The events with the Yakuza had failed to an utmost extreme.  Allies and enemies were made and Yun still wasn't sure which was which these days. 

The Syndicate's ties with the Yakuza were on perilously thin ice and she had others handling things for the tenure.  But it wasn't that folly that plagued her mind.  There were rumors going around the Precinct that the boy god of Dorian's had returned from the depths of the underworld with a great victory.  Though no one had really said what it was he did -- they didn't know and Dorian Vega was tight lipped as usual.  More so than usual actually.  His family was still in her cross hairs, though it seemed as if the Vega's had little concern for their wellbeing as they scattered to the winds.  Even Dorian seemed less inclined to protect himself from the bullet that could land between his eyes.

But the man hadn't crossed her yet -- he was forthright with everything including her invitation to her domain yet again.  He sat across from her in his gray suit with a smirk on his face. 

"Tell me Detective what your boy god has done?"

[[continued from here]]

 

The tears building in Raffe’s eyes only made the decision to leave all the more right. He couldn’t watch Raffe in pain, and he couldn’t make watch Raffe watch him fall apart. It took all he had to walk down the steps and out the side door. The music from the club pounding to a comforting beat but Nox didn’t stop to listen or watch or even paid it much mind as he headed down the alley towards the tunnels. His heart pounded in his chest. Tears burned his eyes as they fell on his cheeks. The release of emotion raw and powerful in his chest. But he didn’t make a sound.

Everything he touched fell apart. His world had shattered, and he walked away. Nox reached through the grime covered power and grappled with the one tangible thing he could fight. The power raged inside, it tore through his body and he wanted to let it. Anger and hunger collided with one another. He was starving and the power pulled at the earth and Nox wanted to dump everything into the ground below. He wanted to let it burn him up, but that was giving up and he wasn’t about to let his feelings win, his demons weren’t every going to fucking win.

Nox pushed it away and collapsed against the nearest wall. Tears fell and Nox just let it all out. It was his turn to grieve.

***

The tears ran dry and Nox didn’t know how long he’d sat in the shadows. It was even later now and his stomach rumbled. Nox pulled himself off the ground and down the street. He wanted food. Needed food. Every other avenue of his outlets was out of the question now.

Nox headed for the nearest place to eat. It was a hole in the wall, barely open with barely anything of note to eat — mostly fried food and gross things that would make him feel even worse later, but he’d deal with that later.

Nox sat down at a table and ordered a burger and fries with a chocolate milkshake.

And then a second and third burger, he ditched the buns and just ate the burger and limp lettuce and tomatoes. His stomach still rumbled but his cash was thin. And he was nodding off as he ate. How long had he been up?

He grabbed a forth burger to go and headed for the nearest motel. He’d have to get with Sage soon and get a new wallet.

Sleep was next though — maybe a whole fucking week.

***

Without an alarm Nox had no idea how what time it was, what day. There was a knock on the door. That must have been what woke him up. Nox climbed out of bed and answered the door in the same clothes he’d been wearing when he left Kallisti. A courier handed him a clip board. ”Nox Durante?”

”Yeah.” Nox signed his name and took the box that came with it. ”Thanks.”

Sage being on the ball. Nox looked across the street and up and down the side of the motel and looked for any cameras. Finding one nested under the roof Nox gave the camera a wave and a nod in thanks and went back inside. Nox sighed as he opened the box and shut the door. Connected again.

The screen flicked on and Nox glanced at the time. It wasn’t even more than 8 hours. No wonder he still felt like shit.

Nox growled as looked at the empty recent call list. Nox wanted to send Raffe a text. But that wasn’t space and surely wasn’t even time.

But life went on. There were a lot of things he had to do and sleeping in motels wasn’t on his favorite things to do — promises he hadn’t fulfilled. Jobs he hadn’t finished. Obligations he needed to complete.

His stomach growled and his head was pounding. Food and more sleep were necessary, but that might not happen in that order or for a while.

He checked his schedule with Kallisti and check in the precinct since he’d gotten back. His mind reeled with all the things he needs to do — all he wanted to.

First thing he did was send Carmen a text.

Elyse is a good egg. She is like Kasun but in control always. Former hunter like me. Cuts the mustard for extra help in a pinch if the girls like her or not.”

