06-28-2014, 04:10 PM
Eventually Nikolai finished his greetings and moved to the glass podium near the table Michael was seated at. It was an honour and many cast envious glances towards him, but Michael did not feel honoured. The Ascendancy was a practical man, and Michael knew what was to come.
The speech started in humble fashion. A joke, a touch of humanity and familiarity to ease the crowd. He had not much experience in such things, but he could recognise Nikolai's skill.
As the subject turned darker, so did his tone, and Michael again felt the desire to seize the power as Nikolai had on arrival. It was clear the man did not hold nearly as much as he could have and Michael wondered how strong the Ascendancy was. He had not met another who could hold as much as he. Tony had wondered at his strength, but he had learned the false comfort relying on brute force. Tony could do things without effort that Michael could barely do with twice the power.
Michael's brows creased. Why did Nikolai's potential intrigue him? Was it pride?
You long for a challenge, arrogant one.,,
Michael caught himself nodding and hoped it was taken as an agreement to whatever Nikolai was saying. His inner voice told him truths he would otherwise deny. A part of him always longed for the challenge.
"Commander Michael Vellas. His valiant actions in DV saved the lives of thousands. Even in the face of great evil, he refused to cow, and came out from the midst of that storm emerged relatively unscathed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Michael Vellas."
Hearing Nikolai speak his name snapped him out of his inner thoughts. It was as much as he had expected, and Michael obliged Nikolai in turn with a slight bow of the head to the crowd that said 'I recognize the praise, but only did what any good Custody Commander would do in his master's service.'
The lie did not irk him as it may have done. They had come to an understanding and Michael would do his part. Whether Nikolai would honour it similarly was another question, but despite his personal distaste for the man, he believed Nikolai would not betray him. Yet.
Then his attention was drawn to another man. The American Sigma. Michael paid little heed to the programs the Custody initiated but even he knew of the Sigma program. To have an American join it was an oddity, but one of passing consequence. He was far more focused on the proceeding weeks.
As the Ascendancy finished, the crowd signalled their approval and Michael raised his glass along with the rest. His gaze was distant though. as he remembered the streets of Mecca and the horror of the Ijiraq.
The speech started in humble fashion. A joke, a touch of humanity and familiarity to ease the crowd. He had not much experience in such things, but he could recognise Nikolai's skill.
As the subject turned darker, so did his tone, and Michael again felt the desire to seize the power as Nikolai had on arrival. It was clear the man did not hold nearly as much as he could have and Michael wondered how strong the Ascendancy was. He had not met another who could hold as much as he. Tony had wondered at his strength, but he had learned the false comfort relying on brute force. Tony could do things without effort that Michael could barely do with twice the power.
Michael's brows creased. Why did Nikolai's potential intrigue him? Was it pride?
You long for a challenge, arrogant one.,,
Michael caught himself nodding and hoped it was taken as an agreement to whatever Nikolai was saying. His inner voice told him truths he would otherwise deny. A part of him always longed for the challenge.
"Commander Michael Vellas. His valiant actions in DV saved the lives of thousands. Even in the face of great evil, he refused to cow, and came out from the midst of that storm emerged relatively unscathed. Ladies and Gentlemen, Michael Vellas."
Hearing Nikolai speak his name snapped him out of his inner thoughts. It was as much as he had expected, and Michael obliged Nikolai in turn with a slight bow of the head to the crowd that said 'I recognize the praise, but only did what any good Custody Commander would do in his master's service.'
The lie did not irk him as it may have done. They had come to an understanding and Michael would do his part. Whether Nikolai would honour it similarly was another question, but despite his personal distaste for the man, he believed Nikolai would not betray him. Yet.
Then his attention was drawn to another man. The American Sigma. Michael paid little heed to the programs the Custody initiated but even he knew of the Sigma program. To have an American join it was an oddity, but one of passing consequence. He was far more focused on the proceeding weeks.
As the Ascendancy finished, the crowd signalled their approval and Michael raised his glass along with the rest. His gaze was distant though. as he remembered the streets of Mecca and the horror of the Ijiraq.
"She saw a flaring halo around his head, radiant in gold and blue. It shouted of glory and power to come"
"No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it."