Nox and Dane agreed to meet outside an entrance to the Underground that opened up into the Red Square. It wasn't used as a trash hole like most of the others being so close to the Kremlin and all. It was an upscale dump.

Leaving the Moscow airport for the first time was a bit nerve wracking. The last time he'd flow into Moscow he'd fallen out of plane - not even seeing the airport at all. He thanked whatever deities were out there that he didn't have to fly again. He never intended to return to his old life again. His life was here - with Aria. Wherever the hell she was.

He'd received a text from her - several actually with information. He was to take her old journal form her hiding place in the shop below where she used to live - where Asha now lived and deliver it to an address. Supposedly their new home. Nox had grabbed the text before he found himself in a hotel room. He didn't want to meet this stranger right now. He had more pressing matters - sleep.

Not that when he actually laid down in the lumpy bed did he actually sleep long. But it was the first step in getting things under control and his body back into it's usual rhythm. It had only been a matter of days since Ascendancy's announcement, but Nox could feel the tension in the air. Everyone was suspect. Every cold and every fever was getting second guessed. There were crowds outside the Kremlin protesting. Crime was ramping up.

Hell even the Atharim were ramping up, and Aria was in the thick of it. He didn't know what. She was leaving him out of it. He was grateful for that. He was a reborn god. He was the enemy. And when push came to shove he'd out himself to save her skin, or his. It was better to stay away.

So Nox did what Nox did best - he hunted. He was actually looking forward to going hunting with Dane. He wasn't sure which was more dangerous - the monsters or having Dane at his back. He could only hope that the other man was more interested in killing monsters than killing him.

Nox had prepared himself well. He'd stopped by HQ the day he arrived and dropped his report of his trip on the right desk and took two landwarriors and some random weapons - a cross bow and a few handguns and the appropriate ammo. His were all gone in the explosion. That had been a bitch of a report to write. He was surprised no one had questioned him on Bas' actions at his place. But so far so good... ignorance was bliss. He knew nothing of Bas, only that he'd run into him at a bar - that's all they needed to know.

It was early in the morning 9am. Not early for him, but early the crowds were just starting to form in protest. Nox waited for Dane outside of the entrance tunnel. He leaned against the ungrafittied wall - it had to be a rarity - but it was close to the Kremlin - it was probably scoured nightly. The pair of landwarriors sat on top of his head like sunglasses and he had a gray hoodie wrapped around his body against the chill of the Moscow spring air. It was colder than Mexico, but it felt good. Sadly the jeans were new, but that's what happens when your entire possessions get blown up.

((Although not a part of the underground city, this first part takes place in Elyse's apartment - I just didn't want to make a separate thread for it.))

Elyse had all her equipment ready to head to the Underground City. She wanted to wait until she heard from Mr. Durante before she did, however, so she was keeping herself busy with setting up her apartment while she waited.

A beep came from her wallet and she checked it. Sure enough, it was Mr. Durante - Nox - sending her a text message. She had to smile. Nox had decided to look at her file and was flirting. Elyse decided to play along and flirted back just as eagerly. As they continued to talk, Elyse became more excited about meeting with Nox. They seemed to have a good rapport already, and Elyse, who had looked at his file now too, found him to be quite the cutie.

And thus, she had a date. She told Nox she was excited, but neglected to tell him that she was nervous as well. It had been a long time since she had gone out with someone - since her change to be exact. She was more nervous than she let on in her text messages.

But the excitement outweighed the nerves, and she was truly excited. Nox had mentioned that good girls didn't like guys like him. It was something she had noted, but Elyse would make her own decisions on something like that. And she doubted Nox was as bad as he made himself out to be. We are our own worse critics.

Elyse had gotten the information that she had needed, and was ready to at least do some scouting. She could handle a few rougarous if needed and she would heed Nox's advice. If she saw any of the strange creatures, she would run.
**********
((Now in the Underground City Proper))

The first thing that hit Elyse was the stench. At first it was hard to keep herself from vomiting. Doubtless, it was less to those who had a normal sense of smell, but Elyse didn't have a normal sense of smell.

