"Yeah, nothing to worry about. How about you? You're making more waves than I was, I want in."

Giggle.

"You can definitely get in on this more once you're out of the Wards, I'm trying to stay apolitical right now. It's why I'm based in Dubai instead of Europe or North America. I can tell you about all of the gossip, though, and will happily set up your grand entrance on the world stage."

"Ooh, a grand entrance! That sounds fun. And what about your other plan?"

"I am gathering necessary funds so I don't make a mess of things, and people that can help with managing it all, because quite frankly I should not be in charge of that much stuff on my own. I also want to become enough of a presence on the world stage first that people don't completely freak out. Plus, I want some kind of plausible deniability, so I'm going to see if I can get one of them to start it. Again, to prevent people from completely freaking out about an unknown parahuman suddenly conquering a continent."

"What would plausible deniability even look like here?"

"I get attacked by one of the warlords, or someone there actively asks me to help. As opposed to, uh. Walking in and conquering it all because I can. There is a difference to politics in self defense or helping out the little guy versus actively conquering things for power. If I'm going to head a new parahuman organization I need to keep in mind PR, even if I don't want to get enslaved by it."

"Yeah, makes sense. Good luck not getting enslaved by PR, I know an organization or two that failed at that."

Snort. "Thanks. I'll try my best. Nice balance between bloodthirsty conqueror and spineless PR slave, that's me."

"Well, I still have one year to clear my name for good, by the end of it you'll have taken over the world and then what will be left for me?"

Her phone helpfully informs her she's getting another call.

"Helping to save it, of course."

Does her phone helpfully inform her who's calling?

"Oh so you don't expect to have saved it by then?"

Nope, hidden number. But it's probably the Protectorate.

"Nah, it's a pretty big world, I can't save it alone. Speaking of, one moment, I've got another call, it might not be social."

She puts Glam on hold, then answers the second line.

"Behemoth."

"Damn. Which city?"

"None yet, he hasn't surfaced, he's just left his resting spot."

"All right. Do you want me in Houston immediately, or do you want me helping to consolidate backup for easy transportation if Plan A doesn't work? Since we don't actually have a crack at him yet." She's leaning second one, personally, but these are not her shots to call.

"The latter. I'll text you the coordinates as soon as I have them, Eidolon will be there."

"All right. Anything else?"

"No. Good luck."

"Thanks, you too. Hope we don't need it. Bye."

He hangs up.

Morgan switches back to Glam.

"Hey," she says, subdued. "Yep, that was not a social call. I've got to go."

"Oh okay good luck with whatever."

"Thanks. Talk to you later."

Click.