Disclaimer: Don't own Aberrant, don't own Incredibles. White Wolf and Disney/Pixar do...but daaaamn, these two fandoms mesh together perfectly, don't they?
Author's Notes: Sorry people, no press conference here. This chapter kind of crept up on me and pushed the other one back.
It really bugs the hell out of me...that phrase, "For the Greater Good". I'm no real student of history, but I've certainly lived my share of it, most of it a living hell. I've seen and done things under the premise that it's "For the Greater Good", and I'd like to believe that, in most of those situations, I did the right thing. But there have times that I've questioned myself and wondered if what I, or others, did was really for the greater good.
But then, there are some who believe that "For the Greater Good" means "We can get away with whatever the hell we want because we have the power and you don't." Some would say that applies to certain novas, like those that make up the Teragen. In a few cases, that might be true. But I don't see the Teragen using novas to reshape human society as a whole and claiming 'because it's for the greater good'. No...it's the baseslines running Utopia that are doing that.
-From the private journal of Richard Dicker, director, NSA.
Justin Laragione found himself staring at his reflection in the window of his office overlooking the Manhattan skyline. It was about two in the morning and, despite the lights from the city below, it was still dark enough for him to make out the detailed features of his profile. He could see the haggard look in his eyes, and could spot the tiniest flecks of gray hair that were starting to appear due to the stress of this job. He was half-expecting to go bald, but thankfully, he got the gray hairs instead. Despite the dire situation he was dealing with, he couldn't help chuckling at the fact that, at the still young age of 35, he was relieved that the haggard eyes and gray hairs were the only visible signs of stress. Then again, as the overall Director of Project Utopia, it shouldn't have come as a surprise.
He laughed again, but this time, there was no humor in it. Yes, he was the Director of Project Utopia, but right now, he felt like he was more a figurehead than anything else. Oh sure, he was the man who the United Nations turned to when they wanted assistance from Project Utopia and he was certain that they viewed him as the man "in charge" of Project Utopia, but the reality was far different than the perception.
When Utopia was first formed, Margaret Mercer, granddaughter of Aeon Society founder Max Mercer, was put in charge of the project, but left after only a couple years in that post. He was then installed as Director, but found himself being monitored by an Aeon created group called "Proteus" which supposedly served as a "watchdog" over Utopia and its operations. Justin was no fool, he knew a power grab when he saw one, and when that bitch Thetis put forward the Proteus proposal right after he had been made Director of Utopia, he saw what was coming...as did his predecessor. However, despite the objections of himself, Margaret Mercer, and Phillip Lavielle, the rest of the Aeon Society council members overrode him, citing his "inexperience" and Mercer's "reluctance to do what needs to be done" as reasons for Proteus.
And in the last four years, Thetis (Justin, nor any other of his colleagues knew her full name) made sure that Justin knew who really called the shots. One of her first acts was to "exile" him to Utopia's offices in New York, saying that it would make sense that the Director of Utopia should be at "ground zero" at the UN whenever a crisis occurred. On paper, that made sense, it was only logical that the Director of Project Utopia be in a position where he can immediately be in touch with the international community. But that was a load of BS. Again, Laragione went to the Aeon Council and, again, he was overridden. It was during this time that a new position was created within Utopia, Director of International Operations, a post that oversaw most Team Tomorrow and nova-related operations. To fill that position, Thetis appointed Jonathan Lansing.
Justin knew very little about Lansing, but it didn't take long for him to make an accurate assessment: Lansing was an asshole and Justin was certain that the man was a Proteus operative. Too many "incidents" had happened on Lansing's watch, incidents that would have led to the termination of employment or prison if someone else had been in Lansing's position. However, no matter the charges leveled against him, Lansing always seemed to come through without so much of a scandal. Those who had complaints against the man either withdrew their charges or suddenly had accidents. Justin remembered the first such "accident" in '02, when he and Hiram Goldberg, a nova codenamed "Slag" and one of Justin's best friends since High School, quietly investigated one of Lansing's questionable actions in Calcutta. Hiram had claimed that he had found what they were looking for and that he would deliver the proof to Justin in New York.
The proof never came. Hiram Goldberg was killed within twenty-four hours of contacting Justin. It was said that he had stumbled across a terrorist cell in Hong Kong, but Justin knew better. A few calls through unofficial channels and calling in a couple favors got him the truth. The nova assassin Totentanz had killed Goldberg and, to make matters worse, the paper trail led to a front company that was owned by the Triton Foundation, the Utopia sponsored medical research firm. In other words, the organization he was in charge of bankrolled the murder of his best friend. The next four years, he found himself fighting a war on two fronts, one with Utopia's critics and the other with people in his own organization. He knew Thetis was behind most of his problems, but he had no idea how much influence the bitch had until it was too late.
For the last three and a half years, Justin quietly kept track of Lansing's activity, noting every discrepancy no matter how small and investigating it. Things finally came to a head a couple months ago when Lansing sent a retrieval team to "recruit" an newly erupted nova, a twelve year old boy named Jacob McKinney. The boy's parents were more than willing to sign over custody of their child, which sickened Justin. Who in their right mind would literally sell their own child? The boy didn't want to go, and did what any scared teen would do: he panicked and sent sonic shock-waves through the city, taking down most of the retrieval team except for Stalwart, Gravity, and the snipers that were on nearby rooftops. Tragically, the boy was gunned down, on Lansing's orders, and it was caught on video.
