The Aeson
01-01-2007, 05:13
The video tape was delivered by courier to a television station. Within fifteen minutes, it was airing on every channel in New Aeson, as well as copies being sent to news channels in various other countries throughout the world.
The tape showed a shadowy room, lit by only a single bare bulb. Kneeling in the center of the room was a terrified looking man, with a gag in his mouth. His arms were bound before him, and his ankles had been crossed, and then bound as well.
Behind him stood one of the few sights that could simultaneously frighten and enrage the average New Aesonic. A face that was known to almost everyone. A face which many in the government had fervently hoped had disappeared forever during the Purification.
The face of Ehzno. It rested on the head of Ehzno, supported on the body of Ehzno. In his hands, Ehzno held a curved sword. He faced the camera as he spoke, in the voice that had plunged an entire country into chaos.
"For too long we have been silent." he said. His voice was ragged, and his face bore a scar that had never been there before. A bullet had caught him as he led his last loyal troops in one final desperate counterattacks against the Purifiers hunting him.
Bullets often whizzed around Ehzno, but were only rarely able to touch him. He seemed touched by the gods when it came to battle, which only added to his peculiar charisma.
"For too long have we been silent, and allowed the world to believe we had been silenced." He said. "That ends here, now. The miserable swine before me is a worshiper of the false god known as Allah."
He swung the sword. "Now, he has gone to dwell with his false god in oblivion. Such is the fate of all those who oppose us. The True Aesonic cause shall never die. You have been warned."
The tape ended.
***
"This is impossible!" Shouted Blak. "He was supposed to be dead! We blew that entire shithole he was hiding in to pieces. How the fuck did he survive that?"
"The body was never recovered," said Gunnarson, calmly. "No body, it's always safest to assume he's alive. I told you that."
"Of course you did," snapped Blak. "Now you can tell me where the godsdamned terrorist swine is hiding, or I'll nail your head to the wall instead of his!"
"We're doing our best, but Ehzno was always smoke in the wind," said Gunnarson. "But rest assured, the full resources of LOKI are at your disposal." He smiled mirthlessly, "Or would be if they existed. Which, of course, they do not."
"Of course," snarled Blak. "Now get out of here!"
Gunnarson made a timely exit. Blak stared at the wall for a moment before letting out a colorful stream of profanity which made his earlier comments seem tame by comparison.
The tape showed a shadowy room, lit by only a single bare bulb. Kneeling in the center of the room was a terrified looking man, with a gag in his mouth. His arms were bound before him, and his ankles had been crossed, and then bound as well.
Behind him stood one of the few sights that could simultaneously frighten and enrage the average New Aesonic. A face that was known to almost everyone. A face which many in the government had fervently hoped had disappeared forever during the Purification.
The face of Ehzno. It rested on the head of Ehzno, supported on the body of Ehzno. In his hands, Ehzno held a curved sword. He faced the camera as he spoke, in the voice that had plunged an entire country into chaos.
"For too long we have been silent." he said. His voice was ragged, and his face bore a scar that had never been there before. A bullet had caught him as he led his last loyal troops in one final desperate counterattacks against the Purifiers hunting him.
Bullets often whizzed around Ehzno, but were only rarely able to touch him. He seemed touched by the gods when it came to battle, which only added to his peculiar charisma.
"For too long have we been silent, and allowed the world to believe we had been silenced." He said. "That ends here, now. The miserable swine before me is a worshiper of the false god known as Allah."
He swung the sword. "Now, he has gone to dwell with his false god in oblivion. Such is the fate of all those who oppose us. The True Aesonic cause shall never die. You have been warned."
The tape ended.
***
"This is impossible!" Shouted Blak. "He was supposed to be dead! We blew that entire shithole he was hiding in to pieces. How the fuck did he survive that?"
"The body was never recovered," said Gunnarson, calmly. "No body, it's always safest to assume he's alive. I told you that."
"Of course you did," snapped Blak. "Now you can tell me where the godsdamned terrorist swine is hiding, or I'll nail your head to the wall instead of his!"
"We're doing our best, but Ehzno was always smoke in the wind," said Gunnarson. "But rest assured, the full resources of LOKI are at your disposal." He smiled mirthlessly, "Or would be if they existed. Which, of course, they do not."
"Of course," snarled Blak. "Now get out of here!"
Gunnarson made a timely exit. Blak stared at the wall for a moment before letting out a colorful stream of profanity which made his earlier comments seem tame by comparison.