07-19-2016, 10:40 PM
The plan with Aria and the Atharim was set. In a matter of hours, the Regus and his Second would be dead and Aria would remake the Atharim in an imagine crafted by Nikolai. Their silent war would be ended, and he could turn his attention to pacifying a world suddenly turned to chaos.
As always, he walked with company. The moment he emerged on ground level, he was joined by Viktor Stepanovich, deputy-consul chief of staff. Security was his utmost concern, the market's reaction secondary, and reports on both were never ending. Victor was still reeling from the earlier press conference.
"I still don't understand why you told the world about these Atharim and didn't tell me! Any of us! What made you give away that kind of secret without verification?"
Nikolai felt his jaw tense. He had nothing in the way of a good answer. In the moment, under the heat of the lights, his voice carried on without second thought as though it was the most natural thing in the world. That he was almost sick with regret was beside the point, he had to own it. Victor, despite his trustworthiness, had to believe it was the Ascendancy's chosen strategy. That it might result in the Regus's death was luck.
He was formulating an explanation when noise filtered through the fortress walls. They paused at a window, but the view of the Red Square was obstructed by the high Kremlin walls. "What is going on out there?"
Victor pulled a security feed, "the consequences of your actions."
Nikolai's gaze shifted sharply to the deputy-consul, "enough, Viktor. I have noted your disagreement with my strategy. Move on and keep doing your job. Together, we keep the CCD strong. Now tell me, are the crowds benevolent? Benign? Or hostile?"
Viktor's tone softened, "it seems to be a mix of all three, Ascendancy."
He felt the pull to go outside. To address the crowd. Even if only to show his face and feel the beating heart of their urgency on the air. But was this temptation of his own making? Or like when he spoke of the Atharim, and submission to a foreign and dangerous whim?
As always, he walked with company. The moment he emerged on ground level, he was joined by Viktor Stepanovich, deputy-consul chief of staff. Security was his utmost concern, the market's reaction secondary, and reports on both were never ending. Victor was still reeling from the earlier press conference.
"I still don't understand why you told the world about these Atharim and didn't tell me! Any of us! What made you give away that kind of secret without verification?"
Nikolai felt his jaw tense. He had nothing in the way of a good answer. In the moment, under the heat of the lights, his voice carried on without second thought as though it was the most natural thing in the world. That he was almost sick with regret was beside the point, he had to own it. Victor, despite his trustworthiness, had to believe it was the Ascendancy's chosen strategy. That it might result in the Regus's death was luck.
He was formulating an explanation when noise filtered through the fortress walls. They paused at a window, but the view of the Red Square was obstructed by the high Kremlin walls. "What is going on out there?"
Victor pulled a security feed, "the consequences of your actions."
Nikolai's gaze shifted sharply to the deputy-consul, "enough, Viktor. I have noted your disagreement with my strategy. Move on and keep doing your job. Together, we keep the CCD strong. Now tell me, are the crowds benevolent? Benign? Or hostile?"
Viktor's tone softened, "it seems to be a mix of all three, Ascendancy."
He felt the pull to go outside. To address the crowd. Even if only to show his face and feel the beating heart of their urgency on the air. But was this temptation of his own making? Or like when he spoke of the Atharim, and submission to a foreign and dangerous whim?