Justin finally had his proof and was able to convince a Utopia employee to testify against Lansing at a meeting of the Aeon Council. And...once again...his witness against Lansing died...supposedly in an accident while rock climbing. As usual, Thetis and her Proteus group once again made sure Lansing was safe, effectively burying the story by paying most of the news networks to not air the story or simply by intimidating them.
However, now, he had another problem and yet, unlike other high ranking officials in Utopia and the Aeon Council, Justin wasn't sure what to make of the problem. When David Flynn first surfaced on Utopia's radar a view months ago, Justin saw yet another young nova within NSA jurisdiction who didn't care much for Project Utopia. As Director of Utopia, it was his job to investigate any nova who might be a possible threat, but the Aeon Council officially stepped in and told him that David Flynn was not of any concern and that he was an NSA problem. That was the official line.
Unofficially, they were freaked out about David Flynn. He spooked them to the point that even Thetis seemed worried. When Justin inquired what the problem was, he was simply told that it was nothing and that he should stay in New York and mind his own business. In other words: "It's none of your concern, you're just a pawn, go about your business and play nice to the public."
And yet, Justin couldn't help smiling as he noted how concerned the members of Aeon became when David Pine Flynn went public with the announcement of his company, Syndrome Software & Technologies. The boy had somehow acquired some of the financial assets of his father's company, Pine Industries and was using it to start his own business. When the Aeon Council and Thetis screamed at Justin, demanding that he should step in as Director of Utopia and do something about David Flynn possibly violating the Science Techology laws, he took great pleasure in telling them where to get off.
"Sorry," he had told them. "But given the information I have on him and from what little information you've been willing to give me, I'm afraid I cannot act without violating our own charter agreement we made with the UN. You have also informed me that he falls within NSA jurisdiction and that he was, and a I quote, 'not of any concern' to me."
The reactions on the faces of the Aeon Council members were priceless. Most of them were outraged, especially Thetis who looked like she was about to throw a very uncharacteristic tantrum. He then told them that he would be more than willing to act on their behalf if he had more information about David Flynn. That statement made most of them shut up immediately. They were still angry with Justin for his response, but they were still unwilling to let him know what was going on. Upon their refusal, he informed them that his business was concluded and that he should, as Thetis had pointed out to him, return to New York and "play nice with the public" for them.
That was when Thetis brought Lansing into the picture, and that confirmed to Justin that they saw David Flynn as a serious threat. Justin felt sorry for Flynn, figuring the young man would probably suffer the same fate as Jake McKinney, deemed a "threat" that had to be "put down out of concern for the safety of the public." What Justin hadn't counted on was David Flynn taking the fight to them. First, there was the incident with the communication and weapons satellites that supposedly 'malfunctioned'. Then there was the sudden resistance by Rick Dicker of the NSA who decided that the NSA database on super-powered beings would not be made available to Project Utopia.
And finally, there was tonight. A minor incident involving a nova affiliated with David Flynn was reported by Firewing, a new member of the Americas branch of Team Tomorrow. Lansing, without even notifying Justin, decided to activate a retrieval team to bring the nova in. The fact that Lansing had brought in an assault team and two nova operatives who had a brutal reputation told Justin that this was personal in some way. Justin knew that this was a PR nightmare waiting to happen, but he didn't expect it to go the way it did. David Flynn and his people had not only managed to stand up to the retrieval team, but succeeded in taking them down.
But the frightening thing about the incident was that it had become obvious that David Flynn had several novas working for him. Even more frightening was that they were unable to pull any useful surveillance footage from their satellite feeds or any of the local monitoring stations...it was as if they were being blocked or the data was corrupted. The only footage available of the incident was the footage from SST surveillance cameras (which were just about everywhere around the facility and nearby city blocks) and "raw" footage taken from eyewitnesses on cell-phone or from local media networks who only arrived in time to catch a statement from Caestus Pax and then watch Team Tomorrow's leader get verbally ripped apart in front of them before being given footage of what really happened.
Justin had attempted to contact Phillip Lavielle, the Director of the Aeon Society, and got no answer. Somehow that didn't surprise Justin, the old man was probably shitting bricks about this incident in California and frantically screaming at the other members of the Council to do something. Of course, Justin wasn't called to this meeting...if there was one. After all, he was just a "pawn".
However, given the events that had happened in the last few hours, there was one thing he was going to do and, this time, Thetis and her little cabal couldn't do anything about it. He took one last look at the city below him before turning back to his desk and picking up the phone. Part of him knew he was going to enjoy this, but another part of him, the more jaded part who had seen too much, felt this was yet another round in a war without end.
The phone rang for a few seconds, but he was certain that the person on the other end was hesitating to answer as opposed to not being able to answer. After the fourth ring, they finally picked up.
