Inconceivable Ch. 29 (Invincible AU) (Patreon)

(Every character depicted in the story below is a consenting legal adult over the age of 18)

A/N: War Woman’s perspective…

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“What did you say this was called again?”

“Beef Wellington.”

“Hm… it is delicious. You were incorrect when you said you could introduce me to something even better than ‘Korean BBQ’, but it is amazing in its own way.”

Holly Haven watches as their planet’s latest superpowered visitor finishes off the rest of his plate before narrowing his eyes.

“… My only complaint is that there is not more of it.”

“That won’t be a problem. I already ordered us multiple servings.”

In fact, just as those words are passing her lips, the door to their private dining room slides open and the next course is brought in. Argan’s eyes light up even though he tries to hide it, and he’s soon digging in with renewed gusto. Holly watches him quietly even as she eats with a little less speed… though even she does not go slowly.

She was nothing if not adaptable. When word first reached her and The Immortal’s ears about the arrival of more of Omni-Man’s people, Holly had initially been just as worried as Cecil was. So had The Immortal. Neither of them were foolish… they recognized full well that Omni-Man, or rather Nolan, had secrets. He had always kept himself apart from them, refusing to join the Guardians and only helping out when he deigned it necessary.

For all that he had saved their lives numerous times, Holly had never fully trusted him. He kept them at arm’s length… it only made sense to do the same in return. So yes, the idea of more of his species coming to settle on Earth had been… alarming.

And then she’d seen them fight off the Third Flaxan Invasion. The Flaxans and their Power Armor had truthfully been more than a match for the Guardians, especially with the loss of Red Rush, Darkwing, and Martian Man. For a brief time, things had looked dire and Holly had wondered if they would get out of it alive.

Argan and his people had saved them, pulling their asses out of the fire. For that Holly could feel gratitude without being too trusting, but she also wanted to know what they wanted. Luckily, Cecil had allowed her and The Immortal to stand in on the negotiations that had proceeded.

Holly didn’t think Argan had told the full truth… but he’d told the truth about the things that mattered. The Viltrumite Expedition had come to Earth in order to breed with its people. And so long as they were willing to work with the GDA to do so consensually, Holly didn’t have a problem with that. In fact, she saw it as an opportunity. The man currently sitting across from her… was an opportunity.

Argan cleans up rather nicely. He had been a little confused when Holly had explained the place they were going to had a bit of a dress code but luckily getting him the proper attire hadn’t taken too long with the GDA’s help. Even now he looked quite good in his suit, the material straining against his muscular, toned body.

He also was greatly enjoying this dinner, something Holly was pleased with… hopefully it would make him more amenable to what she wanted to talk about next.

“As I said before, I think you have an interesting perspective. I’d love to pick your brain, Argan.”

Pausing in his eating, Argan furrows his brow and gives her a confused look. She realizes he probably hasn’t heard that particular idiom yet.

“Apologies, it’s just an expression. I meant I wish to explain some things to you so that I might hear your thoughts.”

When he nods in understanding, Holly continues on.

“I suppose you don’t know anything about me in my civilian identity. As War Woman, you have seen me fight… but this is your first interaction with Holly Haven, CEO of Haven Industries.”

Argan slowly nods.

“Yes. I have been meaning to ask why you have put those spectacles on your face. I understand some humans need them because of deficient eyesight… but I can tell that you do not.”

Holly blinks, resisting the urge to reach up and touch her glasses for a moment.

“Ah… well spotted. Yes, these are… part of my disguise, I suppose. A way in which I separate my civilian life from my life as a Guardian of the Globe. It keeps strangers from connecting Holly Haven to War Woman.”

Grunting, Argan shakes his head, clearly not understanding.

“Why would this matter?”

She could try and explain the concept of secret identities and keeping one’s life as a superhero separate from one’s life as a civilian, but Holly can immediately tell they would get bogged down in such a conversation. Someone like Argan has never needed to hide in his life, obviously. He’s never had reason to.

Rather than try to explain the concept, Holly segues into the reasons behind the concept… especially since those reasons are precisely why she asked him to dinner in the first place.

