The Awakened Chapter 2 - Infiltration (IC Thread)

[Flux]

Jude strode out from the rubble of what had been the jail. That hulk of a man had put up more resistance than he had expected, but like all the others who resisted, Jude had ended him. Still, the man had taken up too much of his time. The girl was gone, and Jude would have to return to Zweiss without her. It was unfortunate, but he did not believe that she was vital to their divine mission anyway. They were the chosen of God, and he would ensure their success with or without the girl. He wiped the blood from his sword on the end of his cloak as he walked, a smile spreading across his face. Yes. They would succeed.

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Alister strode down the hallway, the singular door at the end being the only distinguishable feature in the dark lighting. He stopped as he reached it, brushing off his coat and adjusting the lock of hair that fell across his face. When he had finished, he took the white gloves from his pocket and pulled them onto his hand. He smiled and opened the door.

The small, square room was undecorated, and the windowless concrete walls kept any light from entering. The room was unfurnished but for three chairs in the middle of the room, each of which held a member of Anver's family, their hands and feet bound and their mouths gagged. The smile still on his face, he approached the leftmost chair, where one of the twin daughters sat. Fear was apparent on her face, as would be expected of any seven year old child in this sort of situation. He knelt in front of her, bringing his face close to hers as he spoke.

"You would be little Rei, wouldn't you?" he asked, speaking in a tone like that of an adult to a child. "Or are you Maya? Some might have a hard time telling the difference." He chuckled. "But I know who you are." He paused for a while, looking at the ground. He could see the mother watching him with hostile eyes the whole time, bound to her chair. After a time, he returned his gaze to the child, speaking almost kindly.

"Listen, I'm sorry I have to do this. I really am. I love children. But you see... your father made a very poor decision recently, and there have to be consequences for such a thing. But don't worry; it won't be now. All will come in due time. I'm a patient man."

He then walked the few steps to the mother and pulled the gag out of her mouth. Before she could say anything, he pulled her head to his, holding her in a kiss. It lasted only a moment, and he returned the gag to her mouth before she had a chance to say anything. As he turned to leave, he saw a tear streamed down her face. And Alister smiled.

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Hukuna

Zeus sat in the lobby of Olympus, occasionally glancing at Viktor -- or Ares as he was known on the battlefield. The man seemed different today. It was almost imperceptible, but Zeus was a people person. He could read emotions, and if he was right, Viktor seemed a little bit... less pessimistic than usual. Then again, maybe he was wrong. Viktor was a hard man to read.

"Sleep well?" Zeus called out to him. "You seem a bit peppier, at least to me."

He had a smile on his face as he awaited the answer. Poseidon merely glanced from where he sat reading a newspaper, giving an uninterested look and returning to his reading.

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Arkhidon

There was a knock on the door to Keaton's lab. A young woman walked in, carrying a clipboard. She wore a formal vest and skirt with hair tied back in a bun. She adjusted her glasses and glanced at the clipboard as she entered.

"Keaton?" she asked. "Ms. Archer would like to speak to you in her office. Please come with me."

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Cedric woke in a cold sweat. He'd had another one -- another of his dreams. He was shaking, but thinking back to the dream, he didn't know why. There had been no physical threat to him, but the dream scared him nonetheless. It was a simple dream, as well as a short one. He had been in the midst of the city at nighttime. He was walking, where to he didn't know, but suddenly, in a mere instant, something had changed in the dream, and it scared him. His urge to visit the Pillar had disappeared, and when he glanced in its direction, the light was gone. He had then woken up.

The urge was back now that he was awake, and as he walked to his window he could see the familiar light of the Pillar in the distance. Still, he was worried. As of yet, his dreams had never failed to become a reality.

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Everyone else

Cedric entered the conference room, the members he had selected for the infiltration seated around the table. The newest recruits -- Lux, Ace, Beverly, Kenny, and Anver -- would recognize each other, as well as the Bartender, but there were three others seated at the table as well. One was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties, muscularly built with his brown hair cut short. He had a confident gaze and wore a tight-fitting T-shirt, jeans, and boots. The second of the three was an older man who looked to be in his 60s. He wore a suit and a top hat, and a cane leaned against his chair. His whitened beard was well-kept, and a monocle was placed over one of his blue eyes. The final unfamiliar face was a younger man, seemingly in his early twenties. His stiff brown hair stuck out over his forehead, and he slouched behind the collar of his black trenchcoat. He appeared bored, as if he wanted nothing more than to get out of the conference room.

