I would not be able to rest if my daughter Opal died and I could not see her body one last time. I feel that it's the least I and Duval Corp can do for these families. Especially during these trying times. These metahumans are nothing but a nuisance. Even the ones that try to help out. For every person they save, two or three seem to get caught in the crossfire. The last major earthquake that hit New York was back in 1966 was only hit a magnitude of 4.7,  before then the only major earthquake hit in 1944 and was a 5.8. I just can't make myself believe that these tremors are natural. But, sorry. Now is not a time to voice my grievances. We are here for business and hopefully to start a relationship between our two companies are we not?" said Natalia, pushing her stress aside.

"Well I thank you, I'm flattered." Zell said simply in response, careful to not say too much in fear of cutting her off and seemin uninterested in what she had to say, as that simply was not the case. He was just pleased to see the woman taking him seriously. Just because he shouldn't even be out of High-school yet didn't mean he didn't have a concept as to what was going on. Though Zell was slightly startled when she began to continue on how she was shocked to find his note on her desk this morning. It wasn't too big of a surprise considering what her company had in their primary production field. Medicine was part of Gene-Tech and honestly if Zell didn't have something to do with this Duval corporation it would become competition. Zell was not one for ruthless cuththroat business measures. He's defeated and ground up and coming corporations into the ground before, though never with spite or malice...and he wouldn't start here. This business proposal was a way for him to not only get a feel for and measure up the Duval name and invesitage Miss Duval's psyche....but this was his attempt at looking forward to the future of humanity. Gene-Tech had more resources, knowledge and all around prestige than Duval did. The only real advantage Duval had against Zell's own company was the fact that they were a little less specilized than Gene-Tech was, but even then Gene-Tech could always expand.

"Well You've hit the nail on the head there. I'm just glad you could make it. I have only recently become aware of Mister Vincent's death and the wounding of the other man." His watch beeped and he jumped a little and chuckled as he pressed a button on it. "Oh I'm so sorry. I forgot to turn off my alarm. My apologies." he said as he quickly finished his fiddling with the watch and letthing them fall back to his rested position, the watch button actually having been Sadrith trying send him a message. Apparently there's been more than two death's there Zelly-boy. The reporter seems to have just worded it wrong. I know you were cautious going into this but I don't see anything about her out of the ordinary. A young mom, just like you...well not you're being a mom-!-Thank you Sadrith. He thought and Sadrith excused himself from Zell's mind. Zell would listen to her go on about how she was certain that these were beyond natural circumstanced. Zell couldn't agree more, he just wasn't sure why they were doing it, or who they were. Though his suspicions of Miss Duval weren't entirely "thrown off" either. He knew someone was off when he met them...it was part of his thing. He was The Existential...telling when someone was hiding something wasn't an issue...but how much was she not telling him? It was of no matter...he didn't care honestly. He allowed himself to order the same dish as his associate, common taste proving true it would seem.

"Well honestly you're greviences are heard I assure you. I know what it's like to stand up agaisnt the metahuman population. My heart goes out to those who want to help but they need to submit to regulations and customs because you're uh...you're absolutely right. For every person they try to save they end up hurting two more. Which is why I always stuck to the exosuits. I wasn't a metahuman. I was a soldier. I followed the laws, I submitted to customs and training, and I worked as a glorified police officer. Sure people got hurt...but it wasn't from me." He said with a chuckle before shaking his head. He was known for his efficiency even as an exo-suited warrior but he suddenly stopped after his identity was revealed. No one knew why he stopped, they knew he just did. "But uh, yes. To business at hand. I was looking at six other "up and coming" companies that specilized in medicinal and health care. All of which my advisors said showed more promise than your company. Thankfully I have a mind of my own and I can see things just a little more clearly than they can. I suppose that's why people like us are the ones in charge though." He offered with a reassuring smile and there was a tinge of frustration when he said about his advisors, giving the sign that he was obviously not interested in their signs of disbelief. "What's going on in this head of mine needs to remain a secret until I can be certain of one thing. It's a simple question, but the answer means a lot. I beseech you...not....to lie." He said, the draw out in it gave off the tone that he would know if she were lying or not. Be there truth to this or not, he would see that he had an answer to this question. "Why medicine? Why do you do all of this? What's your motivation what drives you to do everything you do the way you do it? A simple one word answer, a descriptive answer...just say what you want to say. But this is the question that will tell me if I was right over my advisors."

