Fantasy Consumed By Sins

[Ayl]

The capital city of the country of Moira, Tabasco, home to the United Nations of Avendal Embassy, where all the country diplomats came together once a month to discuss urgent matters concerning the security, well-fare and overall state of affairs, was now in uproar. It is no surprise, however, seeing as the current external relationships with the Erinwhar Coalition was reaching a boilling point long-overdue. For decades now, the two political blocks have been locked in a tight cold war, where espionage and backhanded comments have been the main mutual treatment, despite the numerous attempts at a peaceful agreement concerning the rights for the Red Matter deposits scattered around the world of Aurora.


Each alliance proclaimed they needed more resources for their industry, and each time they would face rejection, for the Red Matter, like all the other energy sources, were starting to dry up. Misteriously, one point would sprout out of nowhere, where the people would least expect, and quickly be mined up by the governments, who detained monopoly over the trade of Scarlet Crystals.


Now, after a long silent period of time, another tragedy has befallen the nations of Avendal. Secret projects that were under development, were reported missing only a day ago. Blueprints of weapons capable of mind-numbing levels of destruction, based on Red Matter, have all but vanished, without a trace, from secure vaults kept in classified locations, accesible by only a handful of scientists.


Now, the leaders of the nations of Avendal reunite, ahead of schedule, to discuss the possible ramifications of this event and how to deal with it. For this, they have summoned the head of the scientific team that was in charge of the projects, to advise on the following course of action. A special task force is being put together, formed out of only the best from the United Nations' Army, to help stop what could prove a future catastrophy!


@Kharmin

 

[Kharmin]

The transport lurched and sighed to a stop outside the nondescript five-story building deep within the heart of the city. Despite the metallic groans and slap-dash appearance of the vehicle, the passers-by paid it no heed while they set about on their own, daily tasks.


The day was hot, unnecessarily so by the lone passenger's opinion. As she released the worn and aged seat restraint, she peered through the grime-streaked window at the building of her destination. With a quick swipe of her fingers through her hair, she exited the transport and was immediately assaulted by the humidity that permeated the city.


"That will be all," she said to the driver with a haunting voice, deeper than what might have otherwise been expected from her smaller, lithe frame.


"Yes, ma'am," the driver replied. She closed the door and watched as the decrepit machine ambled its way along the thoroughfare away from her. It belched dark, noxious smoke from the exhaust pipe at the rear, turned a corner to the left and was gone.


Captain Raven Hyde placed her commissioned officer's cap on her head and turned back to the building. 1309 Taylor Street read the sign above the stout metal door, devoid of windows. Raven took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. It had been over eight years since she had last walked through the doors at 1309 Taylor Street. Eight years ago, when she lost her command and was demoted to her current rank. Eight years ago, she swore to never return.


It was an unrealistic expectation she knew at the time. As part of the military apparatus it was only a matter of time before she was once again summoned to this place. No explanation was given, just orders to appear on the appointed day at the appointed time. If nothing else, the military still maintained its structured simplicity.


Raven checked her pistols to ensure that they were safely holstered, the act of which gave her a small level of comfort. Here, in the heart of the city she didn't feel any threat or danger, but the security of the firearms on her person gave her solace. At last, unable to postpone the inevitable any longer, Raven crossed the dried, sun-cracked sidewalk, grasped the handle and entered the building.


* * *


Long, segregated corridors outlined in military precision greeted Raven as she meticulously worked her way through the building. The familiar greenish florescent lights buzzed and ticked in their housings, interspersed along the ceiling to allow for the minimal amount of light without waste according to the latest military codes. Even after her long absence, it seemed nothing had changed other than some of the names on the doors. Others passed in and around her as she progressed, often pausing to snap a quick salute before moving on.


On the third floor, and several halls from the elevator Raven arrived at suite 333. A desk guarded the hallway, behind which stood an MP at stern attention. Seated at the desk, a young woman glanced up at Raven's arrival. Then, the woman stood and saluted. "Second Lieutenant Avery Miles, ma'am," she said with a crisp snap of her posture. Raven figured the woman to be a few years her junior and quite capable with the sheathed sword at her hip. Raven returned the salute.


"You'll be wanting to go right in," Lieutenant Miles suggested as she picked up a clipboard from the desk and made a mark on the paper it held. "General Waverly is expecting you."


Raven suppressed a groan. General Waverly. There was certainly no love lost between the two of them, as he had been integral during her courts martial. General Waverly had sanctioned that Raven be dishonorably discharged, an opinion that fortunately for Raven wasn't shared by the other two judges on the panel. At 2-1, Raven had escaped General Waverly's fate, only to be demoted and reassigned to the worst parts of the continent.


Raven steeled herself. "Thank you, Lieutenant," she said and she moved around the table toward the door. The MP on duty saluted which Raven returned with barely a glance at the man. Her thoughts and worries were solely focused on what awaited her in room 333.


@Ayl

 

[Ayl]

The golden spears of light were protruding through the solid glass of the vehicle he was being transported in. His wrists no longer felt human, the soreness, caused by the metal restraining them, making him very uncomfortable. Not to mention the sound of metal against metal made him want to tear someone's head off.


The whole situation was uncomfortable, really. Some brain-dead idiot had made a mistake and he was the one taking suffering the fallout. But it was no big deal. He knew nothing would happen to him. He was way too valuable an asset to lose. Plus, the current situation demanded a level of rationalisation far beyond the petite minds of governmental officials.


He could feel it. They were drawing close. Soon the imposing building was within sight. His eternal tic of running a finger gently caressing his beard came into effect, the silky material of his gloves increasing the anticipation he felt.


The steam-powered contraption came to a halt soon enough. The man facing the prisoner was the first to make a move. Bulky in stature, he opened the doors that led to the bustle of the city. The onslaught of smells, favours and idle conversations followed soon after. Next was the guard to his left, who rised and watched him patiently.


Letting out a swift chuckle, the cuffed man, dressed like a gentleman, wearing a dark shade of grey suit, complete with a vest of the same color and white shirt, closed by a pitch-black tie addorned with a crest sewn with golden thread, held still with a barely-visible pin.


As one of the guards approached him, as to secure his arm, the captive hastily avoided, letting out a snarl, despite the smirk on his face. "I haven't lost the ability to walk, thank you very much!".


Within the blink of an eye his features got more animalistic as he eyed the other security officer, before starting to walk towards the structure that was know as the head of the United Nations of Avendal.


One thing he hated was the horrid architecture. One would think, with all the money poured into the accounts of the mostly corrupt Union Council, they'd at the very least make their representative building a little more appealing to the eye.


After cutting a few corners, the party of three reached the reception desk, where a military police officer was stationed, along with two women who were conversing. "Oh, how I do appreciate a good round of gossip." he thought for himself.


As soon as the apparent gentleman and his two escorts reached the front of the desk, the gaze of the young one of the pair turned to the main in chains, but just as she opened her mouth to greet them, she was silenced by a hand gesture. "I assure you, I have no interest in whatever you have to say. I assume they are already inside, waiting for me. Good. Which room?" he asked, in a sharp and firm accent.


