NationStates Jolt Archive

Toni Vacit watched as the last of his lieutenants field out of the small conference room. He rubbed his temple, and looked at the rooms only other occupant. A figured clothed in a long, dark cloak and hood. The AI of the Myrmidons, Beowulf, well a hologram of the computer mind anyway.
The empty void of the hood moves to look at Vacit, "Will there be anything else, Director?"
"No, Beowulf, go over the data from the University and the Department of Research and Development."
"Of course," says the oldest of the Valinon AIs. "I take it you want the finalized results sent to your personal files?"
"As usual."
"I live to serve," says Beowulf in mocking tones. Vacit quirks an eyebrow as the hologram vanishes. He lays his comp-pad down and moves to slides into the chair at the end of the table.
His mind is a chaotic choral of thoughts, the reports of the strange readings from Taka, tensions on Mars, the continuingly annoying NR movement, the constant enigma of Bayushi Shoju, and finally the blood alliance forthcoming between Taka and Valinon.
Clarity he thinks to himself, Calm, yourself.
He clears his mind, and begins to stretch out with his mind. He allows his senses to wander until he realizes he is leading himself toward the Takan capital city, his mind seeming to focus to probe the puzzles that lie within. Perhaps it is time he investigated this matter personally.

Adam relaxed, or as much as his form would allow. The psychic beacon had been sent out, the call issued. . . now, he mearly had to wait to see who would answer it.

Vacit felt the pulse, he felt his body tense in response to it. It was like a lighthouse sending a flaring brilliance out to sea, drawing his mind to it with its sheer force. He reaches out with his mind, and begins to probe this new beacon source.

Flashes of images, children playing, a palace and a dying king, and thousands more, too rapid to be anything more than a primal urge or understanding flooded him. Joy, sorry, anger, remorse, rage, peace, every emotion knowable to man slammed into him, tracing the entire gamut of human existance. A lesser man would have collapsed, unable to deal with they rapid sensory input, but Vacit's years of training and experience allowed him to push through it, to force it into cohesion through the ordering of Chaos. Two images stand above the rest, a throan room, ornatly decorated but with a steel door, emenating an aura of attaction, almost as if it were drawing him to it, and a child, dressed in miniature battle armor, and soaked with blood. His white hair falls across his face, but shining, cold blue eyes stare back at him. A thought takes form into words, the child's voice echoing in Vacit's head, despite his lips not moving. "I am what you have sought, The key to eternity. I am Adam, first and last among mortals, that god made flesh."

Vacit breaks off contact, his eyes flared wide from them half-close meditative look begin to take on the cool look he shows to the outside world. He steeples his fingers and ponders for a minute.
Then he speaks into the air, "Beowulf?"
The AIs hologram image reappears standing to one side. "You rang, Director?"
"I want my personal Longshard readied."
"Done," says the AI. "Vacation?" the AI says jokingly.
"I need to personally look into some matters."
"Ah," says the AI almost blandly. "Speculative flight plan for battery load?"
"Taka," says Vacit, then leaves the AI as he stands and moves to leave.
"And inform the embassy of this as well. Official business of His Majesty's Special Liaison Service," Vacit smiles at using the Myrmidons fictionalized name on the books.

Adam would have smiled, if he had lips. The brain rested, the beacon sent out. No, he had no delusions that those who answered his call would free him. . . it was entirly too early for that, not with his plan in action already. . . now all that needed to be done was to set the trap, and for the trap, he needed bait. Distrust, he had found, was a wonderful lure. His puppet Yuugi had been collecting supplies, hoarding weapons and getting as mayn ships together as they could for the first hours of the attack, but, he must not get ahead of himself. First, to remove himself from the planet, then, to return to it a counquering God.

The seed would soon be planted, the heir of destruction, soon to be concived, and hte Prince's own flesh would spell his demise.

Agent Jerone watches as the Longshard comes to a stop. He walks quickly to greet Vacit once he has stepped onto the tarmac of the embassy's small aerospace field.
He stands rigid before Vacit, "Director."
Vacit looks the same as always. Cool and meticulous.
He speaks in his clipped accent, "I take it you have made the necessary arrangements?"
"Yes, Director, Consul Gearing cooperated once I said it was official busines of the Specials."
"As is to be expected. I will not be here long, Jerone, I will have to return to New Koln before the wedding ceremonies and celebrations begin."
"Of course, Director," Jerone walks with Vacit toward the embassy building.
There are strange things at work here, Toni, it troubles me Jerone "speaks" to his comrade.
Indeed, old friend, I have come here to investigate it. We must dispel these fears Vacit's mind's voice is a cool and clipped as his actual one.
I will await your return. The Palace Guards have been informed of your impending arrival.
Then I am off

******

Fifteen minutes later, Vacit is in a ground car headed for the Palace. A wavier from His Majesty, Consul Gearing, and Count Leopold before him.

The Takian Palace loomed before him, the massive edifice seeming to grow from the stone floors, rather than have been built. As he pulled up to the gate, a lone Takian guard ran out, and stoped the car, asking for papers. He looked over them and saluted, the gates being opened for Vacit. After he had passed through, they slid closed, leaving the towering gate of the ancient castle an ominous and fordiding backdrop.

Vacit looks over his surroundings. He breaks contact with the guard's thoughts final.
Someone takes himself far too seriouslyVacit thinks. Then he reaches out with his mind.
Where are you, you so-called god?

I am, and always will be, the power behind the throan. Come to me if you can, Vacit, but be warned, your pressence will not be tollorated.

flashes entered his mind again, large metal rooms with a grate like floor and bodys, bled dry, strapped to the grate like floor. Catwalks, swinging over massive laboratory like rooms, while seven foot tall men walked along them with all manners of weaponry. A glass tube, wiht a brain floating in the center.