“There are things I can do as War Woman… and things I can do as Holly Haven. These things do not always overlap. Tell me, do you know what a CEO is?”

Argan pauses, staring off into the distance for a moment.

“… I believe it has been mentioned to me, yes. One of the GDA’s lessons was on the strange labyrinthian style of leadership your world has. Rather than just one leader with others operating below him, you have dozens of leaders constantly vying for supremacy. And not just that, you also have different types of leadership depending on what is being talked about. CEOs… fall under the economic type of leadership, no?”

Holly smiles and nods.

“Indeed we do. I suppose your Empire doesn’t have any concept of capitalism, does it?”

Argan scoffs.

“We do not. As it has been explained to me, the entire system by which your world seems to operate is hilariously backwards. Exchanging worthless coins and paper, or in some cases digital made-up numbers for goods and services… it is ridiculous. You apply value to this currency, but it is paradoxical. How can something that has no value suddenly have value solely because you deem it so?”

Pausing at her silence, Argan tilts his head to the side.

“Hm. Have I offended?”

Holly smirks.

“No, Argan. Rather, I was enjoying hearing an outsider’s perspective on things. Especially seeing as I agree with you. The way humanity does things on Earth in the twenty-first century is… depressingly backwards. We have so much technology, so many ways to help people… and yet, we waste it all squabbling amongst ourselves for, as you put them, ‘made-up numbers’.”

It was a constant source of frustration for Holly. Ever since she’d awoken in this age, she had done everything in her power to try and help this world. First as War Woman, and then when she realized that wasn’t enough, she’d invented the Holly Haven identity and began working at it from that angle as well.

Unfortunately, as a recent argument she’d had with Connie had shown her, Holly was fighting against a monolith of human greed and selfishness that at times felt… impossible to overcome. No matter how powerful she was.

And to think, she had honestly believed at one point that she was attracted to Connie. They’d even had multiple dinners like this and Holly had entrusted the other woman with her secret identity as War Woman. It wasn’t until she’d heard her CFO talking so joyously about what Holly considered one of her greatest recent failures that she’d finally realized they were simply… incompatible.

Seeing Argan looking at her curiously now, Holly pulls herself out of her thoughts and explains.

“My company, Haven Industries, is an extremely successful business. We develop software for a variety of excellent causes such as hospital systems, disaster relief, and early warning alarms. It has always been my goal to use human technology to push the envelope on what we can do for people and how we can help save the most human lives possible.”

“… I see. That sounds quite worthy indeed.”

Holly scoffs a little at his somewhat diplomatic answer. It’s obvious he wants something from her and is being ‘nice’. It’s also obvious what he wants from her… not that Holly minds. Argan is not the first man to desire her body for his own purposes. However, he might just be the first man to earn it.

“Recently, my company released Havenstorm 4.0. It’s a brand new Operating System that will make things so much easier for thousands of organizations around the world. Its so versatile that it can be used for anything from the most menial to the most important of tasks. I’m quite proud of it, considering it has the potential to help push the human race further than it's ever gone before."

The alien sitting across from her is smart enough to recognize when the other shoe is about to drop so he just sits quietly and lets her finish her explanation. Sighing, Holly sits back in her chair.

“… Unfortunately, it’s not free. I wanted it to be free. It was supposed to be free. I ran the numbers; I did all of the work I needed to in order to make it make plenty of sense even in this stupid economic system I find myself shackled to. And yet… at the last possible second, I found myself overridden. The Board decided to put a price tag on Havenstorm 4.0 anyways, and because of my contract I can’t even raise a fuss about it. Nobody outside of my company knows that it was even supposed to be free and so they’re all happily paying out the nose for a product that has already paid for itself. And would continue to pay for itself a thousand times over given all of the amazing things it is capable of doing for humanity!”

She’s leaning forward again, breathing heavily and practically shouting by the end there. Only after she’s done does Holly get somewhat embarrassed by her ranting. Clearly she needed to talk to somebody about this, but Connie was the person she would normally confide in. Only, Connie had been the one to go behind her back and call a meeting of the Board to discuss the ‘obvious profit’ they were ‘just leaving on the table’.