Raffe had mentioned the refugees and there was a lump in his throat when he thought about losing the only place he had called home. He had to do that too, make amends there. He’d ordered deaths — that was going to be hard to handle if anyone remembered him.

So many things. Nox’s stomach rumbled again. Food first and coffee. Nox yawned, he was going to need that too.

***

Nox stopped at his storage unit where he kept all his dad’s old gear from America. Restocked some jerky and rations in his pack with some water and put the rest of his hunting gear sans the land warriors in their storage box. Salvation came with him, but Nox put Damnation back into the storage locker for the guns. He didn’t need the temptation so easy at hand. Took a lot more effort to hurt yourself with a knife than a gun. At least if you wanted to do it right. He’d given it thought a few times in his life, but right now wasn’t one of those times he wanted to even entertain it. He had enough ammo to hurt himself, but on weapon outside the power was still necessary for survival.

It was too early to hit the Almaz right now. But it wasn’t too early to scope the surrounding area out. Nor to late to find a safe spot to spend the next few nights in the tunnels. Sleeping in a bed was nice, but right now Nox didn’t feel like pampering himself.

His father would have made him sleep on the rocks without a sleeping bag if he’d broken a promise. The thoughts still fueled Nox’s own thoughts though he knew better. But it was his plan.

Nox looked on the lotus with a frown. ”What do I do with you Lily? Carry around the pretty flower or lock you in here with the rest of my treasure?” He sighed and sprayed the petals with water before wrapping her back up in air. He couldn’t leave her here anymore than he could have at Kallisti. His last hope to cling to.

Got Bored.Also needed a Dabble Cover for my First Age Project cause it doesn't have one.  So I finished up a project I started.

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...happy holidays, and happy New Year everyone!!!

Here's to a great 2023 at FA. 

You all are awesome!!

Ian

Elke’s arrival in Moscow was on a day just like any other day. The train station linked up with the main Moscow terminal, which Elke wandered lost for quite a while. The trains all looked alike and the symbols and boards were confusing. Eventually, she was deposited at a station that someone said was good for tourists. She smiled and thanked. them for the advice. There was a big lake in the distance that drew her fancy for a while, but when someone bumped into her, it pushed her attention to the view ahead.

The bridge leading to a cookie cutter outline of buildings was full of people. Some had packages tucked under their arms. Others were distracted by devices. A girl was currently videoing herself posing in front of the pretty buildings.

They were all pointy and painted with designs that reminded Elke of the quaint buildings of the Alps. She smiled to herself and followed the flow of the crowd into the interior. It was an open-air market and Elke smiled broadly as she wandered the stalls. She paused in front of a display of hand-painted nesting dolls and picked one up to examine it.

She offered to buy the doll, and pulled out a cheap, single-use wallet to make the payment. It took her half way traveling across Europe before she learned that money only worked on these devices. She picked one up at a local corner pharmacy store. It was all beat up and cracked. The battery was almost dead. But she held it out for the worker to scan when someone bumped into her.

She fell down with an oof, realizing that the assailant had grabbed her bag and ducked into the crowd.

“Hey!” Stop!"

Massive thanks to @AidenFinnegan for showing me the wonders of Lensa - an AI-powered app that can generate what they call "magic avatars." 

I put my stock photos of Nik through it and 100 images popped back out. These are some of my favorites, although there are many more good ones. I thought I would share! It was about ~$5 cost. If you end up doing any, share them with us here! 

Also, Nikolai - oh my. 

  

  

  

If anyone has someone that you'd like to have healed, please send me a message or post here. The idea is that Jensen doesn't know is going on and  that the Ascendancy and Scion are going to very carefully select who gets healed based on their personal networks and connections to the custody. So if say for example there are a bunch of homeless that needs healing, Jensen would go only if it is filtered through the right channels and approved first. Jensen's side of the deal is that he can't reveal who he is. He is an extension of the ascendancy only - so that way the CCD gets all the credit for these good deeds.

iáomai, ee-ah'-om-ahee, Greek
Iaomai is used literally of deliverance from physical diseases and afflictions and so to make whole, restore to bodily health or heal.



