Chapter 11

With closed eyes she felt the blanket of warmth envelope her, relaxing her muscles while the white noise of the running water soothed her thoughts.

She applied the grapefruit guava scented bodywash with practiced easy feeling its foaminess bubble up against her skin.

The scent filled her lungs reminding her of a different time when it was just her and her mother, preparing for pageant shows.

A simpler time, a naïve time one she once hated but would prefer now, a time she would never be able to go back to.

Helped by the slickness of the bubbly foam her hands roamed all across her body massaging and slowly washing away the stress and the literal blood that was caked on.

A stark reminder that today's events were real.

A dozen dead, a dozen more critically wounded, more would probably die later tonight in the hospital. People burned in horrific ways, not to mention the supposed radiation. Even if they survive their initial injuries the radiation will eat them from the inside.

She shuddered for a moment and stopped, letting the shower work its soothing effects.

Everything she wanted to prevent as a hero happened today. The worst was that it was all helped by Hughie.

Butcher she understood, he had an obsession. Hell she wanted to take down Homelander, for Alex for everyone but at what cost?

Teaming up with an out of control murdered? How many innocents have to die? And Hughie…she felt anger rising he was supposed to be the voice of reason in their group.

He lied to her, in more ways than one and he was turning to be as obsessive as Butcher. She tried telling herself it was the 24-V but it wasn't. The substance just brought out what was hidden beneath the layers of good and caring.

And that was just it, the hardest part to reconcile, it wasn't him and yet it was him more than anything else. All the powerful love, emotion and caring focused on one goal, the moment he was enabled to.

Her thoughts were broken by the muffled sound of her doorbell ringing.

A glimmer of hope rose into her chest, Hughie it had to be him, though it was quickly subdued by anger.

She quickly threw a towel on and rushed to the door.

"Hughie, if you think, you can just come and apologize and" she started saying as she opened the door but then stopped.

"Oh, uh, Homelander?" she asked unsure.

He just raised an eyebrow. "Obviously." He answered. "I doubt Hughie would come visit you here…in Vought tower…where I live, not after today. I'm sure he's smart enough to realize that would not be a good idea." He said with a sarcastic cold smile.

"Uh, right, right." She shook her head getting her thoughts straight. "So, why are you here?"

To her surprise he walked past her forcing himself in, though there wasn't much resistance as she simply moved aside as he started walking.

"I've been calling you but you haven't answered."

"I was showering."

"Yes I can see that. We have a press conference tomorrow and we need to get our stories straight." He said as he lifted the laptop she just now noticed he was holding. "We also have to coordinate our AARs."

She looked confused. "AAR's?" She saw him sigh and deflate.

"AAR's, After Action Reports? We said last meeting we will introduce them after every hero intervention? To have more transparency, better support police investigations, part of the new program we are going to implement? Any of that ring a bell?"

"Yes" she said a bit annoyed. "But that's not until we actually come up with a new training & evaluation program. We haven't even started on it."

"Well this seems like a good place to start." Homelander said. "If anything deserves an AAR then it's today's events."

"And it couldn't wait until tomorrow?" She felt herself be annoyed.

"No, it could not and if you'd have checked your phone you'd see that Ashley scheduled us for the press conference 8am sharp, she wanted us to meet tonight but considering today's events I pushed her off to give us some time to breath." He paused for a moment. "She gets way too stressed and way to excited about things." She saw him shake his head and roll his eyes.

Now that she was looking at him closer, instead of just looking at all of him she saw two darker spots of skin, one on his right cheek bone and one on the left hand corner of his mouth.

"And I've had enough excitement for today." He finished off.

He was hurt. Actually hurt, Soldier Boy did that. Why didn't she notice it after the fight? Then again they mostly focused on the wounded. How close had Soldier Boy been to killing him? Did Hughie and Butcher know?...No, he said he was winning when Hughie teleported him away. Was that a lie? Was he…

Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand grab her shoulder.

"Annie, are you ok? Hey, snap out of it you're zoning out on me."

She frowned and automatically took a step back out of reach of the appendage.

"Uh, yea sorry, just, uh," He saw him looking at her to elaborate, an inkling of panic. "I don't think I've ever seen you not in your costume." She ultimately blurted out. "It just seems off." He was wearing a plain white T-shirt and beige slacks.