Come to me Vacit. . . if you are worthy, come to meet your God. . . and should you be able. . . kill me.

Vacit begins moving toward the throne room of the Palace. He walks in a regular rythym, his jack boots echoing through the corridors as he walks. It is like an eerie parade of steady hearbeats. Vacit keeps his senses extended outward, he will not be surprised easily.
And who will my prescence not be tolerated by, would-be god? You>

just to get this above the spam BUMP

wait and see. . . wait and see

a laugh fills his mind, as his attention is drawn to a metal elevator door, a simple hand scanner baring entrance to any without the propper clearance.

Really thinks Vacit a scanner, I thought there would be something harder.
From a side pocket in his uniform tunic, the Director withdraws a flat, sleek box affair and places it over the scanner. It scans the pad itself and looks for the outlines and traces left by what users it may have been touched by. Vacit waits patiently for several minutes, until the box chirps and the elevator activates.
You must have a word with your security administrator, "god" Vacit "speaks" to the unseen telepath.

The voice mearly chuckled as the elevator rumbled upwards, the large doors sliding open to reveal a very large man. He locked eyes with Vacit, his icy blue eyes seemingly devoid of spirit, slowly took him in, and he traced a hand to a katana hangining at his side.

"you do not have proper clearance. . ." he said mechanicly, gripping the katana tightly, but not drawing it. "Please turn away"

Vacit sighs, "I have business on behlaf of His Majesty's Special Liaison Service. This is a mtter of utmost important between His Majesty, Emperor Gustav Alderman I, and High Prince Taka. Stand down, guardian, this is not your place to interfere."

"I am afraid I can not do that. . . I have my orders, no one sees Adam without Taka's personal blessing"

The statuesk man compeltly unsheathed his katana, the bluish steel tempered and streaked with lines of white crystal that seemed to glow as he held it before him.

"you will leave, or you will die" he said, matter of factly.

Vacit rolls his eyes at the man drawing the katana, "Really I had hoped that the High Prince would be capable of finding personnel at least somewhat able to marshal some mental facalties."
With that Vacit concentrates and with a quick gesture of his hand sends the guardian of this so-called god flying back against the wall of the elevator. Meanwhile a pouch opens on his belt and several objects float out. Three long spikes, two bullet shaped objects, and finally a razor tipped shard.
"You have one last chance," says Vacit solemnly still holding the man with his mind, "stand down."

"I. . . Can't. . . " he says, forcing himself to move despite Vacit's control. He raises his sword, but rather than try and attack his captor, stabs himself in the gut, cutting upwards with the blue blade. He stops struggling, his body slowyl disentergrating, leaving the blade jammed into the wall.

And the price of failure to a guardian. . . Death the voice replies he was weak, not able to even put up a fight. . . take his blade. . . you will need it before all is said and done

You enjoy dictating to others dont' you? says Vacit as he looks at the guards body. He picks up the sword, and admires it.
A little heavy more my tastes he pciks up the sheath an returns the blade to it. Then turns to the control panel an activates the elevator, starting its descent.

Only when it suits me, psyker, only when it suits me. . . I must leave you now, but no worries, we will meet again, for all roads lead to Rome

The elevator drops about 30 feet, slowing at at last below the lowest marked floor. The rythmic pounding of machines can be heard outside, and the door opens to show a long tunnel with a grated floor. Thick black masses of chord and wire run under them, and bare bulbs send harsh light up from the floor, thier shadows softned by the dim glowing sticks along the ceiling. The katana in Vacit's hand begins to hum and vibrate, soft blue light eminating from its blade at his touch, and Vacit is aware of the blade, as if he has merged with it and it has become an extention of his body. The mechanical sounds are louder down the hallway, and he can make out the mental chatter of guards in the distance. A noise draws his attention to the vetalation shaft above his head, as something scurries through it, and the sound of chiton on steel, as biting as fingernails on a chalkboard, follows behind it.

Keeping some of his senses monitoring the distant guards, Vacit focues toward the ventilation grate. Chasing with his minds eye whatever may be lingering in its depths. He also glances around at the machinery surrounding him. Then the blade comes to focus his vision. Not even realizing he had drawn it again, Vacit turns and reseaths it. He then sends it to be suspended in the air.
"If I wanted games such as that, I would have sparred with that damnable Scorpion 'lord'."

Something scurried through the piping, Vacit's mind following it, lead on by a reptillian sence of hunger and a quest for heat. It was the size of a large man, with pale yellow skin that changed as it passed over vents, the light causing its scales to change color, melding with the envioroment in a camoflauge. It was sentient, but barely, its mindset consisting mostly of obeying orders and feeding.

Vacit lets the reptile continue about its obedient mision. He now focus his attention toward the guards. He begins to move toward their mental pollution, their broadcasting of random surface thoughts.
After all he thinks Where there are guards they must be guarding something of at least a little importance.
Meanwhile he continues to look at the equipment, trying to discern more of its workings. And like an obedient lap dog, the katana in its sheath floats lazily behind the Myrmidon.

Tubes of liquid wrap around the walls, the machines seeming a massive pumping structure, as Vacit reaches the end of the hallway, he can see that the structure is a massive pit, with tubes and wires streching down into the abyss. Three men, each looking exactly like the other, and each armed with the same type of katana stand at the end of the hall, unaware of Vacit's presence for now. Anouther sound draws his attention upward, a reptillian snarl, as the creature returns, dragginging something behind it.

Tag for late-night reading

Vacit moves off the catawalk, floating a few inches off the ground. He retreats into the shadows, hiding in the maze of electronics and lab equipment. He waits for the creature to pass, following its mental and physical actions with all of his senses.

The Squill passes by, not even noticing Vacit. In its gnarled hands, it held the rapidly decaying remains of the man in the elevator, dragging it towards the other guards. It swung its head as it walked, flairing its nostrals, trying iun vain to sence intruders through the stench of the corpse it dragged.