“You are an interesting man, Mr. James,” spoke a deep voice roughened by a hard life. Jensen didn’t know what to expect when he was summoned to the meeting this afternoon. All he knew was the time and the name of the hall buried deep within the Kremlin’s many offices. He’d wandered the halls for weeks now that he was becoming a recognized face. There were few smiles and rare nods of heads but he was recognizing others in return. When he swiveled in the chair, the man that entered was similarly known to him, but not from happenstance passings. It was one of the men that ushered them from the United States. He’d kept close company with Scion Marveet, Jensen recalled them speaking frequently. He was dressed in a suit not unlike the one Jensen wore, but it was clearly a label where Jensen’s was off-the-rack delivered to the guest room he occupied. 

“I’m actually quite boring,” Jensen replied in acceptance of the bottle water being offered. He twisted off the cap eagerly. He’d not had much water that day, although he’d been drinking plenty.

“I would disagree,” the man responded, pushing forward a screen. It woke when Jensen dragged it nearer, and his throat tightened when he realized what it was displaying.

It was video of the auditorium where the  Patheos rally took place. The gathering had meant to be a show of unity between all the world religions in support of the revelation of channelers. A shooting ended the event, and Sigvard nearly died. The Gift was captured on camera and Jensen became swarmed like the crowds seeking to touch the hem of Jesus’ robe.

He pushed the screen away with a sigh. “There is a world of hurting people. I can’t save them all, but I can’t save anyone from in here.”

“The Ascendancy agrees,” he replied.

Jensen shook his head with incomprehension.

The man went on. “My name is Special Agent Commander Kaleb Devarona. You’ll be under my protection. Please follow me,” he said. Next, Jensen was led to a part of the Kremlin he’d never seen before. He’d never even seen the entrance to the elevator. When he emerged, it was in some sort of tactical operation facility. Although not exactly like the research facility he’d seen previously.

There were no doctors or laboratory equipment here. This was for people like the Special agent commander. Jensen was led to a room with locked panels surrounding every wall. The special agent showed Jensen one in particular.
“Put your hand on this scanner,” he showed him. Jensen complied curiously as the reader scanned his palm. The light turned green and the sound of magnetic locks released.

A three-piece white suit was revealed. At first glance, it was cut like a business suit but for the cloth seeming to be made of something more structured than silk. It was designed with white with shades of gray and silver accents. The Ascendancy’s emblem was displayed on the shoulder but for being completely silvered. It also included a hoodie and gloves.

Jensen picked up what he thought was a bag, but upon turning it over, found it to be a mask. It was soft and stretched easily. It was also just as white as the rest of the outfit, and there appeared to be a different texture over the place where the nose, mouth and eyes would fit.

Kaleb came to stand beside him. “You’ll be an agent for the Ascendancy, but we have to protect your identity. The Custodies are working on erasing the knowledge that Jensen James can perform miracles, but until then, this is for your safety as much as anyone’s.”

Jensen blinked. “Ascendancy is going to let me help people?” he asked.
“Yes. That was the plan all along, Jensen. We had to figure out a way to do this safely. The suit is a carbon fiber kevlar grade. It will stop a bullet. The mask has some tech in it that you’ll need to train with.”

Jensen tugged the mask over his head and as soon as it slid into place, the eyes illuminated.
“I can’t wear this while I heal people. Someone on their death bed will be terrified,” he said even as he peered upon the world through this new technological gaze.

“You’ve no idea what kind of facial recognition technology exists, Jensen,” Kaleb explained. “There is only one way to make sure you aren’t  identified. Remember, this is for more protection than just you.”

“What do you mean?” Jensen asked.

“You’re acting at the behest of the Ascendancy,” he pointed out the emblem on the suit’s lapel. “That will offer you protection, but as you said, you can’t heal the whole world. For every person you help, there will be ten who demand your head simply out of envy.”

Inside the mask, Jensen frowned. This was the dilemma that kept him stonewalled for so long already. How could he help someone without helping everyone.

“Then there are the patients themselves. The world might tear you apart trying to get your attention. Anyone that you help along the way may be a target. Are you ready for this?”

The weight of the task was overwhelming, but he knew he couldn’t wait to get started.
“I am so ready,” he said and immediately started to undress.




((Costume's inspiration came from the early renditions of Mr. Knight's design.))