He seemed taken aback by it. "You know I don't wear it all the time right? You don't think I sleep in it do you?" A rhetorical question though she felt his tone was serious.

"No, of course not." She said automatically.

"Yea, that didn't sound very convincing." He said dismissively and casually sat on her couch. "Look it's been a long day. We just have to go over a few points to make sure we don't say anything we shouldn't." he paused briefly.

"I would prefer not to have to answer any questions as to why my very supportive girlfriend was naked in the middle of the road arguing with her ex just by the house where our so called suspect happened to be."

He paused for a split second again and continued with a cold smile.

"A house that I might add was hosting an orgy. Now if you could please get dressed, because as much as I enjoyed the view earlier it is not conductive for working…quite the opposite, very distracting."

She felt his eyes roam up and down her body, practically touching her and suddenly she felt very naked even with the towel on.

"Plus you're dripping water all over your living room." He finished.

"Ah shit. Fine. Give me a moment." She finally said and quickly tiptoed to her bedroom.

She quickly dried off, changed and came back out, where she saw him already typing at the laptop.

"Ok, so what do you want to go over first?" She took a seat across from him on a chair.

"Well, first the reason you were in the area. We can say Deep contacted you, we'll need to find a reason why you weren't in costume, which shouldn't be too hard and as for after the explosion, we can say your clothes were damaged and you changed in whoever you could scavenge. You might not even be asked any of these questions but it's good to have something prepared for it just in case."

She listened to him and gave her input along with ideas how to approach the whole situation, the next steps they would present and what they will be doing.

Before she knew it his questions drew her in the conversation and over an hour had passed when they realized it was midnight.

"Let's call it a day." He finally said closing his laptop. "I think we went over most points. If it's something you're not sure just say 'I don't know at this time we'll have to look into it', I'll do the same it works most of the time."

She felt a skip of a heartbeat and a trickle of shame as she nodded both to his statement and to the realization that she had actively enjoyed this impromptu work session, a part of her was slightly sad to finish it.

"Oh, and tell Hughie, that whatever this little game Butcher rope him in with Soldier Boy will only end up with him dead if he keeps playing. He's only alive because of you however my patience can only stretch so far."

He said with a fake cold smile and left.

Anxiety and anger swelled up within her again.

Scene Break

The spacious Vought conference room was packed to the brim, with reporters and officials while the serious mood of the situation was betrayed by the cheery sun peeking through the edges of the see through minimalistic blinders adorning the windows.

The incessant clicking sounds of the cameras had slowed down as Homelander and Starlight answered questions about last night's events.

"…unsanctioned CIA operation in Nicaragua in 84…." She watched Homlander answer calmly.

It hadn't been easy to organize all this last minute, well technically getting the reporters here was, it was the city and state officials that were always prickly about things.

'Fucking assholes' she thought, after all Vought was doing all the heavy lifting for them.

"…conspiracy between US government, Vought and the Russians as far as we know…"

Last night's events were a giant mess for her, for Vought for the dead and wounded for everyone really. A real rogue supervillain, a Vought mistake coming to bite them in the ass, just as she finally reached the top, it wasn't fair.

"…cover up on a massive scale, we can only speculate on the deal with the Russians…"

Her hand twitched but she resisted the urge to play with her hair.

'Homelander wouldn't like that…no John, you have to call him John now' she chided herself mentally.

Something was wrong with John as well, he was …unnerving. Before she was afraid he could snap at any moment, crush her in his hands, and slice her in two with his eyes but now he felt…different.

"…he wants revenge on Vought, on superheroes, on the US and Russian government…" She heard Starlight answer.

He was calmer, colder more methodical. He had a sudden interest in all things Vought, suddenly he'd become a workaholic when before he'd never shown any interest in Vought operations outside of the Seven.

"…we believe he was turned into an anti-super weapon by the Russian and US governments…"

The scary part for her was how knowledgeable he was of actual operations in a big corporate environment. The jargon he was using the insights he was drawing and the general comfortableness he had in meetings, like he'd been doing it his whole life.

"…we believe clandestine government involvement as he was helped by former CIA operative one William Butcher and an unknown teleporter…"

On one hand the company seemed revitalized. It's one thing to say you work for Vought with 'The Seven' and it's a completely different thing when Homelander himself attends your meetings understands what you do and gives you practical advice.

