“Hello, Son!”

I was in the middle of cooking for my hopeful adventure tonight when I received the call from Soldier Boy.

"If this is really you then you have some nerve calling me." I said annoyed.

No pathetic scared meandering from me.

"The situation's changed. I thought we should have a conversation."

"Did it?" I asked rhetorically. "Are you ready to surrender? You know you got lucky that little shit teleported me away."

He responded with his little trip down memory lane of how he beat his meat into a cup. "Turns out Vogelbaum made a kid, born spring 1981. A boy." He said. "You know what the bitch of it is, if they had just kept me around, I would have let you take the spot light. What father wouldn't want that for his son?" he finished.

Now I knew this was coming so I was prepared for it but Homelander's stupid feelings still bubbled up within me like a sledgehammer and I felt my eyes tear up.

Fuck you Echo, not this time. I pushed all that shit right back down where it came.

"Is that so?" I said slowly. "If it's true that does change things. Why don't you come by the tower tomorrow evening, let's say after 8. On the west side there will be an emergency stairwell door left unlocked, away from the cameras." I finished firmly.

"Oh, and do bring that cunt William Butcher with you. I have a surprise for him."

I finished and ended the conversation.

A big risk I was taking but hey, YOLO, well in my case it's twice.

Besides a hero needs a big final battle.

-

It was a quarter to midnight when Victoria showed up to the penthouse.

She was greeted by low lighting accentuated by the barely audible thumping of the Lo-fi jazz and hip hop mixture and a set dining table.

"I hope you're hungry. I've made risotto and pecan salmon."

"It's a little late for dinner isn't it?" she asked looking around. The ambiance was throwing her off. "I didn't know you could cook."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "Everyone can cook. You just have to follow the instructions. It's not that hard. Please have a seat we have a lot to discuss."

As she sat down I couldn't help but take her appearance in. She had changed from the business like pants suit into a dark blue evening dress adorned by little colorful butterflies that hanged on her in just the right way to accentuate her curves.

"You said you had a proposal?" she said jumping into business right away.

I took the wine bottle off the table and poured some into our glasses.

"Business right away no patience. And here I cooked a nice meal as a peace offering." I said with my best sincere smile.

She didn't look impressed or fazed by it.

"Cut the crap." She said firmly. "You think I'll fall for this romantic bullshit like one of your groupies? Tell me what you want already."

I sighed, took a giant gulp of wine and leaned back in my chair.

"Fine, you want backing for your political aspiration I'll give you Vought, the Seven and my full support. Education, transportation, environment hell even reasonable gun control, we'll back you up, financially, reputationally, whatever you need. We'll turn you into the president of the United States, the most powerful woman in the world." I paused for her to absorb what I just said.

"We support you, I support you and in return you and the US government will support me and my ventures. What I plan for the new direction of Vought will require substantial funding, hundreds of billions, the backing of an entire nation." I said with a cold smile.

She looked confused and concerned. "What the hell are you planning?"

"Oh, don't worry, it's something quite neutral when it comes to the political area. It won't step on anyone's toes. You see I'm taking Vought into space."

She just blinked at me.

"What?"

"Space, you know the big empty and dark thing that's all around our planet?" I said as if she was dumb and I could see that she was annoyed immediately.

"Yes, I know what space is. What do you mean Vought is going into space?"

"It's exactly that. Vought is entering the space race. Space X, Blue Space and a bunch of other companies are already doing good work in that area. Vought seeks to surpass them and to do that we'll need funding, lots and lots of funding." I said and took another swing of the wine.

She just looked at me trying to take in what I was saying. "You're insane." I smiled.

"So I'm told."

She just shook her head in disbelief.