Vacit watches the Squill pass by, he knows it cannot sense him among the generic smell of lubricants and the grinding machinations of the equipment. He continus to follow it from the shadows, watching as it drags the corpse of his would be opponent toward the other guardsmen on duty.
This will be a most interesting scene he thinks as he continues to follow the Squill.

The guards look up at the approaching squill, which salutes and hisses out

"sssir, there hasss been an intruder, the elevator guard isss dead"

the reptile dropped the corpse, extending wicked claws from his hands.

"ordersss sssir?"

"secure the area, if someone forced and entry I want him found, if he's not dead already, make sure he has an accident before I get to see him."

"ssssir, with all due ressspect, I am esssentialy blind down here, permisssion to call an Agrol to assssissst me in my ssssearch?"

"granted, double pace it, I want him found now."

The reptile saluted and took off at blinding pace towards the guardrail, scurrying between its poles and climbing rapidly down to the unseen blackness below.

Vacit's eyebrows heighten a little at the mention of bringing in an Argol unit. He watches as the Squill begins its retreat down the catawalk. He knew he would have to move more quickly than he had anticipated now, the guards would have to be tricked or subdued before the Squill and Argol could return. Vacit sighed, he hated to be so openly blunt but it seems he had few options to be pursued now. He brings the katana in its sheath into his hand and ties it to his belt.
Once again he steps back onto the catawalk, he approaches the guard.
"Good evening, gentlemen," he says cooly, "I have an appointment with an entity known as Adam. Perhaps you could be so kind as to point me in the correct direction?"
Meanwhile several small objects float out of the pouch at his waist and move to lazily float behind his back, hidden from immediate view.

The two guards both drew katanas, the same style as the one Vacit now held. "You!" they said in unison, wirling to meet him. "No one sees Adam, how do you know of him?" They held their blades at throat level, and didn't waiver an inch, thier faces mirrors of each other, and of the one he had met in the elevator.

The two guards both drew katanas, the same style as the one Vacit now held. "You!" they said in unison, wirling to meet him. "No one sees Adam, how do you know of him?" They held their blades at throat level, and didn't waiver an inch, thier faces mirrors of each other, and of the one he had met in the elevator.

"I know because I am who I am, gentlemen, and since it seems you will not pass for me or help me in any matter I am afraid your positions are going to be terminated in a most permanent sense," with that Vacit slams with the force of his mind to send the guards flying toward the nearest wall and sends a barrage of long metal spikes from his pouch streaming for their necks, chests, and stomach area.

The two NESS units flew backwards, watching the spikes fly towards them. Their eyes flashed, as the spikes hit, stopping before they penetrated the two guards. with a swift movement their katanas are out of the sheath, flaring a brilliant red, and Vacit can feel a pulse, almost as if tehy were encompassed in a section of space that did not exist, and thus, could not be manipulated.

Tag

and make sure you enter your characters:

http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2074790#2074790

"Well, it seems you do get better after all," he says to the two. "I must say that I dispise doing this, but I do not have the time to deal with the both of you. And also I am getting up in years as well."
He smiles wirly, an almost eerie expression, "I hear fall is coming soon."
And with that Vacit gestures and the catawalk under the NESS units buckles and suddenly rips away from the rest of it. As they begin to fall, Vacit sends a second barrage of spikes and and spheres chasing after them.
At least they are determined Vacit says to Adam, whether he is listening or not.

The two NESS units looked uncomprehincibly as the flooring beneath them gives way, sending them plummeting to their doom on the floor, 40 stories below.

Impressive Psycher, you are doing far better than I could have anticipated. Perhaps you are the one I seek afterall. It gets so lonely here at the bottom. . . though were I you, I would hurry, our scaled friend and his Agrol master will not be far behind, and with that racket, they will not wonder what happeend for long.

Ah, but I think something urges me to educate myself, "god" Vacit sees the script detailing the direction to the laboratories and a kennel. Yes, I believe it necessary to study a little before we meet.
Vacit steps to the edge of the catawalk he has just abruptly redone. He sighs and then floats across the the other side, then proceeds in the direction of the research and genetic labs.

Happy hunting Vacit, I look foward to seeing your face. . . again. . .

The door marked "Genetics" Slid upward, exposing a small room that seemed to slide around the entire ring. Large tanks filled with green liquid glowed and hummed slightly, and a computer display beside each held vital signs. Humaniod Forms floated in each tank, and the display at the top denoted each of the four species, Human, Agrol, Squill, or Avian. Stensiled across the wall, bold white letters read simply, "Project N.E.S.S.", a small sign benath it was more clear "Trespasers will be shot on sight."

Vacit rolls his eyes, "The wonderful Takan sense of humor. But still I believe that their Project N.E.S.S will prove to be quite interesting. Vacit moves in and begins to intently study the rooms instrumentation, cloning tubes, and other equipment. Finally he withdraws several clandestine recording devices developed by scientists working directly for the Myrmidons.
But one thing still lingers on his mind. He cannot seem to recall ever having met this Adam character before but it seems that somewhere, somehow, he has.

A small door, the same color as the wall, sits between two tanks. on it is written "BR&D" the warnings on it the same as on the wall in the room. One tank stands out from the others, and in it, a perfect likeness of the prince floats, albeit scared and mangeld, as if it had been in a fire, and a section of stitches trace across the front of its scalp. The console reads "Makoto Mizuna, final host for Adam". A memory comes to Vacit, the Takain Mizunian split, and the civil war that sent Taka into exile, only to build an empire from dirt.

