10-26-2016, 08:14 PM
Marcus guarded his face and body language carefully, after that initial reaction, showing instead only friendly interest- especially in the upcoming healing. She knew about that mist creature. He had killed it, true. But he wanted to know more.
It seemed she had fought them before, her and James. Was he Atharim after being a disgraced pastor? Or had he always been one? There was not enough information for him to tell yet.
What he did know was that there was a cover story about what happened and the ZARs officer was cautioning her about what she revealed. Despite being what appeared to be a trusted officer- very trusted, since he had been allowed in the Ascendancy's presence despite his power. And had tracked down a healer- obviously, someone from on high had decided that the truth could not be known.
The reasons were obvious. There would be panic. Fear. Probably riots. But there would also be those who would take advantage of the power vacuum, should something happen to Ascendancy. The Sphere would collapse into fighting among themselves even as nations reasserted their independence- and more. The hunger to empire had not been quashed. And of course, the sleeping giant across the waters, the United States, would not let an opportunity slip by. At least not if they had any sense. These days, though, given the lack of political leadership, they might very well.
The story would give time and hold people in abeyance, prevent things from exploding at once. They could not have known that a healer had been- or could be- found. There was only one real place the story could have come from. Bykov and Vladilavovna. He almost smiled at their audacity. It was brilliant. And potentially, it might even allow them to throw their hat into the ring. They already controlled the media and information.
How would he feel about that, if the Ascendancy had died and they succeeded in taking over? While he admired them- learned from them, studied them and what they did, was impressed by their skill- was he willing to take a back seat to ones such as them? They were not Ascendancy. But they were part of his arm, his control. He decided he would not have challenged them yet. He could play a long game too. And he was younger- much younger- than them. More than that, he had his own tricks. They weren't as permanent or far reaching but he had already used them create a small network of people loyal to him, who fed him information. He would have surpassed them, in time. And in time, if he was in their circle...
All moot, now. The crisis had passed. Except that wasn't true either. There was always the possibility of accident. The Ascendancy was crucial to his plans. He did not chafe at the idea of being an apprentice. But one day, in the future, he would be ready to take his place. Just as Bykov and Vladislavovna had.
Sometimes he despaired of everything he would have to learn, that he would run out of time. But nothing worth doing was easy. The challenge was before him. He would make use of every opportunity, take advantage of every possibility.
Like this woman- a former Atharim, she called herself. Was that before or after their attack? She was the one who called out how to kill it. More likely a double agent. Ascendancy knew they were coming. And she named the creature. Ijiraq. There was some comfort in knowing its name. He had never seen anything one might call out of the ordinary- well, aside from the Force- the power. Yet Ascendancy spoke of other creatures, things she probably knew of. She possessed the knowledge he wanted.
He looked over at James before answering. It should be obvious to him the tale about a bomb was untrue, if he was paying attention. Still, it could be spun the right way. He would have to understand that the truth would have been far more devastating, had it become common knowledge. Then again, the man was emotional. That made him harder to predict, in some ways.
So...to walk the line. He still needed James. But he wanted what this girl had. His face remained amiable. "Marcus DuBois, of the Sigma program. As for the how, you were the one who provided the final clue. Freezing it. You came at the right moment."
He had been moving in that direction himself, though whether the damage from the microwaves- it had to be EM emissions- would have overcome him beforehand, he couldn't honestly say. He signed inwardly. Yet another thing to consider, now. "Thank you for the timely assistance."
As for the rest, he would not answer here. In private, perhaps. At least he knew why she had been following the butcher now. Pleasure wormed its way up at the memory, but he tamped it down.
It seemed she had fought them before, her and James. Was he Atharim after being a disgraced pastor? Or had he always been one? There was not enough information for him to tell yet.
What he did know was that there was a cover story about what happened and the ZARs officer was cautioning her about what she revealed. Despite being what appeared to be a trusted officer- very trusted, since he had been allowed in the Ascendancy's presence despite his power. And had tracked down a healer- obviously, someone from on high had decided that the truth could not be known.
The reasons were obvious. There would be panic. Fear. Probably riots. But there would also be those who would take advantage of the power vacuum, should something happen to Ascendancy. The Sphere would collapse into fighting among themselves even as nations reasserted their independence- and more. The hunger to empire had not been quashed. And of course, the sleeping giant across the waters, the United States, would not let an opportunity slip by. At least not if they had any sense. These days, though, given the lack of political leadership, they might very well.
The story would give time and hold people in abeyance, prevent things from exploding at once. They could not have known that a healer had been- or could be- found. There was only one real place the story could have come from. Bykov and Vladilavovna. He almost smiled at their audacity. It was brilliant. And potentially, it might even allow them to throw their hat into the ring. They already controlled the media and information.
How would he feel about that, if the Ascendancy had died and they succeeded in taking over? While he admired them- learned from them, studied them and what they did, was impressed by their skill- was he willing to take a back seat to ones such as them? They were not Ascendancy. But they were part of his arm, his control. He decided he would not have challenged them yet. He could play a long game too. And he was younger- much younger- than them. More than that, he had his own tricks. They weren't as permanent or far reaching but he had already used them create a small network of people loyal to him, who fed him information. He would have surpassed them, in time. And in time, if he was in their circle...
All moot, now. The crisis had passed. Except that wasn't true either. There was always the possibility of accident. The Ascendancy was crucial to his plans. He did not chafe at the idea of being an apprentice. But one day, in the future, he would be ready to take his place. Just as Bykov and Vladislavovna had.
Sometimes he despaired of everything he would have to learn, that he would run out of time. But nothing worth doing was easy. The challenge was before him. He would make use of every opportunity, take advantage of every possibility.
Like this woman- a former Atharim, she called herself. Was that before or after their attack? She was the one who called out how to kill it. More likely a double agent. Ascendancy knew they were coming. And she named the creature. Ijiraq. There was some comfort in knowing its name. He had never seen anything one might call out of the ordinary- well, aside from the Force- the power. Yet Ascendancy spoke of other creatures, things she probably knew of. She possessed the knowledge he wanted.
He looked over at James before answering. It should be obvious to him the tale about a bomb was untrue, if he was paying attention. Still, it could be spun the right way. He would have to understand that the truth would have been far more devastating, had it become common knowledge. Then again, the man was emotional. That made him harder to predict, in some ways.
So...to walk the line. He still needed James. But he wanted what this girl had. His face remained amiable. "Marcus DuBois, of the Sigma program. As for the how, you were the one who provided the final clue. Freezing it. You came at the right moment."
He had been moving in that direction himself, though whether the damage from the microwaves- it had to be EM emissions- would have overcome him beforehand, he couldn't honestly say. He signed inwardly. Yet another thing to consider, now. "Thank you for the timely assistance."
As for the rest, he would not answer here. In private, perhaps. At least he knew why she had been following the butcher now. Pleasure wormed its way up at the memory, but he tamped it down.