NOVEL NEXT Chapter 121: 118
I needed to expand my power by any means necessary. I have attracted too much attention in a short amount of time so I needed to not only expand my personal power but also that of my budding pantheon. I have no doubt that others would soon seek me out to join up or force me to join them. I need to act now while I'm still technically ignorant of outside power to create my own.
I scheduled a meeting with Susan Storm as her family owns the Baxter building. Granted that Reed was the one to restore to its position of prominence but I have no way of securing him to my faction safely. As brilliant as Reed is he is terrible when it came to people and business. If not for his good fortune of landing Susan Storm he wouldn't be as far along as he was. Reed is someone that hates restrictions and has a massive need for control believing that he is almost always right. It would have been difficult for someone like Reed to progress in a normal scientific environment or any work setting.
Meeting Susan in Gotham was... not ideal but didn't feel like going to New York and claiming to be practically a New Yorker. Honestly New Yorkers are very touchy about that and considering Susan is one I prefer Kinda home field advantage (I don't spend a lot of time in Jersey). The other reason is that she had many heroic acquaintances that would likely influence her to go back to Reed. When I arrived at designated location a fancy restaurant Susan was awkwardly waiting outside trying hard not to noticed without using her powers. As soon as she noticed me she immediately walked up to my new car an Aspark Owl. She seemed somewhat distressed and a little annoyed but that was the point.
Susan: Why did you have to pick a fancy restaurant and what is with the fancy car!
"You asked me to pick some place to talk so I picked a place where I could stomach the food and this is my only car at the moment. My other car was involved in a assassination attempt on my life"
Susan: I...I'm sorry... I didn't...
"It's fine, it would be strange if you were acutely aware of my situation and I am certain that you understand and can relate being a public figure but let's not continue carrying on here and continue our talk inside"
Susan seemed to remember that we were outside and began looking around only to realize that people were beginning to gossip. A little embarrassed she agreed and we headed inside. As I had a standing reservation for the next few months courtesy of Lady Mechanika we were immediately escorted to a private room. I used my Omni tool to ensure that there were no spy devices anywhere and yes Black Technology is producing them thanks mostly to Tali'Zorah and Cortona's efforts. At the moment they aren't publicly available but would be soon.
Susan: I hate to be rude but what exactly is that if you don't mind me asking?
"This is an Omni tool that will soon be publicly available to the world essentially it is both a smart phone and a low budget super computer using hard light technology"
Susan: Did you say that it will be available to the public soon!? How soon?!
"Well according to Miranda it should be by the end of the month hopefully unless unforseen issues arise then sometime possibly next month"
Susan: Isn't that way too sudden there's been zero publicity on this. It wasn't even mentioned at any tech expos not even at the Black Technology booth at the Strak expo!
"Oh so you visited our booth at the Stark expo?"
Susan: Who didn't? Well besides Reed but that was more for his ego than anything else... but even he was keeping tabs on Black Technology especially after the Terraforming incident
"You flatter me miss Storm and while I appreciate the praise I doubt that you called me here just to talk about my company's achievements. So why did you call me here?"
Susan: That! Is why I called you here because you could have just claimed the credit entirely for yourself or only focused on what you have personally accomplished you don't. Most would bask in the praise or be completely indifferent to the world around him... I mean them...I mean... I not hiding what I want to talk about too well am I? Look I just want to know how you just pull away from something important and maybe get Reed to do the same.
"That's the problem I don't"
Susan: What do you mean?
"I meant exactly that I don't if something or in your case someone is important than you make time. Other things can distract or might also be important but if they matter it's never a burden to make time. It should never be a struggle and it isn't enough to just say it they need to show it"