What's Next On The Morning Agenda?

"What have you found out about those that attacked last night?"

Aaron took a seat in the comfortable chair in front of his personal computer and listened carefully as Gog explained her findings.

While Aaron was having his injuries repaired last night he had instructed Gog to access his memory and run the faces of the people that attacked him on the way back from Stark International against every personal and private database across the globe that he could gain access to.

Gog informed him that it would probably take quite a while unless they got lucky but that she should have something by morning.

"About that Father...," Gog paused, hesitant to continue but did after several seconds., "... Each of the Men and Women that attacked you and Ms. Hoffer are dead."

Aaron's response to that statement seems almost too obvious doesn't it? But before he could make some sort of smartass remark like "Of course they're dead I killed them" the DoD (Date of Death) on the various files assembled on the screen in front of him caught his eye. They had all apparently been part of the same military **** squad and what's more they all seem to have been listed as having died on the same day more than a decade ago.

"They apparently belong to The Ten Rings, a Middle Eastern Terrorist Organization ruled over by a mysterious figure known only as "The Mandarin" but I have been unable to gather much in the way of reliable information about this person or their base of operations. I'm Sorry Father."

"That's okay Gog keep searching and let me know if you find anything concrete."

"Very Well Father.," Chirped Gog.

"Do you think they were after me?"

"It seems unlikely Father... The highest probability given the currently known variables is that they were after Vivyan Sinclair who as the current head of Omen Enterprises has made many enemies throughout The World but because she loaned both her car and driver to you they mistook you for her since it would have taken an extremely powerful scanning device to penetrate the car's privacy screens so it is likely that they targeted her vehicle thinking she was in it and as a result you were inadvertently targeted."

"I see.," Aaron commented with a sigh.

Aaron leaned back in his chair in deep thought, not realizing he had switched to The Link to speak to Gog., "I Have Been Careless... I've Gotten Too Comfortable and I Am Displeased By My Lack of Forethought In This Matter Please Begin Work On Offensive and Defensive Upgrades For Our Satellites... I Don't Just Want Eyes But Swords and Shields If It Becomes Necessary In The Future."

"I Have Anticipated Your Thoughts and Plans For Improvements Are Already In Progress, Father.," Gog chirped happily through her and Aaron's shared link.

Aaron smiled, pleased with the A.I.'s initiative but then again he expected nothing less after all she knew as well as he did what was at stake and he was in no hurry to put any of the contingencies he had in place into play in case anything happened to him.

"Is there anything else?," Asked Aaron after a short pause.

"As usual the large corporations are clamoring for Apex's newest technology before the official release.," Gog stated with a cute smugness.

Aaron's smile widened., "What's the biggest interest?"

"Agri-Chem, Superior Agriculture, and Interchem are all interested in your Gene-Slicing Technique to improve the limited crop base..."

Aaron watched with interest as a list of companies began streaming across the screen.

"... Bio-Polymer Technologies, Ziodex Industries, Bio-Synth Inc, Zydex Polymer Laboratories, and Metadyne Pharmaceuticals are all requesting a meeting to discuss your exclusive manufacturing process for the new light-weight super-plastic that will eventually replace steel and titanium. Spectra Motors is chomping at the bit to put your new engine design into mass production. Arden Chemical, Industrial Synthetics LTD, and Rentech are in a bidding war over your improved chemical neutralizer..."

Aaron's previously pleased expression faltered slightly at the mention of his formula to break down industrial chemical waste into harmless easy to deal with by-products. Early in the development process there had been some unexpected setbacks with one of the earlier iterations of the formula which he had been developing at Omen and thanks to a miscommunication people had been hurt and Aaron had been inconsolable for months. Lives had been ruined and it was because of him. He did what he could to repair the damage he caused but even in an age of wealth and technological marvels there were some things even someone like Aaron couldn't undo once they were done and he agonized over it every day.

"... Starrware Industries and Strand Cybertech are very interested in the plans for your Star Well Particle Fountain..."

Aaron frowned again., "I'm Trying To Help The World and All The Corporations Care About Is Monopolizing The Next Big Energy Technology... How Disgustingly Human."

"Anyone Else?," Aaron asked with a hint of irritation in his voice.

"Biotronic Consulting, Cortical Systematics, Delton Micronics, and Ultratech are all very interested in your new Micro-Circuit Technology. Global Genetics, Hammer Multinational, and Powers Technology are all looking to purchase the exclusive rights to your Genome-Sequencing Technology and the patents for the vaccines you've already developed."

And with that whatever good mood Aaron had was now gone.

"Ultratech Is A Rival and Sometimes Ally To Omen So Working With Them Could Get Sticky. Hammer Multinational Is All Show and No Substance...," Thought Aaron as he considered each Corporation individually., "... Ugh, Powers Technology Is Definitely Out of The Question. Powers Tech Is A Subsidiary of Wayne-Powers. I Don't Need That Kind of Attention."

"We've been over this before Gog my vaccines are not for sale nor are the rights to them. They'll be made available to those who need them or to no one at all."

"But Father, The money you could make selling just one of those patents is Astronom..."

"Insignificant.," Aaron cut Gog off., "That's what it is. I developed those vaccines and treatments to help people not **** them to sell their souls so they can live a little longer besides I've made more in investments since I woke up than any of those companies would be willing to pay for any of my patents...," Aaron paused briefly then asked., "... What's the total so far?"

