I awoke to the brightly lit white room, the cold metal of the Brute restraints digging into my skin as I found myself bound to a chair. Sitting opposite me was a woman dressed in a dark black and grey costume, her chest adorned with a tower emblem. Her helmet sat on the table between us, casting a stark shadow. I knew exactly who she was. Behind her stood a nondescript man in a plain suit, his muttering filling the silence as he scribbled on paper, the sound of pencil scratches echoing in the room.

"How do you know those names and words? Please explain in detail," Alexandria demanded, her voice laced with authority. "Or it will not be pleasant for you." The weight of her words made me feel even more trapped, desperate to break free and escape. To try my powers, as denuded as they currently were, and escape. But instead, I took a deep breath, my chest tightening with anxiety, and began explaining everything.

As I finished recounting my story, Alexandria stared at me, her eyes filled with cool disdain. "You expect me to believe that drivel, that some unimaginably powerful being, in connection with a group of interdimensional slavers, sent you here half on a whim, and half a matter of routine? That our world is connected to yours through a book that's a potential future of ours? And you, what, decided the first thing you would do upon coming here was contact the interdimensional conspiracy behind saving the world? Are you stupid?" Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I nodded sheepishly, my movements restricted by the uncomfortable restraints that held me captive.

Alexandria let out a weary sigh and turned to the man named Kurt. "I'm reading his body language and tells as telling the truth. What an idiot. What do the numbers say?"

Kurt, never ceasing his writing, responded, "Give me another minute and I'll be sure." The scratching sound of his pencil continued, creating an atmosphere of tension as the seconds passed with no sign of stopping. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spoke, "Truth. All of it. Don't know why he'd actually tell us about it all, but he certainly thinks it's true, and my numbers do not lie."

Alexandria sighed, rubbing her forehead. "Okay. These slavers, this Company, how do they work?"

I explained Contractors and my existence as one, and the nature of the endless Multiverse, and not so endless cloning potential of people. I explained Companions and Familiars, and my ability to only bind Familiars, Talents and Defenses, the carrots of the whole deal, and Credits and all the benefits and negatives, leaving nothing out.

"So they send you out to what, strip worlds of girls for harems, while you get awesome Trump powers and live forever?" Kurt asked incredulous. "That's your actual job? And saving the world is just an afterthought?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of Kurt's disbelief. "Yes, that's essentially it," I replied, my voice tinged with resignation. "The slavers seek out universes with potential, where they can have Contractors harvest individuals with unique abilities. They use clones of these individuals for their own purposes, often involving creating harems or fulfilling other desires. As for the world-saving aspect, it's true that it's not their main focus. The Company sees it as an added benefit, a way to maintain stability in the Multiverse and ensure their own continued existence."

Alexandria exchanged a glance with Kurt, their expressions a mix of astonishment and concern. "So, let me get this straight," Alexandria began, her voice measured. "You're saying that you willingly work for these slavers, this Company, taking part in their schemes, all in exchange for gaining extraordinary powers?"

I hesitated for a moment, weighing my words carefully. "Yes, well, I wasn't really given a choice, but it's not as simple as it sounds," I explained. "The powers we gain, the 'Trump powers' as you called them, are a means of survival. They help us navigate the dangerous and unpredictable worlds we're sent to. It's a matter of adaptability, of doing what it takes to stay alive."

Alexandria's gaze softened slightly, her eyes searching mine for any signs of deception. "And what about the potential future you mentioned, the one depicted in the book?" she asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves. "That book is a glimpse into a possible future, a timeline that could unfold if certain events still occur. It's not set in stone, but it serves as a guide for the slavers, a blueprint for their actions. They use mass media to determine which universes are worth investing in, which individuals are worth capturing. You're in it of course, and the Triumvirate, but you aren't main characters. It's about a young Brocktonian girl, who saves the world. So you can rest easy, Rebecca. Your experiment worked."

