Rhodey smiled faintly at Tony’s response.
“It’s pretty simple. The military wants that translucent ice-blue, brain-shaped object you brought back from Afghanistan.”
“Name your price. Someone higher up is interested in it.”
“And depending on what you ask for, he might be able to help with Stark Industries’ transition. He could take some of your existing weapons inventory off your hands, for example, or steer a few non-weapons procurement contracts your way.”
The fact that someone in the military had specifically asked for the Savant Beyonder Characteristic immediately caught Tony’s attention.
“Rhodey, who exactly is this person higher up?”
“Sounds like he’s got some serious pull.”
Tony suspected the military might know something he didn’t.
Otherwise, why would they have gone straight for the Savant Characteristic?
Rhodey saw no reason to hide it.
“Lieutenant General Ross.”
Tony immediately recalled what he knew about Thaddeus Ross.
Stark Industries had handled quite a few contracts connected to him over the years, including the development of specialized equipment.
Whatever else could be said about Ross, he was a lieutenant general with substantial real authority and considerable influence within the military.
Tony showed no excitement.
“General Ross, huh? Didn’t expect him to be interested in this.”
He studied Rhodey.
“How much do you know about the thing?”
Tony wanted to find out exactly how much his friend had been told about the Savant Characteristic.
Rhodey answered frankly.
“I don’t know anything specific about the object you brought back. But the people above me want it, and the guy who rescued you wants something like it too, so I’m guessing it’s not exactly ordinary.”
“If you have conditions, make them. If Ross wants it badly enough, I doubt he’ll be stingy.”
Tony could tell Rhodey genuinely didn’t know much more than that, so he waved the matter aside.
“Sorry, Rhodey. Can’t help you with this one.”
Rhodey didn’t give up immediately.
“Tony, think it over. Assuming you still have the thing.”
Tony shook his head and stood.
“Good seeing you, Rhodey.”
Rhodey gave him a helpless smile.
That was Tony’s polite way of telling him the conversation was over.
He didn’t linger.
Reporting the refusal back up the chain was enough, and Rhodey already had a perfectly reasonable explanation prepared: Tony had likely turned the object over to Kez Merlin as part of the payment for rescuing him.
…
71st Avenue, Forest Hills, Queens.
The sky had turned dark and overcast, and heavy rain poured across New York.
A military Humvee pulled up outside Kez Merlin’s occult shop.
When the vehicle stopped, a female officer stepped out first, opened an umbrella, and then pulled open the rear door.
Lieutenant General Thaddeus Ross climbed out.
The bell above the door chimed as he stepped inside.
Ross slowly surveyed the shop’s layout and furnishings before his gaze settled on the young man behind the counter.
Kez had been wondering who would bother visiting a fortune-teller in weather like this.
He certainly hadn’t expected Thaddeus Ross.
Seeing the general walk into his shop genuinely surprised him.
Kez hadn’t imagined he would have any reason to cross paths with the military this soon.
He knew enough about Ross from Marvel movies and animation to recognize him immediately.
‘Shouldn’t this guy be running around the world looking for Bruce Banner right now?’
Despite his surprise, none of it showed on Kez’s face.
“Officer. Are you here for a reading?”
Ross stopped in front of the counter and studied the young man before him.
“Young man, ever considered serving in the military?”
The female officer beside him spoke up.
“Kez Merlin, this is Lieutenant General Thaddeus Ross.”
With his identity formally established, Ross continued watching Kez’s reaction.
“With your abilities, sitting in a little fortune-telling shop like this seems like a waste.”
“The military would give you a much larger stage to work on. I’d personally authorize your special recruitment.”
He gestured casually.
“You don’t have a formal education, and you’ve never attended a service academy, but I can guarantee you wouldn’t enter as an enlisted man. You’d start as an officer.”
“Major.”
Ross allowed that to sink in.
“I’m sure you’ve heard enough about the benefits that come with military service. And with your abilities, promotion wouldn’t be a problem.”
Kez was genuinely surprised.
A lieutenant general had personally come to recruit him and was offering him a direct commission as a major despite his lack of schooling or military education.
In his previous life, an offer like that might have had him signing the papers before Ross finished speaking.
It was certainly flattering.
But in this life?
Working for the military—and more specifically, working under Ross—held absolutely no appeal.
Kez wasn’t Klein.
He wasn’t desperately broke, nor was he stumbling blindly through a world he knew nothing about.
And Thaddeus Ross certainly wasn’t the Evernight Goddess.
“I’m sorry, General Ross.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I have no intention of joining the military.”
Kez smiled politely.
“I value my freedom. The military has too many rules and restrictions for someone like me.”
Ross showed no anger at the rejection.
He simply studied Kez for a few moments before speaking again.
“You’re a Beyonder, aren’t you?”
“Rescuing Tony Stark from an armed terrorist stronghold by yourself isn’t something an ordinary person could pull off.” Read this novel at g.com for the best experience.
Ross narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Let me guess which Pathway.”
“Warrior?”
“Assassin?”
“Hunter?”
He watched Kez carefully.
“No? Then perhaps Fighter… or Martial Scholar?”
Kez was mildly surprised.
He hadn’t expected Ross to already know this much about Pathways.
Ross caught no obvious reaction from his expression and continued.
“None of those either.”
“Then I suppose you’re from a Pathway we don’t have information on yet.”
He gave Kez another measured look.
“You really won’t reconsider?”
“Having someone like me backing you would save you a lot of trouble.”
“Other government departments aren’t necessarily as polite when they deal with Beyonders.”
Kez understood the implication perfectly well.
Ross wasn’t merely telling him that other agencies recruited Beyonders.
He was warning him that some of them might resort to considerably more aggressive methods.
Even so, Kez shook his head.
“Sorry. I still prefer living freely.”
After being rejected twice, Ross finally dropped the recruitment attempt.
“I read your file. Apparently you’re quite talented when it comes to divination.”
“In that case, I want you to find someone for me.”
“Can you do that?”
A professional smile appeared on Kez’s face.
“If a customer walks through my door with a request, I’m hardly going to turn down business. Divination is what I do.”
“One reading is one hundred thousand dollars.”
Ross wasn’t surprised.
The fee had already been included in Kez’s file.
“Price isn’t a problem.”
He looked directly at him.
“What information do you need?”
By now, Kez had already guessed exactly whom Ross wanted him to locate.
He had no reason to refuse.
He barely knew Banner and certainly didn’t owe him any confidentiality.
Kez reached beneath the counter and brought out the card terminal.
“Payment first, please.”