"Interesting, very interesting," he says, bringing one of the data records closer and begins to make records. He studies long and hard the corpse.
His memories come back to him now. At the time of the Mizuna/Taka split, he had been occupied himself, mostly in trying to bring the Myrmidons fully into operation. He still remember some vague field reports, but at the time he had considered the Takan conflict a secondary priority.
But still he remembers some vague things. He continues to look at the rest of the equipment and then prepares to move on to the research lab.

The research lab spreads massivly before Vacit, with thousands of tubes like those in the main area in neat and orderly rows. In each, anouther NESS unit, in various stages of development, and those by the front looking almost fully developed. Cross sections of a squill, agrol, and human sit against the far wall, one both of the normaly sized species, and one of the larger, NESS unit speicies. They are frozen in some clear coating and the paper thin segments seem like they are meant to be slid apart for instant reference. A computer screen flickers in a courner, and a lone scientist sits typing data into a table, unaware of Vacit behind him.

Vacit sends a recorder to carefully disect the diagrams of the various species. Meanwhile he walks toward the scientist.
He stands behind the scientist reading over his shoulder. Carefully studing the ever-growing lines of script.

The scientist exhales sharply as Vacit stands behind him.

"I told you, leave me alone when I'm writing. . . Not that you would know what any of this ment anyways, overrated wastes of flesh."

He ignores Vacit pointedly, typing up combat specifications on the abilities of each species, as well as making his own notations as to how to improve the performance of each. A folder lays beside him, marked Classifed and Top Secret, as well as having the plain white Project NESS marked over it, the folder spine reads "Berzerker Battle Data" and a few pictures are spilling out, depicting scenes of carnage and destruction comperable to entire military actions. A lone picture lays on top, depicting a NESS unit with wild black hair and savage red eyes. He is restrained with chains and a ball gag, as well as a powerful stasis sleep chamber, keeping him frozen in possition. The caption reads "Test unit Zero, before test begins"

"I do not believe that you exactly have the authority to dictate to me what to do," Vacit says gravely. "Now, when will the test begin?"

The scientist spun around slowly, eyeing Vacit. "You aren't a NESS. . . who are you? and what gives you the authority to demand clasified information like that?"

"Because I am here with both the blessing of His Majesty and the High Prince. Now tell me, should I find some other clearance, if you need it I can get it from God if you want it," Vacit looks at the scientist with a mixture of amusement and confidence.

The scientist simply smirks. "you'll have to talk to Uriel about that, I'm sure you two will have a lot to talk about. Second floor down, third door on your right, here are the keys" He throws vacit a key ring with seven keys and a swipe card "you'll need all of them as we've discovered Uriel has been getting. . . grouchy. . . he will tell you what you need to konw. . .. now you had better leave, there will be a patroll coming through here in about ten minutes, and I would really hate to have to shoot you."

"Oh, I assure you that I will not go down quite so easily," Vacit takes the keys and the card key. "As a matter of fact, I have a feeling that you will be developing something of a breif spell of amnesia."
With that Vacit concentrates on the scientist, breaking into his mind and beginning to chase down the parts of his memory cortex that would have stored away this encounter. Then begins to snip them with an almost surgical procedure. Meanwhile, keeping the mental activity of the man suppressed so that he slips into a stupor.

The man struggled for a bit, before his eyes rolled back into his head and he fell into a deep stupor.

Vacit leaves the man, waiting until he is out of the labs and moving toward the kennel facility. He finally restores consciousness to the scientist once he is about ready to enter the kennels.
At least I didn't have to kill him thinks Vacit.

The kennel door is a massive double door, made of burnished oak and held together with bands of gleeming titanium. . . it seems out of place, yet oddly appropriate, as the sounds behind it indicate a room full of very large animals. Despite its bulk, the door swings easily, and a long hallway streches before Vacit, with doors set in the walls at wide intervals. Creatures move behind them, large ones from the sound, and one door, the most heavily locked, reads "Test Subject Uriel".

Vacit moves toward the door until he stands only a few steps from it. His eyes are half-closed as he extends his senses, probing for the creature contained within the heavily secured cage.

A booming voice answers his probings Vacit. . . I've been expecting you. You've some questions about my former master. . . and i've the answers you seek. . . but please, enter my domicile so we may talk on. . . even. . . ground.

Although it is against my better judgement, I think a face to face conversation might be the best Vacit smiles, sensing the age of the creature inside. Vacit mulls over the mind signature, it is almost like the Avians, but something is different.
Vacit swipes the card through the reader and then begins to undo the lock.
So tell me, what do you know of the one they call Adam, the would-be God? he says as he works with the locks.

Adam. . . that name is an ancient one. . . and the bane of all royal born Mizunians. . . . a parasite, a virus, a granter of dietyhood for the cost of your soul and your life. . . enter Vacit, and gaze upon me. . .

The door swings open and a massive draconic creature stands in the room, its bluish black scales looking ancient and knotted. . . The ancient Avian turned a face towards Vacit, a long surgical scar running his face, and covering its left eye.

Gaze upon the rejected vesel for Adam's return. . .

he smiled a toothy grin, scents of rotting meat eminating from his sorefilled mouth.

See the once and future king of the Avians, one of the Mizunian bloodline, chanined, beaten, broken like a common dog. . .

he spread wide tattered wings and streched as far as the cell would allow.

See he who has lived and died more times than he cares to recall. . . he, who was known as the Flame of the world, now is but a flickering memory, who will burn out, only to be rekindled in my eternal, living hell.