Cedric took a final look at the table, confirming that all those he wished to take part in this mission were present. He gave a single clap to draw attention before he spoke.

"Thank you all for coming to this meeting. I have called you here because you are the ones I feel are most capable of pursuing the mission I am assigning to you. You have all been briefed as to the goal of this mission: rescuing the family of our newest ally, Anver Dunn. You will be infiltrating the headquarters of one of the most dangerous organizations in all of history. Take care, and remember that the safety of his family and yourselves is the priority. Avoid direct contact with Utopia members whenever possible. And if you see their leader, Zweiss, FALL BACK. He is a powerful individual and I DO NOT want you risking your lives in confrontation with him. You'll know him if you see him.

Now for some details about the mission. The headquarters is located underground, inside of the remnants of the city project years ago. The place is practically a labyrinth -- I'm sorry to say that you'll have to find your own way through it. You're looking for a large, mechanical gateway. The door is sturdy and thick -- our abilities aren't enough to break it. However, I do have intel on the location of the power source for the door. It is in a separate location, where the Bartender will be waiting. When you reach the door, you will contact him, and he will open it. From there, you should be inside the actual headquarters. Finding the hostages will be up to you.

Again, I thank you all for displaying the selflessness necessary to take on such a mission. Now, before I send you on your way, are there any questions about the mission?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Hmmm, nothing much. Just that lovely feeling of takin' a stroll around town with a lady on your arm. You know? Or I would hope you know... be sad if a man of your age hadn't done it at least once." Viktor said with a manly guffaw. He tapped the cigar he was smoking on the ashtray sitting on a small end-table next to him. He took a swift hit, and let loose a big stream of smoke.

"Nothing like a good meal too ya know. I do enjoy me some good dining. And a night under the stars. Does a man good, does a man good. Haven't felt this nice in awhile. After all causing the death of two squads under your command and then becoming a wanted criminal only to be reemployed by the government that was hunting your hide isn't typically seen as a good time." His face was dead serious during the last part. Until he started to laugh. "Ah... glad that shit is behind me at the least. Lost a lot of things because of it. Perhaps I might start getting some of it back. Perhaps my luck has changed."

[Jory]

Lux tapped his fingers on the desk in anticipation. Since the run-in with the more powerful members of Olympus, the young lieutenant had been noticeably tenser and he didn't seem to have patience for anyone or anything. Those guys... They're on a whole other level. Even with my abilities, I doubt I could hold my own against them. They're trained killers, he thought to himself. I thought I could play at this hero thing, but I think I might be in over my head. Sure I'm smart and good in a scrap, but I've never been one for bravery. What's going to happen when they see that side of me? he wondered, questioning for the first time his decision to join up with the Organization. Maybe... Maybe I made a mistake... he ruminated. Somehow, something inside him rebelled. No. I at least have to try, he decided reluctantly.

[Arkhi]

Ms. Archer wanted to see me? Keaton thought. It must be some kind of report on what he and-

On what he did that day.

Keaton rose up, grabbing his pistol only. He left the laser on his desk. It had some modifications to be made in order to compact it further and attach it to his arm. He followed the woman. They passed the cafeteria. It only occurred to him then that he hadn't eaten since lunch the past day. The events that transpired must have eaten away his hunger. His stomach grumbled as he passed by. I suppose it can't be helped, he thought. Rather, he looked ahead, taking detailed note of the building as he continued walking.

[Ragnar]

Ace was bored out of his mind as he stares blankly at Lux tapping his finger on table, like every sound that it makes is like a ticking clock, like he was about to lose his sanity with every minute that pass by in this meeting. clearly Patience is not one of the speedster's strong suit.

As soon as Sterling finish, he immediately raised his hand and ask a question. "just one sir,who in the blue hell are these 3 guys!?" Ace brashly pointed out the new faces and addresses the elephant in the room. "i would like to know who am I working with.." he said.

