Kesnick's office

As the haze of the blue light leaves your eyes, you blink in surprise as you realize you aren't on the ground anymore, but high in the air standing in the very balcony that hasn't left your sight the moment you entered the room. You look straight ahead and notice a sleek onyx triangle shaped desk set in front of mammoth paned window. The carpeted oval shaped balcony extends narrowly to the east and west.

Kesnick is sitting at his desk, garbbed in Altasia's most expensive clothing, hands folded under his chin in thought.

Kesnick looks over to Walker, who is sitting across from him on one of the office's plush leather chairs, "And you are certain about Eikigou?"

Tracha lounges about in one of the chairs, eyes closed...in his right had is his little dragon-capped rod, which he occasionally taps against his shoe...

Walker nods, "Indeed. We also have reports that another Dark Warriors is gathering the shards too. An apocolyptic war is sure to ensure."

Walker leans back in his chair, his characteristic cigarette surprisingly nowhere to be seen.

Closing his eyes, Kesnick silently curses to himself for a few minutes, before opening his eyes again, "Hmm...perhaps we shoudl consider abandonment."

Walker almost leaps out of his chair, "Abandonment?? After all the work I've dedicated to this damnable project!? What about the machines we developed from the physics of this land, are they to stay behind too??" Tracha snickers at that, bringing the cap of his rod to his left hand, "My, my, Kesnick...all those times of defeat on Earth, and we still never gave it up...getting cold feet on such a little thing like this? I'm quite disappointed!"

Walker takes a deep breath and recomposes himself, narrowing his eyes at Kesnick, "You know as well as I do of the money the Board of Trustees allocated to us won't just magically reappear. They will demand results."

Kesnick says, "Let me deal with the Board of Trustees, Walker. For all the power they think they wield, they are still firmly in my pocket. If we do give this place up, I will make it look like a minor oversight to them."

Kesnick looks at both Tracha and Walker, "As for giving this place up, I said we should consider it...as a last recourse."

Kesnick grins, "I still have one more trick up my sleeve..."

Walker leans towards Kesnick, "Oh? Do tell..."

Kesnick says, "She will be our trump card to prevent this war...and the loss of money, as you so call it, Walker."

Kesnick looks at both Walker and Tracha again, "But I need your help. The four of us are going to remove the seal on her power."

Tracha peers at the hologram with a look of disdain... "Looks a little puny, if you ask me; are you serious about using this one, Kesnick?"

Kesnick looks over at Tracha and says, "I assure you she is indeed powerful. She gave Crulath quite a hard time. Heh, it seems like that twice-damnable elf was right. Razz does possess powers beyond the normal mortal."

Kesnick says, "I knew sending him in to destroy their headquarters would prove to be a fruitful venture."

Kesnick says, "and it looks like Crulath's death will not be in vain."

Kesnick says, "But think about it...if Razz can harm an Ancient...think of what she could do to a human drunk on Ancient power?"

Kesnick grins, "...especially if we release her seal."

Walker says, "So where do we come in...and did you say four? I thought there were three here..."

Tracha nods, "I see, then. A hidden power...that should definitely make this interesting. We might soon see the death of Eikigou after all! It makes me think about the old days, when it was just me and my entourage against some rather troublesome folk..."

Kesnick looks over to the shadows, and a dark blond haired figure emerges, also garbbed in an Altasian business suit.

Kesnick says, "Gentlemen, I'd like you to meet Lucius Bloodmore. Besides being one of my most...heh...effective executives, he also specializes in runes."

Kesnick says, "With the knowledge of the four of us combined, we can reverse engineer the seal, and remove it from her...then just send her out to the battlefield and let her kill our enemies before they can kill us."

A voice echos throughout the balcony, "So...you finally come to your senses, only to go insane once more..."

Kesnick looks around the balcony, then over at the blue circle near the southern edge. Almost on cue, it flares to life, before morphing into the figure of Velias.

Kesnick rolls his eyes, then says, "What do you want?"

Tracha idly glances over towards Velias... "Just you; how disappointing..."

Velias walks towards Kesnick's desk, narrowing his eyes at his father all the way. Once reaching the chairs, he removes the book from his suitcoat pocket and throws it onto the desk in front of Kesnick.

Velias says, "I've sent that report off to the Board of Trustees. It details all the money you've wasted in this endevor."

Walker leans back in his chair again and mutters, "Well, there goes your plan of validation, Kesnick."

Shiroi's image flares into life as well, decked out in a dark dress suit. "Hey, a party."

Kesnick returns the narrowed glance at Velias, "What are you trying to do, boy, destroy me??"

Velias says, "No, I'm trying to open your eyes. You need to give up whatever attachment you have to this world and leave it. There are other worlds on which you can achieve your goals, but a world inhabited by gods is not one of them."

Kesnick waves his hand dismissively at Velias, "Feh...what do you know? Nothing. I know this world possesses a power equal to that of the Diamond Eyes...perhaps even greater. I will have that power..."

Tracha shakes his head in mock disapproval, "Well, I guess your bastard has come through for us again, Kesnick! A hip hip hooray, indeed! Perhaps next, he'll bring out a tray of the classic..poisoned filet mignon? Improperly cooked fugu? Or will a straight shot of strychnine do?"

Velias ignores that comment, keeping focused on Kesnick, "And how do you plan to take that power...by using Razz?? She is my responsibility...I healed her, and now you are going to take what I've done and use it like it was another one of your inventions. You make me sick..."

