The Founding of Vladco
"This is quite an unusual request you've made, Plasmius. But again, you and your wife are a unique case. So, we've granted your request for an audience with us.
We shall be keeping a record of this. You understand why, correct?" Lilith inquired to the male halfa.
He nodded before replying. "I understand quite well for all significant meetings there should be both a written copy as well as a digitized one for comparison.
I'm sure as the Keeper of the Spirits. Your records are kept better then we humans keep them. In either paper or a brand-new information processing system. Am I correct in that assumption?"
"Yes, you are, Vlad. I've been the Keeper of the Spirits for the last two millenniums. In all that time, I've kept flawless records. I do admit my photographic memory comes in very handy with my job. Certainly makes it a lot easier," Lilith gave herself a small, proud smile.
Then she made appear out of nowhere crystal orbs. They looked just like the ones Jareth the Goblin King used in the movie Labyrinth. Furthermore, she was juggling them with the same amount of skill.
One abruptly glowed brilliantly green as the others vanished from her hand. She allowed this one to levitate on her left side. She then produces a magical parchment and an owl feathered quill. Dipping it in luminous green liquid, she was ready to begin to record this meeting.
"Let it be known this record will be recorded in the ancient language of ghosts. Everything from here on out will be in our language and numbers.
So let's start with the date of today as it is in the Ghost Zone. It's the III of the month of Majo in the year of MCMLXXXIX," Lilith stated out loud as she began to pen the parchment.
Not that anyone could see at the moment, but Lilith was quite the skilled calligrapher. Her handwriting was quite beautiful. She'd be an excellent person to ask if you needed help with graphology or the study of handwriting. But that was neither here or there at the moment.
As stated, this was recorded in the Ghost Zone language of Phantasmal. Their spoken language was a mixture of the dead language Latin with the artificial language Esperanto.
Learning Phantasmal is, in reality, part of the core curriculum of their education system. It was taught at the high school by the Linguist, aka Ferdinand de Saussure. Though he also taught other human languages, anyone might encounter if they went to Earth.
Translation? Today was May 3rd, 1989. As for how both Vlad and Magdalene's personalized records sounded?
Vlad Masters, aka Vlad Plasmius, records read as followed. "Majstroj Vlad Alexei/Vlad Plasmius. Born Majo XXV MCMLXVII. ( May 25th, 1967)
Magdalena Kerdo Fen/Magdalena Animoj born Marto III MCMLXVII. (March 3rd, 1967)
(So if anyone curious about the timeline. Both their parents had been born in the year 1939. Which made Mag and Vlad's parents and father fifty when they died. This meant both Mag and Vlad were twenty-two, and his sister was twenty-four.)
Once again, inside the Nexus, the Council of 11 had gathered. The Ancients sat at the Council Table on the raised dais. Their other guests were sitting in comfortable seats on the ground floor. Vlad and Mag were standing in the center of the room with a spotlight on them.
"We've come with a request for your assistance: yours and all of the Ghost Zone. We've got a bit of a business proposal," Vlad began to say when Cognite cut him off.
"Pardon me, Plasmius, but if you are seeking to do any business organization anywhere in the Ghost Zone, then it needs to go through the Miser. He's not just head of the Ghost Bank. He's the one in charge of the whole economic system within the Ghost Zone."
"Which is precisely why we've invited him to join us. As you can see for yourself," gesturing to the light-green-skinned Scotsman dressed in cherry-red to their left.
Again he looked and sounded how Scrooge McDuck would look and sound in the 2017 reboot of DuckTales even though that was several decades away.
But again with the Ghost Zone, they'd tons of spoilers for what would be hits on Earth even before they've thought up. So no surprise there with how this guy looked and sounded.
"Well, laddie, I'm thankful you invited me today. So what is your proposing?" the Miser questioned the young hybrid.
"My wife and I have just started up our corporation Vladco in the human world. We've taken to heart all the lessons on the good business you gave us. So, for now, our establishment has just five areas of interest, its starting with."
Magdalene then pointed to the diagrams they'd brought with them and began to break them down for Ancients. "As we've stated for right now, the company is focused on five primary businesses which we know will be highly prosperous shortly.
Currently, Vladco is involved in biological science, chemical science, computers, robotics, and medical science. If these avenues pan out, we hope to spread out into other enterprise prospects."
We'd like to employ some of our ghostly friends to assist with a few of these fields and expand on them. We also want them to work in both worlds. Thus we'd help the Ghost Zone economic system as well as the Earth's.
Currently, we're seeking to gain the best of the best for employees. And once again, ask you to consider letting us have our company being functional in both the human world and the Ghost Zone," as she finished explaining the charts to them.
"Well, I will say you do seem to have sound business minds. I'd also say you've invested your money and time wisely with the areas you've chosen so far to focus on. Well done." Miser gave them soft applauds.