The young lieutenant, judging by her shoulder stripes, was quite taken aback by the straightforwardnessf of the man that was supposed to be the submissive one. Shaking her head to regain her composure, she mumbled a "333" under her breath, to which her interlocutor nodded, taking his leave.


On his way, he threw the brunette a quick glance, whom also appeared to be military, muttering something unintelligible under his beard, finally pressing on, followed closely from behind by his 'companions'. For some reason, she seemed to be following them. Maybe she also had some role to play in future events.


Soon, they were in front of two, large, oak doors, with three similar silver digits nailed as to identify the room's number, where they stopped. "Well, what are you waiting for? I am supposed to be restrained, remember?" he ordered the two, without wasting time. Frowning, the guards stepped forward and each pulled a door, revealing the well-lit interior of the chamber.


"Well, I believe this is my stop! I will be sure to commend your service to your superior some day, gentlemen, but until then, I'm afraid we shall have to take our leave of one another! Such a shame, your presence was truly a most...entertaining one!" was all he said before stepping inside.


As his footsteps echoed throughout the spacious location, the previous chatter was cut short, as all the eyes in the room were now aimed at the newcomer.


As he reached the center of the room, the nasty voice of the Headmaster of the Council boomed from over the back of the chamber, greeting him appropriately, with a tone of sarcasm hidden behind it.


"Ah, Lord Monmorth! How nice of you to join us on this special occasion!".


The fool thought himself to be funny. His little attempt at humor had a tad of success, however, drawing numerous chuckles from the others present.


"I assure you, Lord Barrimore, it is entirely my pleasure. Although the...gifts you've provided me with," he raised his hands to his chest as to point out the handcuffs holding his arms together "were quite unnecesary. And quite useless, I might add!" he ended, as with a clicking noise, he threw them at the feet of the mass peering at him.


If any of them still had a smirk on their faces, it was all gone now, at the revelation that this entire time, the man deemed the most intelligent, but also the most dangerous, in the world was never really


"Now," Kaleb said, pacing towards the round table, grabbing a seat and sitting down, casually placing his feet, donned in a pair of leather shoes, upon the table, establishing his dominance. "Anyone care to explain why I was dragged from my cozy mansion, all the way across the continent, with an armed escort? I assume it is not because you've missed me!" he jestered.

 

[Kharmin]

Before Raven could get to the suite, a well-dressed man bound in cuffs and under heavy escort walked purposefully toward them. He easily overbore the unprepared lieutenant and brushed past Raven without so much as a care. As the door was opened, and he paraded into the room, Raven eased her way past his bodyguards and took in the scene.


True to military form, nothing had really changed in the eight years since Raven had last been in this suite. Tall, shielded windows occupied one entire wall. Constructed of high-intensity bullet proof glass, the windows were also covered with a one-way polarizing sheet that allowed the occupants within the room a clear if not darkened view of the buildings nearby and the streets below; however, no one from outside could see into the room.


The same, cold, life-stealing florescent lights dominated the worn, beige drop ceiling and cast their ever-constant glow throughout the room. The main feature of suite 333 was the rectangular conference table. It was made of high-quality oak and stained a dark, nut brown, around which fourteen chairs similarly painted accompanied it. High backed and without arms, the chairs cast an unfeeling and unwelcome pall on the set, perhaps considered high fashion in its day now so many years past its due.


A smaller table rested in the far corner on which basic refreshments stood waiting for their inevitable use. Coffee urns, water carafes and an unusually bizarre arrangement of glassware caught the eye as they clashed against the uniformity of the decor.


The wall nearest the door housed a large floor-to-ceiling oak cabinet, inside of which a myriad of maps and charts were stored. When closed, the doors to the cabinet could be used as a easel or for other presentation purposes.


Raven took all of this in while the other visitor protested the manner of his arrival. She failed to catch his name, or the bulk of his ranting because her eyes immediately sought out and locked onto the aged, dark hazel eyes of General Waverly.


The general sat in one of the chairs by the table. The eight years had not been kind to the general as his physique and posture revealed. Typically shaved bald, the general had let his hair grow and the silver-grey that ringed his wrinkled head appeared as a sad halo to testify his passing years. Bedecked in his full uniform, with its dazzling array of medals and ribbons, the general appeared to be weighted down by the very career which had vaulted him to his station.


Raven strode purposefully to him, stopped and snapped to attention. She saluted him with, "Captain Raven Hyde reporting as ordered, sir." The general managed a weak, arm-shaking salute from his chair and his eyes softened.


"Welcome, captain," his raspy, tired voice said with a hint of sincerity. "I'm glad that you were able to make arrangements to be here."


"With all due respect, sir," Raven answered, "one doesn't make excuses when ordered by a general."


"Be that as it may," the general said, "can I not still be glad to see you?"


Raven held her tongue. What was the general playing at? she wondered.


"Please, captain, sit," he said as he indicated the chair to his left. "My tired neck can't keep craning up to look at you."


"Um, thank you, sir," Raven said after a pause. The general was being much too kind, based on her last recollections of the man. He must need something, she thought. Something for which he cannot order me to do.


Raven sat and took a brief moment to survey the remaining guests. Very quickly, she realized that other than General Waverly, she knew not another single soul. This worried her greatly, but she maintained her military discipline and kept her face passive and unsurprised.


The man who had preceded her into the suite now sat near the head of the table and had unceremoniously propped his feet upon it. This caused quite a stir from the others who now twittered about like lost butterflies as they searched for their assigned seats.


Apparently, they had all been waiting for Raven and this other man, and now that everyone was in attendance, the meeting was ready to start. Raven sneaked a peek at the general and watched as what little strength that was left in his facade for her benefit quickly drained and showed her the tired, worn out man that he had become.


"Captain," he whispered as he leaned closer to Raven, "I cannot stress to you how important this meeting is. I personally selected you for this. Don't let me make a mistake."


@Ayl

 

[Ayl]

Fidgeting his fingers, Kaleb waited patiently for all the dignitaries to seat themselves. Of course, he knew too well what this meeting was about, yet he couldn't understand his role there, nor his forceful 'invitation'. He had never refused to partake in the meetings of the Council before, as an advisor.


Something told him that this time, he wouldn't be just an advisor.


He could see they were all here. The emissary of Hieronna, to the north, country of spices and silk. Jiruka Attar, of the state of Nukio, number one producer of Scarlet Crystals, due to most of the Rifts being on its territory, and other important figures.


Headmaster Belltop sat at the head of the table, his chair standing off from the others with its additional golden strips. A pompous addition for a pompous ass. Kaleb had no illusion that he was the example of a modest man. He was all but, really, but he knew that and didn't feel the need to flash.


Entangling his fingers together, the Headmaster leaned forward towards Kaleb and began addressing him personally. "I trust the road was not too uncomfortable for you, lord Monmorth!".