Shiroi narrowed her eyes at the mention of Razz's name.

Kesnick says, "And what about the future of Darkwood? You know that which we fight grows stronger every day. Unless we have the ability to overpower it, we are all doomed."

Kesnick says, "You know exactly what I'm talking about, Velias. You've seen it in your dreams too. If we embrace ethics, we are all doomed to die!"

Shiroi raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that Razz, without seals, would not destroy you too?"

Kesnick says, "Let her try. If we succede in destroying the Dark Warriors, it would just be a matter of moving to another country and setting up shop there."

Kesnick says, "With Redslide, we would have another corperate headquarters up in a week."

Velias says, "Damnit! Can't you see what you are doing?? What about the Ancients? Have you forgot about them? There are a couple who are allied with Razz, and they will not be happy about what you are about to do to her."

Velias says, "And what about Kaze, hmm? You know as well as I how much power he has."

Tracha nods, "Onrac is looking quite nice, this time of year...and the indigenous cuisine has that a unique blend of spicy and sweet to it, if I remember correctly..."

Velias looks over to Tracha, "You aren't helping matters, you know..."

Velias says, "Don't think you aren't immune from this."

Shiroi twists a chain of silver locket, on which dangles a silver ring, setShiroi twists a chain of silver locket, on which dangles a silver ring, set with a topaz gem. "Run, run, run. And if she catches up? If Razz manages to defeat a power that even you cannot hold back, how do you propose to stop her should she decide to turn on you?"

Kesnick says, "Ler her come. If she wants to defy me, I will personally give her a good fight."

Lucius says, "We can always put the seal back on."

Tracha shifts the rod over to the left hand, bringing his right up so as to feign distress, "Why, whatever are you talking about, Velias? One of my best henchmen, who knew more about me than most of these gentleman assembled here, is intent on destroying this entire world and you think that I'm not worried at all by it? I'm quite insulted by that!"

Lucius says, "I know of a method which would make it quite a simple matter to do so. You wouldn't even need to be in the same area."

Shiroi pauses at this, and a strange smile twists at the corner of her lips. "... can always put the seal back on. If you can manage to put it back on once you took it off... Fight her personally? I see..."

Velias says, "All the more reason we should all leave."

Kesnick leans back in his chair, "No. I think we shall just put the seal back on her."

Velias shakes his head, "You really are insane."

Kesnick laughs a bit at that, "Many have said the same thing, and I'm still here...the same insane person I was back then."

Shiroi pulls the locket over her neck again, the ring sliding down the chain and hitting the locket with a crisp 'clink'. "Great idea, really. Just put the seal back on her. Of course."

Kesnick's eyes travel over to the ring Shiroi is playing with.

Kesnick says, "Is that yours?"

Shiroi peered down at the dangling ring. "Why do you ask?"

Kesnick says, "Becuase it looks like it doesn't belong to you."

Shiroi smiled. "If it is in my possession, doesn't it belong to me?"

Velias says, "I see this is getting us nowhere. I will be going back to Neo Pheonix soon, 'father', my work is now done here."

Velias says, "If you choose to get killed by your actions, fine with me. I'll enjoy running the company after you die."

Velias sharply spins around, and walks towards the teleporter, fading into its blue light.

Shiroi raised an eyebrow at Velias' open defiance.

Tracha makes some rather snide oral pantomime as Velias leaves, then turns his attention to Shiroi, as if he never noticed her there before... "My, my, how very fetching..."

Shiroi casts Tracha a glance, wondering...

Walker turns to Kesnick and says, "What are you going to do about your bastard spawn?"

The wheels in Shiroi's mind turns, and she makes for a swift curtsey. "Well, I shall take my leave before the decrepit magician throws any more fireballs at me, good day." With that, she quickly turned and left.

Kesnick strokes his chin thoughtfully, "You know...I never thought I'd be considering the possibility of killing my own son..."

Kesnick says, "But perhaps this warrents it."

Kesnick looks down at the book, and it bursts into flames, before fading into nothingness.

Tracha sighs. "The old kind of schizophrenic love and lovemaking is so unpopular these days...but, no matter. And it isn't that far off, Kesnick. After all, I tried killing my henchmen all the time, and four out of six of them still love me!"

Kesnick says, "I cannot afford to have him spewing off things to the Board of Trustees. Things would get much too complicated."

Kesnick takes a deep breath, then exhales, as if trying to shake himself out of thought, "But onto other matters! We must put our heads together and come up with a solution to the seal problem in two days. I suspect the Dark Warriors will meet resistence in one way or another, and that should buy us a little time."

Lucius says, "That should be more than enough time."

Tracha considers for a moment..then speaks up, "I believe that we may be able to sway Eikigou in a way that transcends the grip of power...one other person, asides from my Ikioi, that he always seemed to look up to with great respect...that would buy us much more time than any silly resistance groups would."

Kesnick raises an eyebrow at Tracha, "You have something in mind?"

Tracha nods, grinning. "I'm certain you remember my associate from Earth...please come in, Miss Aphyrnae."

Kesnick returns the grin.

From the circle, a young, pale looking woman flickers into view. Her hair, eyes, and business dress are all an icey blue, and at her side she wears what appears to be a cylinder topped with a complex metal crocus of sorts. She takes a few steps forth into the room, then comes to a complete stop. "You called, Mr. Lucerna?"