Post by Khaosraptor on Feb 23, 2022 22:38:09 GMT
Rekat hurriedly moved through the cluttered halls of the Talent office, clutching the data-pad closely in all four hands as he slipped past a pair of Echos caught in conversation. Their speech died down as they watched Rekat pass, one giving a respectful nod, though there was doubt in their eyes. Why wouldn't there be, on days like these.
Rekat pressed onwards, entering a lift and scanning a node on his wrist to allow him to ascend higher into more impermissible areas. From inside, he could see the hazy skyline of Lorenx’s industrial landscape stretching out in all directions. The sight was equal parts familiar and inspiring, but it only posed to remind him of the news he carried so carefully.
The lift continued upwards, nearly two-hundred stories, as it carried the nervous Rekat towards his destination. Rekat stopped looking out as his stomach began to quake.
As the lift came to a stop, and the doors opened into the uppermost floor, Rekat was met with a wholly different set of sensory effects. The lights in this room were brighter, or at least they felt that way, reflecting off the pristine marble flooring in a way that reminded Rekat of a medical bay. The smell of cleaning agents filled the room, and it caused the Echo’s nostrils to flare in protest. The faint sound of music could be heard from within; a piece unfamiliar to Rekat as he made his way in, cautiously at first. This was his first time in the upper levels, and he knew his presence would be seen negatively if he did not take care to be respectful. This was, after all, the office of the Xavvis’Vahn.
“There you are.”
The voice caught Rekat off guard, causing the Echo to turn suddenly, bumping a decorative bowl nearby and nearly sending it to the ground. A clawed hand, decorated in rings and delicate plating calmly quelled its movement, before the figure spoke again.
“Pardon me, I didn't mean to startle you, Rekat. My name is Riviris Ezeros, assistant and caretaker of Xavvis’Vahn. I was told you were heading our way.”
Rekat felt frozen for a moment as the lithe figure in front of him sized him up. Riviris was nearly a head taller than him, and her decorative armour was incredible to behold, white and blue with embossed gold links. It was art, no question about it.
Her face was exposed, framed with a delicate metal halo and jaw lining, though Rekat could see the Warhelm folded neatly into her gorget, and her eyes met his with a hardness he was not expecting.
Finally, Rekat swallowed enough of his fear to speak, though he could not look away from those eyes now that they had locked onto him.
“We received reports, Ezeros’Ra. I could not risk them leaking to the public before the Vahn was informed. I come with grave tidings, Nva’Vo.”
Riviris’s eyes betrayed nothing as she offered up a hand for the data-pad, which Rekat relinquished without question. She did not look away, and it was all Rekat could do but shrink away into himself to escape her gaze.
“I will ensure they make it safely to him, Rekat. You have done us a great service. Go now, you have earned your rest.”
Rekat nodded dumbly, relieved as he was to be dismissed, he could not bring himself to turn his back to the warrior before him. The knowledge she carried was too important, but now it was out of his hands. He bowed deeply, before walking back into the lift and returning to the lower levels.
—--------------////////—------------------------------------
Riviris turned as the lift doors shut, waving a hand to dampen the lights within as she strode from the room. Rekat was trustworthy enough, and loyalty seemed evident in his file. He had been a prime candidate to be put on the monitoring of their installations. Though she had had her doubts in the past, the data she now possessed would speak very highly of his willingness to go beyond what was expected of him. She made a mental note of his initiative, before continuing onwards.
The doors to Xavvis’s office were open, as she was the only one permitted beyond their threshold. Within, she could see the lavish furnishings of the Vahn’s personal space; a finely crafted desk, a wall of his deeds and a showcase of his weapons. Though he was no warrior of great battles, Riviris had come to respect the Vahn for his tactical mind, and his appetite for good business.
She could see him, resplendent and facing the window looking out onto the landscape of Lorenx, watching the city below move about like a massive machine; shifting and bowing to his whims, maneuvering itself to his desires. Though Xavvis’Vahn did not claim the position of King in any House, it was hard to deny his influence on Lorenx. He was Vahn of Talent Industrial after all, and any who thought otherwise quickly found themselves corrected.
Riviris placed the data-pad down on the desk, tapping a few nodes along its side to project a small holo of the report.
Xavvis turned, his wizened eyes giving Riviris a thankful look before his attention was drawn to the holo. A map of the Ancerium harvesters near the galactic center, Talent Industrials own ‘Ancerium Gambit’, so it had been given the moniker by Leviathan. The map drew closer as the report continued, showing increased conflict from the Kingdom of Montagal, as well as its CONA leaning neighbors. It continued, drawing up video feeds from the harvesters as they were overrun, with Talent Knights desperately attempting to repel the invaders before being gunned down. More reports flashed before their eyes: fleets of migratory ships hauling away whatever Ancerium they could before continuing on, towing what harvesters remained, and destroying what they could not take with them.
The final screen of the report was a simple message, scrawled across a metal sheet and displayed to a security camera. The words were defiant, and scrawled in stark red Echotian blood.
>>This Galaxy will never kneel again<<
Xavvis placed a hand over the data-pad, waving away the holo as he took a deep breath.
“So, that is how it's going to be.”
Xavvis turned away from the desk, returning to his position at the window. A storm bloomed in the distance as if to herald the wrath of the Vahn; as if the world itself could express the rage of its benefactor.