"36,483,754,075 Union Credits.," Reported Gog Happily.

"Hmm.," Aaron said, rubbing his chin., "I guess my estimate was too conservative."

"With your plans to eventually expand your company outside of Knowhere surely more money is preferable."

Aaron's eyes glinted dangerously., "I met Derek Powers once and from that brief encounter I can tell you with certainty that Powers is as trustworthy as a Scorpion. Once he has The Vaccine Rights in hand he'll undoubtedly hold The Nations hardest hit for Ransom. I can't allow that nor can I just ignore the rumors that Powers Tech is secretly producing Bio-Weapons to sell to The HRL. I will not be a party to genocide nor will I give someone capable of it the means to carry it out. The day may come when I sell my soul but it won't be for something as transient as mere wealth."

"Yes Father.," Gog replied in a quiet voice.

"Carry on with the current investment strategy. Take 80% of our profits and use them to improve the police department, open schools, update hospitals then re-invest the remaining 20% according to my projection of future trends."

"Yes Father.," Gog replied, perking up somewhat.

"Now if there's nothing else I think I'll go for a run to loosen up."

"There is the matter of the samples you had me analyze.," Gog hurriedly spoke up.

"I need to clear my head before I deal with anymore annoying things so I'll take a run then we'll discuss it... Okay?," Aaron said leaning back in his chair and taking a deep breath.

"Actually...," Gog began hesitantly., "Father, There's something else."

Aaron could hear the dread in the normally chipper A.I.'s voice.

"What is it Gog?," Aaron asked not opening his eyes.

"Um, A challenge has been issued from The Financial District."

There was a slight pause then Aaron opened his eyes and looked up in interest., "How long has it been since I last received a challenge.," Aaron already knew but he asked anyway for confirmation.

"Two years, seven months, and 5 days."

"Is it someone new to The Financial District?," Aaron asked knowing that he had gained quite a reputation in his short time there that everyone knew him if only by word of mouth and they knew to stay away from him if they didn't want to lose everything they valued most but occasionally someone new to The District looking to make a name for themselves would send him a challenge and he would have to destroy someone's life. That's how it worked. It was all part of being a Black Card Holder.

Gog's reply was quite unexpected., "No Father it is one of the veterans...," There was a long pause then Gog resumed speaking., "... The challenge was directly addressed to "The Black Prince From The High Tower" and is scheduled for one month from now."

"Please don't call me that Gog... You know I hate that gaudy nickname."

Aaron was quite surprised that one of The District's Veterans had sent him a challenge. In his entire time there he had never lost and those that lost to him were ruined not just physically and psychologically but spiritually and emotionally. They never recovered from their defeat and were never the same again.

"Is he one of The Old Monsters from The District or is he just looking to relive his glory days?"

"Father It's... William Garraway."

"I've heard that Lord Garraway has been on quite a losing streak recently."

"That appears to be true Father. According to District Records he has lost 7 of his last 10 matches and as a result his company is in the midst of a hostile takeover, three quarters of his wealth has been seized, his wife of 34 years left him, his only Son committed suicide and his eldest Daughter was killed in a plane crash a week ago just after his last match."

"So that Old Dog is looking for one last fight before The Bank takes Everything."

"Psychological Analysis based upon available data would seem to agree with that assessment Father."

Aaron had studied Garraway's battles, They had been a big help to him when he first began battling in The Financial District especially after barely winning his first battle not long after being introduced to The Fantastical World that was The Financial District and the Man who was his Savior in his early days in The District had chosen him to be his Executioner. It was a ghastly thing but the challenge had been made and only the challenger could withdraw it so like it or not in one month's time Aaron would have to end what remained of a Man's life.

It weighed on Aaron but perhaps... given everything Lord Garraway had already lost... It would be a mercy, An end to the unending misery caused by his string of losses and the realization that he was already too broken by said losses to get what he had lost back.

That's right I said "Back" because in The 'No' Place that was The Financial District anything one lost... save the lives of the competitors themselves could be won back but Humans are notoriously fragile creatures... I mean you take away all of their wealth, their material possessions, their loved ones, their future and they fall apart. In The Financial District wealth was power and power was life, and with enough power there was no end to what one could do or achieve but one also needed to have a strong will as well because simply setting foot in The Financial District could be instantly fatal. It was a place where the strong survived and the weak were eaten. Aaron knew that all too well. He had seen hundreds of credits turn into billions in a matter of seconds only to be gone a second later.

Aaron's own Fate had begun to change the moment that Black Card had come into his hands. Sometimes he wondered if it was because of it that his recovery had been so swift since it was rather unexplainable otherwise. He had seen both The Wonders and The Horrors that The Financial District offered. Membership opened many doors as The Financial District's influence was everywhere even in the back of one's own mind just... Whispering.

But the Price of its many Privileges was higher than The Heavens and more terrible than the foulest pits of Hell, and Aaron was okay with that after all his luck only had to last until everything was ready and if something happened to him before then. Well, Let us say that arrangements had already been made and a Deal had been struck.

A Deal? With who or what you ask? Best not tell you now... Humans are also quite prone to Madness as well.