The mid-level managers and analysts were practically buzzing with excitement.

"…we are working closely with state and local authorities to locate him...due to the danger involved we do not recommend for any law enforcement to approach him…"

On the other hand the he had the executive team was running on fumes trying to get him all the information requests.

Not to mention working on his space idea.

She thought it was stupid, the telecom idea might work but space, will that really work with the public and the shareholders?

Probably not, she couldn't see it but if it kept him…not homicidal she would endorse it, she would work on it. If they succeeded they would reach the stars, literally and if they failed…well hopefully she wouldn't end up like Stan or worse…dead.

"Josh, CNN." The middle age reporter said briskly. "Will you as chairman of the board for Vought take responsibility for Soldier Boy running loose and the over two dozen dead? What do you have to say to their families?"

Ashley was broken from her thoughts as she saw John's jaw clench and the side of his right eye ever so slightly twitch.

"Josh, CNN" John repeated calmly. "You want me to take responsibility?" He shook his head slightly as if in disbelief.

"Why? So you can put on your headline 'Vought chairman kills! Homelander responsible for dozens dead!'?" His voice was rising; she could feel the annoyance in his tone.

"You know in 84 when Soldier Boy 'died' I was three years old. I was fucking toddler and you want me to take responsibility for something that happened when I was a toddler? What kind of question is that?"

Anxiety was bundling in her chest. She could see that Starlight was also taken aback by his aggressiveness.

Everything had been going well so far, he and Starlight had even come prepared in the morning and with the PR team they went over a bunch of scenarios for an hour before the conference.

"I was three years old when it happened, as soon as we found out its Soldier Boy we told the public. What kind of question is that really? I was a toddler when he died, where were you and CNN? Why didn't you investigate his death? Why aren't you asking the CIA that covered it up to take responsibility?" His tone was getting louder, he had stopped addressing Josh specifically and looked upon the whole crowd.

"This is what you do in the media to get clicks and make headlines. You try to divide us to make us afraid, you try to blame others to conceal the truth!"

"None of you are asking why this is happening now. Isn't it a bit convenient that I take down a bunch of Vought executives, threaten the profits of the elite, try to do good and clean up the corruption and cronyism that Vought's been involved and suddenly, suddenly Soldier Boy comes back from the dead after 40 fucking years!"

"Oh and look at that he's just conveniently out there killing supers, helped by 'ex' CIA operatives!" he said with exaggerated air quotes. "Jeez I wonder if maybe I should question that but NO! Let me put the blame on the man that's actually trying to do something about it!"

Homelander paused briefly. The crowd was aptly silent both in wonderment and shock.

"You know at my birthday special I told you there were powerful actors working in the background, controlling even people like me, the deep state but did you believe me? No, of course Not!"

"You called me crazy, you said I was dog whistling to racists, to fucking 4chan or something but here we are just a few weeks later I challenge Vought and the elite and suddenly Soldier Boy is back from dead killing Americans not giving a shit about collateral damage."

"Unfucking believable." He said shaking his head. "And you want me to take responsibility? Well guess what Josh, I will take responsibility." He said suddenly and loudly.

"It's not like anyone else will do it." He said pausing sharply.

"You the media, don't give a shit, you don't report on truth, just whatever will get you more clicks and followers. You're not taking responsibility." He paused sharply.

"But I will!" He said looking at the crowd, directly into the live cameras.

"Because sure as shit the government won't, not with the CIA involved. They don't give a shit about Americans dying but I do!"

Ashley couldn't help but be taken in by his rant, the whole crowed was really, it almost sounded truthful.

"Your elected officials won't, hell some corrupt senators probably OK'd the whole fucking thing. They simply don't care about you! The rule of law is meant for you not for THEM! They don't care!" He paused sharply once again, as if giving time for the audience to absorb.

"But I do." He said firmly. "I still care about Truth, Justice and the American Way!"

"It hurts me to see fellow American's dead, in pain, being lied to and cheated, especially when it's by those who are supposed to look out for their best interests." He continued.

"I still believe in our country and our people, our way of life, in doing the right thing!" He paused again this time looking directly at Josh.

"So yes Josh, I will take responsibility, because no one will, because it's the right thing to do." Ashley saw him shake his head while looking down.