"Yes." Simple, blunt, to the point, and no hint of emotion...the typical Jonathan Lansing response.
"Hello, Lansing."
"Director Laragione." Another simple and blunt response, but there was emotion this time...disdain at having to deal with an inferior...though Justin could have sworn that the impeccable Jonathan Robert Lansing involuntarily let some fear creep into his voice.
Might as well twist the knife, thought Justin.
"Let's cut the crap, Lansing. You fucked up."
"Those are harsh words, Director," the sarcasm to Justin's title was obvious in Lansing's voice. "After all, you are hardly aware of the scope of the situation."
"Oh, really? Let's take a look at the situation: you sent a heavily armed retrieval team along with three of our more powerful novas to...and I'm reading this off the memo...'take an unregistered nova into custody' who, according to the reports, didn't warrant such heavy measures. Care to explain that one to me?"
For one second, there was hesitation, but Lansing's response was straight forward...well...as straight forward as one could be when trying to pass off a line of BS as fact. "She was affiliated with David Flynn...that warranted the extra security."
"Oh, it did, did it?" Justin kept his voice cold and professional, trying not to enjoy the fact that he had this bastard at the point of the proverbial gun. "I remember inquiring about Flynn and, according to the intelligence reports that were filed by one of our operatives a couple months ago, Flynn was designated a...and I'm reading off the report here...'designated a low level risk and not a threat to Project Utopia'. And, now that I think about it...I'm looking at who filed this report and, oddly enough, it had your name on it."
This time, there was no response on the other end, so Justin continued.
"So, tell me, Lansing," he said. "If David Flynn was not deemed a 'threat', why go after the girl who, by the way was already documented, really posed no threat? If I didn't know any better, I'd say that you were pursuing a personal vendetta of some sort." He paused for a moment, letting that sink in. "Is there something that I should know, Lansing? Something that justifies the cluster-fuck you put us in?"
"Sir, we have evidence that-"
"Give it up, Lansing...we don't have shit, and your people haven't had time to manufacture any facts to save your ass because the only footage available is what Flynn has."
"David Flynn and his group represent a threat to Project Utopia that had to be-"
"Had to be what, Johnny? Put down because he offended you and your masters? Or was this more personal?"
"I don't know what you're talking about." The denial came easily from Lansing...obviously well practiced. "And I'd be careful making charges like that."
"Not this time, Lansing," Justin replied, not even bothered by the implied threat. "You got away with a lot of shit; and while you may know where the bodies are buried, Thetis and her little bunch aren't going to help you out of this one. You were the one calling the shots on this, and this situation has turned into a serious disaster. They're going to look for a sacrificial lamb, and guess what...you're it."
This time, the pretense of denial was gone. "You don't want to play this game with me, Director. I have friends in places that-"
"That will toss you aside for being a fucking embarrassment. So spare me the threats, Lansing. You can't get yourself out of this, but I also know that if I come after you now, this is going to rip us apart and possible destroy Utopia as a whole."
"Then I guess we're at a stalemate, Director."
"No, we aren't, Jonathan," Justin countered. "Like I said, Utopia needs a scapegoat for this shit storm and, combined with your involvement in the McKinney incident, this is going to play well in the media. It will be seen as Utopia finally coming clean and dealing with 'incompetent' bureaucrats who made disastrous decisions. You'll be taking the blame for this, which is kind of ironic because you really are responsible for it. I just wish we could nail you for the other shit you got away with. At the very least, you're going to be tossed out of Utopia, and quite frankly, I'll be happy with that."
"Do you really think it'll be that easy?"
"Nothing is that easy, Lansing. I'm not an idiot and I know that bitch you answer to will probably appoint some other asshole in your place, but that's going to take time. You, on the other hand, will be gone and, while I don't approve of their actions, I'm sure your associates will deal with you 'accordingly'. I expect your resignation to be e-mailed to me within the next twenty-four hours."
"You can't do this, Director!" The sarcasm on the word "Director" was now missing.
"Twenty-four hours, Lansing," Justin said, doing his best to stifle the chuckle. "If not...I think people might be interested in the string of coincidental deaths that happened whenever you came under investigation."
He hung up the phone, knowing that he shouldn't enjoy this moment but, dammit, it felt good. But even as he leaned back in his chair, the seriousness of the situation darkened his mood. Lansing might be out of the picture, but it wouldn't be long before Thetis replaced him.
And chances are, it'll probably be someone even worse. I thought Maggie was insane for giving up this job, but now I know why...it's hard to tell who your friends and enemies are...and we're supposed to be on the same damn side.
His phone rang and part of him was wondering if it was Thetis calling him with a new batch of threats and orders, but he doubted that even she could make those kind of things happen in less than two minutes...maybe in five, but not two.
"This is Laragione," he said.
"Justin?" It was a woman's voice, but not the one he had expected to hear. It was a voice he hadn't heard in a couple years.
"Maggie?" Justin asked. He clearly wasn't expecting Margaret Mercer to call him. "That you?"
"Yes, it's me." Mercer sounded like she had been crying. "He's dead, Justin."
"Who's dead?"
"Phillip...the bastards killed Phillip."