THE MOMENT
"Thank you, Chroma," Regal nodded in respect at her, Ruby, and Minerva. Then, he walked out of her office. She did business from the top floor of her favorite hotel. The wall behind her consisted of a single, floor-to-ceiling window looking out on New York City. Her desk looked like a slab of shined metal that glowed with reflected light.
"It's only been a week," Ruby spoke up after Regal closed the door. "You're giving up on the school already?"
"I'm leaving the tedium to him," Chroma replied. "I did not gift him the school, only the job he wanted. The contract he made with Melody gives him more power than he knows; best to not give him a reason to look closer. So, what have you to report?" Chroma asked both women. Ruby and Minerva remained quiet for a moment, each waiting for the other to go first.
[Do I have to? - Mnrva] Ruby felt the question on her ankle.
"One of the Earths we acquired from Sharp Development is in the path of a rogue asteroid," Ruby said. She meant to bring it up later in the meeting, the Earth still had almost a full day before the impact. But, she did not want the silence to last for too long. Then, she answered Minerva with her own Whisper while pulling a file out of her briefcase.
[YES! - Ruby] Then, she placed a manila folder on Chroma's desk. Chroma opened the folder, then placed her palm on the silver sheet inside. A dim pulse of purple energy flowed into her hand from the metallic paper.
"I'll be back," she said. A black portal appeared over her head and moved down to swallow her whole. Ruby turned to Minerva.
"Why don't you want to tell her?" she asked. She put a hand on Minerva's shoulder. "It went okay,.. right?" Minerva nodded.
"Yeah, it went great... but kind of.. .weird."
"What's weird?" Chroma asked; she was suddenly back in her seat again. Minerva took a deep breath.
"Ruby said I could tell my boyfriend about the Chrome Court if the Green Tornados won," Minerva said. Chroma raised an eyebrow at her daughter.
"You did?" she asked. Ruby nodded.
"I didn't expect them to win either," she said with a shrug.
"Well, don't keep me waiting," Chroma turned her attention back to Minerva. "Actually, wait a moment," she said. Black dust gathered in the air in front of her mouth.
"You're Welcome," Chroma said.
[Boyfriend now? - Ruby] She sent Minerva the Whisper while Chroma addressed the other universe. She knew her mother liked to play up the Sun God angle whenever she could.
[YEESSSSS! - Mnrva]
[AFTER I told him. Mnrva]
"Chroma Corp. will safeguard your Earth from now on," Chroma said. "Expect my agents soon." Then, the black dust dissipated and she nodded at Ruby.
"Send Tim to mark a loop, and see that they're taken care of."
"Can I send someone else?" Ruby asked. Chroma tilted her head at Ruby.
"Do we not trust Tim anymore?" she asked.
"Actually, he's busy on something because I trust him. Janet has access to the school's time stream,... are we okay with that?" Ruby asked
"No, we are not," Chroma giggled and shook her head. "But, there's to be done. That was written into the contract and we cannot revoke her permissions. Very well, keep Tim on it and send another Muerte." Then, Chroma turned to Minerva. "So, tell me about your weird boyfriend," Minerva smiled and shook her head.
"I told him about your Court. London, Tim, Donna...,"
"I know who my Court are," Chroma said. "That part's boring," Minerva nodded.
"I told Ruin that all of you are as old as Ballisea... and I broke down what exactly that means...," Minerva said. The memory tugged her lips up into a smile. "..and his reaction was the last thing I expected."
"What did he say?" Ruby asked before Chroma could. Minerva's smile grew ear to ear; but, she shook her head to show confusion.
"He laughed."