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The Westwing (closed) - Printable Version +- The First Age (https://thefirstage.org/forums) +-- Forum: Moscow (https://thefirstage.org/forums/forum-1.html) +--- Forum: Underground city (https://thefirstage.org/forums/forum-16.html) +--- Thread: The Westwing (closed) (/thread-579.html) |
- Manix - 09-16-2016 The door opened reveling a Marine in full combat dress, armed. A second marine stood post further in the interior. The Marines had strict orders to allow no one inside, without direct consent from Manix. They also knew Manix was waiting for this one. "Please come in sir and hold here, I will inform Captain Manix of your arrival." "Captain Manix, this is post one, your expected visitor has arrived." Manix ease up from the couch. "Roger that, Ill be up " he replied. Meeting Jaxen in the front hall he led him to the study and waved at a plush leather seat for him to sit down in. Chief arrived with the usual 12 year old scotch and cigars, offering to Manix then to Jaxen, the left to two alone. "Glad you made it out in one piece, how be the results of ur actions?" Manix didn't look or feel right. He was more disheveled than normal, pale and still felt residual cramps. Whatever darkness happened had effected him too, he wondered if any other channeler felt it? Edited by Manix, Sep 16 2016, 07:50 PM. - Jaxen Marveet - 09-17-2016 ((Ooc: I am not going to address the power pulling by Asc and the Ijiraq because that should have happened while Jaxen and Oriena were inside the Atharim HQ and that whole timeline was thrown off (accidentally), and I didn't have a chance to acknowledge it IC. I am just going to ignore it for the most part, but if Manix brings it up, Jaxen will vaguely acknowledge it : but he should have felt it.)) Seemed security was upped at Manix's since Jaxen was last there. Or maybe the marines were more alert. Either way, it was probably smart idea. Seemed like anyone could break in secure buildings these days. Jaxen smirked at the guy that left him under watchful eyes while Manix was summoned. The man himself looked like he'd seen better days. Jaxen understood. He spent three days in a cannibal dungeon after a night wracked by the Sickness. Suffice to say, he knew what bad looked like. No point bringing it up though. He was too jazzed to sit, so he kept to his feet. But never too jazzed to drink, he took the scotch from Chief, and held his tongue until Manix and him were alone. "I have to admit, there were close calls, but every job has risks. Have to say, though, having the Ancient Power on hand makes things easier." He waved one hand across his face, waggling fingers as he did. Impersonating someone had never been so much fun. "But they're on to that trick now, so if I ever go back, it'll have to be as an actual Atharim, not an auxiliary." he shrugged. Jaxen didn't have much interest in returning anyway. To that end, he slid the suit coat from his shoulders. A holstered gun sat secured beneath. One that Jaxen wasn't too interested in either. He wasn't fond of guns. Never used them any more than to have a working familiarity with one at his father's insistence. Scion Marveet grew up in a world that demanded any Russian worth his salt should know how to defend himself. That, and, Scion didn't grow up with hired security company on staff. Russia was a dangerous place at the end of the last century. Instead, Jaxen's attention was focused on three items. He first removed the small rock, well polished and smooth but for the etching. He tossed it to Manix. "There were others like this. I took a picture but can't load my pockets down with rocks. That's just asking to be shot in the head and tossed in the river." Second, he handed Manix the tusk. It was as close to a scrimshaw as he could find. No idea what the carvings were about. But who cared. That was for Manix to figure out. It did remind him of the Narwhal tusk that once hung on his bedroom wall. The tusk was almost as tall as he was and was once thought to belong to a unicorn, such was the feeling of awe that came over you when looking at it. That was what made Jaxen take it in the first place, that strange emotion. Besides the emotion, he never paid much attention to what was carved on it. Mumbo jumbo to him. Too bad Scion had it removed when his father raided his apartment. He still wasn't sure where those items had been taken. Finally, he held up the mini-Wallet, a near-transparent, paper-thin electronic device that stored data, took pictures, and