With a smirk, Kaleb turned his gaze towards the man at the other end of the table. "If you called me from the other end of Avendal just to prove how incrdibly dull and boring you can be when you truly desire, Headmaster, I assure you, a letter would've sufficed! Now, if you would excuse me," he said as he sat up, "I have busin-"


"Sit down, Mr. Monmorth! This is a serious meeting and I will not have you tarnish it with your shenanigans!" came the reply.


Content that he struck a nerve, Kaleb sat back down, adopting a serious position this time. Clearing his throat, Belltop went on.


"First, I believe some introductions are in order," he said, as he turned towards the gray-haired general present at the table. "General Waverly?"


Sitting up straight, although quite wearily, Waverly gestured towards the brunette woman next to him, which Kaleb recognised as the same one from earlier, in the hallway.


"Ladies, gentlemen, I present you Captain Raven Hyde. She is the one I've spoken about and put forward for this misison. Captain," he said, this time facing her "these are the most important head of states and ambassadors in Avendal. And that," he said, eyeing Kaleb with a glare one would not think the old man capable of at his respectable age "is our own personal black sheep. Lord Kaleb Monmorth. The genius smartass who doesn't know when to stop, also the reason for why we are all here today!"


He took his seat back, more falling into it than actually sitting down.


Kaleb gave the codger a few rounds of applause, before ending in his own ridicule. "Ah, there you are Waverly! I wondered why I never got a funeral invitation, but now I see you are still kicking, depsite all logic!".


His hands formed a bridge supported by his elbows sitting on the table, his chin resting on his gloved hands. "So, now everyone knows everyone. How heartwarming. Can we move on, please?" Kaleb asked, half-ironic.


Clearing his throat again (which appeared to be a tic for him) the Headmaster took the metaphorical stage again. "Well, as you all know, we're faced with a crysis the likes of which we've never seen before. Three months ago, a number of projects were commisioned by the government of the United Nations, as you may recall. A week ago, these blueprints, all of them of machines capable of a level of destruction unseen before, went missing from the most secure vault in Avendal, to which only I, two others and lord Monmorth here had the key to, as he was in charge with the development of the projects."


"I guess that is why you've decided handcuffs were necessary!" Kaleb implied. "Precisely. Moreso since you are the only one, other than myself, that possessed a key and is still alive! We've found the bodies of physicians Prescott and Gustafson, horribly mutilated in their apartments a few days ago. This suggests it was an inside job." Belltop pointed out.


At this, Kaleb raised an eyebrow and inquired. "So you assume I'm the prime suspect?" he sighed. "What a joke. Why would I ever compromise any of my projects? That is just stupidity!" he defended himself.


At this question, one of the other leaders who stood quietly so far replied. "Maybe you've turned and are now working for the Coalition, lord Monmorth! You aren't very reliable now, ever since your-"


"Do not dare talk as if you'd know anything, worm!" Kaleb shouted out, with an expression of complete rage printed on his face. Breaking the trance and acting like nothing happened, he turned back towards the Headmaster. "So, is that so?"


Rearranging his necktie, Belltop gave the man another look-over before continuing. "At first, yes. But after further consideration, we ruled you off, lord Monmorth. We know how much you...care, about your projects. Therefore, our Council has come forth with a decision. Since you were responsible with the blueprints, you will be the one to get them back," then turning towards the brunette military woman again, "and the captain, should she choose to accept this endeavour, shall be your companion. She will serve as both an escort and advisor and help you track down those prints and bring them back to us."


Kaleb listened silently, his right arm gripping the table's edge while the other was laying on the wooden piece, casually. With a sigh, he nodded in agreement. "I suppose there's no other way then! Very well, I'll bring back your prints then!".


Shifting his gaze over to the woman whom he was paired with, he sarcastically spoke to her. "I trust you do know some entertaining jokes for our little trip? I get bored easily and might find myself in need of incentive!"

 

[Kharmin]

The second hand on the antiquated electric clock on the wall, powered by whatever steam generated electricity that supplied the rest of the building pressed onward in the ensuing silence. Five seconds, then ten, then fifteen.


Raven tore her gaze from the clock and realized that as she had been pondering the few available facts thus far revealed, all eyes in the room had gravitated toward her. Twenty-five, thirty... the march of time stopped for no man.


"You have got to be joking," Raven said at last.


"Captain!" General Waverly shot a glare at her that showed even in his doting years, his mind still retained some semblance of the man who had achieved the pinnacle of a career.


"My apologies, General," Raven said with a curt nod. "But it seems to me that the government has lost the instructions to their most destructive toy, and now want someone to yank their collective rears from the fire."


"Captain Hyde," Waverly hissed. "You will curb your insolence..."


"General Waverly," Raven interrupted with a held up hand. It was a devestating breach of military etiquette. "I have spent the last eight years in the most hellish place imaginable. Out of the rest assembled here, only you can relate – you should know, for you sent me there. I came here today because you ordered me to do so. The way I see things, this is a purely voluntary assignment. If it weren't you would have simply ordered me to comply."


"Gentlemen," Raven continued as she sat back and made herself as comfortable as possible in the hard oaken chair. "This should be a military matter and not one that needs to involve civilians, no offense." The last part was said with a nod of acknowledgement to the well-dressed man at the other end of the table. "The strike team should have no problem resolving this matter, unless...."


Raven paused as she closely observed the faces around the table. Shit.


"Ok, so we're here for one of two reasons," Raven said and she counted them off on her fingers. "One, you have already sent the strike team and they failed – again – or, two, you have not sent the strike team because it would be ... how should I say this? Politically inconvenient."


Raven turned her gaze to General Waverly and saw the answer on his aged face. "Ah, so now the truth of the matter reveals," she said.


The Headmaster cleared his throat nervously. "She is as you said, General," he said. "Analytical to a fault." Then, he turned to Raven. "Captain, should you complete this task, the council has agreed to re-instate your commission and reward you with all back-pay associated with the loss in rank. Furthermore, your record would have the courts martial decision expunged as if it never occurred."


Raven cocked an eyebrow. "That's my incentive?" she asked as she sat forward and crossed her arms on the hard table. "There are far too many people who know of the circumstances that surrounded that courts martial. Do you intend to 'expunge' them, too?" Her query had the desired effect as the Headmaster blanched.


"That I'm here serves a double purpose as well," Raven concluded. "If something ... unfortunate ... were to happen, I'm sure that this council would disavow any knowledge of this mission. What guarantees do I have that when I am successful, all of these things you propose come to pass?"


Raven was ready to press her advantage. She had them all by the short-hairs, except Monmorth who seemed to be just as agitated about the entire affair as she was. "You'll have to do better than that, gentlemen," she added with a smirk. Then she nodded again toward the man at the other end of the table. "For the both of us."


@Ayl

 

[Ayl]

Kaleb stood there, listening to the entire reminiscence of the military woman, who seemed to be anything but military at that point. Of course, her soldieresque attitude was well-kept, with tones of her real, spirited personality surfacing.