[Jory]

"Hey, civil tongues," Lux reminded Ace. "Even though they're unfamiliar to us, if they're here it means Mr. Sterling trusts them. And that means we trust them. So, do you care to rephrase?" the young leader asked. Hopefully asserting myself will help convey my place to everyone else. It's not a permanent strategy, though- do it frivolously and people will call it abuse, he cautioned himself.

[rustytengo]

Beverly sat there slowly eating a bowl of candy she brought with her to the meeting. After listing to Cedric's speech speech she was about to say something, but was beat to it by Ace and Lux.

"Lux is right try to keep it down Ace. Besides wasn't it you and Kenny who tried to get other people to join us during the rescue the girl mission whatever that was."

Beverly popped another handful of candies into her mouth and finished chewing them before continuing.

"Though Lux as much i rather not agree with him Ace is right in that we shouldn't trust people blindly just because someone says we should. In stories it rarely turns out that good for anyone who does."

Stopping to grab some more candies Beverly turned to Cedric and the new men in the room "Ugh is there like a no girls aloud sigh around that i missed or something." She thought before speaking "So Cedric who are this handsome gentlemen who you brought into our little club her?" Beverly said in her charming voice to Cedric well giving a sly smile to the three men.

Edited May 31, 2015 by rustytengo

[Flux]

The Organization

Cedric nodded at Ace's remark.

"It's understandable to wish to know who you're working with. However, there are more... polite methods of requesting information, as Lux here has pointed out. Regardless, the question warrants an answer." He paused, looking in the direction of the three men. "These men are some of your senior members in the organization. They are the members whose abilities I believe will be of the most assistance during this mission. But I'll let them introduce themselves."

The older man was the first to stand. He held his cane, though he did not appear to actually need it to stand. He gave them all a smile before he began to speak. His voice displayed knowledge and kindness, much like that of a grandfather.

"Well, hello there. You all must be the new recruits I've been hearing all about. My name is Godfrey Whitman, though I'm known as the Magician around here. I have the ability to "change the location" of things, so to speak. Perhaps I can give you a demonstration later." He gave a bow as he took a seat once more. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you all."

The next to stand was the muscular man. He ran his thumb over the stubble on his chin before speaking, his voice low and gruff.

"Name's Mike. I can make my skin harder than steel. That's about all there is to say."

With that, he sat once more, and the final man stood up. His black trenchcoat fit his lithe form well. He glanced around at the newer members, only making eye contact for a split second before moving to the next. Even now, his face had the same bored look. He was young -- noticeably young compared to the other two. Probably no more than 22 or 23. His voice was low, but had a pleasing tone to it.

"...I go by Wolf around here. It doesn't relate to my ability at all. It's just a word I like." He held up his hands, both of which were covered by black gloves. "These hands have the power to interchange materials. It's something I can't show you in here. We'd have to replace anything I use it on." He sat down once more.

Cedric began to speak again. "These men will be your allies on this mission. I'd suggest you all get to know each other as best you can before it's time to begin."

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Arkhidon

The woman stopped as they exited the elevator, now in the glass-walled hallway at the top of the building. Ms. Archer's office sat alone at the end of the hall, a man who was clearly part of security standing in front of the door.

"You'll have to leave any firearms with him before you may enter," The woman said. "It's a standard security procedure. I'm sure you understand. After that, you may enter whenever you're ready."

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Hukuna

Zeus gave a chuckle at Viktor's first remark. "Trust me... I've had my fair share of women chasing me down. Although... I'm not really about that any more. Just looking for someone to settle down with, you know?" He waved a hand dismissively. Anyway, it's comforting to know that even with the Pillar, the world hasn't changed so much that people like us can't have a normal night out. Sometimes, it's the simple things that keep us going, am I right?"

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Very much indeed. Though... this Incident...The Pillar. I still can't help but wonder why it happened and for what reason. And furthermore, why certain people are affected and others are not." Viktor scratched at his beard. He really did ponder the thought for awhile. How vastly different the affects were on people. He could manipulate blood, quite well... to the point where he knew exactly how the human circulatory system worked just from using his power. And yet others had many different ones. Zeus and Poseidon both having much different abilities. "Hmmm... anyway, it is good to just relax every now and then. And settling down is nice... did it once. Have a kid somewhere out there, but probably won't get to see him again." he took a long drag of his cigar, letting loose another puff of smoke. He didn't mention his ex-wife often. That relationship... certainly went downhill. Went from getting two squads of his killed, to be out of work, to being a wanted criminal. No wonder she left. Probably poisoned the mind of the little one against him to. Not that he deserved to be in their lives. He hadn't been that great a father, always off at work, or something keeping him away. And he killed a man, no wonder she wanted nothing to do with him and wanted to keep him away from their son. He sighed audibly, as he leaned back in his seat.