"Well not everyone can be blessed to wear and exo suit like you. I have read stories of people attacked by meta humans. What happens to some of these people... it's unsettling what happens to them, all because they are against them. I won't lie, reading those stories make me nervous about approaching the camera and standing against them. I fear that they would go after my life or even my daughter's just because I exercise my right of free speech. And if they do, I know that there is nothing I can do to defend myself or my daughter. It's an unsettling thought." said Natalia with a worried sigh. There was a beeping and Zell mentioned he left his alarm on. It was no big deal to her. Accidents happen and they can easily be fixed. Zell then got serious, and began to talk business. She could see how he made it this far now, he thought for himself and new when to joke and then to work.

"For two reasons, first being as simple as it's a family business and when I died I plan for my daughter to take over. And when that happens I want her to have the best business that she could ever wish to own. And the second being, to help people. Medicine and science are keys in advancing the human race. And I firmly believe that through my company I can help the greater good. That's why I branch out and deal with companies like Jericho international. If I believe I can help the public I will do it in anyway I can." said Natalia. There food and drink arrived shortly after. Natalia pour herself a glass of the red liquid before bringing it up to her lips. She smelt the wine for about a second before taking a sip.

"Ah, Cabernet Sauvignon. My daughter loves this, when I actually let her drink. So Mr. Atterrius, I doubt you are all work and no play. You are far too young to be that way. I like to know people I work with on a personal level. So this might sound a bit intrusive and I apologize. But do you have anyone you call your own?"

"Your daughter. Well. Looks like I WAS right after all." Zell said with a smile and then suddenly. She had asked him something about if he had anyone to call his own. Zell chuckled a little as he sipped from his water. He was still a little under the age requirement to purchase and transport within the United States of America. Though he was finding himself ever interested on the concept of what she had asked. You see for Zell, time lagged on slower than what most could even percieve. Things were in a constant state of slow motion and everything was drawn out. For every single second someone took, Zell himself felt as ifhe had over just a minute to think to himself. So there was nothing alarming by his current "Slowness" to respond, it would perhaps just be considered as a thoughtful pause to most where as to Zell himself...it were as if he had been deaf and dumb for minutes. He would give his typical response, which he decided upon a long time ago when returning to Gene-Tech after his being "Kidnapped by Meta-Human terrorists".

   "I do actually. I uh...I don't tell many people this and I've done rather well keeping it hidden from the media and the cameras but uh... I do have someone to call my own. He's my son and his name is Silus." Zell said almost hesitantly as if he were cautious about revealing this much. "When I was fifteen I was already out of High School. Thought I knew everything. Smart enough to think I knew everything, and I was young enough to believe it. I found someone I loved, I literally loved her with all my heart. Shara was her name, and well, what was literally a one time event turned into a 9 month wait. Then after nine months I was 16 now and I had my baby boy in my arms and...I lost Shara. She had post-partum complications and we had to say goodbye. I was lost, confused. I literally just inherited this company that was in financial ruin, now I had a small human and I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I said closed adoption and everything was pulled up but just before the left with him the Doctor said 'You know. I'd wager you'll make it up to the next one someday.' and I just lost it. I broke down and then I brought him home. They said I couldn't do it. I didn't have a father myself and my mom took her own life when I was eleven. But I worked every day, day and night even, hired a nanny to help with feeding him and keeping him entertained while I was in meetings. I changed every diaper, calmed every single tantrum, soothed every fever. Every free second I had belonged to him... every time I walked out of the conference rooms there was this little kid with a mop of brown hair and these strange indigo eyes gleaming up at me with a smile that made you think it was Christmas. Every day that smile made me work harder. It made me better, it made me smarter. I wasn't fighting for me, I wasn't doing anything for myself anymore. I was doing it for him. If I could help the world in the process well then Damnit I would, pardon my language, but uh- I'm sorry I get passionate I guess. If I could help the world I would but if not...My son comes first. Always. People look down on me because I was a sixteen year old father. But you know what... I'd never trade it for anything." He said with a sigh before smiling and shaking his head and taking a sharp inhale in.

  "I uh... I'm so sorry. I just, I didn't mean to rant like that. I just mean to say that the only person I can call "my own" is my son. I didn't mean to unload all of that on you, It's unprofessional I know, but that's honestly who I am I guess." he said as he tried to clear his mind a little. As he took another sip of his drink he found himself wondering what was going on with Silus right now. The waiter approached the table and quickly relinquished the salads that came with meals. Zell thanked him and then turned back to Miss Duval. "I hope I've not discouraged you in my honesty. I do truly help others when I can and I think that I can help your company, and I think that in the future your company can help mine." He said genuinely wishing to see the best of both companies.

Natalia could help but crack into a smile as Zell began to talk about his son. Natalia was able to connect with some of the things he said. Life with a child wasn't easy, especially if there was no one to help you raise them.