"Thank you. So what do you think, Council of Eleven? Do you think we might be able to benefit Ghost Kind by allowing them to do something productive?" Magdalene inquired, hopefully.
"Cognite? Can you please run the statics and weigh the pros and cons?" Lilith requested to the Ghost of Wisdom to which the gender-fluid apparition nodded.
The Ghost of Wisdom's book staff flashed, and they seemed to be in a trance. Finally, they spoke. "I feel this would indeed cut down on renegade activity significantly. However, we still need Walker to enforce the laws.
Hopefully, he can do that without going overboard. The most significant affair is if we do this? We must make sure without a doubt that our kind can hold their human forms long term.
We might need to do some training classes or something to that effect to make sure everyone can pass long term. And that they remain loyal to our Laws and us."
"I could create safe portals for those who demonstrate they're trustworthy to come and go. With Enchantra's help, we could make secure passageways. As well as use her magic to help our people pass for humans."
"I could use my magic for other things, Dimensie. To not only help people effectively stay human long term, but making binding contracts that would guarantee they behave in the other world."
"I believe this could have numerous unforeseen but all the same welcome benefits for both our worlds. Who knows? Perhaps both sides will improve upon themselves.
I'd like to see both realms and their delicate Eco-systems be protected from further destruction. Moreover, both worlds are restored to their former glories. Thus we might all avoid murdering that which we call home," Tempest pointed out his reasoning in this complex topic.
"I'd concur that helping the human race in some capacity would aid us all in the long run. But we cannot let all our secrets get loose either," Dynama reminded them to which they all nodded in agreement.
"We'd have to be very cautious who'd be granted permission to do such work. Not too much pandemonium in either world and ensure a peaceful co-existence." Harmony pointed out sensibly.
"Well, at least we are doing our best to give people life and purpose. We should be able to grow in numerous ways. After all, there is a difference between living and existing. One simply existence if they only do what they need to survive. To live, you must embrace life and be apart of it.
I know that ironic coming out of my mouth rather then Vida. But I, too, find life is worth living to the fullest. How can you make death meaningful if you don't live to the fullest with the time you have?" Cronos pointed out logically.
"All excellent points, my friends, but all the same, we must remember to let events unfold as they should. We shall endorse your business endeavor Plasmius and Soulwings. But we again will not do something to damage time or jeopardize the world. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Clockwork. Perfectly," the married couple said as they nodded.
"Good. We will begin the process shortly of screening and finding ghosts who are compatible with your work desires. They still have to go through the judicial system, and GSTF still has to be notified.
With us visiting the Earth, we need to make sure we can safely remain anonymous and that humans remain ignorant of our world and existence."
"We understand, Clockwork. Let us know when you've made your selection. Until then, we must get back to Earth and begin to hire more people for the company."
Dimensie opened a portal so the two could go home. After he sealed it, he opened another for the Miser. "We will get back with you later, Miser. For now, please return to your Financial institution."
"Understood, Ancients," as he tipped his top hat, " A pleasure doing business with you." as he left via a portal.
Once they were alone, the actual discussion began. Between the knowledge they'd of the former timeline and the expertise each dominate in their own domain of power.
Furthermore, they'd to use some form of democracy here by hearing all sides, working together to reach a comprise and vote on things.
Meanwhile, the Masters had returned home. They were starting to go through a large stack of resumes and trying to figure out who to call for an interview. All kinds of people had applied to work for a promising new conglomerate.
On the one hand, it was amazing how many people wanted to work for them. On the other hand, right now, they wished they'd help to go through a million files so it wouldn't be so draining on them.
They even resorted to using their duplication powers to make a few copies of themselves to attempt to finish the process faster. Even that was exhausting because of the energy it took to maintain a copy.
"This is the reason why we sought our friends in the Ghost Zone, giving us a helping hand. So it is less burdensome," Magdalene sighed as she was going through her sixtieth folder recommending people for the new RD department.
"Just how many departments does this company have, sweetheart?" looking up from the mountain of paperwork concealing her. She looked as if she was about to drop dead. Not that was a good thing, given she was half-ghost.
"No more then any other business, love. We've Advertising, Public Relations, Security, Financing and Accounting, Human Resources, R&D, Marketing, Sales, Purchasing, and Distribution, General Management, finally Legal.
"Well, I will say this," as she refilled their coffee cups with fresh java. "We are going to need one of hell of a faculty to pull all this off. I'm sure again some of Ghost Zone friends can take the edge off some of this," she yawned once before sipping her coffee.
Ordinarily, coffee made Magdalene sick to her stomach. Though for the time being, she made an exception. She rapidly sipped the disgusting beverage before she added.
"But again, we have to have human employees as well. I will also say this we need a hell of second in command, and I'd say an outstanding lawyer."
"Well, I do have an idea who that should be. Here, take a look at this resume from an applicant from San Francisco," Vlad said as he handed his wife the folder in question.
