12-24-2014, 05:01 PM
He'd not purposefully misled Michael, but the commander seemed to have concluded that the weapons Nikolai mentioned were something entirely different than what he'd meant.
He intended to lead the two proteges through the Facility, but before they journeyed far, Director Stephenson hurried around the corner. The old man appeared as Nikolai remembered: a stout with thick white hair. He seemed to be wearing the same lab coat; although wrinkled from constant wear, it was clean.
"Director,"
Nikolai greeted. The man nodded respectfully, but his gaze slid to Nikolai's companions.
"Ascendancy. An honor again, sir."
The Director was not military, but was a reknown CCD scientist none the less.
"Gentlemen this is Director Stephenson. He is in charge of scientific operations here. Director, Commander Michael Vellas and Sigma Marcus DuBois."
The Director nodded politely, but did not seem interested in bowing and scraping for the impressively titled guests.
"Excuse my tardiness, Ascendancy. There was a minor incident moments after I was notified of your arrival."
The Director gave away nothing as to the result of that incident, although Nikolai guessed as to its nature.
He gestured and the group walked onward. As they progressed, the feel of a rusty bunker transformed into something state-of-the-art. Behind thick glass panels were an array of rooms filled with equipment monitored by busy staff, all wearing similar lab coats as the Director. None looked up as the group passed.
"And where is Doctor Weston?"
Nikolai interrupted the Director's update, which was unchanged from the morning's briefing.
"She's attending to the incident,"
the Director replied coolly. "Would you like to see the recording? Nothing seems to be different from any other outburst, but I know you've attended to it before and might like to follow up."
Nikolai shook his head. "I can't save the world."
He wasn't pleased by the situation, certainly, but such was why Michael was now involved.
"The Facility is going to go through something of a transition, Director."
Nikolai began about the time they reached an internal elevator. The Director hid his surprise well.
"Several of our best candidates are going to be transferred into Commander Vellas' care."
It was why Michael was here, after all.
He intended to lead the two proteges through the Facility, but before they journeyed far, Director Stephenson hurried around the corner. The old man appeared as Nikolai remembered: a stout with thick white hair. He seemed to be wearing the same lab coat; although wrinkled from constant wear, it was clean.
"Director,"
Nikolai greeted. The man nodded respectfully, but his gaze slid to Nikolai's companions.
"Ascendancy. An honor again, sir."
The Director was not military, but was a reknown CCD scientist none the less.
"Gentlemen this is Director Stephenson. He is in charge of scientific operations here. Director, Commander Michael Vellas and Sigma Marcus DuBois."
The Director nodded politely, but did not seem interested in bowing and scraping for the impressively titled guests.
"Excuse my tardiness, Ascendancy. There was a minor incident moments after I was notified of your arrival."
The Director gave away nothing as to the result of that incident, although Nikolai guessed as to its nature.
He gestured and the group walked onward. As they progressed, the feel of a rusty bunker transformed into something state-of-the-art. Behind thick glass panels were an array of rooms filled with equipment monitored by busy staff, all wearing similar lab coats as the Director. None looked up as the group passed.
"And where is Doctor Weston?"
Nikolai interrupted the Director's update, which was unchanged from the morning's briefing.
"She's attending to the incident,"
the Director replied coolly. "Would you like to see the recording? Nothing seems to be different from any other outburst, but I know you've attended to it before and might like to follow up."
Nikolai shook his head. "I can't save the world."
He wasn't pleased by the situation, certainly, but such was why Michael was now involved.
"The Facility is going to go through something of a transition, Director."
Nikolai began about the time they reached an internal elevator. The Director hid his surprise well.
"Several of our best candidates are going to be transferred into Commander Vellas' care."
It was why Michael was here, after all.