11-13-2016, 03:34 PM
It was hard to know what to expect. Less than a year ago and Nikolai was ignorant of the presence of any godly powers but his own. The man at his side, Alric, was the first one he discovered. Since then, Michael, Nicholas, Baldir, Ivan, Marcus, Nox and so many others crossed his path. The recruits from the Facility were found across the CCD. Indeed, the world was filled with them. Despite their numbers, and the magnitude of strength a few represented, none approached the skill he himself possessed. When he told the world that he was the greatest and oldest among them, he had truly believed it.
What he beheld now... what this young man did... it was nothing short of astounding. Nikolai had never seen so complicated a weaving of power than what Jensen accomplished outside of his own constructs. Nor did it ever really occur to him that these powers could be used to mend flesh and restore the broken. Aria's was relatively simple to restore, as well. He could only imagine how the healing must have appeared when Jensen applied it to himself, holding hands with death as he had.
Although he had followed the complexity of the flows, Nikolai was not confident he could repeat them himself. In fact, he wondered if he could accomplish a fraction of what Jensen had. That beckoned a question. Were there other uses of this power he did not know? Were there uses of this power he could not perform? Experimenting was dangerous, but if he came away with nothing, it was that he needed to expand his creativity when it came to these powers. There were discoveries still to be made.
Just when he appeared to be done, the flavor of the healing changed slightly. Nikolai wasn't sure what shifted, other than recognizing the fact that he had, nor did he understand what was done, but Aria gasped and a tear slid down her cheek.
Nik glanced at Alric, then Marcus and Ivan but they offered no explanation. Whatever happened, Nikolai assumed it was related to the healing. Perhaps the sensation of it was overwhelming. He wouldn't know.
Jensen's task complete, Nikolai made a decision. Jensen could not be allowed to leave the country. For the time being, he could not leave the Kremlin. The soft spoken man was far too valuable.
He thanked Jensen for the demonstration, then issued his orders to the room. Aria and Jensen were to return to the Kremlin for the day, until the security of the situation could be assessed. Regus needed to be located as well for he had escaped. Aria was to aid the ZARS teams in finding Regus. They would formulate a plan and raid the Atharim headquarters as soon as possible. Nikolai was ready to wipe out the Atharim, as is, and rebuild them with Aria in charge, as he had promised her. Ivan and the rest of the Domovoi would help ZARS and Aria as needed. They were under her command. Marcus was to stay with Nikolai, and help conceal him on the way back to the Kremlin. Nobody could know his current state. He would reveal himself to the world unblemished and strong. They would work with Leonid and the others to right these wrongs, and turn the situation to their every advantage. People needed to see the strength in their government. They needed to see Nikolai as strong and adamantine as the Arch.
In the hallway, he relayed one last order to his Chief of Staff, Viktor. Jensen was to remain in the Kremlin and guarded at all times. His life was almost as valuable as Nikolai's own. Nothing could be allowed to happen to him. Meanwhile, the newly formed consulate on channeling oversight was to comb the registries for more valuable persons. Speaking of which, it needed a leader. Viktor quickly mentioned his short list of recommendations, and while Nikolai listened, he shook his head at all of them.
Thoughtful, his gaze finally fell to Aria's room in the distance and those filing out of it. "I elevate Marcus DuBois to the position of Consul, over the Consulate on Channeler Oversight."
Viktor swallowed, paling slightly. He was aware that Viktor didn't trust Marcus but as far as Nikolai was concerned, Marcus could prove his loyalty no more than he had that night. He was willing to die to save the Ascendancy. What else could one ask?
"Finally, Viktor. This word. Channeler Oversight. Where did the term originate? Channeler?"
Viktor quickly explained how he came by the term, from a young, random American Senator. A girl named Evelyn.
Nikolai nodded and asked to be sent a link to the speech to watch it on the route back to the Kremlin. It seemed the Americans had been busy the past few days.
With that, they made arrangements to secret him back to the Kremlin.
What he beheld now... what this young man did... it was nothing short of astounding. Nikolai had never seen so complicated a weaving of power than what Jensen accomplished outside of his own constructs. Nor did it ever really occur to him that these powers could be used to mend flesh and restore the broken. Aria's was relatively simple to restore, as well. He could only imagine how the healing must have appeared when Jensen applied it to himself, holding hands with death as he had.
Although he had followed the complexity of the flows, Nikolai was not confident he could repeat them himself. In fact, he wondered if he could accomplish a fraction of what Jensen had. That beckoned a question. Were there other uses of this power he did not know? Were there uses of this power he could not perform? Experimenting was dangerous, but if he came away with nothing, it was that he needed to expand his creativity when it came to these powers. There were discoveries still to be made.
Just when he appeared to be done, the flavor of the healing changed slightly. Nikolai wasn't sure what shifted, other than recognizing the fact that he had, nor did he understand what was done, but Aria gasped and a tear slid down her cheek.
Nik glanced at Alric, then Marcus and Ivan but they offered no explanation. Whatever happened, Nikolai assumed it was related to the healing. Perhaps the sensation of it was overwhelming. He wouldn't know.
Jensen's task complete, Nikolai made a decision. Jensen could not be allowed to leave the country. For the time being, he could not leave the Kremlin. The soft spoken man was far too valuable.
He thanked Jensen for the demonstration, then issued his orders to the room. Aria and Jensen were to return to the Kremlin for the day, until the security of the situation could be assessed. Regus needed to be located as well for he had escaped. Aria was to aid the ZARS teams in finding Regus. They would formulate a plan and raid the Atharim headquarters as soon as possible. Nikolai was ready to wipe out the Atharim, as is, and rebuild them with Aria in charge, as he had promised her. Ivan and the rest of the Domovoi would help ZARS and Aria as needed. They were under her command. Marcus was to stay with Nikolai, and help conceal him on the way back to the Kremlin. Nobody could know his current state. He would reveal himself to the world unblemished and strong. They would work with Leonid and the others to right these wrongs, and turn the situation to their every advantage. People needed to see the strength in their government. They needed to see Nikolai as strong and adamantine as the Arch.
In the hallway, he relayed one last order to his Chief of Staff, Viktor. Jensen was to remain in the Kremlin and guarded at all times. His life was almost as valuable as Nikolai's own. Nothing could be allowed to happen to him. Meanwhile, the newly formed consulate on channeling oversight was to comb the registries for more valuable persons. Speaking of which, it needed a leader. Viktor quickly mentioned his short list of recommendations, and while Nikolai listened, he shook his head at all of them.
Thoughtful, his gaze finally fell to Aria's room in the distance and those filing out of it. "I elevate Marcus DuBois to the position of Consul, over the Consulate on Channeler Oversight."
Viktor swallowed, paling slightly. He was aware that Viktor didn't trust Marcus but as far as Nikolai was concerned, Marcus could prove his loyalty no more than he had that night. He was willing to die to save the Ascendancy. What else could one ask?
"Finally, Viktor. This word. Channeler Oversight. Where did the term originate? Channeler?"
Viktor quickly explained how he came by the term, from a young, random American Senator. A girl named Evelyn.
Nikolai nodded and asked to be sent a link to the speech to watch it on the route back to the Kremlin. It seemed the Americans had been busy the past few days.
With that, they made arrangements to secret him back to the Kremlin.