He stood silent as she nodded at him. He felt it would be impolite to correct her on her error. After all, judging by what she said, she hadn't been in a position where she could gather much information.


As she finished, Kaleb gave two swift rounds of applause, smirking in the direction of Belltop. "I like her! She's got spirit!". Turning her gaze towards the female captain, he addressed her in a formal, yet open voice. "As for the 'civilian' part, do not worry, I can take care of myself, madam!".


"Also, as you have so abruptly pointed out just now, captain," he said towards her "the Council wouldn't had requested our services if they wouldn't be desperate, seeing as how their previous plans crashed and burned. For they would never rely on me for something if they had another choice."


His eyes were now set on Belltop, from behind his gloved hands, the fingers of which were intertwined, in a meditative position. "So, Sir Belltop, who do you suspect for the theft? It couldn't be just the Coalition. There's also the insurgents that have been rising up in the East, displeased with the great number of ignored pleas for food and shelter."


Letting his body fall back on the chair, he smirked. "Tsk, tsk, councillors. Leaving your people to suffer while you go fund projects so expensive, they could build an entire city for the poor.". Kaleb was by no means a compasionate person, but he loved putting salt on the wound.


With a trembling upper lip, Belltop controlled his fury just enough to reply. "That's exactly why you are here, Monmorth! I want you to get to the bottom of this! Find out who did it and retrieve the blueprints!".


"And what if I refuse?"


The question came so quick, none of them had time to react accordingly. After the shock weared off, all the dignitaries started whispering to each other, silenced by the double strike of the gavel, by the Headmaster. "Quiet!" he roared.


"What do you mean, if you refuse?! We both know you wo-"


"No, I believe I do not know!". His voice sounded like the crack of thunder itself. "Do not try to guilt me into joinning a covert mission, I'm not that much of a fool. I already said I will join this operation. But not for you, or your precious politics. Let's just say...I have my own personal interests."


"But of course, I will need a partner! It is tedious to do it all by myself!" Kaleb continued, as he motioned towards the one identified as a captain. "Perhaps a lil' more...persuasion is in order! And I'm going to need all the information you have gathered so far," he said, getting up and pausing for a moment to rearrange his attire.


"If you need me, I'll be staying at the Central Hotel, next to Moera Center Park. It has lovely staff members.". The Headmaster sprung up and was about to protest, but was quickly silenced by Kaleb. "I don't need anything else and I do not see what else we could discuss. Oh, and captain, should you decide to accept the mission, you're more than welcome to visit me this evening and we shall discuss the terms of our partnership."


With a slight, polite bow, he threw another "Gentlemen!" and strolled out of the chamber, pushing the room's doors wide open while making his exit.

 

[Kharmin]

Raven watched the scene unfold with mild amusement. That the man was a complete, pompous ass with no respect or regard for the council was irrelevant. What struck the captain was the manner in which the council was cowed by Lord Monmorth's abrasive behavior. One thing was certain, though: she and the arrogant man were in agreement that the council had screwed things up and were looking for someone to save their collective butts.


When the doors had settled closed after Kaleb's departure, the air in the room seemed to become noticeably lighter. Relief painted the faces of the councilors in attendance and the tension significantly eased. Raven glanced at the clock on the wall, unsure of her next move. She had hoped that her appeal would have gained some favor with Monmorth, but it appeared only to fuel his contempt for the rest of the assembly. As usual, Raven was on her own.


A soft buzz of conversation slowly picked up as the members of the council began to deliberate on their next action, seemingly ignoring that Raven was still there. Her gaze passed randomly from person to person as she tried to make sense of the competing arguments around her. When Raven's attention fell on General Waverly, she found his wizened eyes locked on her as he watched and observed her reaction.


"So you see, Captain," the general said softly as he leaned closer, "this is why things get done in the way they get done. I spared you this by sending you away."


Raven snorted. "With all due respect, General," she replied, "sparing me this wasn't your call."


"No?" the general asked. "They way in which you so quickly advanced, captain, wasn't without notice. In a few years, you would have been elevated to this council, but as a woman of action and not words, would you have really found your place here?" General Waverly indicated the rest of the councilors with a nod of his head. "Listen to them," he added as he kept his conspirator's tone low. "Not a leader among them. Oh, sure, the headmaster is their 'leader', but none of them truly know how to lead."


Raven slid her attention away as Waverly spoke and eavesdropped on the discussions. The councilors were caught between Monmorth's display and whether or not he would be able to fulfill this task. Some wanted him imprisoned until he acquiesced to their demands and others sought higher rewards to placate him. Still, others argued for letting him go entirely and trying to come up with a different plan, which was argued against by those who believed that all other alternatives had been exhausted.


"So, Captain," Waverly said after a pause. Raven returned her attention to the old man. "What's it going to be?"


Raven sighed. It wasn't going to be easy, but hell if she had wanted easy she would never have enlisted to follow in her father's strict, disciplinarian footsteps. Even the eight year banishment had had its own challenges, most of which Raven had fought tooth and nail to overcome. There was no guarantee that this task would be any easier or even if she would survive to complete it. Add to it, the brash and conceited Lord Monmorth, Raven saw nothing but unmitigated disaster. However, the need to retrieve the plans far outweighed the consequences of not making the effort and Raven knew that ultimately she really hadn't had a choice.


Raven stood and slammed her hand flat on the table. Immediately, silence struck the room and all eyes turned toward her. "Very well," she said with a stern glare that slowly crawled from one councilor to the next. "Give me everything that you have on this theft, regardless of how irrelevant you deem it to be. Such things are no longer your concern. I will decide what is germane and what is not. Also, I need unlimited access to any system that has even the most remote shred of relationship to the project. Again, I will decide what is important, not you. Additionally, I will need funding and some sort of reliable transportation as well as open access to any military or governmental facility." Raven paused a moment to let her words resonate. Then, "I don't demand these things lightly, but if you want these plans returned in as timely of a fashion as possible, I cannot have any delays or roadblocks."


"Oh, and one more thing," Raven added, almost as an afterthought, "it will be made abundantly clear to Lord Monmorth that I am in command of this operation. Although I am open to collaborating with him, I will not allow the direction of this operation to become anyone's responsibility but my own. If he cannot abide by this, then cuff him and take him back to wherever it is you found him."


Raven turned to General Waverly. "I guess I'll head over to the hotel and see what this conceited prig has to add. Please have all of the requested materials delivered to me there."


General Waverly stared cold at Raven with anger in his eyes at her giving him direction; however, pride for her burned deeper as he nodded at her request. "Very well, captain," he said, "we'll play it your way for now."


"It's the only way this will get done, General," Raven replied. She snapped a salute which, seated, Waverly returned. "Councilors," Raven nodded to the group in recognition with a curt nod of her head. Then, she exited through the double doors with substantially less bravado than Monmorth had.


Later, when Raven had arrived at the hotel and made her accommodation arrangements, she asked that word be sent to Lord Monmorth that she would be in the lounge should he be interested in meeting to discuss their operation. She found a table at the far side of the bar, ordered a double-shot of whatever rail drink they offered and waited.


