02-01-2018, 08:48 PM
Relieved of the expectations for a long, drawn out exchange of pleasantries before they could discuss what actually mattered, Elias withdrew his uncle's Wallet. The fact that Soren didn't hang up the phone or laugh in his face was a good sign. He glanced at Asha while the Wallet powered on. She seemed perplexed, although Elias couldn't guess why. He almost asked what was wrong when the Wallet buzzed to life.
Soren wanted to see proof. Elias did not disappoint. "My uncle was a marine biologist,"
so the story he'd repeated dozens of times by now began. Unlike most of the other times, he had a rapt audience, and he methodically went through the details pieced together over the months.
He showed Soren the data that was dismissed as anomalies. He revealed the triangulated coordinates put together with the information published by the Lir navy. "...but then they all perished in a massive fire,"
his voice trailed. The mass murder was probably the government's doing.
He told Soren of the professor at MSU that led them to another anomaly along the banks of the Moscow River. The guardian described by the old man was explained in graphic detail, including the gruesome ritual the locals said must satiate the river spirit to pass safely. It didn't work, Elias was unsurprised to relate. The guardian thrust massive spikes of ice, like arrows from it's many tentacles, and tried to slaughter them all. Leaving out Tony and the crew by name was wise. He had no interest in exposing Tony's secrets.
"...There was something there. I sensed it,"
he explained, knowing it made no sense. "The creature has all but disappeared, yet the energy source remains,"
he tapped his Uncle's Wallet still glowing with the location.
"Finally, there is one last detail to share, assuming you haven't put it together yet,"
he glanced around them as though wary of who was listening. Snake people were every where. Tony long ago warned him of Atharim before Brandon revealed their presence on the air. "This energy source is something unique. The water beasts will need to be slain. I need an ally on the journey. Interested in some treasure hunting?"
Beneath the shelf of his brow, Elias' gaze was piercing as the barbs flung from the ice.
Soren wanted to see proof. Elias did not disappoint. "My uncle was a marine biologist,"
so the story he'd repeated dozens of times by now began. Unlike most of the other times, he had a rapt audience, and he methodically went through the details pieced together over the months.
He showed Soren the data that was dismissed as anomalies. He revealed the triangulated coordinates put together with the information published by the Lir navy. "...but then they all perished in a massive fire,"
his voice trailed. The mass murder was probably the government's doing.
He told Soren of the professor at MSU that led them to another anomaly along the banks of the Moscow River. The guardian described by the old man was explained in graphic detail, including the gruesome ritual the locals said must satiate the river spirit to pass safely. It didn't work, Elias was unsurprised to relate. The guardian thrust massive spikes of ice, like arrows from it's many tentacles, and tried to slaughter them all. Leaving out Tony and the crew by name was wise. He had no interest in exposing Tony's secrets.
"...There was something there. I sensed it,"
he explained, knowing it made no sense. "The creature has all but disappeared, yet the energy source remains,"
he tapped his Uncle's Wallet still glowing with the location.
"Finally, there is one last detail to share, assuming you haven't put it together yet,"
he glanced around them as though wary of who was listening. Snake people were every where. Tony long ago warned him of Atharim before Brandon revealed their presence on the air. "This energy source is something unique. The water beasts will need to be slain. I need an ally on the journey. Interested in some treasure hunting?"
Beneath the shelf of his brow, Elias' gaze was piercing as the barbs flung from the ice.