had a stable internet connection. "But this, this is the best stuff. Pages and pages of information out of their digital library. Got a work station? I'll load them up so you can keep it on your private servers, and show you what's there." He glanced around the room for a work portal. - Manix - 09-17-2016 Manic deftly caught the small rock, it felt....odd in his hands, not quite warm but tingling. He looked at it closer, until he could do some reserch it would make a nice paper weight. He then took the piece of Horn and a wicked smile came to his lips as he remained silent. He ignored the carving atm and studied the fractured ends. YES! he was sure that this was one of the missing pieces to some fragments he already processed. He was itching to run down to the underground workroom. He was lost in though when the works "Work Station" broke thru. "Of course, sorry was was distracted with the prizes you brought." Standing, slowly, he went to his desk and pressed a button. A few whirls and clicks later a full work station was reveled, with several types of input and output lines. "Work your magic" Edited by Manix, Sep 17 2016, 01:19 PM. - Jaxen Marveet - 09-17-2016 Jaxen laid the mini-Wallet on the transfer pad, syncing the two devices together. Within a few minutes, he had the entire contents transferred to Manix's servers, with a spare copy for his own personal use. Not that he was interested in reading about fairies, but the descriptions of the sword of light might get a second look. "These are excerpts from the few keyword searches I was able to do. Half of it looks like nonsense to me, but maybe something will catch your eye." Like maybe that sword of light. Of course, Jaxen was putting more and more stock into 'nonsense' these days. A five foot tall snake woman transported him to another realm for starters. Quote:<dl> Jaxen stood up, brows high, and rubbing his chin, peering down at the screen they just read. Blinking. Well huh. "I call dibs on the sword of light." And laughed, totally serious. - Manix - 09-17-2016 Looking over the plethora of information Manix was stunned. Jaxen had delivered more than he thought was possible. he scanned over the information, then read it over more carefully. This could amount to years of study. Everything Manix had ever wanted. He was deep in thought when Jaxen spoke. "I care nothing for collecting, only the information that the artifact carries. Are you interested in remaining in a contract with the Lir' family, I may be able to get some leads on the "Sword of Light"?" Manix had dangled the bait, tho there was more immediate needs, he really did have some thoughts on the sword. - Manix - 09-18-2016 The Chief's voice came over comms: "Captain, there is breaking news that u might want to see, it involves the Rage." "Patch it thru please Chief". Turning to Jaxen: "You might be interested in this." and switches the scree over to the news report. **Breaking News** Larson Lir', a fishing and merchant tycoon, released information and a video of an "unknown" monster that attacked the families defensive ship "The Rage". Captain SynJyn Quick, leader of the elite Viking's aired this report. "Attention all vessels, this is Defensive Ship "The Rage" at 1400 Zulu we encountered a destroyed passenger vessel located at -34.086 x 171.997. Upon attempted rescue efforts we encounter a previous unknown beast that was capable of swallowing lifeboats whole. Video attachments are available of the encounter. Consider all ship traffic in this area extremely dangerous." (The briefing was followed by several security camera feeds showing the monster swallowing the lifeboat whole, the Vikings taking up defensive position followed by several shots of the monster from different angles) While some experts are already claiming this is a elaborate hoax, others are not so sure. Our own oceanologist has this to say: "This is not the first such report, it is the first with such conclusive evidence. Add this to the mystery of the discovery of several dead and half eaten giant squid and it is hard to say this is a hoax." Larson Lir' had this to say in response to the critics: "I no be giving a damn what they think, the warning stand, believe or not, is no me concern. The Lir' family gets no profit from such a tale, so the critics can bugger off." So there you have it, believe or not, i'd avoid surfing in that area for awhile. Janet Danes reporting Manix had watch the brief footage focused on the Vikings: "Damn that is a disciplined team" , he thought. Looking to