“Relay these attacks to House Kings. Fan the fires of retaliation within the ranks of the Knights. I will forge the wrath of this world into a weapon that cleaves the heart of this revolt from its ugly chest... and get me an audience with Lord Aurix, we have much to discuss.”
Rekat pressed onwards, entering a lift and scanning a node on his wrist to allow him to ascend higher into more impermissible areas. From inside, he could see the hazy skyline of Lorenx’s industrial landscape stretching out in all directions. The sight was equal parts familiar and inspiring, but it only posed to remind him of the news he carried so carefully.
The lift continued upwards, nearly two-hundred stories, as it carried the nervous Rekat towards his destination. Rekat stopped looking out as his stomach began to quake.
As the lift came to a stop, and the doors opened into the uppermost floor, Rekat was met with a wholly different set of sensory effects. The lights in this room were brighter, or at least they felt that way, reflecting off the pristine marble flooring in a way that reminded Rekat of a medical bay. The smell of cleaning agents filled the room, and it caused the Echo’s nostrils to flare in protest. The faint sound of music could be heard from within; a piece unfamiliar to Rekat as he made his way in, cautiously at first. This was his first time in the upper levels, and he knew his presence would be seen negatively if he did not take care to be respectful. This was, after all, the office of the Xavvis’Vahn.
“There you are.”
The voice caught Rekat off guard, causing the Echo to turn suddenly, bumping a decorative bowl nearby and nearly sending it to the ground. A clawed hand, decorated in rings and delicate plating calmly quelled its movement, before the figure spoke again.
“Pardon me, I didn't mean to startle you, Rekat. My name is Riviris Ezeros, assistant and caretaker of Xavvis’Vahn. I was told you were heading our way.”
Rekat felt frozen for a moment as the lithe figure in front of him sized him up. Riviris was nearly a head taller than him, and her decorative armour was incredible to behold, white and blue with embossed gold links. It was art, no question about it.
Her face was exposed, framed with a delicate metal halo and jaw lining, though Rekat could see the Warhelm folded neatly into her gorget, and her eyes met his with a hardness he was not expecting.
Finally, Rekat swallowed enough of his fear to speak, though he could not look away from those eyes now that they had locked onto him.
“We received reports, Ezeros’Ra. I could not risk them leaking to the public before the Vahn was informed. I come with grave tidings, Nva’Vo.”
Riviris’s eyes betrayed nothing as she offered up a hand for the data-pad, which Rekat relinquished without question. She did not look away, and it was all Rekat could do but shrink away into himself to escape her gaze.
“I will ensure they make it safely to him, Rekat. You have done us a great service. Go now, you have earned your rest.”
Rekat nodded dumbly, relieved as he was to be dismissed, he could not bring himself to turn his back to the warrior before him. The knowledge she carried was too important, but now it was out of his hands. He bowed deeply, before walking back into the lift and returning to the lower levels.
—--------------////////—------------------------------------
Riviris turned as the lift doors shut, waving a hand to dampen the lights within as she strode from the room. Rekat was trustworthy enough, and loyalty seemed evident in his file. He had been a prime candidate to be put on the monitoring of their installations. Though she had had her doubts in the past, the data she now possessed would speak very highly of his willingness to go beyond what was expected of him. She made a mental note of his initiative, before continuing onwards.
The doors to Xavvis’s office were open, as she was the only one permitted beyond their threshold. Within, she could see the lavish furnishings of the Vahn’s personal space; a finely crafted desk, a wall of his deeds and a showcase of his weapons. Though he was no warrior of great battles, Riviris had come to respect the Vahn for his tactical mind, and his appetite for good business.
She could see him, resplendent and facing the window looking out onto the landscape of Lorenx, watching the city below move about like a massive machine; shifting and bowing to his whims, maneuvering itself to his desires. Though Xavvis’Vahn did not claim the position of King in any House, it was hard to deny his influence on Lorenx. He was Vahn of Talent Industrial after all, and any who thought otherwise quickly found themselves corrected.
Riviris placed the data-pad down on the desk, tapping a few nodes along its side to project a small holo of the report.
Xavvis turned, his wizened eyes giving Riviris a thankful look before his attention was drawn to the holo. A map of the Ancerium harvesters near the galactic center, Talent Industrials own ‘Ancerium Gambit’, so it had been given the moniker by Leviathan. The map drew closer as the report continued, showing increased conflict from the Kingdom of Montagal, as well as its CONA leaning neighbors. It continued, drawing up video feeds from the harvesters as they were overrun, with Talent Knights desperately attempting to repel the invaders before being gunned down. More reports flashed before their eyes: fleets of migratory ships hauling away whatever Ancerium they could before continuing on, towing what harvesters remained, and destroying what they could not take with them.
The final screen of the report was a simple message, scrawled across a metal sheet and displayed to a security camera. The words were defiant, and scrawled in stark red Echotian blood.
>>This Galaxy will never kneel again<<
Xavvis placed a hand over the data-pad, waving away the holo as he took a deep breath.
“So, that is how it's going to be.”
Xavvis turned away from the desk, returning to his position at the window. A storm bloomed in the distance as if to herald the wrath of the Vahn; as if the world itself could express the rage of its benefactor.
“Relay these attacks to House Kings. Fan the fires of retaliation within the ranks of the Knights. I will forge the wrath of this world into a weapon that cleaves the heart of this revolt from its ugly chest... and get me an audience with Lord Aurix, we have much to discuss.”