Connie had betrayed her. Clearly Holly still wasn’t over it.

“… I don’t understand. What is this ‘Board’ you speak of? Are you not an economic leader? How were they able to force you to do anything you did not want to do?”

 Holly pauses for a moment… and then lets out a little chuckle. She immediately apologizes for doing so.

“S-Sorry… I’m not laughing at you, I promise. Rather… you’re right. It’s a travesty that they were able to go over my head like this. As you mentioned previously, humanity’s systems are… labyrinthian in nature. The bigger something grows, the more complex it winds up being. I started Haven Industries in order to make the world a better place, but we grew too quickly and I needed to rely on people who do not share my values. Now I find myself beholden to them.”

Frowning deeply, Argan shakes his head.

“That is wrong. Especially as you are much stronger than they are. You should simply tell them how things will be and make them fall in line.”

That… Holly tries not to let her surprise show at Argan’s words. Because that certainly felt a bit like he was pulling back the curtain there. Had he just gone mask off without even realizing it? Then again, he and his people could have conquered the Earth in a day given how many of them there were and their general power levels. She and The Immortal wouldn’t have been enough to stop them.

So on the one hand, he was respecting Earth’s sovereignty… on the other hand, he was advocating for what sounded like ‘might makes right’. Tyranny.

The funny thing is, some days Holly almost wished she could do what he was suggesting. Alas… no.

“It’s not that simple I’m afraid. But there are other ways of getting what I want all the same. And I believe you and I can help each other, Argan.”

The alien man looks taken aback by this. He furrows his brow again, frowning.

“In what way, exactly?”

Holly smirks.

“Haven Industries has slipped my grasp. I think it’s time for me to divest myself of the company and move on. I can start over and build something that I won’t let be taken over by greed and corruption this time around. Something that will be focused on helping people and making this world a better place. I hope that is something you and your expedition are interested in… making Earth a better place.”

Eyes sharp and focused, Argan nods.

“It is, yes.”

“Good. Only, you and your people are heavily reliant on the Global Defense Agency right now. Would it not be better if you could be… self-sufficient? That is where I think we might be able to help each other. My new business venture… while I fully believe I could get it off the ground and in a position to rival my old company as well as any other competition, it would take years to do so. However, if I had access to Viltrumite Technology and the knowledge you’ve brought with you from across the stars…”

She trails off, her meaning clear enough, or so she thought. Argan though… he looks at her like he’s only just seeing her for the first time.

“You seek to make a separate deal with us from the one we have with the GDA?”

His tone is eerily emotionless and Holly finds herself stiffening up a little bit and huffing.

“… Do you not want the same thing from me, Argan? A separate ‘deal’ between the two of us, completely removed from anything involving the GDA?”

She arches a brow at him.

“I am not a fool. I know you have been… considering me.”

She wasn’t opposed to it, obviously. She wouldn’t be here right now trying to make this deal work if she was. But at the same time, Holly wasn’t just looking for a lover. She wanted to save the world. And she would do anything to make it happen.

That said, Argan’s silence lasts long enough to make her a bit uncomfortable. She’s bared her soul to him along with implying that she would give him her body as well and he’s just sitting there quietly.

Abruptly, Holly stands up.

“I will give you some time to consider my proposal. You are correct that I allowed myself to be taken advantage of by those beneath me. One way or another, I will be breaking away and starting anew. It is only a question of whether you will help me or not.”

With that, she nods brusquely and walks away. He does not stop her and Holly makes sure to pay their bill before powerwalking out of the restaurant. She transforms into War Woman as soon as she has a moment of privacy, flying upwards while hoisting her mace aloft.

She really needs to smash something right now.

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A/N: Holly out here being something of an unreliable narrator. Back to Argan’s POV next chapter~

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Google Doc Link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BFbTFy5Tkw198lW1FonJzyyZ29lx1hUnjbN6bGfycH8/edit?tab=t.0