"I promise you I won't say a single word. When I was back in high school I was mostly on my own. My mother had passed away a few years prior and my father did nothing but work. To say I was reckless would be an understatement. I had just turned 16 and I was out celebrating my birthday with a group of friends. We got a hold of some drugs and alcohol and pretty much went to town. After a bit I slipped away with one of them, he lied about the condom and 2 weeks later the official news came in. And once you get someone pregnant or in my case, get pregnant at that young of an age people look at you different. They talk behind your back, treat you differently. I can't tell you how many times I was called a slut in high school because of one mistake. I remember I hated the fact that I was pregnant and I hated the friend who had gotten my pregnant. But when the 9 months where done with and I laid exhausted in a hospital bed. All of those feelings disappeared once I held my little girl in my arms for the first time. Everything from then on I did for her. It wasn't easy, but I got to master and took over my father's company after he got stuck in the crossfire of a gang war. My own regret is that I never made up with Opal's father before he died in an accident." said Natalia, a bit of melancholy in her voice.

"But I would whole heartedly agree with you. I wouldn't trade a single moment of those past 18 years for anything. I know I have a tendency to go on and on about my daughter and her exploits. I know how you feel when you start talking about them and don't want to stop." said Natalia, cheering up as she spoke. It was easy to tell she loved her daughter.

"But we are here for our companies after all aren't we?" said Natalia with a light laugh after Zell went back on subject. There food had arrived and Natalia cut off a small part of her state and stuck it in her mouth. After chewing for a bit she reached over to her wine and took a sip.

"So I have a pretty good idea of what my company can do for yours, but I want to hear what you can do for mine. I don't want the Legacy I am leaving for my daughter when I pass to be dust and ash." said Natalia

"Well now this is where most people are a little, how should I say... "Put off" by my business tactics. Because you see, I never go into a proposition like this without having all the details I can scrounge up from all the people I can get it from, and then I sieve through it all and I get the truth. I see where your income lies, where your allocations and expenses go and I see where in development things are." Zell said as he took off his watch and placed it on the table, pressing a button and allowing a small 3D grid to be projected up. The watch's projected grid showed the recounting of several transactions, even ones that were relatively "hidden" in regards to most people. "Well when I do reference checks I do them rather thorough. I can see a few transactions here where I actually have ties within. For example Fontaine Securities there actually is part of out "GUARDIAN" Program we do a lot of work with them. Had I known earlier I'd been able to slash the cost substantially." Zell said seeming to lose focus for but a moment, as if his mind were called elsewhere. He then let out a little hum before he nodded and smiled, taking a sip of his drink before sticking his fork back into the meat that was barely cooked and left rare upon request.

"Fontaine Securities, obviously Gene-Tech, Weirers Corp are all places that you've made transactions of a very substantial amount of money. I can offer you many, many things for your company, but the first one I offer you is coverage. Companies like mine have a good name, we have credibility and we are respected by virtually anyone. As such companies who are...and I'm shamed to say it... part of this little "clique" get substantial discounts. I'm offering you a way into that. I can see easily where we could save you 10.3 million dollars right off the bat...and that's without having to twist arms and going through the "Well he knows her and he'll get her to give you a discount" or anything like that. I've also been rather nosey, my apologies, and gotten my ears on a couple of your research projects and I happen to know that my company already has leaps and bounds in a few of them...but because it's not really OUR domain we don't release the product...and I could probably be convinced to let go of such research... to a kindred spirit no less." He said with a smile before clearing his throat and clapping his hands together. "I also have one thing I'm willing to offer you...The chance to become a multi-billion dollar corporation in what will virtually be overnight." Zell said as he sat back, setting his fork down and picking up the water in the glass beside the plate.

There was no denying that Zell played this game well. Moreover there was no denying that he was informed. He had time, resources and knowledge to help him gather that information. It wouldn't be alarming to anyone who took the "rumors" of his intelligence literally, and these weren't hard to obtain files if one had the know how...but to have the know-how was shocking in its own right one could assume. There were a few little reasons Zell did the research he did. He wanted to prove something, and that something was that he never allowed himself to be ignorant out of choice. He also wanted to prove that his reaching out to her was more of a "Common good" reach out than anything else. Then finally he wanted to spark a bit of mystery. He just claimed to be able to save her millions, turn it into billions, and give her resources and research that she'd apparently been striving for. It may seem a little too good to be true...but what if it were true? It was, but would she believe it was the new question.

"Well taking about what you can do for me is nice. But the kicker is what you expect in return for this." said Natalia, sipping her wine. She made a mental note to up security on her systems. The amount of data on the holographic display was huge. But thankfully Natalia didn't see the connection to the Black Lotus Society. But even then better safe then sorry.

