I met back up with Nex on our way back to base, she'd given Peter a pair of bracelets like I gave Gwen—as they were significant upgrades over his limited web-capacity bracelets that Tony made him, which I'm sure will piss him off.
I had three days left until I needed to go get Cap & Co outta prison, and four more until school starts again.
With my current to-do list school was going to bleed me dry, not from difficulty, but boredom. I fully planned to apply for early graduation, but I wouldn't be able to do so until the first exam's in a months time.
Until then I would be stuck in class.
So while I still had my freedom I planned to get as much done as possible, namely setting everything up so that The Force Company could begin its rapid expansion.
We decided on five wings:
Operations & Defense (headed by Sofia & me)
Intelligence & Strategy (headed by me & Sofia & Nex)
Research & Development (headed by Nex)
Medical & Rehabilitation (headed by Gabriella)
Logistics & Internal Affairs (headed by Catherine)
We obviously didn't have the bodies to fill all the roles properly—and I didn't want to fill our ranks with just anyone. Not only would Nex thoroughly dig into their past's, but they'd also have to pass a rigorous magical vibe-check.
I gave the green-light to Catherine to begin the process of recruiting people for our public facing wing, which was a small three story building to be rented out and used as our 'headquarters' in NYC proper, though our true headquarters would be Robins Island.
Which Nex had successfully acquired ownership of.
Truly, she was the best.
She even went alone to scan and catalog all the pre-existing structures on the island, forming rudimentary blueprints and plans for our true headquarters.
The next three days was a whirlwind of commotion, clearing out space, using our superhuman strength and tech to layout the groundwork for our project.
We kept everything in-house.
Developing simple construction droids/drones for all our needs.
We didn't need permits, since from the outside world the island wasn't changing—to them it was just another private mansion riddled island, but to those in the know, it was quickly shaping up to be the most advanced facility on the planet.
A massive Wakandan inspired force-field covered the island, improved with magic and Nex's designs, with another even more powerful shield around center of the island that enveloped 100 of our 450-acre space, fully isolating it from the world.
We developed a Giga-MTAR the nearly the size of a shipping container to power the whole thing—making the force-fields capable of withstanding a direct nuclear blast.
Though such a thing would tank our property value.
Our first planned building was dubbed: The Ark.
It was a sphere twenty industrial stories tall with a radius of of around 370ft, and when completed would have an internal volume of 215 million cubic meters. Which was plenty of space for 2-3 aircraft hangers, multiple dedicated division floors, and even more room the expand.
Importantly, as part of the design, the two halves of the dome could twist independently of one another, and there was a rather large crater-like divot near the top of the Ark, as if it was some kind of observatory.
I took some inspiration from a rather… faulty concept.
It'd take a couple of weeks to get the entire thing built, powered, enchanted, and filled with equipment, labs, training rooms, housing etc…
We even started converting some of the nearby land-space into farms for food and as testing beds for Bio-tech VMO research. All maintained by simple droids.
Robots are such wonderful workers, no complaints, no insurance, and importantly, no down-time.
Just had to be careful with the A.I systems I use.
I scheduled HP-1 up to fabricate things for two whole weeks. I'm talking: Satellites, The Cosmic Loom, Medical Pods, Vibranium-weave Punching bags, VR/AR components for my own Danger Room, Propulsion Systems, Robot Chefs…
The list just went on.
But sooner or later we'd need these things if we hoped to increase our forces.
Getting our first product certified was also in-process, The (patented) Nexium Gen.1 was being reviewed by the UL, FCC, and EPA — with plans for international markets later down the line. It was going to take awhile, as even after bribing a number of officials the process was still going to take a month, at least.
But it'll get there.
I also made a small number of prototype gadgets to see if I can't win Fury, and subsequently S.W.O.R.D over to my side. You might be wondering, why? Because all things considered, it's good to have allies, plus—Fury is a reliable guy when it matters and already head of an established organization. They're really just doing what I want to do, if far less effectively than I hope to.
I'm not going to layout the fullest extent of The Force Company's capabilities, that'd be dumb as fuck.
Which is why I get hoverbikes, spaceships and power-armor, and Fury gets slightly better guns, ballistic armor and maybe some Quinjet upgrades if he's playing nice.
I'm just so damn considerate.
