07-02-2014, 05:26 PM
Nikolai was still as a corpse. From the faint line formed across his mouth, Nikolai spoke to his agents. "Where is he?"
Alric touched his earpiece briefly, but never pulled his gaze from their surroundings. "CSS Kremlin Command's facial recognition programs are running, Ascendancy. Sixty percent complete."
The days were far advanced from those when the Chevelier Guard, whose honored rooms he traversed on the way, protected the Kremlin. Today, technology resembling the science-fiction films of his youth shielded the two-hundred seventy-five square kilometers that enclosed his center of power. In the minutes he'd stood there, only sixty percent were scanned? It was almost 2046, the delay was unacceptable. He made a note to order the upgrade to a higher powered system immediately. If one could not be found, it needed to be designed. The human mind worked at remarkable pace given adequate incentive.
Alric spoke again. "Facial match identified, Ascendancy."
The Barrier agent, perhaps Nik's most trusted, stepped around to face him. "He's on the way."
His tone suggested Alric did not approve.
Nikolai nodded. "Do not interfere unless I signal. You are not to give yourself away except in the most dire of needs."
Alric accepted the order without comment and crossed to cover the opposite side of the hall. His partner took up a similar stance opposite.
There they waited until the young man made himself known.
The power that held the universe together suddenly surged like a storm through Nikolai. It was no more than half as much as he knew he could handle, but it was enough to send any one of his kind into a panic, enough to thrill his soul with rapturous joy.
From the epicenter of his being, dozens of coils of Essence burst unseen by mortal eyes. For the brief moment they existed, Nik drank in the silvery sparks like a child possessed by his first firework show, but the sparks of Essence diminished as quickly as they came into being. In the aftermath stood Marcus, raging power of his own.
Nikolai released it and stepped forward. His two companions were twin-shadows as he did. The power remained close to his grasp, however. Smply because he was urging Marcus to do the same did not mean Nikolai was lowering his defenses.
"Was it you, then? The flash at dinner?"
Nikolai spoke steady, but coolly expectant as he approached. He'd formed his own conclusions, but he wanted to hear the young man admit it himself. "A risk. You might not be here if I had seen you when it happened. I do not tolerate impertinence."
The implication of having slaughtered his newest Sigma on an instinct was admitted without remorse.
He might have lost a potential weapon, not to mention a Sigma, because of a foolish desire for.. what? Attention? A stern warning accompanied the suggestion.
Alric touched his earpiece briefly, but never pulled his gaze from their surroundings. "CSS Kremlin Command's facial recognition programs are running, Ascendancy. Sixty percent complete."
The days were far advanced from those when the Chevelier Guard, whose honored rooms he traversed on the way, protected the Kremlin. Today, technology resembling the science-fiction films of his youth shielded the two-hundred seventy-five square kilometers that enclosed his center of power. In the minutes he'd stood there, only sixty percent were scanned? It was almost 2046, the delay was unacceptable. He made a note to order the upgrade to a higher powered system immediately. If one could not be found, it needed to be designed. The human mind worked at remarkable pace given adequate incentive.
Alric spoke again. "Facial match identified, Ascendancy."
The Barrier agent, perhaps Nik's most trusted, stepped around to face him. "He's on the way."
His tone suggested Alric did not approve.
Nikolai nodded. "Do not interfere unless I signal. You are not to give yourself away except in the most dire of needs."
Alric accepted the order without comment and crossed to cover the opposite side of the hall. His partner took up a similar stance opposite.
There they waited until the young man made himself known.
The power that held the universe together suddenly surged like a storm through Nikolai. It was no more than half as much as he knew he could handle, but it was enough to send any one of his kind into a panic, enough to thrill his soul with rapturous joy.
From the epicenter of his being, dozens of coils of Essence burst unseen by mortal eyes. For the brief moment they existed, Nik drank in the silvery sparks like a child possessed by his first firework show, but the sparks of Essence diminished as quickly as they came into being. In the aftermath stood Marcus, raging power of his own.
Nikolai released it and stepped forward. His two companions were twin-shadows as he did. The power remained close to his grasp, however. Smply because he was urging Marcus to do the same did not mean Nikolai was lowering his defenses.
"Was it you, then? The flash at dinner?"
Nikolai spoke steady, but coolly expectant as he approached. He'd formed his own conclusions, but he wanted to hear the young man admit it himself. "A risk. You might not be here if I had seen you when it happened. I do not tolerate impertinence."
The implication of having slaughtered his newest Sigma on an instinct was admitted without remorse.
He might have lost a potential weapon, not to mention a Sigma, because of a foolish desire for.. what? Attention? A stern warning accompanied the suggestion.