"To everyone at home, I'm sorry this is happening, I'm sorry you have lost your loved ones. I'm sorry you have been cheated and lied to…because so have I."

"I promise you I will do everything I can to stop Soldier Boy, to prevent more deaths. I will do it because it's the right thing to do, I will do it for me, for you, for Our people and Our country."

"I will bring back Truth, Justice and the American Way!" He said banging his fist on the podium accentuating each word.

He paused for moment then simply walked off the podium briskly, his body language exuding disappointment, leaving the shocked crowd in silence.

As she exchanged looks with a worried Starlight a sense of dread overwhelmed her while all her thoughts were bubbling up in a volcano of anxiety and screaming at 100 miles an hour:

"FUCK!"

Scene Break

"Interesting press conference, a very passionate speech." Martin said as he walked in the Seven meeting room.

'I really need a fucking office.' I thought, but it was pretty good optics to be in the large meeting room, now with the door open to everyone, not to use of course just to have access to me and the Seven.

"Don't you start as well, I've already went through this with Starlight, Ashley and the PR team. They are already running damage control." I calmly stated.

"Oh, I think they will be surprised there were some that quite liked your little speech. Some would even agree with you."

I stared at him and couldn't help but let the corner of my mouth rise up a bit in a small smile.

"I'm counting on it but enough of that. You are here because you have updates on our two subjects."

"I do." He said taking a seat on the left side of the table.

"We have collected all the samples we can. Red is almost recovered we should be able to wake her up whenever you want. Black is in rougher shape but we managed to get everything as well. Amazing specimen I have to say."

I nodded.

"Ideally I would like red to be kept under for another day or two if you can make something up, its fine if you don't but I do want to be there when she wakes up." I say firmly.

"As for black is she even going to make it? If you think you got everything you need then as soon as she's stable let her go. She has people looking for her."

"The spazy little French fellow?" He asked and I nodded.

"Yes, he's a resourceful little one, very dangerous. I don't want him to start kidnapping our people out of spite. He'll be coming by today…plus Starlight will flip her shit when she finds out about black being here." I leaned back in my chair, letting the annoyance surface.

"Black will make it, it's really amazing even in her state her regeneration and durability is above the average human. She could hold the key to everything." He said and I could feel the excitement in his voice.

"Good. Make sure she does. I really don't want to deal with that little shit. He might not be able to hurt me but he'll go after every single one of you if anything happens to his little Coeur. God his accent is so annoying." I said…annoyed.

Frenchie was a vengeful and creative little cunt and I had no doubts that he would kill every single scientist that works for or has worked with Vought.

It would set me back years and years on my plans.

'Kill them all!'

Yes Echo, yes. That is always an option.

I could kill him and Kimiko right now, chuck them in a volcano where no one would find them but knowing my luck or I should say Homelander's luck somehow Annie would find out then she'd start blabbing her fucking mouth so I'd have to kill her, then I'd have to kill Maeve.

But I didn't really want to go through that hassle. Not only because of the obvious attachments of Homelander to Maeve and my horniness for Starlight but also because they were fucking killing it in ratings, revenues, brand recognition and reputation.

I was about to embark Vought on an unprecedented spending spree and those two were cash printing machines. You wouldn't believe the endorsement deals we got for 'Homelight' alone. Merchandise was flying off the shelves.

Pure Americana brand.

No, I needed my little cash machines for the money and respectability they brought to Vought, The Seven and Me.

I court the extremes of the spectrum, continue building my base while they soften the blowback by simply being there.

"Actually that's why I'm here." Martin said, his face suddenly sported a reptilian smile. "We have to dose her with V and I want you there to stop any brisk reactions."

I looked at him curiously. "I thought you said she was going to make it?" I knew from the show Kimiko was going to want to be super again so I was going to offer her a dose of V anyway.

It would stop Starlight from snooping around and find the notes on 24-V. That's not to say that I didn't already talk with Martin and our security team. We upped the security around the labs.

No more notes on the effects of 24-V, no warning to Hughie and Butcher. The little shit will die within 12 months and my hands will be squeaky clean.

"She is, but we were successful in phase 2" My eyes immediately widened and I reflexively inhaled "for both" he continued.