After she had composed herself, Elyse kept moving. She had a pair of land warriors on - mostly for the mapping software rather than night vision.

The software was phenomenal. Elyse had also looked up Aurora Durante. Finding her in the database hadn't been difficult because of her relation to Nox. What she saw was saddening. Aurora was deceased - killed by a sicko. It seemed Nox was alone, something that hit Elyse fairly hard. Elyse felt alone, but she still had her family. Nox didn't have family anymore. It was likely hard for him to connect to people.

Elyse kept her pistol ready in its holster. Her crossbow was slung over her shoulder. Based on what she had read about these creatures, she had also packed another firearm with a faster fire rate than her desert eagle.

But she wasn't looking for the creatures, she was just getting familiar with the Underground City, the app, and the potential rougarou nest.

Cont from:
http://w11.zetaboards.com/TheFirstAge/to...524/3/#new



Jaxen waved goodbye to Aria. "Scary chick isn't she?"
He turned to Manix and eyed him up and down. "You won't get into Manifesto in those clothes. Not even at this time of day. Hell they may even turn me away and I'm wearing a six thousand dollar pair of shoes. Kallisiti House of Burlesque is nearby."


He thought for a moment, dark eyes sparkling with mischief over memories of his last encounter there. Would Oriena be there? He'd not thought about her in a while. What with being busy with kidnapping and snake people and learning how to be an Ancient and dodging Atharim teenagers. But admittedly, he hoped to run into the club's elusive owner. Oriena was magnificent as far as women went. Which was saying a lot from Jaxen.

He showed Manix the way. His question struck Jaxen with an amused grin. "You're certainly the master. I sense what you can do. Sense your strength. I am nothing compared to you. A pawn in your game."
Jaxen's silver tongue was always quick to charm. So smooth, it was impossible to tell if the flattery was fake at all.




((Ooc: description of Kallisti found here. http://w11.zetaboards.com/TheFirstAge/si...t=9085018))


Edited by Jaxen Marveet, Jul 12 2016, 04:04 PM.

The guys at Tony's house spoke of nothing else except the Ascendany's announcement. Of course none of them were registering. They feared how the information will be used. Neither was the group in need of protection. Elias was less worried about government conspiracies but he valued his privacy.

Yet he remained quiet when asked his opinion. Instead, he mulled over his memories of Sickness and the manifestation of his power. Those first few months, he had always been near the ocean when the strongest effects were unleashed. For that, and for the vitality he felt, he yearned to return to New Zealand. In Moscow, he was withering again. Much as he had in Utah.

The Ascendancy was like him. Powerful and private. For those reasons, Elias empathized the instinct to hold secrets close. However, now that the cat was out of the bag, rather than retreat to shadows, the urge to proclaim himself twitched his skin with defiance.

Crowds gathered in the Red Square. People demanding to see the Ascendancy. Protestors and adoring public alike. The CCD did not take kindly to protesting. For while the economy was the freest of all free markets, liberty was quite limited. Kremlin police watched close, shadows of armed guards paced the top of the Kremlin walls.

He left Tony's without saying where he was going. A shard of blackness billowing through the crowd, Elias elbowed his way closer to the gates of the Kremlin.

Alistair Pavlo, a leading scientist for VaiaPlus was reported missing late Friday evening by his girlfriend,Lada Yurieva. Pavlo was one of the lead researchers appointed by Dr. Flynn, head of the Pandemic and Epidemic Diseases department of the World Health Organization, to research The Sickness.

It is currently believed that the latest announcement from our Ascendancy has nothing to do with Pavlo's disappearance despite the coincidence of it and his own research.

VaiaPlus has a reward for any tips that lead to their scientists whereabouts and a larger one for the recovery of his person - dead or alive. See their website for more information on this reward.

Police have arrested a 38-year-old woman in connection with an alleged attack on her neighbor in a supermarket in Moscow, Zamoskvoreche district, and charged her with assault.

The woman was shopping with her four-month-old son when she was attacked, according to police. The woman was at the Supermarket at about 5 p.m. Monday when her neighbor began yelling at her, accusing her of killing her son, police said.