—
Speaking of, I had only half a day before I had to report for field work. So, with a gift in hand I opened a space door over to Kamar-Taj.
On my way to Tao study I stumbled into Dr. Strange himself — the man was looking a lot better than before, fitted in his nice looking Master robes and walking around with somehow more ego and humility at the same time.
"Ah, Mr. Thorne, how lovely of you to grace us with your presence."
I smirked, "Mr. Strange, I see you've finally caught up to me, congratulations on your Mastery of the Mystic Arts — have you decide upon a field of study?"
Strange furrowed his brows, "No, not quite — I've been… researching some rather interesting topics however—"
"--Hopefully nothing beyond the means of your understanding?" I interrupted, and the man tensed a little.
"How?"
"...Did I know you'd let your hubris override your logical mind? Listen, Strange… this is a complex world, we both witnessed that rather viscerally. But there are truly some things that require a more… careful approach so to speak."
I drew my hand through the air, using my Force energies to conjure a translucent image of a stereotypical big bad demon looking guy.
"You understand the concepts of Dimensional Lords yes?"
Strange nodded, muttering under his breath. "I'm being lectured by a teenager."
I chuckled, "A teenager who became a Master of the Mystic Arts before you, but I digress. Dimensional Lords are quite like you and me, except, they operate on moral values utterly foreign to our own—generally stopping at nothing to achieve their goals, especially so since they have the power to do so. They're restrained by the laws of the universe, much like ourselves, yet even then they attempt to shatter the veil that protects Earth—souls are, as you'd imagine, quite delicious. And Dimensional Lords, as a whole, with a few exceptions, see us petty mortals as nothing more than substanace, fuel for their operations.
Have you been admonished by Mordo yet?"
Strange scoffed, "Who hasn't?"
"Me?" I said, then waved my hand. "The point is, you will not know everything. Yet we're are curious creatures, the unknown scares us—so we seek to understand it, to free ourselves from the fear of what could be. As fellow disciples, it is partially my duty to let you know when you're treading on dangerous soil, Strange. I know we haven't been all that social with one another, but I want you to know that I care for Tao like a mother—weird, I know."
Strange smirked, "That is weird."
I cleared my throat, finding the admission a little uncomfortable. "Yeah, well, I never had the opportunity to care for my own." In this life or the last.
Strange tensed, dropping his head slightly. "I understand. So what are you trying to say? Halt my studies and curiosity?"
I shook my head, "No man. Not at all, we're the same in this regard—I just want you to know that you're not alone you fucking anti-social dunce, which is rich coming from me of all people."
Strange looked taken aback for a moment, his face going through a number of thoughts in the blink of an eye, settling on a wry smile.
"I… see, a little harsh, but then again who gives a damn, all this…" He waved a shaky hand, gesturing to Kamar-Taj as a whole, "...Monk business is rather isolating, so I see your point. You got a phone?"
"I'm a sorcerer Strange, not a hermit — here." I threw him my phone, his eyes widening a little at the high-tech piece of technology.
"Huh, maybe I have been cooped up for too long—who made this? Stark?"
I let out an offended scoff, "That old dinosaur, as if—this is a product of my own company."
Strange gave me a raised brow, handing me back the phone with his contact info newly added. I sent him a text so he also had my number, smirking at his follow up question.
"You have a company? Aren't you like, what, 17?"
"Just a small tech operation, nothing too serious — actually, now that I think about it, if you ever want to try and get back into the medical game, or just get an itch for it, you should pay us a visit. We're planning to step into the Bio-tech world sooner or later."
Strange gave me a smug smile, "You and what Medical Degree?"
I sighed, "You fool. Strange, have you ever wondered what benefits we could bring to the world with the capabilities of the Mystic Arts fused with technology?"
For a moment he was going to give me a smug reply, confident in his old field of study, yet he stopped himself. His smile dropping into a serious line.
"...no, I haven't. That is… huh. The Mystic Arts and technology you say? The fusion of the two could provided unprecedented strides in all things medical, even indirectly—Thorne, you little bastaard, you got me interested."
I laughed, "Well let me know whenever you want to get your hands dirty again, I could use an MD for a few projects—my current staff is on the way to one, but that's going to take some time."
Strange grinned, "Using me for my doctorate I see, well, as long as you pay me doctor rates I might be willing."
