[Vought Headquarters, Main Lobby]
The arrival of the new heroes was treated with the reverence of a state visit.
The main lobby of Vought Tower had been cleared of the usual tourist traffic and a literal red carpet had been rolled out across the polished marble, leading directly to the golden elevator banks.
Waiting for them at the center of the massive Vought logo was Ashley Barrett. She was clutching a tablet so tightly her knuckles were white, her breath hitching every ti the automatic doors humd.
When the three impossibly perfect n approached, she plastered on a high energy grin that barely masked the tremor in her hands.
"Oh my god, hi! Hello! Welco!" Ashley chirped, her voice a pitch higher than usual as she stepped forward.
She thrust her hand out to Julian, who took it with a gentle squeeze and a dazzling smile.
"Julian," he said, his voice grounding. "And these are my friends, Felix and Elias. It’s a pleasure to et you, Ashley. We’ve heard great things about your work."
"The pleasure is entirely mine!" Ashley babbled, her eyes darting between their faces. She looked as though she might lt under the collective weight of their charisma. "Mr. Edgar has personally authorized your VIP onboarding. We are so, so thrilled to have you here. Please, please, follow !"
As they walked through the lobby, security checkpoints parted like the Red Sea.
"Okay, so, whirlwind tour!" Ashley said, walking backward with practiced ease as she led them toward the private executive elevators. "We have the legal team drawing up your official Vought talent contracts right now. Standard NDA clauses... totally standard! We also have the wardrobe departnt mocking up initial costu designs based on your viral tags!"
"Viral tags?" Elias asked, raising a perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Yes! The internet has spoken and Vought listens!" Ashley bead, her fingers flying across her tablet. "Julian, you are officially registering under the moniker Justice. Felix, you are Flash. And Elias, you are Electro! The trademark paperwork was filed at 6:00 AM this morning."
"Flash. I like it," Felix grinned, giving her a quick wink.
Ashley blushed a deep crimson, nearly tripping over the edge of the red carpet. She quickly recovered, swiping her badge to open the elevator.
"Now, I know this is a lot to take in on your first day," she continued as the doors slid shut. "You are being fast tracked straight into The Seven. But, as you know, we are still three mbers short."
"We understand," Justice said solemnly. "The tragedy is still fresh. We just want to help bear the load."
"And you will! But to fill the remaining spots, Vought is launching a massive global broadcast! ’Arican Hero.’ It’s going to be a reality competition. The whole world will vote on the final three mbers. It’s going to be a huge fanfare!"
"Sounds like quite the spectacle," Electro noted dryly.
"It’s going to be the biggest television event in history!" Ashley nodded enthusiastically as the elevator chid, arriving at the ninety ninth floor.
The doors slid open to reveal the hallowed corridors of the executive level.
Ashley’s bubbly deanor instantly vanished. She swallowed hard, her face paling as she gestured toward the double doors of Conference Room A.
"Okay. This is it," Ashley whispered, her voice shaking. "He... he requested to et you personally. He wants to... evaluate you."
"Holander," Flash said, his voice dropping into a tone of manufactured awe.
"Yes," Ashley squeaked. "Just... just go in. And whatever you do, agree with him. Be respectful."
She jabbed the ’Close Door’ button on the elevator as if fleeing a fire.
The three n stood before the heavy mahogany doors.
Their hearts began to race... a rapid fire drumming that signaled intense excitent and nervous anticipation. Their palms grew slightly damp. Their breathing beca shallow.
Justice reached out and pushed the doors open.
The conference room was vast, dominated by a long table and towering windows that looked out over the city. Standing at the far end, silhouetted by the midday sun, was Holander.
He stood with his back to them, his cape perfectly draped, a statue of untouchable majesty.
Through his super hearing, Holander registered the elevated heart rates.
Thump thump thump.
Thump thump thump.
Thump thump thump.
He heard the tell tale signs of adrenaline and star struck terror. The biological response was exactly what he expected from three boys brought into his presence.
He allowed the silence to stretch, savoring the weight of their fear.
Finally, Holander slowly turned around. He offered them a perfectly crafted smile.
"Welco," Holander said, his voice rich. "Co in. Don’t be shy."
The three n stepped forward, their posture slightly hunched, avoiding direct eye contact in a display of calculated subservience.
"Holander, sir," Justice said, his voice carrying a slight tremble. "It is... it is an absolute honor. We can’t believe we are actually standing here."
"The honor is mine, boys," Holander said smoothly, walking around the table toward them. He closed the distance, looming over them to establish his physical dominance. "I saw the footage from 5th Avenue. It was... adequate work. You saved lives."
"We just did what you would have done, sir," Flash interjected eagerly. "We saw people in trouble and we thought... what would Holander do?"
Holander’s smile widened, reaching his eyes. He stepped up to Flash and placed a patronizing hand on the man’s shoulder. He squeezed slightly, testing the density of the muscle beneath the jacket. Flash winced visibly, bowing his head.
"That’s exactly the right mindset," Holander purred, pacing slowly in front of them, evaluating them like prized livestock. "You boys have raw power. I can see that. But raw power without guidance is dangerous. The Seven isn’t just a team. It’s a symbol. It’s a standard of perfection."
"You lost your team yesterday," Justice said softly, his voice full of sympathy. "We know we can never replace them. But we want to help you rebuild. We want to be your sword and your shield."
Holander looked at Justice, the words resonating perfectly with his ego.
"You have a lot to learn," Holander said, his voice taking on the tone of a stern father figure. "The world out there is complicated. The dia, the public, the corporate suits... they will try to use you. They will try to manipulate you."
He leaned in closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper as his blue eyes locked onto each of them in turn.
"But you listen to . You follow my lead, you obey my orders and I will make you legends. I will teach you how to be true heroes. Under my guidance, no one will ever be able to touch you. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," the three answered in eager unison.
"Good," Holander bead, stepping back and throwing his arms open wide. "Then welco to the big leagues, boys. Welco to The Seven."
PS: The novel is already completed on Patreon. If you want to read the whole story at once, there are 10 advance Chapters available. patreon. com/Drrajnovel
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