I leaned back in my chair and couldn't help but let out a low whistle. "You're kidding right? I mean what are the odds of that? Both? That was basically a shot in the dark, pie in the sky."

Martin shrugged. "Pure coincidence, it was the right time. But don't get your hopes up this is still uncharted territory it might fail halfway through, the rate was quite high the last time."

Deep down in my gut I felt something stirring, a heat was rising, enveloping me, excitement bubbling, as if every cell of my body knew the winds of fate were changing.

This was it, the beginning of a new world.

"Oh, I have a feeling it will be a resounding success, beyond everything we could imagine." I couldn't help but sport a wicked smile as I responded.

"Just don't blame me if it doesn't." Martin said reluctantly.

"Of course, it's all experimental after all." I said to give him confidence.

"Now this is what we are going to do. We'll set her up in the vault and I'll inject her with V. If she has any adverse reaction to being there or the V I'll stop her or knock her out if she needs medical treatment. If she recovers I'll escort her out and put her in an Uber then she won't be our problem anymore."

"What about monitoring her condition in the future?" he asked.

"Don't worry if it's successful one way or another we will find out and if not well no harm done."

Martin thought about it for a moment.

"It's a shame we won't be able to monitor her and get more data, you never know how it might help out in the future."

"Trust me, both her and her little French shit are vertically challenged killing machines. She won't like to be poked and prodded. She'll try to brutally kill everyone than be used as a science experiment. The hassle of dealing with them is simply not worth it." I stated firmly.

Martin let out a big sigh and I saw him deflate a bit.

"Very well as you wish."

Scene Break

I tugged and pulled gently as my fingers closed one by one in a controlled and firm motion around the nipple. The burst of hot liquid hitting the bucket was music to my ears. It didn't take long before there was enough of the white foamy milk accumulated that I was compelled to drink it.

Warm, slightly sweet and fresh on my lips.

'Fucking Echo, fucking Homelander instincts, fucking milk fetish.'

After stuffing a scared and confused Kimiko in a taxi I went to the Robert Singer rally at the farm in upstate New York.

Singer, a Democrat and secretary of defense, was in cahoots with Vought and Homelander was supposed to endorse him.

And I did endorse him, anti-corruption, trusted friend, honest man and all that bullshit the crowds loved to hear. I talked him up and gave a water downed version of my speech this morning.

These salt of the earth rural types literally ate it all up, the ignorant fucks.

'The American Way' what a joke, like these morons would have any idea what that meant, what it actually took to keep America on top, a fucking joke.

I shouldn't be too hard on them it's not their fault really, the shit education system and good fortune of this country has made them fat and ignorant.

That worked to my advantage let them all project their version of 'The American Way' on me.

Still I was here for a second purpose, Victoria Neuman.

She was here and I was hoping she would approach me, unfortunately with my future knowledge and Homelander's inherited fetish I felt almost compelled to come and indulge in the sweet white nectar from this beautiful creature.

'Moo!'

Yes Echo, we pet the gentle grass doggo.

'Fucking Homelander'

My hearing picked up the confident footsteps long before she entered the barn.

"Fresh milk?" I ask pushing the bucket in her direction before she could say anything. "It's safe if you drink it straight from the cow quickly enough while it's warm, you don't have to boil it."

I could tell she was thrown off her rhythm.

"No, thanks."

"Ah, more for me then." I said and gulped the rest of it. "Congressman Neuman, how can I help you?" I put the bucket down and stood to face her.

She approached me until she was within arm's length. I have to give it to her very ballsy.

"That's one hell of a speech you gave. I'll be surprised if he doesn't jump in the polls and the press conference this morning…well half my team thinks you've gone mad and the other half thinks you should run for president."

"Funny, that's what my PR team said as well." I replied. "Now you're not here to give me media tips are you? So what do you want?"

"I think we can help each other." She started with a sly smile. "You and me we could make a great team." Her long curved eyelashes batting at me, he big eyes looking up gently. "With your support we could do great things, I could pass the education support bill and I could back you up on, UGH!"

Like a cobra attacking my right hand shot up faster than she could react and grabbed her neck, thumb squeezing her voice box.

"The fucking audacity you have." I said rage building up inside of me. "You fail with Starlight, trying to turn her against me." Her breathing intensified and I could feel her super strength gripping my forearm, not that it would do her any good, as my fingers tightened like a vice around her neck.