The neighbor spat on the woman, punched her several times and then pulled at her hair, police said.

A CCD Police Service spokeswoman Natasha Olenska said. "While we are still conducting our investigation, there is evidence that woman was motivated by the events in Izmailovsky Market." The alleged assailant had recently lost her 3 year old son during the recent attacks at the popular out door market when a man with what appeared to be enhanced abilities launched a terrorist attack that left many wounded and 3 dead.

Any connection between the terror attack at Izmailovsky Market and the victim is so far unknown, however.

One officer, speaking anonymously, suspects that the recent anouncement concerning enhanced individuals might be a factor. The Ascendancy's press conference included mention of the "Illness" and indicated it was a step in the development of these enhanced humans and their abilities. The victim of the assailant does admit that she had recently been in the hospital for treatment, but emphasized that it was not for illness, but rather surgery that she and her family had wanted to keep private. However, given the recent news, she and her family now want the facts to be known.

The police department will review the investigation once it's complete.

Police are looking into all surveillance footage available.

The suspect was located after tips were called in to Crime Stoppers and Moscow police headquarters.

Police have not released the name of the woman arrested.

[[comments open]]

(( Due to the delay in time zones between Mexico and Moscow I'm gonna just do the text messages with Elyse here - let's see what kinda story we can tell in only text messages ))

"Mr. Durante, my name is Elyse Andersen. Another hunter. I'm tasked to find some information in your reports in the Underground City. Would like to go with you if possible. Await your message either way. Thanks,

EA"

***

Mr. Durante? That's my father. Pretty thing like you better call me Nox. I'm in Mexico atm, can't be there. What do you want to know? Don't go alone!

-Nox

(( opening up so everyone can join in... Calvin you are being thrown into the fire pit.. ))

Alex had been in her small office reviewing personnel files Domovoi was growing. And it was part of her job to get to know them and make sure they could keep handling their new jobs. One new face who'd she yet to see was a prior patient. Alex hoped that wouldn't be a problem. Alex had avoided most people especially Ivan since the incident with Bas. The last thing she wanted was to be know for sleeping with the enemy and not revealing such information. She was saddened for his loss of life, but it was life.

But what made things worse that her father had gone missing. Luka had gone home after the little trollop of a sister came into her home looking for Giordano. And ever since then he'd been missing. She reported it, but there was still nothing. Alex wondered if they'd ever know what happened to him.

And then the world went to hell in an even bigger way - Ascendancy claimed to be on of these magical users. A man like Dane Gregory - dangerous. A man like Sebastian - dangerous. Like Andlain - dangerous. Alex moved her self into the largest conference room and knew that the entire squad would be there soon. There may not have been an all-hands call sent out yet, but there would be soon. They would all be there soon regardless. These men and women were dedicated to hunting monsters and now these so-called monsters were made real to the whole world. Their presence would be needed.

Armande sat in his study, the rows of aged leatherbound books on the shelves and papers on his large desk forgotten. The screen in front of him was motionless. The video had ended. He had watched it over and over again, each time listening less and less to the words and more and more watching the face of his enemy. An enemy who had launched a new attack.

It was devastating. He was no fool. With this revelation, this uncovering- not the first in the history of the Atharim, certainly, but certainly the most powerful given the ubiquitous nature of technology- he could imagine the walls of the mansion crumbling down around him.

His mouth tightened, determination inflaming the blue ice of his eyes. Not while he still drew breath. There were still tools at his disposal. The majority of Atharim were loyal to him. Their sway with people in powerful positions- most having no idea who owned the secrets that prompted a vote here, a purchase there - was still theirs to use. The vast reserves they had built up over the millenia, hidden in shell corporations inside shell corporations, a matreshka doll of concealment, the tracts of land and pieces of artwork, the gold and the silver stashed in the most unlikely of places, would still fund them. They had been around far too long for even modern technology to put a dent in that.