"But all that side this offer really does seem to good to be true, I only recently have broken into the billion dollar bracket and this would firmly keep me there. Between the government bonus and this my company would be well off." Natalia was referring to the bonus the government gave to companies who decided to go to New York and help out the rebuilding efforts. Duval corp was one of the last companies to make it over before the cut off date. But for Natalia was wasn't really about the company. It was the money, not for herself but for her daughter. Heck she even had a fund set up in case the business failed there would be a couple million stashed away. But this partnership could turn that fund into something greater.

"Well Miss Duval I thought you already said you had an Idea of what you could do for my company?" He asked with a smile, but it was more of a joke than anything else. He shook his head and sighed. "Miss Duval I suppose I'll just tell you honestly...there's nothing you can do for me right now. I just see someone trying to work as hard for their child as I work for mine. Gene-Tech will stand by you as long as you stand by us. Share Victory, Share defeat, and never lose twice... but uh...as far as what do we get..I uhh. I don't know. You'll owe me a favor I guess." Zell said dismissing it off as if it were nothing. Simply because it was just that..nothing. Zell oriented this entire dinner and had everything set up so he could give this woman a show of good faith, hoping that Gene-Tech and Duval could join. Not "Merge" or go through a business "Marriage" of any kind, but a total cooperative management. Each company functions as its own, but they share resources, they pool employment and they share information. "Best Friends" of a sort, ones that always counted on the other to keep them held up in rough times. Granted it was well known that under Zell Atterrius there was no "rough time" it was ever higher, their maxim was "excelsior" the same as the New York's token phrase.

"Well Miss Duval. I suppose the expression goes "The ball is in your court". Entirely up to you but I think we both know that you have everything to gain, absolutely nothing to lose, and that together our companies will whether the upcoming storms." Zell said. He knew things she did not and that was true. There were storms brewing. Ones he knew his company would survive and thrive through...but it was a large risk that her's would be crushed, or set back in the timeline of development. Therefore, Zell needed to see this through, he wanted to offer "another way" so that he wasn't sitting "comfortably" in the storm without company and without constant progress. But now it was up to her. The "Terms" for lack of a better term were set. What would she do?

"A favor is a big thing to ask for." said Natalia. But there where more pros so far then there was cons. But this meeting was informative, she learned that security on her end was lacking, and the money coming from this deal of sorts could pay for all the needed upgrades then some. Natalia finished up her food before giving her answer.

"Very well I accept your offer." said Natalia, holding out her hand.

"If there is any official paper work please send it over to my lawyer so he can review it before i sign." said Natalia with a smile. And then her phone went off and Natalia look a quick look.

" I apologize, I must be leaving. My daughter says she needs me for something. I wish I could stay longer but I should really see what it is." said Natalia, getting up and leaving the restaurant. She sent out a quick text on another phone, letting the soiciety know to covertly look into Mr. Atterruis' company.

"Glad to hear it." Zell said with a shake of the hand and a little bow of his head. She instructed him to send paperwork to her lawyer for review, but Zell knew the processes. He knew the in's and the out's of how this game was played. He was playing it since he was fifteen after all. Her phone went off and she suddenly needed to depart, of which Zell would have no qualms. He let her go and be on her way, leaving him with just a smile on his face as he paid for the expenses of the evening and made his way back to the valet. In exchange for his ticket, his beautiful car was returned to him, and as soon as he sat in it, Sadrith rematerialized in the passenger seat.

  "So what's the plan? You still think she's some form of metahuman murderer?" Sadrith asked. Zell shook his head. "All I know that regardless of what she is, she's like me...she just wants the best for her child. I believe that with my entire heart. Her methods...IF she is responsible are indeed questionable but... there's not proof and I am suddenly now more inclined to look the other way." Zell explained as he began to pull away, driving on his regular route back to the hotel room. The drive was mostly silent, until Sadrith had a wild idea hit him. One that ironically hit him with the Seiss technologies deal. "Hey Zell... what keeps people from learning as much about you as you do them?" He would ask, wondering how no one had ever seemed to have the advantage of knowing Zell. Zell just smiled and looked to the road. "Because I leave no traces. My company looks boring on paper. My deals and what I do don't even have records, I'm a ghost. I'm legal, but I'm a ghost. Come one now Sadrith... I'm the smartest man in the world and I manage to steal information and gather uncanny amounts of knowledge on people daily.... do you really think I'm dumb enough to give them the same advantage? No sir...if The Baron and Gadget couldn't find me...No one ever will." He said as he continued to drive off into the darkness.
 (Exit)