It was my turn to grin, "I like the way you think, tell me, do you like cars?"
—
After my conversation with Strange I found Tao lounging on her red velvet couch, head lolled back with tired closed eyes.
She didn't even acknowledge my presence when I sat down, and I didn't bother to make myself known either.
So I copied her, laying into the couch and lolling my head back over the armrest.
I meditated, which admittedly, was something I hadn't done in a long time.
I let the force flow through me as my actions flittered through my mind.
There were a lot of kinds of meditation, some called for emptiness, others for focus on a single word — I found reflection a rather useful form, picking myself apart piece by piece, examining my life under the guiding hand of the Force.
There was so much, too much to unpack. Helping the Widows, Spider-people, creating my company, my relationship with Yelena…
Where did I stand between good & evil?
I stole quite a lot of shit.
I also helped figures that would save the world, or a neighborhood.
I've killed and healed.
Saved and let die.
I wouldn't spend my life helping out every little person, but I'd help the people who do…
Was it some fucked up form narcissistic altruism?
Even the first person I ever saved, that woman in the alley, did I save her because I wanted to?
Looking back it was the deluge of pain and suffering through the Force that ignited my action. The scent of sewage and blood, piss and rot.
But even without the Force… I believe I would've done the same.
I'd been in similar situations in my past life, not so violet and immediate, but choices that were made without thought, just instinct.
I remembered an ancient debate I'd once read as part of a higher level high-school class, a philosophy class of all things.
It was a story, a what if situation, thousands of years old surely, and I'm paraphrasing here:
But imagine you are a peasant, and for some forsaken reason you are in the town square, where the communal well is. You see a child, one you have never seen, with parents you have never spoken to, just some child.
And whether it the will of god, or sheer childlike-stupidity the young human prances over to the well—leaning over, and promptly falls in.
The argument of the whole thing—the crux—is simply your next action.
Would you immediately help? Rush over to the child and pull it from certain death?
Why would you not?
What's the cutoff on age here? Is gender relevant to your actions, would you rush to help a girl more than a young boy?
What if the child was a foreigner's child? Would you hesitate? Cultural differences—or fear over misconceptions?
What if it wasn't a child at all?
In all those cases, I found that I'd help. Even if I was hungry, cold and weak.
But would I risk my own child to save another? No.
If by some ungodly reason there were two wells, I'd save my own—then try to save the other.
If someone got in my way? A man who pushed the child? Even more, actively tried to prevent the child from rising?
Mercy, then if needed Death.
The worst part was I don't even know the child. What if the man was about to cure cancer or some shit like that?
Don't care.
Death.
All these are extremes, but it is within the extreme you find your true self. The being behind the flesh.
I'm selfish, yet willing to spare any expense if it comes to helping someone I want to.
The Force really brings this side out of me, I find. Like lighter fluid to a flame, it instills in me a rightness in my actions, guiding me along my own truths.
I certainly didn't adhere to the Jedi philosophy, and the Sith were maniacs—the grey was closest, yet even they wanted balance.
The question is, do I even give a fuck about balance?
You wanna know what kind of people care about balance?
Ya boy, Thanos.
And while I wouldn't wipe out half the universe for some misguided attempt to fix the problem of finite resources—I somehow don't doubt that I could be capable of it if presented with a cosmic well, and my own flesh and blood, hell, I'd do it for love, as cheesy and psychopathic as that sounds.
Would you?
My eyes snapped open, the smell of honied tea filling the air. My head rolled over to see Tao staring at me gently.
"You've been pulsing out waves of energy for the past hour Riven, a lot on your mind?"
I titled my head back and forth, moving into a normal hunched over sit.
"Just some reflection—figuring out where I stand between good and evil, ya know, light stuff."
Tao scoffed through her nose, "Yes, quite light, like a feather — tell me, disciple of mine, where do you find yourself between two subjective perceptions?"
"Between a rock, and a hard place."
She sighed, "Such is the way of things."
"So it goes." I agreed.
I raised a hand like presenting a plate of food, pulling my pre-prepared gift from Storage. In the blink of an eye a rather metal and rune etched plant-pot appeared in my palm. It was the size of a basketball, and practically humming with power.
"Is this a bribe?" Tao suddenly asked, almost making me choke.
