12-21-2014, 12:26 AM
Glad for the elevator ride to be over, Michael stepped out into the iron-clad hallway. The red glow did nothing to endear him to the place, but it was Nikolai's words that interested him.
Whoever had designed the upgraded features had done an impressive job. The idea was ingenious, he had to admit, but the premise made his shoulders itch.
He withheld his full judgement for the moment but the dark storm in the back of his mind watched and remembered.
When Nikolai turned to him, the gleam in the man's eyes spoke volumes. Consequently the burst of power came as no surprise. Why Nikolai snapped to attention he could not say.
The revelation, if it was meant to be a grand surprise, did not hit its mark. Michael only nodded. He would expect nothing less from a man with Nikolai's influence.
It scratched at him like a hundred gnats, but he would have done the same thing. Trust power to too few and the allure of betrayal would prove too strong for some. The burden of power was not supposed to be a comfort. A commander should never be comfortable in using the power he wielded. Complacency bred mistakes.
"Impressive,"
he said, although his voice held no amazement or glowing praise. He acknowledged the competence but words were deceptive. He needed to see for himself. "I would like to see these weapons as soon as possible, they are of great interest to me."
Redundant speaking to Nikolai, but his assignment was not widely known. He would not be the one to let slip, even if Marcus already knew. "By your leave of course,"
he added. "Unless Sigma Marcus has any questions."
Whoever had designed the upgraded features had done an impressive job. The idea was ingenious, he had to admit, but the premise made his shoulders itch.
He withheld his full judgement for the moment but the dark storm in the back of his mind watched and remembered.
When Nikolai turned to him, the gleam in the man's eyes spoke volumes. Consequently the burst of power came as no surprise. Why Nikolai snapped to attention he could not say.
The revelation, if it was meant to be a grand surprise, did not hit its mark. Michael only nodded. He would expect nothing less from a man with Nikolai's influence.
It scratched at him like a hundred gnats, but he would have done the same thing. Trust power to too few and the allure of betrayal would prove too strong for some. The burden of power was not supposed to be a comfort. A commander should never be comfortable in using the power he wielded. Complacency bred mistakes.
"Impressive,"
he said, although his voice held no amazement or glowing praise. He acknowledged the competence but words were deceptive. He needed to see for himself. "I would like to see these weapons as soon as possible, they are of great interest to me."
Redundant speaking to Nikolai, but his assignment was not widely known. He would not be the one to let slip, even if Marcus already knew. "By your leave of course,"
he added. "Unless Sigma Marcus has any questions."
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."