Tria 6, 81379 Around midnight Shiden walked through the halls of the base, his hand gripping nykjeks as he made his way to the council rooom. I hope it won't be as unpleasant as last time I was in here. He thought, his spear in the other hand to discourage the looks he was getting. He was supposed to be the coldest pendragon alive, one who couldn't feel. He had heard the rumors about himself, how he could kill and deliver the body to the one who hired him, within hours. "Let me go in first, I'll explain everything to him." Shiden whispered to nykjek, making sure nobody was around. He stole a quick kiss from her, smiling at her. "For luck."
The council room was dimly lit, and Revol and his team were assembled there, speaking quietly amongst each other, disscussing the recent events, and their upcoming plans... "And The Tyrant-Kaiser?" "Coming Along Ahead Of Schedule, We've already created a mass production version of the Tyrant and are about to start production, the Tyrant II design was scrapped, and the Tyrant III "Kaiser" is at 75% completion." "Excellent, and so the Tyrants will start to replace our Hulks... What about the Arachnid Class Drones replacing our Hydras?" "Done." "Perfect, as soon as we can find out what state the various governments are in... I assume pressure on the Boreios Sudesha border has been increased as per my orders?" "Yes sir, we've also been capturing or taking down any freight we can, tensions are high and the various companies still suspect that rebel group in the ruins." "Ha, and they still think our Hulk VI's are the best unit we can supply them, the idiots. They signed their own companies collapse the moment they signed those contracts..." "Yessir, I'm thinking of sending out a message to all our faction leaders, telling them combat is visible in the near future..." "Yes, do it..." Revol suddenly realised the movement on the monitor to his right, and hit the buzzer. "Shiden, what can I do for you?... And your... Friend?..."
"If you don't mind, I would much rather discuss this in private, master." Shiden said, letting go of nykjek's hand and hoping revol didn't see that. I just hope he's a little less psychotic then last time. He thought, waiting for Revol's response.
Revol nodded. "Of course, come in, you can tell your aquaintance to wait outside, if she would." Of course he saw the hand holding, and even the peck on the cheek earlier, so he had some idea of what this was about, but better to get it over and done with rather than drag it out... "Hurry, if you would, there are some urgent matters my team and I have to discuss..."
Nykjek stood still hoping that somehow that she would come out alright in the end. She listened to the power that Revols voice held and the way Shiden spoke to him, He was not to be messed with... She looked down at her marred arms... Shifting them to their former glory - If only to make herself feel stronger. Soon after her eyes flicked to the pupiless green they had been when she had first met Shiden. If only to stop her fear showing. She stood waiting for Shiden to enter the one place that could change all.
Shiden walked into the room, giving a bow to revol and sitting across from him, his eyes unwavering. "The person I have brought with me would like to join, and I think we should give her a try." He said, giving a plausable reason for the team. Like I'm really gonna say I want her to join so I can live with her without fear of you guys. He thought, hoping this would go smoothly.
Revol raised and eyebrow. "And what skills does this "friend" of yours possess? We are a criminal organization Shiden, how do we know she won't be useless, or a snake?" He almost sneered, drumming his fingers on the tabletop in a way as if to want to try and make Shiden reveal his true feelings...
"I know she can fight, she almost beat me." He said, remembering the first night. "She has all the makings of a dark sorcress. I've seen it, and she just needs a little more training before her power is fully tapped. If she was going to betray us, she would have done it by now. Besides, I've got her under my thumb." He said, crossing his arms and adding the last part for cover. He was going to have to make up for that later.
Tapping into the words from the next room, she feels a sting in her heart as she hears Shidens Last input of words. Anxiuosly flicking her tail from side to side giving it different attributes from her shape-shifting skills to pass the time. Finally leaving the spiky mess she has made her tail she sighs, looking up at the tiny camera that let revol see who was here. <span style='color:red'>Please let everything be alright... </span> she whispered to herself.
