{Portal under observation.}

"Who is it?" I watched through the hole in space into the still empty house in Tallahassee. It wasn't quite time yet, but I had a feeling they wouldn't take the invitation if they couldn't confirm someone was present.

Then again, I wasn't certain they'd believe they could afford not to take the invitation.

{Host :: 'Alexandria'.}

I pursed my lips. "Not ideal. Out of everyone...she's the best choice for them and I understand why she's here, but even so. I really don't feel like dealing with her." I sighed.

{Countermeasures prepared.}

I smiled, reaching out to gently stroke her feathers. "I'm not afraid, I just feel like she's going to be unpleasant. I trust you to keep me safe."

{Affirmative.} She hovered slightly closer to me, and I leaned against her for a moment. {. . .Initiate.}

I nodded, allowed my 'mask' of darkness to coalesce, and stepped through the portal with confidence that was mostly legitimate. Nothing changed in the building as I entered; no traps were sprung, no ambushes triggered...then again, I hadn't expected anything like that. The only person that could have managed that was Eidolon...and it didn't seem his style.

{Turn neck 45 degrees. Focus point :: horizon, gap between buildings.}

I followed my instructions, if nowhere near as precisely as Contessa might have, and saw – only just – a spot of darkness on the horizon. That would be Alexandria, then.

This meeting...I didn't trust Cauldron, for good reason, and I would wield my advantages against them. All of them. Including my own personal pathfinder to victory.

{Face forward. Focus point :: above broken table.}

When Alexandria flickered, flying too fast for eyes to follow, I was already turning my head to face the point she chose to hover. I inclined my shrouded head slightly, and spoke.

Alexandria

"Alexandria," Majesty spoke calmly. "You weren't the invited party, I believe."

Appeared from thin air. Stranger? Mover? I can't be certain. Definitely some form of Thinker; he perceived me from too far away and knew where I was flying.

"Perhaps I was simply tipped off to your location. There are a number of people in the Protectorate and PRT that wish to speak with you, after the stunt you pulled."

"Hm. To tell you the truth, I don't feel like playing games with you," Majesty said. "So let me be clear: if another member of Cauldron is not present within the next thirty seconds, I won't be." He tilted his head up towards her, and the darkness around his head melted away, revealing a relatively unremarkable face. Light brown hair, hazel eyes, a bit of stubble. I don't recognize him. What's the purpose of revealing himself? What's his goal?

"And, to make sure you understand why me leaving might be unfortunate, let me say one more thing: Rebecca."

It was only a great deal of practice that kept her reactions under control. "Is that name supposed to mean something to me?"

"Fine, we'll play, Chief Director. Understand that you have very few secrets from me, and that I have known these secrets for some time. If you want to play hardball, we can – but you won't like where that ends."

Her heart dropped in her chest. The fallout from that secret alone would be...she considered how quickly she could close the distance between him, trying to determine if she could detain him before he activated whatever power he'd used earlier...but given his apparent prediction of her actions, it was risky.

"I don't think that will be necessary," the voice of the Number Man interrupted her thoughts as he entered through a portal which closed behind him. Majesty looked towards him and smiled, genuinely smiled.

"Hello, Kurt. Would you prefer Kurt or the Number Man?"

"Kurt is fine, considering you already know it. May I ask the reason you invited me, specifically? It's flattering, but I tend to prefer working behind the scenes." He strode with calm steps beside her, glancing at the chair for a moment before he sat in it. After looking at her for a moment, Majesty approached the table as well.

After a moment, she sat in the third clean chair at the broken table.

"Out of everyone in Cauldron, I personally find you the most agreeable." Majesty folded his hands in lap.

For a moment, Kurt paused, eyebrows raised. Then his face settled into its usual placid expression. "I see...I think that's the first time I've heard those words." Kurt placed his hands on the edge of the broken table. "Now. What exactly is the purpose of this meeting?"

"I imagine you expect me to blackmail you; I have no intention of doing so. Rather, I needed you willing to listen to me, and the most expedient method of doing so was to reveal that I already knew of you."

"So you chose to threaten us to open a dialogue?" Alexandria narrowed her eyes behind her visor. "That isn't the wisest choice of action."

"As I said, the most expedient. We're operating on a limited amount of time, and this gave us – gave you – the most time to work with what I intend to tell you."

Kurt tapped his index finger against the table twice, a subtle signal for her. She leaned back and allowed him to continue. "What exactly do we need to work with?"

"The next Endbringer attack will be quite soon – within five to fifteen days. Additionally, there's a good chance it will be a new Endbringer that hasn't yet been seen."

If she hadn't controlled herself, her fingers would have splintered the chair beneath her. "The Endbringers cannot be seen by precognition."

He smiled at her unkindly. "No, but there is one precog that knows them well enough to model them."

"You...want us to trust knowledge from the Simurgh? I admit, that's...a bit beyond my expectations for this meeting." Kurt adjusted his glasses slightly, gaze not leaving Majesty's for a moment.

The man in question shrugged slightly as Alexandria tracked his expressions carefully. "I don't expect you to trust me completely, for obvious reasons. However...one of the reasons I hoped to speak to you specifically, Kurt, is that I believe you to be a man of reason. Which is why I suspect you've already considered why someone would reveal so much knowledge of Cauldron when you didn't so much as know I existed."

"I have."

"Then I think you understand what I'm insinuating. Getting this meeting was quite an opportunity cost. Now, I'll share my knowledge with you – and whether you use it or not, if I'm proven correct then I'll have built a bit of trust."

Kurt inclined his head slightly. "So you're giving us this knowledge as a token of trust?"

"I am...although I do have two requests, if my information does prove fruitful."

"Of course you do," she spat, lips pursed. "And they are?"

"Nothing onerous. Firstly...if I am correct, extend some measure of confidence to the other things I have to say. I know many things, and there simply isn't the time or need to share it all now...but if what I say now is true, consider that what I may have to say later is also true. Secondly...I'll have a favor to ask of you in the near future. Small, something easily within your power and with very few drawbacks for you. All I ask is that you consider it in light of what I'm about to give you."

Either he believes what he's saying, or he has superlative control of his emotions.

Kurt nodded. "If all you're asking is that we consider things, I see no reason to refuse."

Majesty nodded. "Then let me begin. I know of three possibilities for the next Endbringer: the first is Khonsu, with power over time. . ."

She listened carefully, and watched him carefully.

The more he spoke, the harder she grit her teeth.

Doormaker's portal closed behind them as Kurt continued walking and she hovered alongside him.

"That was...certainly enlightening." He adjusted his glasses. "Your read?"

"He believed what he was saying. That doesn't preclude him from being mistaken, nor from being Mastered."

"True. He did make a point, however – he gave up some leverage in order to arrange this meeting in the first place. If he'd intended only to damage us, there were simpler ways of doing so."

"Still." She frowned. "...He was fond of you."

"You thought so as well? I admit, I'm surprised. Neither his appearance nor mannerisms are familiar to me; I can't imagine we've met. Even so...he treated us quite differently."

She considered the way his expression shifted each time he looked at her. It was complicated, and it had taken her time to eliminate options and determine what it was.

In the end, it left her...irritated, but with no simple way of broaching the topic.

What right did this man have to be disappointed when he looked at her?

A/N: I'm not 100% sure I got Alexandria's voice down. She really fought me every step of this chapter (guess she really is immune to being Mastered; not even I can get in her head )