[Ragnar]

"Oh, okay.. i guess we're cool then.." Ace shrugs and was satisfied with the answers. "This organization is just full of surprises, ain't it?" Ace said particularly to no one as he puts his hand on the back of his head and leans back and kept his silence for now.

[Arkhi]

Keaton was relieved to hear he didn't need his gun in Archer's office. He didn't have the incredible powers that Hades or Viktor had, so not having a gun with him would be a tactical disadvantage. Regardless, he was still human and needed his rest- being away from his gun for a little while would be beneficial.

He unsheathed his pistol, grabbed it by the barrel, and offered the handle to the security agent at the end of the hall.

[Flux]

Arkhidon

The man took the gun from Keaton and stepped aside from the doorway. As Keaton entered, Ms. Archer was seated at her desk. She glanced up as Keaton entered and gave a smile, though it didn't appear terribly enthusiastic. She pushed aside the papers she had been working on, motioning for Keaton to sit in the chair across from her desk. When he was seated, she began to speak.

"Keaton Aome. It seems like just a moment ago that I welcomed you to our group, and you're already back in my office again." She gave a sly smile, more genuine this time. "Seems you're destined for trouble." She brushed a lock of hair from her face. "You most likely already have an idea of why I've called you here. Last night, you left the building with Hades, the head of our partnered group, Olympus. He didn't come back with you, and we are unable to make contact with him." She sighed. "I have my own ideas already, but I'd like to hear it from you -- What exactly happened last night?"

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Hukuna

Zeus frowned. He could see that Viktor's good mood from earlier was waning.

"Hey now... I don't know the full story about your personal life, but you can't keep blaming yourself for everything. That's not going to get you anywhere. The Pillar may have changed much about our lives, but we've just got to push forward and keep living our lives. Make the best of today, and don't dwell on the past. That's the way I see it." He paused, walking over to the dispenser in the lobby to get a cup of water. He took a drink, seemingly thinking about something.

"You have a point, though. Where did the Pillar come from, and what makes us different than the other people out there? It's certainly something to think about. Do you have any guesses?"

[Arkhi]

"What exactly happened that night?" Ms. Archer just had to ask. A million things came to Keaton's mind then. Do I hide the fact? No, they have the resources to find the truth. Can I reroute the topic? No, she's a government official- she will get an answer. Do I tell the truth? I must- I will.

Do I have to remember?

He quickly looked at the ground, his face reddening when she asked. His throat grew dry and he swallowed, trying to formulate a response.

"The mission... was unsuccessful," he began. "We swept from room to room, eliminating threats. There was no time to interrogate nor investigate. And so as we neared the end of the mission, we had gained nothing. Then, some... man appeared," Keaton said hastily. He looked at the ground, recalling the event.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"If I had any idea, I highly doubt I'd be here. I am just a gun and a weapon. point me at your enemies and let rip. Thinking other than war... ain't my specialty." Viktor said stroking his beard. He really did believe that. He had no idea where to begin with this Pillar. What could it possibly be? If he had any inkling though he would most likely be in a very different situation then this one at current. Perhaps he would never have to answer that question at all if he was in the position to do so.

It was strange to think about. How different things could have been. BUt it wasn't really worth pondering what ifs the time for them was past, no use in dwelling on them. "If I had to say something though..." he started again. "Even though it is a horrible cliche; What if it is just fate? What if the Pillar was meant to do exactly what it did no matter what? It is hard to believe it did all of this at random. It sounds rather stupid to say. But, I have no other answers right now. It is the only one I can choose. We just don't know enough."

[Flux]

Arkhidon

"Some...man," Ms. Archer repeated. She sighed, reaching under her desk for something. As she rummaged through a drawer, she glanced at Keaton. "I assume he must have been one of the Awakened," she stated. She returned to an upright position, pulling a slip of paper from beneath her desk. She pushed it in front of Keaton. It was a picture taken on the street. In the center of it was a man, unmistakably the same man from the night before.