Vacit's calm slips for a few mere moments, before he grapples with himself and restores the look of indifference to his face. The widing of his eyes collapses.
Impressive. I had always dreamt of meeting one of the Avian species, but it seems that you are something of a slightly different caliber than what I had expected.
Vacit's posture does seem to convey a bit of respect to the ancient Avian, You say that you are the vessel for this Adam's return, but I have seen something different in visions that I have seen. Tell me have you seen them as well?

all we of the Mizunian line are privy to the same collective of memories, even if we are not born into the blood. . . I've seen the entire universe burn by Adam's black gloved hand. . . I've seen the line of Alderman fall to the darkness at his sway and the entirty of Proxima annihilated in his glutony. . . A great darkness is coming Vacit, but are you a player, with a hand at the board, or are you a pawn, being moved by the hands of fate? Your path twists, Vacit, no one can see where your actoins will truly lead, how can you be so arrogant as to belive you can force fate's hand?

The massive Avian, sighed deeply, causing the entire room to rumble.

Vacit smiles just a bit Beceause I have done it once, Old One. I have dealt with people very much like yours and your kind. They fell, despite all of their meandering about destiny and the paths of men. Besides House Alderman will never fall as long as I protect the gates. In fact, I am here to remedy a threat to it right now.
And besides my path is my own, and I have been walking it for quite some time now.

You are either very brave, or very foolish. . . or perhaps both, but belive what you will Vacit, the fact remains that this world is hurtling towards chaos and destrcution, and with it, will go every world in this galaxy, and even then, it will spread its dark tendrils out further, seeking to hold everything in the universe under its evil sway.

Vacit makes a small bow to Uriel As much as I would like to stay here and banter with you, Old One, I have better things to accomplish here. You see, I have never been able to gather much respect for those that call themselves seers of the future. They portend to see things that are not even set in stone yet. I have faced down the shugenja of the Dominion who said they could see the hours, days, years, and centuries ahead. Now look at where they are, Old One, they are dead or forced into my service when I need it. Even Bayushi Shoju cannot deny the fact that his precious Fore Seers failed the Dominion and could not come to terms that the future they saw had changed before it came. It might be something to remember when you peer into the day after the next day of the next.

perhaps Vacit, perhaps you have free will still. . . continue to tell yourself that you follow the correct path. . . but I see only two paths before you. . . you will either watch the galaxy burn, or you yourself will take the life of the next Prince Alderman. . .

The creature reguarded him with clouded eyes.

though take your leave, you've heard all I have to say, and know the answers already, though you refuse to acknowledge them as truth. . . I have a request for you. . . you who owes me nothing, and holds power over me. . . I ask that you releace me, so I may live my last days in peace, and die, to never be reborn.

Vacit raises an eyebrow at Uriel And tell me how I would go about doing that, for I might actually be feeling benevolent for a few moments.

The creature turned his head towards the massive blast door behind him, rusted shut from years of abbuse and lack of use.

if you would be so kind as to discover a way to open that. . . I belive Adam holds the only key

(ooc: all right... late as usual... any way to know what's going on and to find a place for a character? )

The creature turned his head towards the massive blast door behind him, rusted shut from years of abbuse and lack of use.

if you would be so kind as to discover a way to open that. . . I belive Adam holds the only key

Vacit bows formally, I shall return then, Old One, and when I do I shall unlock the door. I feel that although he may call himself a god this Adam is far from it. For he reminds me of another opponent of mine from several years ago.

OOC: Underaloz, I think Taka would be better at explaining this to you. Although if he doesn't I will.

OOC: Underaloz, I think Taka would be better at explaining this to you. Although if he doesn't I will.
(ooc: ok, btw, you didn't forget about this other thread, did you?)

OOC: Yes, yes I did, I will go there now.

((OOC: Underaloz, you are welcome to make an entrance through a maintanaince tunnel, your reason is your own, anything from espionage to recon to common theft. Its currently lightly guarded, and the AS defence system has been turned off by Adam, so you'll be able to make it in fairly easily. Just post an entrance, and we'll assume it just happens to be the same room Vacit is in))

((OOC: Underaloz, you are welcome to make an entrance through a maintanaince tunnel, your reason is your own, anything from espionage to recon to common theft. Its currently lightly guarded, and the AS defence system has been turned off by Adam, so you'll be able to make it in fairly easily. Just post an entrance, and we'll assume it just happens to be the same room Vacit is in))
(ooc: it's taking place in Taka or in Valinon?)

OOC: Taka

He would, for he has plauged the Mizunian bloodline for six milinium now. . . though he will remind you when the time has come. . . you must hurry, there are two coming and I will not be able to hid you from them.

(OOC: I can't help but to try a humorous entrance. Let me know if you dislike it. On a side note, I know nothing about Taka... so heh, feel me in.)

Wallace was sat on the toilets. He had been there for at least half an hour. He was waiting for his digestive system to calm down. But his damn organism seemed to have serious issues with Avian meat.

He checked his watch. The reunion was about to begin. An important one. Valinon officials had been kind enough to introduce the Sigma Corporation. Technologic exchanges, joint-ventures, the possibilities were endless. Of course, that was providing he was able to conduct proper negociations.

I will never ever eat anything I haven't seen alive before.

Suddenly, the light went off.

"What now?"

He put his underpants and trousers on. His body made a sinistrous growl. His abdomen was still painful. He tried to flush the toilets, but it didn't work. Electricity was down.

He got out of the box and he tried to clean his hands. But no water came.

Marvellous. I make a perfect representative.

"Ah! F--k!" he shouted, metallic walls echoing his exclamation.

He want to the door... but it didn't open. He looked at the handle more closely and spotted captors on it. With no electricity, there seemed to be no way to get out of here.

He checked his watch again. 5 minutes left. He beat at the door.

"Hey! Hey! I'm trapped! Can anybody hear me?"

But no one answered. He stepped back. He hated closed space. It was not to the point of a phobia, but still. All in a sudden, he rushed into the door. He made at least a dozen attempt, but the door hadn't moved by an inch and his shoulder was getting more and more painful.

Desperate, he sat on the floor, looking up.

"That's so kind of you," he said to God with a sarcastic tone.