Revol's canines gleamed in the low light as he moved forwards, taking in Shiden's appearance, his emotions, and even doing a quick mental sweep of the area, and just touching at the edges of his subordinates mind. "So, What do you think Nykjek can push herself to do?" He paused, knowing very well that Shiden probably knew he hadn't stated his "friends" name yet. "Are you trying to get her in just because you most likely have feelings for the shape shifter Shiden?" He glanced at the monitor, just as she glanced up at the camera. "How about a sort of test Shiden? To prove her worthiness, and the faintest wisps of raw emotion you feel for her that I can almost see escaping your body? To make it fun, I'll even make it a dual test, with you by her side during the whole thing, if you're game, go fetch her and bring her in..."
Shiden hid his suprise behind an emotionless face, thinking about his response. <span style='color:gray'>Your skills of deduction never cease to amaze me, I will get her.</span> He said, walking out and grabbing Nykjek's hand, giving it a slight squeeze, bringing her in and standing at attention. Revol had figured him out. He had let his guard down, thinking that it would be better for him to appear relaxed. How wrong he was. He was going to be punished for this, his attempted subversion of the chain of command. Prepare for the worst He thought, knowing it was to come.
<span style='color:red'>Sir...</span> she said giving a small bow of her head in respect. Trying desperately to keep her nerve. Her hand quickly squeezing Shidens. <span style='color:red'>You wish to test my skills?</span> she kept her pupiless eyes below Revols face, trying not to offend him, the power pouring off of him was amazing....
Revol stared at the pair solemnly, noting the clasped hands and the aura excluding from them. He wouldn't bother doing quick sweep of their minds, he didn't have to. <span style='color:yellow'>Sir... I Don't think...</span> <span style='color:gray'>Enough Sanders...</span> <span style='color:yellow'>Sir, I really don't think you should do this. Do a background check, have her run the course, and thats it, don't get Shiden involved, they can do what they wish on their OWN time.</span> <span style='color:gray'>Alan, don't pity me. You can think whatever you want, but for the love of god, don't dare pity me. You and I both know Cassandras gone and shes never coming back, this has nothing to do with her. Now, be quiet, and hats an order. Speak out of line again, and there shall be consequences..</span> Sanders cut off the mental conversation immediately. He knew he was wrong, but he also knew it was unfair of Revol to test them like this. He had no right to interfere with that sort of thing... Revol finally spoke up, after hastily shushing up Sanders. "Now you two. You're going to run a slightly more difficult obsacle course than usual, being as it's a double trial, and being a physical course, we have to compensate a little bit." With a grin, he tapped a few keys on his arm's keyboard, and a before seemingly normal wall slid apart to reveal a set of steel steps leading down into the darkness. <span style='color:gray'>You all have things to do, get to it, I can take care of this.</span> <span style='color:yellow'>Listen... Just don't do anything stupid, alright? Nobody knows about her outside the team. Don't risk that information being exposed. Pain is one thing, spreading it is another.</span> <span style='color:gray'>Don't worry Alan. I won't.</span> And with the hasty warning, the rest of the team dispersed, leaving Revol alone with the couple. He waited a moment more, and then made his way down the metal steps, waving them to beckon him.
Shiden followed, hearing just one part of the mental conversation. Cassandra? He thought, suddenly getting a very, very bad feeling about this. <span style='color:gray'>You aren't going to like this nykjek.</span>
<span style='color:purple'>{i'll deal...shiden...}</span> she telepathed as the darkness consummed them all, she flickered to her night vision, sillouted being all she could see. Her cold grey eyes looked at shiden and then to he back of revol. She took in a sharp intake of breath before beginning to speak again. <span style='color:red'>Sir, may i ask if we need to obtain a certain objective?</span> her voice was cleared as she spoke, still quiet enough as not to disturb the aura of eerieness this place had....