"Was this him?"

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The Organization

As the meeting drew to a close, one of the three senior members approached the group. It was the one who had called himself "The Magician."

"Hello," he said, extending a handshake to each of those who would accept it. "I've already introduced myself, but as Mr. Sterling said, I think it is best that we all get to know each other well. The other two may not appear as excited to see new members as I am, but I assure you, they're wonderful people when you get to know them. Neither of them talk much, though -- Mike's a man of few words, and Wolf's a bit shy. Regardless, you should talk to them some time."

He waved a hand. "But what I'm interested in right now is you. What exactly are all of you capable of? I've heard some rumors, but nothing solid. Please, enlighten me."

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Hukuna

"Well..." Zeus started, "I can't really say you're wrong. I don't think anyone can. Who's to say any theory is foolish at this point? Hell, a year ago superpowers were a thing of comic books and fairy tales. Now they're reality. When the supernatural becomes the natural, anything is possible. Who's to say that the Pillar didn't just appear because it had to, much like it said. I don't know if anyone could guess what the future has in store, but I'd wager that with the Pillar, something massive is coming -- something to change the world even more than it already has."

[Jory]

The Organization

Lux grinned lightly, glad for the levity of the conversation. Finally, just a regular person with powers, he thought to himself. Everything had been so serious of late that he'd almost forgotten he wasn't even 20 years old yet. It's a lot to be thrust on a teenager. It's heavy, but having good people around me should help lighten the load, he thought, trying to stay on the brighter side of things. "I'm Photon," he introduced himself, trying to phase out his actual name. "I'm something of a magician myself, although my abilities apply to light. I can store and manipulate it. Basically, just don't piss me off in a greenhouse," he said lightly. "Mr. Sterling's been kind enough to keep me in whatever qualifies as 'in the loop' around here. I'm honored. He must think very highly of me given my age."

[rustytengo]

Beverly gave the man a side glance and waved his hand away as he extended it to her. Continuing swallowing the candy she was chewing she spoke well "I'm Beverly, and I'm just a girl who messes with peoples memories like all girls do." she said sounding a bit irritated. "Just how many times do i have to tell this people about my powers? I all ready don't like how may people know about them." she thought to herself as she went back to her candies smiling a little as she found few grape flavored ones.

[Raindrop Valkyrie]

"Aye, something that will probably cause the world as we know it know to cease to exist. Whether for good or ill." the middle-aged man mused. And he believed it. He could feel it in his bones. Something was changing... This Pillar marked it's beginning. Was it a force for good or an ill omen? No one knew now, or at most very few did. He wondered what this could all mean but as always answers weren't found in just pondering one had to find them for oneself. "There will be dark days to come for all of us in this uncertain path towards the future. Every last one of us." Viktor said as he put out the remains of his cigar in the ash tray near him.

[Ragnar]

"Eh, don't mind Beverly..she's a bit moody sometimes." Ace said to the Magician and leans back in his reclining chair. "Anyways, what you should be focusing on the 'Ace' of the team." the speedster cockily said.

"The name's Ace" Ace paused and show off his powers. In a blink of an eye, Ace quickly snatch a candy from Beverly's fingers at a blinding speed and quickly returns to his chair in a instant. "and there's not a single living thing who is faster than me." Ace said as he eats the sweet.

[Arkhi]

Ms. Archer was a sharp, perceptive one. She pulled out the exact photo of the son of a bitch who killed Hades.

Keaton looked at the photo for a while, then looked up. "Yes ma'am. That's him." In an attempt to push back the memories of that night, he asked the question that latched to his mind: "You mentioned 'the Awakened'. Who.. or what are they?"

[K_H]

Kenny smiled bemusedly at Ace's antics, and then flicked a small Aura Sphere at the back of his head.

"But there are certainly people who are more sensible than you. Next time, ask before taking something that isn't yours."

Kenny then spoke to the other three, using a Nickname he'd decided on instead of his real name.

"You can call me Auros. I'm kind of like Photon over there, but with Lifeforce energy instead of Light, and I can do a couple extra things with it at the cost of some range. Basically, just don't mess with me in any place that has a Quartz Crystal in it."