"What you didn't think I would know about that, about your little girl power scheme? And now you come to me peddling your bullshit and I'm supposed to stay and listen like a good little idiot? Blink twice if I'm wrong." her eyes went big in shock, well bigger since she was already shocked by me grabbing her, as I finished repeating her line.

My rage was sweltering now. I felt energy building up inside of me.

'Bend her over! Mount her!'

Yes Echo, no, wait, what the fuck? I mean yes, sure, she had full curves, plush lips and delicious looking mocha skin and…god dam it, I'm at half-mast already.

"You need someone you can trust." She said.

"What? Someone like you?"

"I got rid of Edgar for you, that cost me a lot. I'm proposing a strictly transactional relationship. You help me out with one small favor and I help you." She pulled out the piece of paper with Ryan's address.

I let go of her, took a look at the address and then at her. "If this is what I think it is then I'll help you with your little problem. You'll be VP in no time." I said with a cold smile.

Her eyes crunched in suspicion. "How did you" I cut her off.

"Oh please, ambitious, outspoken and strong headed, like it's hard to tell you want to be the first woman president." I said leaning in, her scent, a mixture of sweat, hormones and lavender filled my nostrils, dam she barely came up to my chin.

"Come to my penthouse tonight, midnight, I have a new proposition, we'll talk details then." I finished and walked off leaving her confused.

It honestly took everything I had to control myself and not take her then and there.

Fucking Echo urges, this is why I can't let him indulge too much, it leads to me doing stupid shit.

Whether she'll show up tonight…I'll have to wait and see.

Now, I had the rest of the day to…attend meetings and respond to email.

Fucking hell, no rest for the wicked.

Scene Break

I was in the middle of cooking for my hopeful adventure tonight when I received the call from Soldier Boy.

"If this is really you then you have some nerve calling me." I said annoyed.

No pathetic scared meandering from me.

"The situation's changed. I thought we should have a conversation."

"Did it?" I asked rhetorically. "Are you ready to surrender? You know you got lucky that little shit teleported me away."

He responded with his little trip down memory lane of how he beat his meat into a cup. "Turns out Vogelbaum made a kid, born spring 1981. A boy." He said. "You know what the bitch of it is, if they had just kept me around, I would have let you take the spot light. What father wouldn't want that for his son?" he finished.

Now I knew this was coming so I was prepared for it but Homelanders' stupid feelings still bubbled up within me like a sledgehammer and I felt my eyes tear up.

Fuck you Echo, not this time. I pushed all that shit right back down where it came.

"Is that so?" I said slowly. "If it's true that does change things. Why don't you come by the tower tomorrow evening, let's say after 8. On the west side there will be an emergency stairwell door left unlocked, away from the cameras." I finished firmly.

"Oh, and do bring that cunt William Butcher with you. I have a surprise for him."

I finished and ended the conversation.

A big risk I was taking but hey, YOLO, well in my case it's twice.

Besides a hero needs a big final battle.

Scene Break

It was a quarter to midnight when Victoria showed up to the penthouse.

She was greeted by low lighting accentuated by the barely audible thumping of the lofi jazz and hip hop mixture and a set dining table.

"I hope you're hungry. I've made risotto and pecan salmon."

"It's a little late for dinner isn't it?" she asked looking around. The ambiance was throwing her off. "I didn't know you could cook."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Everyone can cook. You just have to follow the instructions. It's not that hard. Please have a seat we have a lot to discuss."

As she sat down I couldn't help but take her appearance in. She had changed from the business like pants suit into a dark blue evening dress adorned by little colorful butterflies that hung on her in just the right way to accentuate her curves.

"You said you had a proposal?" she said jumping into business right away.

I took the wine bottle off the table and poured some into our glasses.

"Business right away no patience. And here I cooked a nice meal as a peace offering." I said with my best sincere smile.

She didn't look impressed or fazed by it.

"Cut the crap." She said firmly. "You think I'll fall for this romantic bullshit like one of your groupies? Tell me what you want already."

I sighed, took a giant gulp of wine and leaned back in my chair.

"Fine, you want backing for your political aspiration I'll give you Vought, the Seven and my full support. Education, transportation, environment hell even reasonable gun control, we'll back you up, financially, reputationally, whatever you need. We'll turn you into the president of the United States, the most powerful woman in the world." I paused for her to absorb what I just said.

