Chapter 93 Command.

Chapter 93: 93 Command.

The device gave a low hum before the space above it shimmered, and a figure slowly took shape.

I recognized him from the photographs Rhea had shown me.

Delirium.

The projection depicted a tall, thin man in a long black coat that looked suspiciously similar to a lab coat. His hair hung messily around his face, while the lower half of his jaw had been replaced with machinery. One of his eyes was fitted with a circular lens, and several of his augmentations glowed with the same sickly green light.

The whole thing was strangely fitting.

"Polaris," he greeted, his projected mouth curling into a smile. "It is a pleasure to finally meet the man who has taken Rhea under his protection."

"Likewise." I kept my expression neutral.

There was no point picking a fight with him yet. If anything, I wanted him comfortable enough to keep talking.

Villains loved talking.

Give one the slightest opening and they would gladly spend the next ten minutes explaining their plans, justifying their actions, and reminding everyone within earshot how much smarter they were than everybody else.

Delirium already seemed like the type.

The coat, the glowing green machinery, the dramatic entrance—it was going to be difficult convincing me he wasn’t a villain even if he never called himself one.

"I should begin with an apology," he said. "The incident at the Campus was regrettable. I understand that you were merely protecting yourself from my creations, and I had no intention of causing such unnecessary disruption."

I gave him a small nod. "Apology accepted."

I didn’t mention what I was actually thinking. If Rhea had been there alone, she wouldn’t have had much of a chance.

"I am pleased we can put that matter behind us," Delirium said. "Because I believe there is another matter we should discuss."

I folded my arms. "Go ahead."

"I would like Rhea returned to me."

There it was.

He paused briefly before adding, "I am willing to compensate you generously. Ten million dollars."

Glacia’s posture changed beside me.

Psyren’s reaction was any better as her fist squeezed tighter. Her eyes had started glowing, and a slight breeze stirred her hair despite the stillness around us.

I wasn’t exactly thrilled either. Delirium seemed to interpret my silence as consideration.

"Of course, if that figure is insufficient, I am prepared to reconsider—"

"You’re misunderstanding something." I stopped him.

"And what would that be?"

"Rhea isn’t mine to sell." I took a step forward. "Neither is she yours to keep."

His smile remained. "Then perhaps you misunderstood my intention. I am not attempting to purchase a possession. I am offering Rhea a better future."

"By kidnapping her?"

"By taking her somewhere she can actually reach her potential."

His confidence was almost impressive.

"Rhea is exceptionally gifted," he continued. "Yet she has chosen to waste that gift working alongside someone who possesses neither the knowledge nor the ambition necessary to cultivate it."

"You’ve known me for about five minutes."

"I have known enough." The projection leaned slightly forward. "You have talent, Polaris, but your position within the villain community is hardly remarkable. Your abilities may be useful, but they do not place you among the greats. Rhea deserves better than spending her time compensating for your shortcomings."

He said my real name. "Miles."

That caught my attention. So he knew. Needed to have a conversation with whoever was sharing my name like Groupon.

I kept my face still but Delirium noticed anyway. "Oh, yes. I know who you are."

"I’m guessing that wasn’t cheap information."

"Not remotely." He sounded almost amused. "I acquired what I needed from our mutual acquaintance, Arman. He provided quite a fascinating amount of information. It was an expensive purchase, admittedly, especially for someone whose primary claim to fame appears to be getting beaten by superheroes."

I smiled. "I’m touched you did your homework."

"I always do." His attention shifted toward Rhea’s direction. "Which is why I know exactly how valuable she is."

There was genuine admiration in his voice now, which somehow made it worse.

"I don’t intend to insult her by suggesting she is more intelligent than I am. That would be ridiculous. But she possesses an extraordinary mind, and extraordinary minds require the proper environment. With my resources, she could accomplish things you haven’t even imagined."

"And you think I’m incapable of giving her that?"

"I know you are." The answer came without hesitation. I stared at his projection for a moment. "But perhaps I have been approaching this incorrectly."

He raised one hand.

"Return Rhea to me, and I will make certain your relationship with my laboratory remains profitable. Equipment, technology, specialized materials—you will receive substantial discounts on anything you require."

He paused. "And if your attachment to her is more personal than professional, I can solve that problem as well."

My expression slowly hardened. Delirium continued.

"I could construct a biological replica. An artificial body modeled after Rhea, complete with the appropriate physical characteristics. It would satisfy whatever... urges may be influencing your judgment."

The ship became very quiet.

"Jealousy," he added casually, "has no place in the dealings of intelligent men."

I’d met plenty of horrible people.

I’d dealt with villains who had no morals, corporations that treated human lives like numbers, corrupt heroes who hid behind their reputations, and politicians who could justify almost anything if the price was right.

But Delirium was different. There was something uniquely rotten about him.

For the first time since his projection appeared, I stopped trying to remain amused.

The metal beneath my feet began to tremble.

A low groan passed through the ship as my magnetic field spread through its frame. Bolts rattled. Metal panels vibrated.

Delirium’s projection flickered.

His body stretched sideways for a fraction of a second before snapping back into place, the device struggling to maintain the image through the interference.

His smile disappeared.

I took a slow breath. "You’re obviously intelligent, Delirium."

The projection steadied. "You’ve figured out how to transmit your consciousness through a device and project yourself into places you aren’t physically present. That’s impressive."

I took a step toward him. "But being intelligent doesn’t mean you’re always right."

His expression remained unreadable.

"You’re not getting Rhea." I let the words settle before continuing. "You don’t send people after her. You don’t try to buy her. You don’t threaten her. You don’t come near her again."

The magnetic field around me intensified. "Leave her alone, and we have no problem."

"And if I refuse?" he asked genuinely.

"Then I’ll become your problem."

For several seconds, Delirium said nothing. His expression gradually hardened. "You truly are making a foolish decision."

"Probably." I shrugged. "But something tells me you’re vegan. So I just don’t like you."

"I offered you money. Resources. Cooperation. Even solutions to your more... personal concerns."

"You offered me a person." I corrected.

"A person who belongs beside me."

"No." The single word seemed to anger him more than anything else I’d said.

His projected eyes narrowed. "Then there is nothing more to discuss."

"Looks that way."

He turned his back with a flair of his lab coat. "You have mistaken my patience for weakness, Polaris."

"And you’ve mistaken my patience for fear." The projection flickered once more. Delirium’s voice lost whatever friendliness remained in it. "You have made yourself an enemy you cannot afford."

"Get in line. You’re not the first."

His expression twisted into a cold smile. "Very well. I had hoped we could reach an amicable arrangement, but clearly you are incapable of understanding reason."

He turned his head toward the quiet minion. "Flabbius."

"Yes, master?"

Delirium looked back at me. "Kill him."

Flabbius cracked his knuckles. "As you command."