Jaxen: "Interesting" - Jaxen Marveet - 09-18-2016 Jaxen seriously considered Manix's offer. He'd never been yoked to anyone before, unless you count blood. In that case, he'd dealt with a collar around the neck since birth. Probably before, too. Conceptually, the idea made him want to run the other direction. But realistically, what was a contract anyway but a piece of paper and a promise made at the time? Promises change. Paper is lost. Well, real paper anyway. Signatures get erased. Motives change. Manix had resources Jaxen didn't. It never hurt to have allies either. He was contemplating the deal when Chief interrupted. When they watched the footage, Jaxen's jaw dropped. A year ago, he would have complimented the fine CGI work. New Zealand was still the home of Weta Digital afterall. Companies had pulled off similar stunts to get attention. But given his enlightenment on a world where 'nonsense' made sense, he was less inclined to believe this was a hoax. After all, he DID see a twenty-foot tall cobra in Naga-land. He shivered at the memory, fucking snakes. Manix had very little to say about it, though. Just a chill 'interesting'. Jaxen laughed. Manix was awesome. "Interesting?!? Did you see that thing!? Manix you are about the most interesting person I've met in a long time. Which is saying a lot. Yes I'll take your contract. And who is this Larson fellow? He any relation?" He seems like a hoot. Sitting down, he swirled the scotch. Sipping it with one leg crossed over the other. "And who exactly are you. Other than Manix Lir of the clan Lir?" - Manix - 09-18-2016 Manix laughed and plopped into a seat: "Larson Lir' is my father and patriarch of the Lir' family and all it's business. Me i'm a simple fisherman/merchant and what some would call a corporate spy. Now i seem to filling the roll of a scholar. My initial goal was to discover how and why my sister died, thanks to the Betrayer, I learned. Now i seem "pushed" into studying the origins of the one power. So far each discovery leads to 10 more trails. I'll share an important one with you, when around or near a female channeler, that is holding the power, a male will develop "chills" or "goosebumps". So next time you see Ori, you will know when she holds the power." Relighting the cigar: To business. I do have idea's on the sword, the piece of Nar Whale tusk looks like it might match up to others i have done collected, i'll need time to fit them and decipher. All I want is the information, you can keep the artifact as payment, as well as the financing i am already providing. If this is acceptable then we can move forward. "Most important at the moment is Captain SynJyn, is en-route with the Vikings, and will need new training weapons and ammo and will also be looking to up armor to the new blending technology as well as thermal scramblers. I open to what u think is best to keep these guys undetectable for as long as possible. Construction begins soon on quarters and training grounds. Is this something that you can acquire or direct me too? - Jaxen Marveet - 09-19-2016 So Larson was the brains behind the operation. Or at the very least he was the one in charge. Sounded like Jaxen's father, although Manix seemed to have a better relationship with his than Jaxen. Scion wasn't bad. Actually, he was a tyrant. Not that Jaxen disapproved. For all his authoritative rule, the Marveet family would not be the empire or was today otherwise. Rumor reaches even Jaxen's apathetic ear that Scion was poised to be the next Priviledge of DI once what's-his-name retired. Or at his age, died. The deal seemed fine enough. Jaxen offered a hand to shake. "You got yourself a deal. I don't reveal trade secrets for myself, but I do know the exact person you need to hire for consult. His name is White. And I believe I have his card." Jaxen smirked. "I'll send you the information as soon as I get home. He works for Pervaya Ilenya Private Security. And I know for a fact he does consultation. And he's the best in Moscow." Jaxen didn't tell Manix about White's role in the Atharim, because really, it wasn't fair to judge the guy based on facing a professional thief that happened to be able to use the Ancient Power. He left shortly after and as soon as he got home, Jaxen sent White's information to Manix. - Manix - 09-19-2016 Taking Jaxen's hand: "This is the only contract I need right here. Two men and a word of honor. Thank you for your service." He watched as Jaxen was escorted out. He needed a break, he need some air, he needed a walk. |