@Ayl

 

[Ayl]

The room was shrouded in a deep darkness when the entrance door opened wide. The light from the hallway slowly protruded into the chamber. Two, gentle footsteps rung in the silence of the room, as a voice broke the magic by asking if there was anyone there.


"Yes?" the reply came swiftly from somewhere near the bed, where a lone figure was standing with his back turned towards the door. "Excuse me sir, but there is somewhere here to see you. A Captain, Raven Hyde.". His smirk couldn't be seen from the shadows, but his slightly humoured voice was clear enough of his amusement.


"Why, what do you know! The good captain accepted afterall, despite all that bravado. Thank you, tell her I will be right down!". With that, the hotel servant retreated, closing the door. After being left alone, Kaleb switched the lights back on. It wasn't a necessary action, since he had already memorised the room's layout in his boredom.


Donning his shirt, vest and coat, he exited the room, making sure everything was as it should be, before venturing down three flights of stairs between his floor and the lobby.


The visions were there, as well. As always. The twisted faces and bodies of the dead, printed deep into his retina. Stopping for a moment, he started massaging his eyes. Usually, that made him see straight. For a while, at least.


In the rather large lobby, Kaleb turned his head around looking for the good captain, when he saw her in the corner of his eye. From the choice of being as far as possible from the most circulated part of the place, it would seem that she enjoyed her solitude. That was something Kaleb could relate to.


Approaching the table, he pulled the chair left unoccupied swiftly, addressing the woman an ironic "Is this seat taken?", before sitting himself and waving for the waiter which was bypassing them right then, ordering a glass of their best wine.


Turning his attention towards his present company, he smiled, quite benevolently, before going straight to business. "So, I assume you aren't here because of the lovely tapestries!" he said, joyfully.


Kaleb didn't like stressed atmospheres, so he tried his best to at least make the conversation a pleasant one. Who knew, maybe he could even avoid being cuffed again for a large period of time for once!

 

[Kharmin]

Raven observed Monmorth's approach from across the room, his refined and haute couture appearance made a stark contrast to the environment and the other denizens of the hotel's lobby bar. She glanced away as she hid a smirk of mild disdain as she had no real place for such an exhibition. In Raven's line of work, lately, a low profile was more than essential – it was a requirement.


With a curt wave of her hand, she offered the empty chair at Kaleb's weak attempt at humor. Once he was seated, and his order taken, Raven cut to the point.


"Lord Mommorth," Raven began. Her voice was steady, stern and business-like. "In order for this task to be completed successfully, I need to know everything that you know regardless of how unimportant you might believe it to be. I don't have time to waste with idle conversation."


She lifted her lowball glass and drank. The whiskey did not do much to improve her mood, but it did serve to steel her resolve in the face of such an overbearing fellow. Despite his appearance and his station, Raven refused to allow him to intimidate her or try to take charge of their joint quest.


Raven sat back in her chair, raked her fingers through her straight, shoulder-length brown hair and crossed her arms over her chest.


@Ayl

 

[Ayl]

As the waiter brought him the glass of wine he ordered earlier, he thanked the boy, before picking up the tall glass with his fingers gently wrapped around the leg. Twirling it, he watched the ripples form on the surface of the red liquid, then, finally, he took a quick sip, savouring the aroma.


Nodding, sastisfied of the unexpected good quality for a venue like the one they found themselves in, he turned towards his interlocutor, just as she started laying down her authority. As she finished, Kaleb waved a dismissived gesture before replying.


"Please, you needn't be so formal. You could call me Kaleb, or Charles, if you prefer. I never knew why they named me..." he stared off in the distance, before nodding it off and returning to the subject. "Ah, well, yes, there are quite a few things you must know before all else."


"First of all," he continued, "these blueprints are for weapons capable of tremendous amounts of damage. I was the leading scientist in the project that was responsible with their creation. To make a long story short, the blueprints were all locked in an impenetrable safe, to which only three people had access to. As I've stated in the meeting, two of them are now dead."


With a smirk on his face, he eyed the brunette woman. "I have no doubt you will deduce that the third person is now standing before you. But that is not of importance. What is, however, is the reason why these men were killed. It is a relatively simple one. Each of them possessed a key, which was supposed to open the safe. So, one would most logically assume that the scientists were killed for their keys.".


Taking another sip, he let the suspense settle in before going on. "And here, is where matters become interesting! On the night that the robbery occured, all three keys were in my possession!". Smirking, he let the Captain take in everything he had said, before ending with a question.


"So, Captain, any thoughts?"

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1b5978e9_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.0bdfb5f3c25fa7e5c79e6452bf0d251b.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="44129" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1b5978e9_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.0bdfb5f3c25fa7e5c79e6452bf0d251b.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Raven sat comfortably back in her chair. She lightly tapped a fingernail along the rim of her glass as she listened to the man – no, her new partner, apparently – as he provided some details of things that seemed to relate to their mutual problem. His mannerisms grated on her with his superficial reliance on his appearance and the way in which he spoke, moved ... hell, even breathed. Raven clenched her jaw to keep from jumping down this man's throat as she painfully waited for him to get to his point.


When he finally finished, Raven drained her glass and signaled the nearest waitress for a refill. She sighed and raked her hands through her straight, dark brown hair. "So .... Charles," she started with a slight emphasis on his name as she tried it out for the first time, "someone is trying to set you up, is what you're telling me. Locks don't always require the correct keys to open. Thus, someone, probably very good with picking locks, stole the plans and either they or their associates killed the other two scientists in the hope that all signs would point to you."


"While their deaths are tragic, they can no longer be helped," she continued as a fresh glass of whiskey was eased onto the table before her. With a nod, Raven sent the waitress away. She picked up the glass and took a healthy swallow from it.


"You would probably know best who our primary suspects should be," Raven said. "Not necessarily the ones who performed the theft, but the one or ones who paid to have it done. Things like this can get messy and I expect that whomever it is behind all of this would want to keep their hands clean of it."


"Once you provide us with some leads, we'll get on the move," Raven concluded. She drank again and sat forward where she crossed her elbows and forearms on the table. "We will run this my way, with no surprises. Understood? You will keep me informed at all times."


"As for formalities," she added as she sat back with a relaxed expression and lightly swirled the whiskey in her glass, "I prefer to be addressed as Captain Hyde. Or, simply Captain will suffice. I would like to think that in some warped sense I have well earned the title and respect."

 

[Ayl]

Kaleb could very well see the annoyance in the eyes of his companion just as well as reading a book. If she was trying to hide it, she wasn't doing an extraordinary effort. Maybe she considered he wasn't worth it. Kaleb couldn't hold back a knowing smirk, but he chose to shift his view at the moment. It was going to be interesting to see just how much he could push the Captain until he would get a response.