Silence enveloped the room as my words lingered in the air. Alexandria and Kurt exchanged glances once more, silently communicating their thoughts. Finally, Alexandria spoke, her voice filled with judgment. "If what you're saying is true, then we are faced with a troubling dilemma. On one hand, we have the opportunity to gain incredible powers and potentially navigate through the vast Multiverse, where the ability to defeat the Enemy surely exists. On the other hand, if we accept you, we are essentially aiding a group of interdimensional slavers and perpetuating their agenda."

Alexandria sighed heavily, her expression burdened with the weight of the revelation. "I can't say I fully understand or condone your choices, but I can see that you believe in the necessity of these actions for survival, and if there is anyone who understand the choices one has to make to survive, it is me," she said, her voice tinged with sympathy. "However, I must ask, is there no other way? Is there no alternative to working with the Company?"

I pondered her question for a moment, grappling with the implications. "There may be alternatives, but they come with their own risks and uncertainties," I replied cautiously. "The Multiverse is a complex and dangerous place, and the Company has established a certain level of control and order within it. Straying from their path could lead to even greater dangers or isolation."

Kurt, who had been silently absorbing the conversation, interjected, his voice filled with skepticism. "But surely, there must be others who oppose these slavers. Others who fight for freedom and justice and all such moral nonsense in the Multiverse?"

I shrug. "I'm certain there are resistance movements, individuals who reject the control of the slavers and strive to protect the innocence and freedom of worlds. However, they must be few and far between, and their resources and powers limited, especially compared to the Company. It would be a constant battle against overwhelming odds."

Alexandria's gaze hardened, her resignation flickering through. "Then we must weigh the costs against what we stand to gain. And we stand to gain much, and more. We stand to gain maybe everything. Can we accept that we are assigning men and women into future slavery if it gains us success against the Enemy and prevents the Apocalypse?"

I paused, feeling the weight of Alexandria's words. The moral dilemma before us was immense. We all had to confront the harsh reality that agreeing to my power meant enslaving others in the future. It was a sacrifice we must consider, a sacrifice we'd be forcing on others and it wasn't an easy decision to make. Yet I knew what I'd do, still, may it damn me to Hell.

"Alexandria, Kurt," I began, my voice filled with uncertainty. "I understand the gravity of what we're discussing. The idea of sacrificing the freedom of others for your own survival is deeply troubling. But we must also acknowledge the threat of the Enemy and the impending Apocalypse. If we don't take action, a billion Earths and trillions of innocent lives will be lost. That is a fact. And the golden path to victory is no more, with my actions."

I looked at both of them, hoping to convey my seriousness. "The slavers may be ruthless and morally bankrupt, but they possess knowledge and power that can help you in your fight against the Enemy. If you join me, you can gain the strength and abilities needed to stand a chance. It's a difficult decision, but sometimes, in the face of overwhelming odds, difficult decisions must be made. I shouldn't need to tell either of you that."

I continued, still stuck in my Brute restraints, "And that is why I want to offer the Familiar Bond to the Deviants. The binding restores the bound to their full potential, body-wise. Meaning it heals the forced changes of the vial. You would have an army of normal, beautiful humans who are powerful Trumps."

Alexandria and Kurt exchanged glances, their expressions reflecting a mix of hope and skepticism. The offer of the Familiar Bond presented a glimmer of possibility amidst the moral dilemma they faced. We all knew the implications of this offer, the sacrifices it entailed. It was a choice that would shape the future of not only our own survival but also the fate of countless others. Yet I was all but certain how they would fall.

The two stared at each other for a long moment, before Kurt nodded.

Alexandria turned back to me and said, "Everything about you will need to be verified by the Contessa before anything else, which requires you to turn off your Defenses. If you pass muster, then we can discuss what the future looks like and your place in it. In the meantime, we'll need to discuss all this with our colleagues. I hope you don't mind waiting."