Then he saw it. The grid onto the ceiling.

Yeah... and why not?

((OOC: that works, the facility is under the palace so you would have to be inside the palace to reach it from there, but it would work, feel free to drop in, literaly if you want, once Vacit enters the next room.))

(ooc: thanks for the info :) )

I feel like one of those action movie heroes, Wallace thought. I wonder when the terrorists will show up.

At least, the concentration needed to move into the Palace's ventilation network was completly occluding his health problems.

If I don't become fully claustrophobic, then I'll never be.

He was using his lighter from time to time but, now, he was running out of gas. He knew he had to go down stairs to get to the toilets, so he had tried to find a way up. He had failed. Now he was getting lower and lower.

Right down to Hell.

It had been at least a quarter of hour and he still hadn't found a single other grid. Desperate, he decided to go back. As he was taking support with his left foot in what looked like a crossing of numerous tubes, he heard a crack.

Uh oh.

The plastic material literally opened under him. He was falling.

A NESS Agrol looked up, his bulbous grey head turning towards the dirrection of the sound more intrudures? are we under attack? The ventalation shaft gave way, and Wallace tumbled down on top of him, the weight catching him by surprise as his frail body was crushed, softening the fall of the man. The tiny grey psyker died quickly, his atrophied and ill used body collapsing, causing his over sized brain to slowly die of oxogen starvation.

"AAAAhhhh!"

Wallace saw all his life passing before his eyes. Parents, college, army, departure to the Enclave, wedding, the Sigma corporation, divorce, his assignment for the "Taka mission".

But he felt something softening his fall. He was sure he had heard something... like the sound of an animal. And the sound of bones breaking too.

He opened the eyes and spotted the most peculiar creature he had ever seen. Grey skin, big (now flat) head.

"AAAAhhhh!"

What the f--k is that?

(ooc: err... have I broken anything? Is the thread like... dead or something? )

Nope, just waiting for Valinon to post, I might have to hunt that lazy bum down and poke him till he posts.

Vacit was walking down the halls after departing Uriel, then he hears a loud sound coming from further down the hall. He moves toward it with caution, extending his senses outward, feeling something that is not Takan. But he has felt something like this before, he seeks to place it in his memory.
He moves toward the room where the sound broke the otherwise hushed atmosphere of the complex. He sees a man sprawled over the apparently dead body of a Takan Argol.
Vacit raises an eyebrow, "I take it you have never seen an Argol before?"

Wallace's eyes were wide-opened. His hands were onto his chest which was hurting pretty badly.

"Vacit? Director Toni Vacit?"

That was the man. Toni Vacit that travelled with him, that took the Underaloz delegation to Taka.

What is this place anyway? Some kind of secret... uh oh.

"I... I'm sorry... I... I got locked in the... toilets," he said, blushing slightly. "I used the ventilation to... get out of there... you know, the electricity... it went down... I didn't mean to... I..."

He stared at the Argol, clueless.

Vacit helps Wallace up then nudges at the corpse of the Argol with the toe of his boot.
"Well, it is no major loss to the Takans I assure you. They have become very good and producing these things at a good rate."
Vacit then goes and peers up the venilation shaft, "Well I do not think you will be going back that way, and I have made a slight dent in the other exit I have found. So I will leave it up to you as to what to do. I have some....business I must attend to. And your decision, Mr?"

"Wallaca, Andrew Wallace, from the MS corporation..."

He looked again at the Argol.

"Produced? Damn..."

He looked up at Vacit.

"To be honest, Director, I have no clue what the implications of my decision are..."

This was supposed to be a simple commercial exchange... where the f-ck have I fallen into?

Vacit seems to hear Wallace's unspoken question.
"What you have fallen into, Mr. Wallace, is something I myself do not fully understand. The situation at this lab has born the interests of several elements of His Majesty's Government for sometime. We are concerned that a threat to both Taka and to Valinon may be emerging here. I have been dispatched to investigate the matter and deal with it as needed," Vacit focuses on the Argol's corpse and it levitates off the ground.
"But I see no need to leave obvious clues to your entrance into this affair," the Argol's corpse rises up into the ventilation shaft. Then several small silver spikes follow, pinning the Argol's corpse to one side of the ventilation shaft. "They will notice that in time, but for now it is not too obvious."

Wallace knew all too well what some people from Valinon were capable of. He had read countless reports about that. Still he couldn't help but to follow the Argol's body flying in the air.

"Damn..." he muttered.

His sight went back onto Vacit.

"I've been told threats concerning your Empire tend to have consequences for my country. How can I help you? And why do you seem not to trust Taka?"

"Actually, it is not Taka that I do not trust. From what I have been able to determine there are things going on that I do not believe the High Prince knows about. And from what I have garnered, it seems that belief has its merit in fact as well. As for help, honestly, Mr. Wallace, I cannot say what you can do. However, I have no doubt that if this matter is left unsolved it may not only affect Taka, Underaloz, and the Empire it may very well have consequences for nations across the galaxy. That is why I have come, although I am loathe to use such blunt tactics, I believe that the mastermind of this burgeoning conspiracy must be dealt with in a most permanent fashion."

Wallace pondered Vacit's latest sentence.

"You know, Director, I never believed in coincidence. The way I ended up in this very room is... how to phrase it... quite unexpected. You are talking about very intriguing things and I don't doubt most of the issue eludes me. However, even if I have no idea of what skills you may have, I don't see anybody go against an international conspiracy alone."

He gave a quick glance at his watch.

"Beside I've already missed the reunion," he added with a sarcastic smile. "So I'd better have something worthy to tell the Council when I come back home."

Very perceptive of you both Adam's voice rings out, seeming to eminate in both the men's heads. Very perceptive indeed, however my old shell was quite right. You are but rats, all I must do is wave a carrot or a stick to have you run my maze. . . Shall we continue on children? or shall I be forced to reactivate the security systems to hurry you on your way?