He was intrigued, though, by her choice of his two names. Normally people would've gone with 'Kaleb', since it was more unusual and thus, most likely to be his first name. 'Charles' was the name of his mother's sister, who was a great physicist in his time. One could say it was providence that had Kaleb become a renowned scientist as well, simply by carrying the same name. Kaleb made no attempt to correct her. Afterall, it was him to gave her the choice.


The Captain's theory resembled his, enough to satisfy his curiosity about the Captain's deductive skills. Finishing the leftover wine from his glass, he glanced at the woman before addressing her, this time with a serious expression. "Yes, it is...unfortunate, to say the least. The deaths, I mean.". His right, gloved hand disappeared into his coat, only to reappear with three, gray items, each of different shape. One was a triangle, another was a square and the last was a circle. All of them had a shaft, which was most probably used to hold them.


Placing them on the table for his new partner to study, Kaleb continued. "These are the keys to the vault. As you can see, they are not ordinary. Each of them has a pattern that operates mostly like that of a normal key, but it is far more intricate than a regular one. Thus, this makes me think that, however skilled a locksmith one is, the only way someone could've opened that vault without the keys, was if he or she had already known about the locking mechanism.". His eyes glittered for a moment in contemplation. "Therefore, my best bet is to start with the team that installed the vault in the first place."


"As for those interested in the plans, let's be fair, Captain!" he said, this time with an all-knowing smile on his lips. "Who else would want to get their hands on such valuable plans, other than our lovely, but cold neighbours.". He was, of course, referring to the Erinwhat Coalition. "They must've gotten wind of the blueprints and instead of coming up with their own weapons of mass destruction, they decided to steal ours. Well, they have another thing coming!".


Her last commentary regarding formalities amused him slightly, yet he didn't show it. "Very well, Captain Hyde it is then! Your name is quite...suggestive, if you would allow me to say so. I believe we will get along just fine! Shall we?" he added, sitting up and throwing a few bills on the table, signalling the waitress to come receive her payment. Afterwards, Kaleb headed towards the exit, planting a firm hand into the door, exiting into the dying evening sun and chilly breeze.

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1d4655a4_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.76a1c3bfba436013de7124587b2fe691.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="45436" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1d4655a4_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.76a1c3bfba436013de7124587b2fe691.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Raven only half-listened as Charles elaborated on his theories of the theft. She picked up the three, odd-shaped "keys" and studied them while the man continued his ramblings. It was a trick that she had been forced to learn over the last eight years – the ability to focus on several things at once but pick out only the most pertinent details.


Eight years. It had been hell for those eight years and oft times Raven had wished that the courts martial had not been swayed by General Waverly. Some days, death seemed a welcome alternative to the existence she was forced to endure.


During the war, an entire platoon had been ambushed. Raven, then a major under the command of her father, lieutenant colonel Randolph Hyde, was to penetrate the flank of the enemy and bring much needed relief to the stricken platoon. Unknown at the time, the entire exercise was put into play by General Waverly and the platoon was a political "necessary loss"; however, once Raven's squad, led by her strategic skill, actually secured the area and rescued the platoon, she herself became expendable.


In later years, Raven learned that her father was ordered to lay waste to the area with massive amounts of artillery fire regardless of the casualty counts. When the lieutenant colonel defied his orders, another group was commanded to relieve him "using any measure necessary" to accomplish that task.


Raven received an urgent plea for help. Her squadron, with the added manpower of the rescued platoon, marched double-time to arrive just as the onslaught had begun. Conflicting orders reigned from all sides as the two groups of allies fought each other in bewilderment. In the end, Raven and her father's forces were defeated and brought up on charges of insubordination and treason as they were blamed for the attack.


Raven, being the highest ranking survivor of those defeated took the fall. At the courts martial, she was blamed for inciting the attack that ultimately slew her own father. Raven was already one of the fastest women to attain the rank of major, which called into question her ambitions and was given as a motive for her clandestine attempt to usurp her father's command by his "accidental" death. She was to be executed until General Waverly spoke up and convinced the court to banish her to the extreme ends of the land where she would be ordered to carry out the military's orders without question, with failure to do so being the catalyst that would bring her back for her execution.


So, for eight years, Raven led a small, rag-tag unit of misfits who had likewise been sentenced to their shared hell on earth. Even with her rank being reduced to captain, Raven was still the highest ranking officer and all of the successes and failures of her new squad rested fully on her.


She blinked as her attention returned to the present. This is why she had demanded her return to active duty and a reinstatement of her rank. Deep inside, Raven knew that General Waverly had been the one who had issued the orders that had killed her father, but she had no concrete proof. If she were to find the general guilty, she had to get back to civilization which is why she had so readily accepted this task.


Raven handed the keys back to Charles. His suggestion of the Erinwhat Coalition made logical sense, but then it was perhaps too easy of a conclusion. Someone sophisticated enough to breach the security and steal the plans was certainly smart enough to lay the blame elsewhere. But who and why?


She scrambled from her chair as she followed Charles from the bar. Outside, where the twilight was making its nightly assault on the remaining light of day, she caught up to him and said, "Now just hold on a moment. Where do you think you're going now? We discuss our option first, then I decide the action."

 

[Ayl]

Taking a deep breathe, Kaleb exhaled calmly. The air was chilly, yet comforting. The joints in his arms hurt, slightly. Everytime the weather was about to change, he could feel it in his body. Perks of surviving an explosion. As his officer partner caught up to him and berated him for his straightforwardness, he cracked a smike and responded.


"Excuse me, Captain! I took you for the more pragmatic kind, and thought you wouldn't appreciate wasting time chatting when there's work to do! If you wish to decide our course, then by all means!". His tone was a mixture of an apology and sarcasm, blended so seamlessly, it was hard to tell exactly if he was being sincere or simply messing with her.


"As I see it," he continued, since she desired to know their possible options so badly, "we have three options! We can either try to find the company who installed the safe and find out how its security be bypassed, or we can try to find out if anyone had recently offered any blueprints on the black market. Then, of course, we have the option to simply sit down and chat about our meager existences until this all blows over, but I doubt either of us will be satisfied with that!" he laughed.


Fixating her with a wicked grin, but with serious eyes, he asked. "So, Captain, what will it be?".

 

[Kharmin]

<p><a href="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1ef2abc7_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.0f1f28f701507f46eb72fbbc4721ea23.jpg" class="ipsAttachLink ipsAttachLink_image"><img data-fileid="46610" src="<fileStore.core_Attachment>/monthly_2015_03/57a8c1ef2abc7_Raven_Hyde_50.jpg.0f1f28f701507f46eb72fbbc4721ea23.jpg" class="ipsImage ipsImage_thumbnailed" alt=""></a></p> Raven raked her fingers through her hair and exhaled. This man was going to be exasperating, she thought, with his pompous air and know-it-all attitude. This task could not be completed fast enough for her. Charles' condescension was not lost on Raven. Although she had been at the extremes of civilization for the better part of the last decade, Raven easily saw through his veiled attempts at his insults and overall disdain for her. Living on the fringe required one to drop all pretenses – if you danced around with covert words you usually ended up dead.