Edited June 19, 2015 by K_H

[Flux]

Arkhidon

"You mentioned 'the Awakened'. Who.. or what are they?"

Ms. Archer smiled as she leaned back in her chair. Her hands were clasped, and she was silent for a moment before speaking.

"That's a deeper question than it may seem... But to put it simply, the "Awakened" is the term we have given to those like you -- people who were affected by the Pillar. For some reason, unknown to us, certain people began developing supernatural abilities after the emergence of the Pillar. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to who is affected and who is not. Even with the Pillar under our control for all this time, we've learned almost nothing..."

She sighed. "The events of last night weren't the only reason I called you here. I received a request from Olympus this morning -- Zeus, in particular. He wanted to know if you would like to accompany the remaining members of Olympus on a mission today. He said that it's no problem if you refuse, but he wanted to see for himself why Hades chose you." She leaned forward, a serious look on her face. "It really is something special, though. While Hades may be... unusual, to say the least, he was one of the highest ranking individuals here. Despite that, we don't normally allow him to work with anyone outside of Olympus due to his... personality quirks. But in your case... Hades begged and begged for me to allow you to accompany him on that mission. Eventually, I allowed it, as long as you consented. Even I'm curious why he was so interested..."

She waved the matter away. "Regardless, the decision of whether or not to accompany Olympus is your choice. I realize the events of yesterday may still be wearing on you."

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Hukuna

Zeus pulled back the sleeve of his white suit, revealing an expensive-looking watch underneath.

"It's about time," he said, looking over to Poseidon, who merely nodded and stood. He returned his gaze to Viktor. "Ares, would you accompany us? We're heading over to the main government facility. If the meeting with Ms. Archer goes well... we may have ourselves a temporary member of Olympus for today. Keaton Aome... I believe you know him. He was recruited to the government research facilities the same day that you joined us..."

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The Organization

The Magician chuckled. "Well, it seems you've all come to know each other pretty well. I suppose you had to, with the speed events have been moving lately. Regardless, I suppose we should get this mission underway. I'd like to be home in time for dinner." He chuckled once more, before heading towards the doorway. "I suppose we should go meet up with Blue then."

Mike and Wolf stood as well, making their way out the doorway silently.

***

Blue looked at those gathered in front of him. He was dressed casually, in a blue Hawaiian T-shirt and khaki shorts. He smiled. "Are you all ready to go, then? There's no turning back from here."

[Arkhi]

It seemed only logical that lamenting on the past would be a quick path to depression and anxiety. Moving forward would be Keaton's best bet. "Ms. Archer, I will take your offer." He wanted to ask more, but he knew that by now, his secret project- hacking into the place's security- was nearing completion. His safest bet was to oblige and learn more on his own.

"Before I leave for Zeus- or whoever or wherever else- I'll need to pick up my weaponry," he told Archer. "And a meal," he added as his stomach grumbled again.

[Jory]

Lux thought for a moment, then nodded. "I'm ready."

[Sutoratosu]

Anver had had little to say throughout the entire meeting. He hadn't even bothered to introduce himself to the three extra men he'd learned would also be sticking their necks out to help him and his family; not that it had been intentional on his part. His mind had simply been on...other things for the morning. Things such as what, precisely, he might do to the individuals who had put his loved ones in this situation in the first place. Things such as at what temperature the human body starts to melt, at what temeperature the brain begins to die; Which, by the way, was 108 degrees or so; the answer seemed to have popped into his mind of it's own accord the moment he thought of it... as if it were instinct.

And then there was the mystery of what temperature blood would freeze and the body would grow brittle. And at what temperature the air inside one's lungs would combust and burn a man from his chest outwards... and troubling enough, Anver kept getting the feeling, that all he would really have to do to get the answers... was test all of them.

"As ready as one can be." The former CEO said soon after Lux. He gave one last check of his sleeves and blazer, ensuring his Glock was still in an easily drawn position and the clips were still hidden at the ready... it wouldn't be very wise to have to fumble about one's attire searching for more ammo during a fire fight, after all... "But then again... I could always make it a literal one..." He smiled at the thought, just for a moment, but at the same time tried to push the rather dark musing out of his mind...