A door set in the far wall slides open, a dimly lit elevator yawns like a gaping maw.

"What was that?" Wallace whispered to himself, putting his hands on his temples and turning in direction of the sound.

I am the dead God, He who has been killed and ressurected with each generation, the eteral, everlasting evil that has come to scourge this galaxy clean.

"A man that believes himself to be a god, Mr. Wallace," Vacit says moving toward the rooms exit. "Although I am very interested in wondering if he can support those claims. Judging from the quality of people he surrounds himself with I am not considering things in his favor. And you are right about somethings not happening by chance. I am a skeptic of such matters myself most often, but even I cannot deny that somethings happen just to well to be mere chance."
Vacit moves with Wallace toward the elevator, "As for this Adam, tell me, Mr. Wallace, have you ever read a book by an Old Earth author: The Wizard of Oz?"

Wallace was feeling dizzy. He wasn't used to telepathic messages. Let along gods and other fantasies. At first, he didn't get Vacit's reference to The Wizard of Oz. He decided to follow the Director. Moving helped him getting back to his senses.

"The Wizard of Oz? No, I've never read it. I used to watch a TV show called Oz though. It was about a prison."

He looked around.

"Maybe it's appropriate too," he muttered with a grin.

Entering the elevator, Vacit watches as the door close.
"In the book there was a character known as the Wizard of Oz, no relation to the television show you know of, or at least none I know of. However, the Wizard was false, in reality he was nothing more than a cheap county fair magician. The giant head he used to symbolize the Wizard was nothing more than a projection with his voice eminating from it and he operated it from a control panel hidden behind a curtain. Eventually he was discovered as a fraud by the books heroine and when initially discovered the said 'pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.' In this case, Mr. Wallace, I think you might want to watch out for the man behind the curtain."
Vacit smils thinly at the end though, "However, I think that a reference to a prison would be just as appropriate. For I do not think this Wizard is here entirely by his own will."

OOC: :shock: I never thought I would get to use a reference to the Wizard of Oz but it is appropriate. Now if a little dog appears out of no where that will be simple too much.

"Prisoner or not. Fraud or not. This guy happens to throw messages into my brain. This is still something I do not take lightly."

Wallace looked at the control panel in the elevator.

"Any idea where we're going?"

The elevator door closed behind the men, as it slowy started decending down the shaft. For a moment, it sounded as if nothing were out of the ordinary, but a rythmic tapping from above grew louder, followed by two thumps on the roof, one heavy, anouther much lighter, almost as an after thought.

well well well a new voice "spoke" to their minds it appears we have canned intruders, will you come out peacefully, or will we have to. . . persuade you. . . to come out?

A scrape, as chiton on steel came from above, and the familure hiss of a Squallem eminated from above, followed by the mindprobeing that could only be an Agrol.

Well, let the good Director deal with the unknown, Wallace thought.

He stepped to the control panel and drew a small knife out of his boot.

Now, let's hope I'll find a way to open this thing.

The pannel flashed, and a man's face appeared, severly burned and scarred. It smiled at him maliciously, wisps of white hair falling across his red eyes. I wouldn't do that if I were you Adam though into Wallace's mind I would so hate to have the security systems come online, and in such tight corridors too

A clawed hand slammed into the hatch at the top of the elevator, indenting the aluminum hatch and rocking the elevator car.

besides, you have other important buisness to take care of, mainly, surviving the next, oh, fourty five seconds. . .

Vacit looks cooly at the grate above him, searching out the presence of the Argol and of the Squallem. He focuses on them until he has them pictured exactly in their mans field of vision.
"As loathe as I am to admit this, Mr. Wallace, we might want to follow the advise given to us. After all, sometimes you fall the advice, even if it is from the mouth of mule."
Wallace notices that now a virtual storm of spikes, bullet shaped orbs, small spheres, and several buzz saw shaped objects are floating around the Director, and more are exiting from a belt at his side.
And I know the discomfort this causes you, but I can keep us shielded from an Argol. Adam although is a different matter at the moment. Let me try my hand.
And with that a hailstorm of long, sharpened spikes hurl upward through the elevator's ceiling. Several are targeted at the Squallem, but it is clear that the target of a rather large number is at the Argol. Meanwhile the "bullets" whizz through the air following their spike brethern, but they focus on the Squallem.

The hail of metal slams through the ceiling, and a few drops of blood trickle down trhough the holes.

That was most annoying, dirrector The agrol thinks to him, the top peeling away to reveal him, the metal objects lazily floathing around him. The squallem stands in the courner, clutching a profusly bleeding arm, and hissing vicoulsy "very annoying indeed" it says, pulling a hand away from its arm, the cuts already begining ot heal. without a second thought, the lizard like creature jumps down into the elevator, pulling itself up to its full seven foot height. The Agro levetates above, the deadly metal chunks hovering above his head.

Tell me dirrector, are you familure with Takian battle tactics?

I am familiar with its mantras, Little Argol, but you should be aware of my own. Never send an apprentice to defeat a master.
With that the Argol feels a surge of energy against his control with the plates that used to form the elevator's roof. It is like a strong man out-muscling the weakest man in the ring, and the Argol feels the plates begin to orient themselves toward him with a ver malicious intent.
Meanwhile the Squallem suddenly finds himself hurled by some unseen first, and then confronted by three rapidly spinning buzz saw like blades making a most unnerving whine as they go straight for his neck, and as additional spikes head for his heart.
You should have picked better masters, one who is not so prone to his own delusions Vacit says to the Argol. As he begins to launch a renewed attack this time with the rough hewned metal plates an additional hail of spikes.