She crossed her arms and fixed a stern glare at Charles. He was knowingly testing Raven's patience and they both could sense it was nearing its limit. "I think that we can both dispense with the pleasantries," Raven admonished. "Let's speak plainly and without contempt so that we can complete this task and get back to what each of us would prefer to be doing in the absence of the other."


"Now," Raven continued, "let's find out about this company that installed the safe. We should learn who actually installed it as they may have been compromised into giving up the security of the safe. We should also get the schematics of the thing too, I suppose, and then visit the scene of the crime to inspect it first-hand. Since you are more knowledgeable about the actual safe, I will follow your lead on this for now. Is that acceptable?"

 

[Ayl]

At her snarky remarks, Kaleb couldn't refrain a chuckle. "Oh, but I find pleasantries most amusing, dear Captain! As for the contempt, I assure you, there's none of that coming from me. Rather, I'm intrigued by you. As for what I'd prefer to do, well, that will depend on you more than you'll know." he said with a cocky smile, before turning serious.


"Yes, the most logical starting point. Luckily for us, the company the government had contracted for the creation of the safe is right here, in the capital. Let us share a cab, if you don't mind!". Not giving her a moment to protest, Kaleb gently waltzed towards the street and waved for one of the few vehicles wandering the streets at that time. The number of cars was limited, yet there was never a shortage of them.


After a while, the pair stopped in front of a rather large building, on which was written "Merson & Co" in letters so big, they could've been seen from the edge of the city, which was not a small one either. Keeping a stern figure and keeping silent during the whole ride, Kaleb finally allowed himself a smirk, before exiting the vehicle, having paid the driver.


Soon, he was at the front desk, already inquiring about the whereabouts of the director. As the receptionist, a young blonde, wet behind the ears, tried explaining with a shaky voice that that was not possible, fate had it that the director himself made his way into the lobby. Spotting him, Kaleb immediatly recognised him and called out: "Mister Merson! A word, if you may!". Making sure the Captain was behind him, he sprinted off towards the grey-haired man, waiting befuzzled.


Hands were shaken and names were exchanged. Well, more like Kaleb introduced himself and the Captain, before being invited to the top office. While the lord was serving his tea, Merson approached Kaleb first. "So, Lord Monmorth, to what pleasure do I owe this visit?".


"Oh, I'm afraid the reason why I'm here will not please you at all, mister Merson.". Placing the cup on the little dish, Kaleb bent forward, to better eye up the important figure, then he turned towards his partner, the military woman. "Would you like to go first, Captain, or should I?" he asked, sly.

 

[Kharmin]

The taxi ride was blissfully quiet. Raven feared that Charles had intended to continue with his ridiculous prattle as if he were really someone important.

None of us are that important, she mused to herself. Buildings and pedestrians whisked by her window as she peered out of the car. At one intersection, when the cab had to stop, Raven watched as an elderly man used a half-serviceable cane to dig through the debris at the edge of an alley while his free hand shakily supported him against the dull and dingy brick facade of a building. Not anymore.

She pushed the morose mood back to the recesses of her mind. There wasn't anything that she could do for these civilians. Life was hard on everybody these days – present company apparently excluded. Raven stole a furtive glance at her ... partner. His dress and manner in which he sat spoke volumes to her. Lord Charles Monmorth was a product of his environment.

The mid-afternoon sun bored through the haze of humidity as it bathed the tall, stone and steel structures in an eerie, orange hue. Higher up, the windows tried in vain to reflect the light back at its source, only to be denied by the layer of grime that had built up in absence of the crews that one time washed them. Raven glanced over the buildings which were a stark reminder of how things in the more civilized world had not changed in the eight years that she had survived on the edge of the frontier.

They arrived at last and exited the cab. Raven followed along in Charles' wake as he entered the building with his usual bravado and soon had the two of them in conference with the director. The opulence of the office bespoke to the wealth that had been acquired during these leaner times and internally, Raven quelled her disapprovement. When tea was offered, Raven simply declined with a short shake of her head.

Charles had started the dialogue and then turned to her as he offered to allow Raven to take command of the conversation. With a curt nod she crossed her arms, declined and said, "Lord Monmorth, please feel free to continue. I believe that this is more of your arena than mine."

Ayl

 

[Ayl]

Nodding to the captain for the "permission", Kaleb powered on. "So, mister Merson..." he said while taking out a cigarette and lighting it. "There has been some form of a ... attempted intrusion at a place of high importance. Could you guess which?" the Lord asked slyly. At first, Mason regarded Kaleb with the cold expression characteristic of a business transaction, but now his features gained visible distress as his mind processed the real reason for the visit.

"Oh, uhm, well, uh, I am sorry to hear that, Lord Monmorth, but surely, the perpetrators were captured while foolishly trying to get through our vault, yes?" Merson said, his emotions ranging from scared, to relieved, to excited. Kaleb was eyeing him throughout all of his tirade.

"No. In fact, the intruders got away with and with no wasted time either. They got into the safe without putting a dent on it.". That shocked Merson into a stunned position, from which Kaleb had to shake him out of by comically waving his hand in front of him and snapping his fingers.

"That's ... impossible!" cried Merson. "Our safes are -".

"Yes, yes, impenetrable safe and all that jazz ..." Kaleb interrupted rudely. "Now, the keys to the safe were in my possession on the night of the burglary. Well, 3 of them, the 4th one being secured elsewhere. How might one get into your safes without them?".

"Well, there is no other way!" Merson bumbled. "Our locking mechanisms use custom made keys, especially designed for that lock. No two locks are the same, and they require different number of keys depending on the security level. Your safe was one of the our most secure, which is why it required 4 keys. Without knowing the mechanism beforehand, it's impossible to forge new keys."

Kaleb smiled, as this was where he wanted to get to in the first place. "And who designs these mechanisms?" he coyly asked.

Merson stood still. "Well, I am afraid I cannot disclose that sort of information to just anyone, Lord Monmorth! It is ... unethical! Yes! And, and ... a violation of our policy! I am truly sorry!" the president mumbled, his pitch sometimes rising up, signalling he was afraid and simply digging up as many excuses as possible to refuse the request.

Charles stared at him in what was known as his 'kill face'. A contorted expression, which he did not have to struggle to accomplish, that took his most intimidating features and amplified them. Then, suddenly, he smiled. "Is that so?" he asked. 'Well, then, maybe we need something of a stronger hand here...' he thought as his smug gaze turned towards the captain, winking at her.

 

[Kharmin]

Throughout the brief meeting, Raven sat back and observed how Charles' interrogation impacted Merson. As she had already anticipated, the president of the company seemed blissfully unaware of the crime. His quick response of intellectual property and company policy is just what she expected him to say – it was a natural fall-back position for any company.

Raven didn't think that Charles' tactics were going to be fruitful; clearly, Merson wouldn't have the information that they sought. He should, however, know who did have it and that would take a different angle and not one of physical threats. No, they would need to hit him where it really hurt.