Revol didn't answer, but continued walking down until he came to a large open chamber, the entrance flanked by two statues, one of them a Pendragon, one of them a Human. Both had spears in their grasps, each wearing nothing but a loincloth. Revol headed into the middle of this chambr, where a deep pool lay, with several large gray creatures gliding around inside, thick heavy tails propelling them in circles through the tank. Revol stood at the edge of this tank, watching the creatures for awhile, before turning to face the two followers. "Now, the first part of the test is just as life threatening as the last." He motioned to the tank full of creatures and then to the entrance on the opposite side, the only piece of ledge in the large room other than that on Revol's side of the pool. "Now, to actually start the test, the two of you have to get to the opposite side of this tank, filled with sharks. You both have to make it across, alive, or she fails. The rest of the test lies further in. So start now, or give up. " His visor was down, his face hidden by a golden sheet of material. The cold face of the armor was unrelenting, staring the young couple down... "Hurry up, the Great Whites are getting hungrier by the minute."
"Lets get this over with." Shiden said, smiling and dipping his hand in the water. Withing seconds the sharks were convulsing, their hearts going into cardiac arrest. He shook his head, knowing that this was to easy. "You didn't say we couldn't use magic." Shiden said, watching some of the sharks float to the surface, while the rest started eating them. Now nykjek
Jumping Backwards into the water, entering it with the splashless grace of a diver she twisted, using her wings in full spread to propell her with a speed that caused the water to ripple on the surface. A great white snapped at her wing as she passed, tearing it slightly, but she was out at the other side and up on the ledge before it could do damage, shifting her wing she motioned for shiden to follow, a small ball of light orbiting around her as she mumbled under her breath - a small stun spell should the sharks get frisky, the charge wouldnt affect Shiden because of the currents he could produce. She glanced back at revol, wodering if he would come to the next part of the task with them, to assess as such. This was a little too easy especially as Revol must of known about Shidens talents...
Shiden swam across, getting out just as the sharks finished with their meal. "That was too easy revol, and you know it." He said, crossing his arms and looking at nyjek, wondering if she felt the same.
Revol didn't lower his visor, but continued to stare at them, the suit of powered armor unrelenting in it's glare. The sharks continued feeding on their dead bretheren, the smaller ones shooed away by the bigger, and forced to continue swimming in circles, several heading towards Nykjek and Shiden's side, others heading towards Revol. "That was only the first leg of many. Since this is the outermost chamber, there are absolutely no defense or security systems. As soon as you enter the next chamber, the next leg of the course, you will be within the quarantine zone, in full view of all the cameras, security guns, and any other gadgets we've had recently installed. Also, you shall be in the full glare of all the countermeasures and anti infectants there. Magic is for the most part nullified, psychic dampeners abound, preventing heavy use of psionic abilities, and through the cameras, I shall be watching for any other signs you are using "unconventional means" to get through this course. You will be cut off from any help besides each other. You will have to use your wit, your muscle, and your natural abilities to get through this course. Now, hurry, and put these on." The armor tossed a pair of small devices at them, which landed directly on the landing close to the water and revealed themselves to be headsets, attaching to one ear and providing a mike and listening piece through which Revol could contact them. "This course might be fairly difficult, and will rob you of many of your abilities, but fortunately, the reason I am giving you these two pieces is that this will play out as a standard mission. Most government facilities also possess all manner of magic preventers and psychic dampeners, their personel using psychic dampener cancellers. You will not only prove yourselves as worthy members of "The Lost", you will relearn how to make quick decisions, act accordingly in heavy combat situations, and make your way stealthily through heavily guarded areas. For Nykjek, this is an entry exam, for Shiden, this will be an appraisal of his skills, and a test, of his love... Now head in, I'll head back to the conference room, and I'll be able to contact you at any time, provide you with a few hints for every challenge, whatever. Now get going." His visor slid down with a hiss, finally revealing that underneath he was grinning. He either had high hopes for the two, or he was expecting a great show...
