Illumination

Chapter 5

From the central dinning room of La Alimentaire Méchant it was possible to, weather permitting, gaze out from the one of the restaurant's numerous windows and see the lights of the city of Sortuna below, all the while enjoying a level of luxury few could only dream of. Yet, the most commanding view of the surroundings came not from the restaurant itself, but a small loading platform nearby, where a handful of supply shuttles were docked. These shuttles were used to fly in goods from various distributors, ensuring that the food vaults of La Alimentaire Méchant were never in short supply of anything that one of its outrageously wealthy patrons might desire. Each one of the twelve shuttles was proudly emblazoned with their company logo. However, this day was special. On this day, the shuttles numbered thirteen.  

While this thirteenth shuttle did resemble the others around it, if one was to look too closely they would discover a number of strange things that set it apart from all the others. On this list of oddities were such things as engines that seemed far too powerful for a simple supply delivery vehicle, paneling that seemed unnecessarily armored and a communications array that outclassed the systems used by the planet's local military. It was licensed under the company name of Selmarine's Saucisses, a supplier which, up to this point, no one on the restaurant's staff had ever seen or heard of before. Yet, when questioned by the local security, the crew of the ship were able to provide all the proper clearance codes and seemed more than willing to comply when the head of security, Reginald Smythe, still suspicious over this strange white shuttle, demanded that they remained docked while their papers were verified with the local Department of Documents & Records. Just to be on the safe side, Mr. Smythe, leery of anything not listed amongst his well-maintained paperwork ordered the crates brought in by the shuttle to be moved underground in the restaurant's supply vaults, where they would be securely stored until the shipping ledgers could be validated. 

All in all, things could not have gone better. 

Seated in shuttle's cockpit was a tall, well-built man, with ebony hair and skin. His eyes, a soft brown, seemed unnaturally focused as he stared out of the shuttle's bullet resistant and hermetically sealed window.  

A voice spoke behind him "How long since her last transmission? I'm starting to get rather bored here Solomon."  

Solomon turned away from the window to face the thin, lanky man splayed out across three of the shuttle's seats. With glinting streams of shoulder-length silver hair and eyes of hazy green, both products of careful genetic engineering, the man was an oddity amongst his surroundings. His choice of clothing, an emerald jacket with gold buttons coupled with black linen trousers, served only to further alienate him from the otherwise spartan interior of the shuttle. 

"You, of all people, should know how the plan goes Dimitri. After all, wasn't it you who suggested that we should stay in the ship, while Valencia folded herself up in one of the crates and made her way inside?" 

"That is only partially true. While I did suggest that Miss Specter should be brought inside by method of the crates, I did not include myself on the list of persons confined to shuttle duty. I had intended to leave that honor solely with you and Miss Quinn," He stifled a yawn. "There really is no need for my talents to be wasted here."  

"Mr. Armand, I'm surprised at you. You should have known that Lord Cortez never would have accepted that." responded Opus Quinn, the petite young woman to Dimitri's left. She was currently monitoring the ships advanced radios, while she idly brushed the brown hair that cascaded down over her shoulders. Though it did occasionally get in the way of her work if not properly tied up, Opus kept her hair long because she found brushing it to be both relaxing and, though she didn't like to admit to it, rather fun. Her hair also helped to conceal her half-dozen cranial and spinal ports. "Besides, how would you suggest your talents be utilized? There is neither a gambling den nor a brothel around here for over one-hundred miles." 

Dimitri began to rise from his chair, indignation in his eyes "Now see here, you know full well that-" 

. "Ah, ah!" Solomon shook an upraised finger "Play nice you two. Do I have to remind you that while we're in here relaxing, Lord Cortez and Ms. Nain are pursuing the man who caused the rift incident on Ledris?" 

"Oh please, Cromwell. Cortez is an Illuminator and a Manifester to boot, he does this for a living." Dimitri resumed his reclined state, fingers laced behind his head. "Besides, the way I see it, Praetus seems to have other worries on his mind these days. Wouldn't you agree?" 

Solomon gave a half shrug "I guess." 

"You seem unconvinced. Let me remind that before going to dinner he asked you if his hair was tidy." 

"Is that not an acceptable concern? I imagine you spend hours with your hair." 

"The man has shaved his head for years Solomon. I'll bet he even waxes it." 

Before either of them could comment further, they were interrupted by a small beep. A red light began blinking on the control panel. "Solomon, a communication is coming through." Opus turned her amber gaze towards him, cybernetic eyes seeming to light up as she smiled. "It's from Specter."

Solomon returned the smile "Praise be. Patch me through Quinn."