When Charles turned the questioning over to her, Raven raked her hair back as she stood and then crossed over to the large, bulletproof windows to look out over the city below. The shadows from the mid-afternoon sun took a different perspective from this vantage point as they attempted to hide the depression of the denizens below.

Without diverting her view from the landscape, Raven said,"Mister Merson, we hear your concerns and we value your dedication to your company and it's policies. However, this information is of vital national interest, so we don't ask for it lightly. We would really appreciate your cooperation in this matter."

She turned back around to face him and crossed her arms casually. "Since this theft occurred behind the security of your product, it would be unfortunate if we had to make it publicly known. I'm not sure that your investors or stock portfolio would be so understanding. We could, of course, keep it quiet but we would need to notify our insurance broker who I'm sure would have other questions that they would like answered. Then, you would have to deal with subpoenas which would also become public.

"We would like to avoid all of that unnecessary unpleasantness, both for your company's sake and for ours," she said. "And, your cooperation would be mentioned heavily in my report which could impact future contracts with your company. I make no promises in that regard; however, I will say that my report might well influence such dealings going forward."

"Either way, sir," she concluded, "we will find our information. You need only decide at what cost to you and your company."

 

[Ayl]

While Monmorth was a client and Merson was used to dealing with difficult clients over his years of work, the presence of the female, who exhumed more authority. And what she said frightened him greatly. An angry client was one thing, but compromising the trust that both clients and stock holders out in his company could have dire consequences. Therefore, he had to make a decision. Weather the storm, or come clean.

"Very well,' the man said. "I will ... I will help you as much as I can. The safe that was ordered was designed by our chief designer, Alexinder Smidt. The project was top secret, as requested by the client, so I had nothing directly to do with it. If there is someone who knows the ins and outs of your safe, it's Maester Smidt." Merson blurted out, while scrambling to his desk to write something on a piece of paper and handing it to the woman. "Here, his address. He has taken a leave of absence, so he's not been here for a week, but you should find him here, or at least, find out where he is. That's all I can do for you now." he excused himself, trying to regain his composure.

Monmorth smiled and gazed at Raven. "Thank you Mr. Merson. Shall we?" he asked.

 

[Kharmin]

"That is very kind of you, Mr. Merson," Raven said flatly as she accepted the note. She glanced at the address before folding the paper and placing it in her pocket. "Your cooperation will not go unnoticed. Should we require anything further, we'll be in touch."

She turned to Charles and said, "Yes, I think we're done here for now."

As they left the suite and headed back to the elevator, Raven muttered under her breath, "Wouldn't surprise me if this is a wild chase. He's buying time, but we at least have to act the dupe for now."

The elegant doors closed and the elevator began its smooth descent. "Do you have any friends who could check out this location?" she asked and fished the address from her pocket. She handed it to Charles. "It's clear across town, which gives Merson plenty of time before we get there and back. I suggest we secret ourselves somewhere, wait and watch. I put a significant scare in Merson. I expect him to go for help, which would lead us to either Smidt or someone higher up the conspiracy ladder."

"Merson is just a cog, a peon in the larger picture," she added. The gears turned in her head. "He's just a front. Let's hope that they don't make him a fall guy and simply kill him before we find his contact."

They exited the Merson & Company building and were once again struck with the afternoon's humidity. "We should play the charade and get a cab. We'll exit down the block. I'll watch for Merson while you make a few, quick phone calls. Sound like a plan?"

 

[Ayl]

Charles took the piece of note from Raven and studied it. "Hmm, quite a bit out of the way. Although I doubt this is a trick. Merson might not go as far as divulge secrets directly to me, but he is not stupid enough to provoke my ire. I'll make the call and have someone I trust go over there and check it out. Yes, sounds quite like the plan, Captain!" he said, smirking at his companion. Once they were out of the building, Charles approached a phone booth and starting punching in the number of one of his employees. Normally, a scientist would not have a bodyguard, but Charles was not just a scientist, he was aristocracy. That alone gave him enough influence to affect the status quo to a certain degree, and therefore conferred him power that was sought after by many.

After giving specific instructions, he left the phone booth and rejoined Raven. "I have instructed my people on how to proceed and had them contact me at that little coffee shop over there!". Charles pointed across the street from them. Indeed, there was a small, inconspicuous cafe just there, with large windows, from where everything on the outside was visible. Including the entrance to Merson's business.

"My treat!" Charles exclaimed.

 

[Kharmin]

Raven entered the coffee shop with Charles. It was a quaint, small affair with someone's idea of home plastered over the walls in the form of old-style picture frames with scenes of farmlands, rolling hills and other serene oasis far and away from the chaos of the city. Blue and white striped wallpaper dominated the walls in stark contrast to the polished terrazzo floor. A mis-match of tables and chairs dotted the area in strange array and offered no cohesion the the room as a whole.

Several other people sat around the room at the odd tables, some in conversation and others studying the daily newspaper. The strong aroma of coffee abounded and easily overpowered the sweet smells of the pastries that waiting invitingly in the glass encasement.

Raven ordered a simple, black coffee which confused the young barista. "No, I don't want cream, foam, sugar, milk ... none of that," Raven said with limited patience. "Just .... Coffee ...."

Once seated away from the other patrons, she leaned forward a bit on the table which caused it to pitch erratically on un-leveled legs. "Far be it from me to disagree with your station, Charles," Raven said in a lowered tone, "but I believe that there is something more than your ire which has our good mister Merson on edge. At first, he really didn't flinch at your thinly veiled threats, but once we started in on his investors, things turned rather quickly.

"Just who those investors are, and possibly who even they might represent might be worth looking into," she said. Raven sat back, sipped her coffee and glanced over toward the Merson building through the large window.

 

[Ayl]

Charles contemplated over his cappuccino. He had a weakness for sweets, so he added two teaspoons of sugar. Normally he'd drink it black, but right now he was in no particular need of an energy boost, so he decided to indulge himself. "Hmm," he let out, "it is possible some of his 'investors' might present an interest to our investigation, but I doubt it. Merson's company has been around for a while and they've always been doing fine. It's one of the reasons why our high-horse 'friends' have contracted him. His products' quality is assured and neither he himself nor his company have been involved in any controversies that could affect the public's view on the government. Maybe that's what he's trying to protect first and foremost: his image and credibility. As you saw, he's not the sturdiest of people, so I doubt he built his company all by himself. Maybe he's not confident he could luck out again with another business, and a fat slob like him gets accustomed to the good life easily."

As the pair was conversing, the public phone at the back of the locale started ringing, which drew everyone's attention. It was not often THEY would receive a phone call. Charles, nonchalantly rose from his seat and chuckled a "It's for me!" to the shocked waiters and waltzed over and picked it up. "Talk to me, Linne." he said. The message he received left him quite shocked. "I see, we'll be right there. Have Bor watch over Merson in our place.".

He then rushed towards Raven. "We have to go. Now." he said, as he made a gesture towards the big windows, to which someone on the other side of the street responded with a nod, getting into the the Monmorth private limo driver's seat.