The Agrol fights to regain control, dropping his shield around the Squallem. The lizard attempts to dodge, but the close quarters ensure he is quickly dispatched. The Agrol pushes against the incoming projectiles with all its might, stopping them, but unable to do any more. He feels his mind begin to collapse, as his mental barriers slowly degrade with the strain.

And who is my master? Would Adam be so foolish as to call you, only to try and stop you later?

As to the question of your master, you may find that on the other side of eternity. As for the question regarding Adam, know this, I am considerable more than he has given me credit for, and that problem may soon be remedied.
With that the Argol finds itself sitting in the center of an every closing vice, his mind battered by a stronger force, and the plates move inward continously. The Argol's remaining life could almost be measured in heartbeats.

you. . . are an arrogant fool. . . toying with powers. . . beyond your comprehention. . . you know not what you are about to do. . .

The Agrol's mind shattered, his power no match for the years of experience of Vacit. The plates slammed together, crushing him into a bloody mesh of off grey skin, neon blue blood, and thick brain matter.

The elevator reaches the bottom floor, opening to a long hallway, and what appears to be a cat like creature, constructed compeltly out of a gleeming silver metal.

It moved slowly, unthreateningly, seeming almost harmless, but the wicked gleam of twin blades eminated from under its arms betrayed what it was constructed for. strapped across its back was what apeared to be a shotgun, a device Vacit recognized as the Takian Shredder.

http://invisionfree.com/forums/Corporate_Islands/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=410

Vacit eyes this new opponents warily. He recognizes the drone form as one of the pieces of technology that Taka had purchased from an outside source, the Resi Corporation if memory served him correctly. He had personally seen to it that his own men had managed to purchase one from the Takans, but as of yet the drone had not been activated, nor field tested. Its field capabilites had not yet been rated, but Vacit was familiar with the effectiveness of the Takan Shredder all to well. Something that was far deadlier than the older Valinon weapon that used the same name.
Vacit prepares a device he had hoped that he would not have to use. But he awaits the drone's first move, momentarily hoping that that is the right decision. After all, it is best not to provoke what you can go around.

The drone slowly stepped through the doorway, reaching up to insert a clawed finger into the control panel. The doors slid closed, and the elevator dropped below the bottom floor, a mechanical voice issuing from the drone.

"Welcome Dirrector, the Machine God has been expecting you."

The door slowly ground open, shedding light into a massive room, robotic forms prostate towards the center, and on a large pedastool, a tube filled with a greenish liquid, a brain floats in it, and even from the distance, Vacit can see scar tissue, as if it had been roughtly treated and severly damaged in the past.


The drone trotted foward, like a loyal puppy towards the floating brain, bowing before it in prostation.

Welcome to my Parlor, Dirrector, I would say it is good to gaze upon you again, had I eyes to see you. But now that you are here, you will do me a favor.

Vacit raises an eyebrow at both the brain and the drone.
Ah, so at last I meet the long-fabled Wizard. As for favors, Adam, you may ask it of me, but I am not by my nature a very giving person.

My request is simple Vacit, you are to destroy the empire of Valinon and Taka both, and from thier mingled ashes, I will raise a new empire, one which will reforage the entire universe in my image.

"What the Hell is this place..." Wallace muttered, completly stunned by all what had happened.

So quick... so... so...

He was unable to think straight.

Vacit turns back toward Wallace.
"Be aware, Mr. Wallace, this is," he gestures to the brain, "is the Wizard of which I spoke. And I think it would b bst if you maybe kept at least an eye on the drone form with the Shredder."
Then Vacit turns back to Adam taking one step closer to Adam.
You are either very stupid or simple impudent, Adam. For starters I will personally vivisect your cerebellum before I allow you to be a threat to His Majesty. Secondly, I think you will be hard pressed to raise a populace willing to follow a bubbling mass of grey flesh.

Must take a big ass to produce something like this, Wallace thought, staring at the brain.

We shall see, Dirrector, we shall see, what can a man be, that I can not reproduce?

A shift in the shadows occures, as a door slides open. A man steps out, stumbling over the drones, prostate in audulation. He is tall, a thick mane of hair falling over his shoulders, and though he walks stiffly, he appears strong and sure of his step. Light plays across his face, highlighting his high cheekbones, thin face, and slightly elongated ears. He could easily be the High Prince 30 years ago, seeming a perfect simulacrum, save for minor differences, and a head of metalicly silver hair. He reguards Vacit, a slow smile forming across his face.

"After all, Dirrector, how hard would it be to make anouther of the Blood, when I have much of the blood within easy grasp."

Vacit remains unmoved by Adam's attempt at something of a dramatic entrance.
Am I supposed to be impressed that you can clone the High Prince? It seems that you must think I am some simpleton from Earth. You will have to excuse me if I find this too melodramatic.

"the Prince? I am offended Vacit, that you know so little about the way I work. No, this is not the body of the Prince, rather, a foe of his years ago, I belive you saw its last manifiestation as you entered."

He smiles cruely.

"As for your friend, I fear I have no further need for him, but to die in witness of my return."

He raises a hand, calling the shreder towards him by mentaly reprograming the drone. It trots towarsd him, the deadly weapon gleaming wickedly on its back.

"It has been a pleasure to meet you Mr. Wallace, but now, I'm afraid you are going to have to die."

With his knife still in the hand, Wallace took a defensive posture.

"Maybe... maybe..." he muttered to himself, giving a quick glance at Vacit.

"oh, a knife against a gun. . . I belive we both know how this will end."

He raises the shredder, pointing it at Wallace and fired, sending burning shards of filiment towards his chest.

((OOC: I think I know what you've got in mind, so lets wait for Valinon to post before you post damage.))

((OOC: I think I know what you've got in mind, so lets wait for Valinon to post before you post damage.))
(ooc: that is when pigs fly :P )