12-02-2016, 04:18 AM
Michael prowled around the outskirts of the vigil being held for Nikolai. Rykovi, al'Kaddis and Petrovic walked behind him, trying to act discreet, as if any of the original 8 could do so now. They had grown, they had seen battle, and it had changed them. These three in particular. Allan Rykovi, a most talented young British man, the only Ascendant he truly trusted, the first he could call an ally. Karim al'Kaddis, the Iranian born man who was the most grounded of the Ascendants, a leader and teacher. Michael hoped that Karim would be his second ally, but he had to be sure, for his plans, more certain than any one of the others.
Finally Petrovic. He was certainly not an ally. The young Russian's eyes burned with a fathomless hunger. Others were more powerful, more dangerous, but Petrovic was the most unpredictable, and Michael would keep him as close as possible.
A candle-lit vigil with teary-eyed worshippers surrounding a ridiculous giant statue would have been amusing if it were not so deadly serious. Michael had begun to understand why Nikolai felt like a god.
Unfortunately for his delusions, he was not. That could get him killed. Just like it almost had. If Michael had been there, things would have been different. He should have been there. No doubt Nikolai would hold that against him.
While the great Ascendancy was attacked in his own home by fanatic fools who had gotten their hands on something truly dangerous, Michael and his best had fought a battle unlike any that had ever occurred before. Nearly a score of Ascendant beings wielding destructive force against one another.
In his mind he could already see the flames of war. A new age of war that they had not even scratched the surface of. The possibilities were endless. Those in the Facility discovered new things, new nets and webs to spin for all kinds of purposes. As the numbers grew - they stood now at 32 - he was sure that more would be discovered.
The familiar feeling of the Ascendant power thrust him into the present once more. He waved off the three men behind him as he spotted the source nearby.
With a tinge of distaste sticking in his throat, he strode towards Marcus DuBois. "Good evening,"
he greeted the man coolly. "Sanjay is quiet pleased that he has been allowed to work with you. He will no doubt be of great service."
Michael came to a halt and stood beside the man, turning to watch the crowd. "Were you with the Ascendancy when the attack happened? I regret I was not."
He paused. "We did, however, manage to destroy what was left of Theo Andalain's followers. Things seemed to have worked out well. The Ascendancy looks healthier than ever."
Finally Petrovic. He was certainly not an ally. The young Russian's eyes burned with a fathomless hunger. Others were more powerful, more dangerous, but Petrovic was the most unpredictable, and Michael would keep him as close as possible.
A candle-lit vigil with teary-eyed worshippers surrounding a ridiculous giant statue would have been amusing if it were not so deadly serious. Michael had begun to understand why Nikolai felt like a god.
Unfortunately for his delusions, he was not. That could get him killed. Just like it almost had. If Michael had been there, things would have been different. He should have been there. No doubt Nikolai would hold that against him.
While the great Ascendancy was attacked in his own home by fanatic fools who had gotten their hands on something truly dangerous, Michael and his best had fought a battle unlike any that had ever occurred before. Nearly a score of Ascendant beings wielding destructive force against one another.
In his mind he could already see the flames of war. A new age of war that they had not even scratched the surface of. The possibilities were endless. Those in the Facility discovered new things, new nets and webs to spin for all kinds of purposes. As the numbers grew - they stood now at 32 - he was sure that more would be discovered.
The familiar feeling of the Ascendant power thrust him into the present once more. He waved off the three men behind him as he spotted the source nearby.
With a tinge of distaste sticking in his throat, he strode towards Marcus DuBois. "Good evening,"
he greeted the man coolly. "Sanjay is quiet pleased that he has been allowed to work with you. He will no doubt be of great service."
Michael came to a halt and stood beside the man, turning to watch the crowd. "Were you with the Ascendancy when the attack happened? I regret I was not."
He paused. "We did, however, manage to destroy what was left of Theo Andalain's followers. Things seemed to have worked out well. The Ascendancy looks healthier than ever."
"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."