And there was Petricus. His ally. A man who had much to lose if it were discovered that the Pope himself not only knew of the Atharim, but was complicit in their work, had been for 800 years. Their secret alliance had been forged out of necessity and together, they had covered for each other over the centuries. The Inquisition that was placed on the back of the High Inquisitor Torquemada, a name reviled in history in all places but among the Atharim. Men who knew the truth of who and what he was. The vile business of the Enlightenment. They would be laughing now. He could feel them sneaking about, the traitors. That it happened 500 years ago, long before he was born, did not change the feelings of anger and betrayal he personally felt. He wondered if they would, at last, come out of the woodwork.

His jaw clenched and he saw the screen again, the face of Nikolai Brandon, Apollyon. He had revealed himself even as he had revealed them. But Brandon had to know that there would be backlash. As people realized that these reborn gods could be anyone, masquerading as anyone, as coworker or school mate, living gods, able to bring death and destruction with a thought, had brought death and destruction to them, their support would grow.

People would know these reborn gods for what they were.

As he had learned.

He closed his eyes, letting the Chong Rann meditation enveloping him, let the room gradually drift away until he was home. He was in his private office under the Vatican, its infinite shelves and plinths holding a library that dwarfed any that existed. Here was the true Historical Archive that he oversaw.

He stood and walked, his steps echoing in the room as he walked. In the distance he saw the door, heavy with age. Finally, he stood in front of it, its wooden planks worn and warped and dusty. He waved his hand and the ancient lock clicked. His heart beat loudly as he looked at the door, his rage and hatred beating in time with it. He stared at the door, could feel the power emanating from behind it, a sun whose energy gave him life and purpose.

He opened the door. The room was small and bare, a single old table in the center. And on it, something wrapped in cloth. He clenched his jaw as he stepped toward the table, each step bringing a new wave of fury and hatred, of pain. He touched the cloth, his hand shuddering. It took all his concentration to keep his hand there, to overwhelm the disgust that welled up in him, and, for a moment, the walls of this place faded, the Chong Rann discipline wavering. He breathed and calmed himself and they firmed.

Carefully, so very carefully he unwrapped the cloth, a wash of emotion threatening to overwhelm him at each unwinding.

At last he saw what was inside it. He looked at it, made himself see.

A single picture. A girl's smile, piercing green eyes on a face that was still more girl than woman. And he felt the hatred and disgust and, God forgive him, love, explode as the memory took him.


Edited by Regus, Jul 11 2016, 11:39 PM.

[[continued from here]]

They had progressed, finally, beyond the dank tunnels of the underground. Patience was not always among her virtues, but fortified by the focus of getting what she wanted, Oriena could blithely wait until Olympus fell. It had taken time. A fucking long time. By all accounts, Ori wasn't the nurturing kind. But one day he had cautiously emerged from his den, crouched low, muscle corded. Those gold eyes shone. His lip curled. There was the bright gleam of an incisor glinting within the tangle of his matted beard. Eventually his trust grew. She fed and watered him. Offered him shelter. And time. Let's not forget the time.

The first time she'd released his chains, he'd reacted by pinning her to the wall, dirty fingers tight about her neck. Fetid breath in her face. Indignation burned bright cords that flung him backwards, and he landed with a yelp. Apparently it settled something, in his eyes anyway, because he didn't challenge her again. There was more curiosity than aggression when he stared at her. It was a fucking blessing when he finally let her wash him. Cut his hair. Shave his face. A man emerged. He didn't like the clothes she forced him in - always pawing or shivering his skin, like a dog shaking off rain, but he suffered it anyway. Fuck, he could almost pass for an actual person.

She relocated him to Kallisti, in the offices and rooms above the club, well aware that if he snapped it was her clientele who'd suffer the bloodbath. And her staff too. But it seemed worth the risk. He sniffed and paced the new territory and she left him to it, the door firmly locked for now. No sense letting a good investment go to waste before she had the chance to benefit from it.

Ori was downstairs sampling her own bar when the announcement flooded every news station and social media outlet on the net. The club was empty, daylight making a stark and hollow facade of the mystery and allure spun in the darkness of the club's opening hours. She flicked on the nearest holoscreen to watch the Ascendancy's interview on perpetual repeat. A wicked grin curved her lips. It seemed it would be a night for celebration.