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"Harry Osborn...as in the son of Norman Osborn?" Rio clarified her frown deepening as she realized she was staring at the nepo baby to end all nepobabies.
"Yes, that is my father," Harry answered, trying to put Rio at ease, "And I get why you would be less than pleased to have me running a muck in your place of work but I assure you that I am here to help and I'm not just saying that."
"Alright then, you can help me by telling me what's going on in my waiting room," Rio scoffed, her voice not easing in the slightest as she crossed her arms and glared at Harry who for his part didn't back down from a glare that would make grown men stutter over themselves, "These, are the new doctors and nurses of Mercy Hospital, supplied through Ascend Agencies', Medical Uplifting Initiative."
Harry said the line like he had rehearsed it a hundred times in his bedroom mirror. Shaking her head, Rio tried to piece together the slew of corporate bullshit that had just come out of Harry's mouth, "I'm sorry, what is Ascend, and what is this Initiative about?"
"Ascend Agencies is a BioMedical company that's interested in perfecting the human form and increasing the quality of life for all," Harry explained, his optimistic smile still in place, "And the Medical Uplifting Initative, is a program we've started to partner with public healthcare provides such as Mercy Hopsital to offer support in the form of recruitment, funding, access to cheaper medicines drugs and treatments options, as well as increased health coverage for your patients."
While everything Harry said sounded wonderful on the surface, Rio's expectations of life as a widowed single mother had been tempered down to almost nonexistence: "And you're going to give all of these wonderful benefits for free?"
"Well, not for free, investors still need to see some level of return, but I assure you that we're not nearly as predatory as most pharmaceutical companies," Harry clarified as he held out his hand, and what could only be his assistant neatly dropped off a leather binder that Rio realized had her name attached to the front, "Here this is your newly issued employee contract, feel free to review it whever you want."
Rio accepted the binder with a roll of her eyes and a great tired sigh as she flipped to the first page and scanned the document over, only for her eyes to turn into saucers as she saw the line dictating her new salary.
"What, what is it?" Anita asked as she tried to peer over Rio's shoulder.
Shutting the binder with a clap, Rio glared at Harry, "Either you misplaced the decimal point, or you think I can be bought. In both cases, you've made a serious mistake. I'm not gonna just roll over and let you do whatever you want and cook up some scheme that will ruin the lives of ordinary people."
"I assure you I haven't made a mistake, and I don't intend to scam people," Harry replied, and for a moment, the optimistic, everything is going to be fine, smile slipped from his face, "I know it sounds too good to be true, I just hope you stick around long enough to see the results."
"You want me specifically to stick around, why?" Rio asked suspiciously as she looked Harry up and down, "How did you even know my name to begin with?"
"My people ran background checks on everyone employed in this hospital. The summary I read on your file was that you were grossly overqualified and used to work as a nurse in one of the best hospitals in Brooklyn, before you moved back here to your home district at the beginning of last year." Harry explained before a humorous smile spread across his lips, "It's also how I know that your governing board is a bunch of crooks."
Rio blinked, stunned for a moment before shaking her head clear, "Well, you're right about that second part, which is why I know there is no way they agreed to what you proposed unless you have some hidden agenda."
"You're right, there is no way they would've agreed, unless I told them my suspicions about them stealing funding and resources away from lower-income hospitals and directing them to their more profitable counterparts." Harry answered with a cheeky smile as his eyes lit up at the memory, "I advise you to expect things to change from here on out, Mrs. Morales. But at the end of the day the choice is yours."
Rio paused, not knowing what to say, and before she could make up her mind, Harry's assistant turned and tapped him on the shoulder, "Alright, it's show time, Harry, the press is out there and waiting."
Harry's shoulders stiffened, and his earlier smile returned with full force, "Alright then, that's my cue. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mrs. Morales. I hope we can talk more in the future."
Rio then watched as Harry turned around and walked towards the front doors, which he opened to reveal a sea of reporters and cameras that immediately started flashing. With the countless flashing lights, it was almost as if he was stepping through a portal into another world.
And then the doors closed, muffling all the sound and dimming down the lights thanks to the frosted-over windows.
"What the hell just happened?" Anita asked as she and Rio stared at the doors where they could see Harry's silhouette as he started his speech.
"I'm, not sure," Rio replied before she turned around, "Come on."
Anita blinked as Rio moved with a purpose. "Where are we going?"
"To do our jobs," Rio replied firmly, "I may not know what's going on, but at the end of the day there are still people that need our help and it seems like, at least for the meantime, that we might actually have the resources actually make sure everything get's the care they need."
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'I liked that nurse.'
Harry didn't react visibly besides a slight twitch in his brow, 'Like her? Since when do you like any humans?'
'I could sense she had strong maternal instincts and that resonated with an aspect of my psyche.' Nyx clarified, which only interested Harry further.
'You're psyche has aspects of maternalism? How was I not aware of this?'
'I believe something is being lost in translation, but yes, part of me does wish to care for something beyond myself. My desire to create a hive mind after being ousted from my species, my eagerness to bond with you...I am a protector at heart, and I believe that woman is as well.'
Harry tapped his foot against the floor of the car in thought, 'Should I assimilate her into the Swarm? It sounds like you would enjoy bonding with her.'
'I do not know, it is a strange circumstance, I am truly sated having bonded with you, but yet I long for more,' Nyx replied uncharacteristically unsure and confused, 'I believe that some of your natural greed and possessive tendencies are being transferred over to me. It is a strange feeling.'
Harry couldn't help but smile, 'Who would have thought that I'd be teaching an ancient alien something new. But then I guess it's decided, I'll assimilate Rio into the Swarm. She would be a good fit for the Children of Genesis, wouldn't she? Perhaps the first Holy Mother?'
'You never stop scheming, do you?'
'Why would I when it's so much fun, I'm gonna miss these years of sneaking around and pulling the wool over everyone's eyes. It's going to be a touch harder when I start conquering other planets and entire galaxies, though hopefully I'll come across a few cosmic-level entities that I can fight.'
'You seem very certain that you'll reach cosmic level by the time you're ready to take over Earth...Normally, I would be one to disagree or temper your expectations, but this planet seems to be a nexus of various energies. You managing to awaken a divine spark so easily is proof, even with your mutant powers and us bonding.'
'Maybe we're reaching a convergence, there seems to be a lot of parties moving in the background preparing for something,' Harry agreed as his phone rang and he reached into his suit pocket to find that it was Silvija, 'Speak of a convergence.'
Answering the phone, Harry held it up to his ear, "Silvija, are you calling me to deliver the good news?"
"Yes, everyone on the list has been contacted, though I don't know if they'll agree to show up." The mercenary replied, "Are you positive this is a good idea? If this gets out..."
"We said we were going to work with vigilantes, and that's what we're doing," Harry replied confidently, "And Silvija."
"Yes?"
"Do you still regret it?" Harry asked with a grin and laughed when Silvija hung up the phone without another word.