"Hmm," as she started to read aloud, " Ian Xavier Kent. DOB 2-17-67. Hometown: San Francisco. Honor student and class valedictorian of both high school and his college class at Stanford. Two master degrees in Business and Mass Communication.
According to his biography, his parents own and operate bed and breakfast that been in their family for three generations. It seems he has a sister with special needs."
She smiled after closing the folder. Tucking some hair behind her ear, she replied. "He deserves a face-to-face interview. I believe he'd be perfect for helping us," she then reached into another pile and pulled out another resume.
"I believe you should consider this one for being your lawyer and head of the legal division in the company," handing him a folder to look over.
He quickly opened it and began to read aloud its contents. "Hmm, Stacy Callista French. DOB 7-30-67. Hometown: Albany, NY. She comes from a long line of highly accomplished people. Graduated top of her class at the New York School of Law.
There is a long history of all the significant accomplishments each of her family have done. They've done everything from political science to rocket science.
Indeed a well-rounded and intelligent young woman. Very promising. I very much like to set up an appointment with her."
"If they get the job, maybe their insight would be helpful with other future employees, love."
"True. Let's contact them to set up a face to face interviews by the end of the week. We'll do it together, so we both give each other their input and figure it out from there."
One week later, both Vlad and Magdalene were sitting in their new office at their company. Vlad looked rather dapper in his new business suit. Magdalene elected to wear a periwinkle dress and a matching tailored jacket. Her beige high-heeled pumps lengthened and shaped the contours of her legs.
Ian Kent was discreetly fixing his cerulean necktie on his suit as he smoothed his short raven black hair though his stylish hair didn't hide the scar on his forehead. Still aside from the injury, his light amber eyes, and light chocolate skin? He looked like the ideal poster boy for a young businessman.
He was calm, composed, and rather polite. "Thank you for taking the time out to see me, Mr. and Mrs. Masters. I'm very grateful for this opportunity to work at your company possible."
"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Mr. Kent. So shall we begin the interview?" Vlad asked, and Ian nodded. Turning to his wife, she began with the first fundamental question of any interview.
"So, Mr. Kent, tell us a little about yourself?"
"As you know from my resume, I was born and raised in San Francisco. My parents Jay and Elaine manage the family's B&B. It was founded initially by great-grandparents who built there home to withstand a heard of elephants.
I've helped throughout my life with my family business while taking care of my disabled younger sister Piper. I'm no stranger in how to run a commercial enterprise or dealing with various kinds of people, as you can see from my own childhood."
"How would you describe yourself? As both a person and in the work environment?"
"I'm able to work well under pressure. Growing up, I had to learn to deal with numerous unpredictable circumstances. So I've learned to be a quick thinker, patience, and manage stressful situations without losing my composure.
My family and friends have described me as courteous, compassionate, hard-working, and devoted to those who I care about. I'm not one to back down from a challenge, and I always give my all for anything I ever do."
"So, what makes you qualified for working in this particular occupation?"
"I know that my degrees from college are meaningless. Not that I didn't earn them fairly. But in real life, education and degrees can only take you so far. You either have the knack for it, or you don't. No amount of schooling is going to change that.
I feel that I'm able to contribute to making myself and others around me better then they think they are. I'm able to relate and empathizes with others. So I feel I can give you both work efficiently but also help others give you more then they thought possible."
"What is the reason you decided to apply to our company?"
"I strongly feel this is an opportunity to make a difference. I know you've just started the company, but I think with my help, I can help you make this a genuinely prosperous company.
I don't care much about money as I care about the quality of life. I feel if I can make even the small difference, it will come back to reward us. I think it's more of a challenge with a new company where the possibilities and potential are unknown and limitless.
So I want to help all here explore those possibilities and make a difference."
The rest of the interview went quite well. They said they get back to him in a week. Then they called in Stacy French and repeated the same meeting.
Ms. French was as outstanding as Mr. Kent with her responses to the questions, and her personality was refreshing. She was able to be both professional but also a real person one would want to get to know.
By the end of the week, Vlad and Magdalene had hired all the human workers they required. They knew for sure that both Ian Kent and Stacy French would be the most valuable people on their team.
The Ancients had kept their promises and interviewed many spirits themselves till they're able to determine who would be best for Vladco. Everyone who came to work from them had to sign a binding magical contract.
It was a surprise to everyone but the Ancients that Vladco took off, and by the end of the year, it already made its first million. The Ancients knew, of course, that Vlad and Mag's business would make them millionaires in next to no time.
They could only hope that it didn't corrupt them, and the good things in the previous timeline came to pass. But they had to wait and see.
Stacy French- Vlad's lawyer. Voice actress April Bowlby. A character on Drop Dead Diva.
Ian Kent- Vlad's human business partner. Voice Actor Jackson Hurst. A Character on Drop Dead Diva.