I gave her a wry smile, "No… no Master, not at all, it is a gift. Don't you remember? I'm your best disciple after all? What sort of disciple would I be if I didn't present you with a gift now and then?"
She tilted her head at me, eyes lazy. "Uh huh. Give it here then."
I placed the gift, onto the coffee table, letting her examine the craftsmanship.
"You… did not make this?" She asked, frowning at the fully Vibranium made magi-tech plant pot.
"Good eye, I actually made the thing that made this."
"Most impressive. I assume it's more than a self-watering plant pot? I already have hundreds, if not thousands of those I'm afraid."
I shook my head. "Of course not! This bad boy is more than mere water-boy, it is a magical, tech-infused fertilizer, harvester, and if you want, gardener all at the same time. Not only does it nourish whatever you plant, it actively refines and draws out the most beneficial properties of said plant. It's probably the most advanced plant pot — on Earth." I finished with a proud hand over my chest.
Tao couldn't help but smile at me, waving a hand over the dark moist soil within the pot. A number of seeds falling from her fingers and sinking into the dirt.
The plant pot pulsed with purple power, runes igniting with magic. A small whirlpool of energy swirled towards the pot, converting latent universal energies into sweet plant nourishment. The Vibranium within humming as it began drenching the seeds in its mystical properties.
Within a single breath, a tiny shoots appeared—and within two-three days, the leaves would be ready to harvest.
Tao was visibly impressed a smile on her face, "This'll do, thank you Riven. Now, tell me what you came here for."
I sighed, at least the plan of putting her in a better mood was a success.
"I've started a shadow organization, The F.O.R.C.E Company, with goals aligned with Kamar-Taj, but with the intention of almost trying to make the world a better place."
Tao quirked a brow at me, glancing at the plant pot between us.
"And you're telling me this because…?"
"Well for one I want you to know, I am your disciple after all…" I took a firm breath.
"And two, I'd like to ask your permission to take disciples outside of Kamar-Taj's jurisdiction."
Tao hummed, a light hand on her chin. For over five minutes she deliberated, letting me stew across from her.
"Okay."
"Okay?" I parroted slowly.
"Yes, okay. But you must adhere to a few things. For one, you are not aloud to teach them spells from Kamar-Taj."
I furrowed my brows, it wasn't entirely ideal. "What about modified spells like my Space Door?"
"That is fine." Well, that's not too bad, I planned to modify and improve any and all spells I taught to my disciples anyways—we'd be practically unrecognizable to standard Sorcerers.
Not to mention, better dressed.
Tao continued. "Furthermore, I'd like to help you with a list of required readings, as wile I don't doubt you're planning to make use of your Dimensional energies, it is still prudent to take caution—best practices, how not to summon a demonic lord, or kill yourself via Portal splinter."
"That'd actually be quite helpful."
Tao smirked at me, "Did you think I'd stop you from doing so?"
"A little."
Tao waved her hand, "It is specifically because it is you Riven that I allow such a thing. You are, and do not let this get to your head, one of the most talented Sorcerers I have ever met, and you somehow get more talented as time passes. More than myself, and perhaps even more than my Master before me. If it wasn't for your diversified and rather, chaotic interests and life, I'd be forcing you to take my mantle, not Strange."
My mouth opened slightly, unsure of what to say.
"Thanks Master…" I muttered, rubbing the back of my head in embarrassment.
She clicked her tongue. "I already regret my words."
I chucked, "Well regret not! Because this means you can feel even better receiving my second gift—from the most talented disciple you've ever met of course." I said with dripping humility.
I presented her with a bracelet, much like the ones I gave to Gwen and Peter, just without the webbing, and a whole lot more defensive capabilities.
I'm talking skin-tight forcefields, temperature regulation, stealth modes and just in case, an emergency air cushion that could save a truck from falling from space.
"It's got a number of protective runes and other stuff, and a whole semi-hard light computer."
To my dismay she didn't thank me right away, instead standing and walking over to me, before suddenly pulling me into a hug.
I almost tensed, but caught a glimpse of her eyes. They were wet, filled with emotion, the Force thrumming with the scent of lilies and lilac, yet the gratitude was laced with a sad sourness.
She knew exactly why I gave her this.
And all I could do was return the hug.