Lynna grumbled as she fell onto her bed that night. The date had been expectantly disappointing. Sure, she did it more for the social points that having every
hot hunk at school tied around her finger got her, but she wished sometimes that they'd at least try not to imply they expected she would spread her legs
for any random jock that asked. She wasn't a prude, but she also wasn't going to gain a reputation as the school slut. Appearances needed to be
maintained.
Sighing, she looked up in annoyance as the lights flickered again. Hadn't her father told her they were having an electrician come out to look at them? All
this money and they didn't even have reliable wiring. What a waste. She might as well head out for the night if everything was going to be half-cocked here
at home.
Reaching under her bed, she pulled out a box full of specific clothing she hadn't let anyone see but her and slipped on some rough jeans and a vest, as
well as the fighting gloves that she'd been careful to buy while her parents weren't home. True, if all went well, she'd not even have to dirty her
hands, but they looked tough, and that was the important part. Her gang had gotten the message quickly enough. Slipping on a bandana over her face and a
backwards cap, she adjusted her hair and began climbing out the window, heading towards Steel Pier….
****
"Excellent, what a refreshingly competent operation you have here, Adjutant Mason," Requiem said, his voice sending goosebumps up the spines of both
of the pair as he strode about the lab, smoke wisping from anywhere his Nictus-infused body was able to reach open air. The former head of the Fifth Column and
general of the Council looked at the large black crystal lodged in a protective tube.
"You say he was attempting to defect?" he asked.
Harold Mason nodded nervously, trying to keep his voice clear. "Apparently, he was in our organization for some time, offering information to the
Peacebringers and their ilk. We caught him as he and his host attempted to escape once and for all. The Void Stalkers were able to subdue him non-lethally, and
I thought he'd be an excellent source for our experiments here, given what you've informed me of the Nictus existence."
"Yes….Arakhn thinks she controls the Nictus on Earth now, thanks to her connections with the Center. But her Galaxy troops are infiltrated by my
loyalists, and the Nictus are whimsical. Given her defeat and the destruction of the energy transfer device recently, all I need do to gain their favor is to
provide results she has not. With control of the Nictus forces on Earth, the plan will proceed accordingly. And the ability to fuse Nictii to unwilling hosts
that this project will give me troops beyond Arakhn's wildest dreams for her Galaxies. How long do you think it will take?"
Jenna Mason swallowed slightly, looking at the burning eyes of the warlord with a nervous tic. "…most likely a few months before active testing can begin.
We've carved pieces of the subject's essence off for low level tests, but we need a freshly birthed Nictus, and gaining enough fragments to create one
without killing the source material will take time."
"Yes…well, your ability to keep hidden is proving remarkably good. Continue with your plans at my direction and perhaps an Archonship is not out of the
question, or a transfer to one of the more elite bands," Requiem advised. Putting on his disguise again, he turned back to them with burning eyes he had
yet to disguise. "Similarly…I advise you to remember the price of failure should this project fall due to your bungling," he noted. Upon getting a
suitably frightened "yes sir!" from both, Requiem nodded and left, the two Masons looking after him uneasily.
****
"Well, that done confirmed that," the capo noted, watching through telescopic binoculars as Requiem exited the building and climbed into his car.
"You was right. This is connected with da Council. All da way to da bloody top. You've more then earned yer pay from us for this little job. The
question is, how do we get inside to take whatever it is??"
The Tsoo Death's Head seemed to be smiling despite the permanent rictus grin of his skull-like oni mask. "Their need for secrecy will be their
undoing. The two who live there have little knowledge of how vulnerable their precious daughter will make them…" Master Li chuckled.
"Blackmail 'n a human shield? I knew I liked you Tsoo for some reason," the capo grinned.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."
hot hunk at school tied around her finger got her, but she wished sometimes that they'd at least try not to imply they expected she would spread her legs
for any random jock that asked. She wasn't a prude, but she also wasn't going to gain a reputation as the school slut. Appearances needed to be
maintained.
Sighing, she looked up in annoyance as the lights flickered again. Hadn't her father told her they were having an electrician come out to look at them? All
this money and they didn't even have reliable wiring. What a waste. She might as well head out for the night if everything was going to be half-cocked here
at home.
Reaching under her bed, she pulled out a box full of specific clothing she hadn't let anyone see but her and slipped on some rough jeans and a vest, as
well as the fighting gloves that she'd been careful to buy while her parents weren't home. True, if all went well, she'd not even have to dirty her
hands, but they looked tough, and that was the important part. Her gang had gotten the message quickly enough. Slipping on a bandana over her face and a
backwards cap, she adjusted her hair and began climbing out the window, heading towards Steel Pier….
****
"Excellent, what a refreshingly competent operation you have here, Adjutant Mason," Requiem said, his voice sending goosebumps up the spines of both
of the pair as he strode about the lab, smoke wisping from anywhere his Nictus-infused body was able to reach open air. The former head of the Fifth Column and
general of the Council looked at the large black crystal lodged in a protective tube.
"You say he was attempting to defect?" he asked.
Harold Mason nodded nervously, trying to keep his voice clear. "Apparently, he was in our organization for some time, offering information to the
Peacebringers and their ilk. We caught him as he and his host attempted to escape once and for all. The Void Stalkers were able to subdue him non-lethally, and
I thought he'd be an excellent source for our experiments here, given what you've informed me of the Nictus existence."
"Yes….Arakhn thinks she controls the Nictus on Earth now, thanks to her connections with the Center. But her Galaxy troops are infiltrated by my
loyalists, and the Nictus are whimsical. Given her defeat and the destruction of the energy transfer device recently, all I need do to gain their favor is to
provide results she has not. With control of the Nictus forces on Earth, the plan will proceed accordingly. And the ability to fuse Nictii to unwilling hosts
that this project will give me troops beyond Arakhn's wildest dreams for her Galaxies. How long do you think it will take?"
Jenna Mason swallowed slightly, looking at the burning eyes of the warlord with a nervous tic. "…most likely a few months before active testing can begin.
We've carved pieces of the subject's essence off for low level tests, but we need a freshly birthed Nictus, and gaining enough fragments to create one
without killing the source material will take time."
"Yes…well, your ability to keep hidden is proving remarkably good. Continue with your plans at my direction and perhaps an Archonship is not out of the
question, or a transfer to one of the more elite bands," Requiem advised. Putting on his disguise again, he turned back to them with burning eyes he had
yet to disguise. "Similarly…I advise you to remember the price of failure should this project fall due to your bungling," he noted. Upon getting a
suitably frightened "yes sir!" from both, Requiem nodded and left, the two Masons looking after him uneasily.
****
"Well, that done confirmed that," the capo noted, watching through telescopic binoculars as Requiem exited the building and climbed into his car.
"You was right. This is connected with da Council. All da way to da bloody top. You've more then earned yer pay from us for this little job. The
question is, how do we get inside to take whatever it is??"
The Tsoo Death's Head seemed to be smiling despite the permanent rictus grin of his skull-like oni mask. "Their need for secrecy will be their
undoing. The two who live there have little knowledge of how vulnerable their precious daughter will make them…" Master Li chuckled.
"Blackmail 'n a human shield? I knew I liked you Tsoo for some reason," the capo grinned.
---
"Oh, silver blade, forged in the depths of the beyond. Heed my summons and purge those who stand in my way. Lay
waste."