Cadet at the city of Metropolis' prestigious military academy, Dusk Lancaster on the outside was a man to envy. Yet, behind his uniform, a beast having lost his compass thrived on the thrill of bloody duels, whilst the orphaned shoeshine boy he once...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
February 23rd 549 days to the miracle. The Quartz Tower, at the hundred and fifth floor, OTO Headquarters. Sometime past midnight.
"From the hubris of kings to the ignominy of beasts...Nebuchadnezzar. A specimen of high art by Englishman, William Blake! One of a series of monotype prints whose date of creation said to span over a decade, concluded by the early nineteenth century with four copies made, only three of which are thought to exist today. With the fourth said to be missing since 1887. The fourth that you behold before your eyes...behold what man's arrogance made of him, Nebuchadnezzar!"
"Such taste you have, for the anomalous, Baron." Said she, Commodore Therese Blackthorn; having a seat behind her desk, whilst receiving the man at her study, standing before the painting on the wall. "But thank you still for the endearing present, I like it! Even if I can't say that I relate to it, maybe you do? I just wish I've grabbed you something with me! But what could I have brought someone of your eminence from that godforsaken place, they call the Roof of the World, their world!"
"You did, actually."
"Oh no! That one's not yours, that's ours." Returned the woman, with a bundle of papers to skim through.
"That's why I'm the last to know of your return?!" groaned the Baron, hands behind his back.
"If you mean by the last—the only one!"
"So where is it?"
"Somewhere."
"I'm sure you had enough time to seal it away." Was his sullen answer. "But, just for how long do you think I'd take it?"
The Commodore retorted. "For as long as necessary. That thing is evil, and feeds on men like you, Baron! There was a good chance you wouldn't see me here today...though too bad for you, I, we, made it through after all...The myth we made reality, but that reality is just too dangerous for you to handle! Give us some time, we study the creature and take all proper measures to keep it in check, and only then we should honor our pledge—you may have a look!"
"Commodore, my Commodore! You know that it is your sense of humor I least admire about you?" chuckled he, seating himself on the other side of her desk. "I haven't done what I've done for you, so that I have a mere look! I'd like a touch too...exchange a word or two, with the creature! Ask for things which none else but It, could answer! You know, that sort of thing..."
"That's all? Wouldn't you want more? More power perhaps!"
"I understand that's your primary concern, that I am after your head! But I'm not. That's not what I'm seeking the serpent for." Said he. His eyes on her, as she left her desk, walking up the giant window. From atop the skyscraper, gazed she at the night city, that mighty city sunk in the storm, the toing and froing cars so far below grappling their ways out of the blizzard's belly, lined the avenues with threads of glinting lights.
"Time should all reveal." Riposted the woman before proceeding in a whim. "But tell me Baron, what is it like for you, to one day seize that which you longed and fought for all your life? That something, you coveted more than anything in the world! The thing for which you have the unquenchable lust, that nothing else would suffice to satisfy."
Smiling, pondering for a second, the Baron, then spoke. "To realize the dream you've craved the most, the one for which you've shed blood—that must be the cap of all human experiences! That is when man feels above-human, a demi-god amongst the gods! To conquer your life's mission, is to conquer that savage mountain, which at the beginning seemed like an impossible undertaking, but which in the end, was vanquished, yielding to your voracious will. After so many years—from the instant you put on your climbing gear and through all that you endured—your purpose in life is fulfilled and, you are, liberated."
"Never suspected my cruel Baron has a poetic side to him! Adds a certain charm to your character I dare admit!" she told him. Walking away from the window, to stand where he'd been, before the painting he gifted her. "Well, I wish you the best with that sacred mission of yours, so long it isn't my head you desire!"
"Ah, your sense of humor is improving I see!" the man mumbled. "But why don't you tell me now, what is it like to be the most powerful woman in the room?"
Sitting down, legs crossed, baring her flawless thigh, the Commodore was more than pleased to give answer.
"Be it a man or a woman," she said. "Being the most powerful in the room, won't differ that much from being in a room surrounded by children...with the exception that children would be a nuance! Adults however are expected to be well-mannered and actually pay attention to what you say and, do exactly what you say. They all want to remain in the good graces of whoever that in command!" she proposed. Pausing, before she was to carry on. "Like other laws and flaws of the universe, power has its own peculiarities, and sometimes it's scary how easy it might be for those with a shred of authority to make people do whatever they want...without resistance."
