12-18-2014, 07:48 AM
Nikolai arrived on time as punctual as his reputation. He wore his headband as usual, for all the good it did. Perhaps it was more than a simple trinket. A camera? Emergency locator? Or perhaps it served as a distraction from a more potent defence.
Greeted like he actually had a choice or Nikolai was really pleased to be giving him a tour of his top secret 'Facility'. Was it some charade for the sake of Marcus? It certainly wasn't for Michael's sake. Whatever the case was, he nodded. "Of course."
Whatever Marcus said was lost to him as Nikolai bade them to follow into an out of place elevator almost sterile amidst a ruin. Five of them filtered in, and he could not hold back the sense of claustrophobia that emanated, not from the small space itself, but the raw power that lurked beneath the surface. Three men, two of whom could annihilate the elevator in seconds, held the power of Nikolai's 'Ascendants'. What did the guards feel? Did they suspect the danger they were in? If they did, they hid it well, as did Michael.
After the cursory evaluation, his attention was fixed on Nikolai who spoke as they descended. It made for a dour atmosphere that grated on his nerves. Nobody took a step inside the Kremlin without Nikolai's permission, he had expected no different from a facility secret even among the top tiers.
But perhaps he had a point, considering Marcus' display the last time they had crossed paths. The reflexive aggravation Nikolai caused dulled at that, and the annoyance was turned on himself. Why did the man annoy him so? He could not afford to let anything affect his judgement around this man more than any other, yet he was the only one that managed to get under his skin.
He embraced cold ice as his mask as much as he could without taking hold of the 'Ascendant' power. What questions could there be? His will was quite clear.
"Nothing as of yet,"
he replied, hoping the trip didn't take too long.
So, the Facility could only be accessed with Nikolai present. By the pleasant greeting they received, it seemed like some absurd 'Ascendant' secret meeting. Unpleasant indeed.
Damn... Again, Nikolai unknowingly brought out the worst in him.
Greeted like he actually had a choice or Nikolai was really pleased to be giving him a tour of his top secret 'Facility'. Was it some charade for the sake of Marcus? It certainly wasn't for Michael's sake. Whatever the case was, he nodded. "Of course."
Whatever Marcus said was lost to him as Nikolai bade them to follow into an out of place elevator almost sterile amidst a ruin. Five of them filtered in, and he could not hold back the sense of claustrophobia that emanated, not from the small space itself, but the raw power that lurked beneath the surface. Three men, two of whom could annihilate the elevator in seconds, held the power of Nikolai's 'Ascendants'. What did the guards feel? Did they suspect the danger they were in? If they did, they hid it well, as did Michael.
After the cursory evaluation, his attention was fixed on Nikolai who spoke as they descended. It made for a dour atmosphere that grated on his nerves. Nobody took a step inside the Kremlin without Nikolai's permission, he had expected no different from a facility secret even among the top tiers.
But perhaps he had a point, considering Marcus' display the last time they had crossed paths. The reflexive aggravation Nikolai caused dulled at that, and the annoyance was turned on himself. Why did the man annoy him so? He could not afford to let anything affect his judgement around this man more than any other, yet he was the only one that managed to get under his skin.
He embraced cold ice as his mask as much as he could without taking hold of the 'Ascendant' power. What questions could there be? His will was quite clear.
"Nothing as of yet,"
he replied, hoping the trip didn't take too long.
So, the Facility could only be accessed with Nikolai present. By the pleasant greeting they received, it seemed like some absurd 'Ascendant' secret meeting. Unpleasant indeed.
Damn... Again, Nikolai unknowingly brought out the worst in him.
"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."