"We support you, I support you and in return you and the US government will support me and my ventures. What I plan for the new direction of Vought will require substantial funding, hundreds of billions, the backing of an entire nation." I said with a cold smile.

She looked confused and concerned. "What the hell are you planning?"

"Oh, don't worry, it's something quite neutral when it comes to the political area. It won't step on anyone's toes. You see I'm taking Vought into space."

She just blinked at me.

"What?"

"Space, you know the big empty and dark thing that's all around our planet?" I said as if she was dumb and I could see that she was annoyed immediately.

"Yes, I know what space is. What do you mean Vought is going into space?"

"It's exactly that. Vought is entering the space race. Space X, Blue Space and a bunch of other companies are already doing good work in that area. Vought seeks to surpass them and to do that we'll need funding, lots and lots of funding." I said and took another swing of the wine.

She just looked at me trying to take in what I was saying. "You're insane." I smiled.

"So I'm told."

She just shook her head in disbelief. "You want me to spend hundreds of billions on a vanity project, just so you can have a rocket measuring contest with a bunch of asshole billionaires? Money that could be better spent here on education on infrastructure?"

"Come now, we spend over seven hundred billion on defense every year, more than a trillion and a half in the past twenty years on Afghanistan alone, what's a few hundred thrown to create a new American dream, a new goal to give people hope to make people dream?" I paused briefly and stood.

"Just imagine it now, Science and education back at the fore front of the American psyche." I said staring out the window at the night sky. My super vision allowing me to see the stars in a way that no mortal could, little puffy clouds of white floating in deep blue black.

Though I haven't yet pushed it to its limits, partially out of fear of what I would see, even Homelander's memories were too jumbled to understand what he saw when it came to maxing out his vision, part of me understood why Superman saw things differently.

How could I not when I could casually focus on the minute details of an object a mile away, colors jumping and vibrantly dancing, their rhythm enticing me to move past them as if the red sea parting for Moses.

"New technologies developed with a purpose and not with profit in mind" I continued, my voice whimsical and eager, I was letting hope rise up within me of what I could do, what I could accomplish "Men and women united under one goal, pushing our boundaries to explore the new frontier and beyond." I paused and turned back to her.

"It's what we Americans were made to do. We are explorers, always have been since the inception of our kind."

She looked at me with big brown eyes, plush lips partially parted. I let the silence build between us. I outlined my vision the ball was in her court to respond.

"You're really serious, aren't you? You actually believe this." She said as more of a statement.

"I do." I simply stated. "But I'm not naïve, I know this isn't something that can be accomplished in a few years or all at once." I extended my hand for her to take it. She instinctively did and I pulled her up.

"I'm not proposing a transactional relationship here, I'm proposing a legacy." I bought her closer so she was facing the large windows overlooking the city and the night sky.

"You want to be the most powerful woman in the world, together we can accomplish that. I want to change the world, together we can accomplish that." I finished saying.

She didn't say anything, just stared out at the sprawling lights of the city, the ocean and the glittering stars.

"Impressive speech" she finally said. "Is this the part where I'm wooed enough by your grand plans, I fall into your strong arms and you kiss me?" she asked with a playful smirk.

"If we are going to conspire and 'get in bed with each other' I thought it would be good that we also got to know one another a bit, to build trust of course before we embark on this journey together, hence dinner" I said and smugly and pointed at the food now going cold.

She took a glance at the table and then at the city. Her right hand went to her back and moved the zipper in a smooth practiced motion.

With a slight shuffle her dress fluttered to the ground leaving her only in her black silky lingerie.

Her stature was confident and her eyes were staring into mine.

"How about we skip directly to dessert." She stated confidently

'Whipped cream!'

Oh yes Echo she will get lots of whipped cream tonight.

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AN: Episode 7 done!

Can you guess what Homelander and Martin did to Maeve and Kimiko? I feel like I left enough hints and made it pretty obvious. Let me know in the reviews.

Is Homelander's space plan insane? Can humanity ever colonize the stars in his world? What about our real world? Let me know in the reviews. Just remember you have to reach for the stars to land on the moon…or something like that the saying goes.

Thank you for reading.