Postremus

Part 9

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*One day before Exsilium Imbecilus in Sanction 14*

"Victor Eliston, report to the main office please." the intercom went off and a man in his mid 40's stood up. He was well dressed with his brown hair slicked back behind his ears, leaving the ends a little curly. He adjusted his glasses and straightened his blue tie. He wiped the sweat from his bro and exited his cubicle. He made his way through many other cubicles, all filled with people busy at work. Once at the door he swiped his identity card on the door handle. It unlocked and the door automatically swung open. He turned down the hallway and began walking quickly on the white tile floor. He passed many other offices and many other conference rooms before reaching the main office in the center of the establishment. He swiped his card again and walked into the room. The entire office resided under a dome that showed the different Sanctions and their progress. Underneath the dome were virtual screens and many people bust at work. It was all dark, and the screens were outlined in bright orange while the dome gave off more artificial light than natural. In the center of all the busy people hard at work was the Chair mans station. There he could oversee all that went on through his virtual workstation.

Victor stood and looked around the office, unable to locate the chairman.

"Well, it's about time Mr. Eliston." a voice sounded behind him.

He turned and noticed it was Annabelle Rudricks. Co-chairman of the Velantis.

"Sorry Ms. Rudricks. Is there something I'm needed for?" Victor felt his blood begin to rise, and his body run cold.

Annabelle Rudricks was the coldest, most ruthless woman in the land of Concordis. She was pale with blond hair that was always up in a bun. She always looked the part of a strict business woman, with her dark gray pencil skirt, white blouse and blood red lipstick.

"Damn right there's something your needed for." She walked past him and up the few steps into the Chair mans station.

Victor followed and looked at the panels before him. The Chairman could literally change everything in every event anytime he wanted to by just a press of a button. Ms. Rudricks began typing on the orange outlined virtual keyboard and brought up four screens, each showing different footage.

"So as you are aware, Exsilium Imbecilus is about to happen in Sanction 14, your Sanction, Victor."

"Yes I'm aware."

"How close are you to being done with everything?" she looked at him and began tapping her fingers on the panel.

"Well, I just have to make adjustments to the Mortuus and how participants will be attacked, but that's about it."

"Put it in the water system." she looked at the four screens and widened one with her hand. It was titled 'Systems of Sanction 14' and displayed the various systems 14 was dependent on.

"You want us to put the virus into the water system?"

"Did I stutter? Put it in the water system, participants drink the water and bang! You've got yourself a Mortuus."

"Yes ma'am."

"Once you are done with everything send me a report of details and then we'll start the countdown."

Ms. Rudricks waved her hand at Victor, dismissing him. Victor made his way back to his cubicle and began pulling up his coding for the event.

Date of Event: November 30, 2098 Time: 6:50 pm, after school hours. Place: Sanction 14, no exceptions. Origin of infection: Virus is to be put into the water system. Mortuus Modifications: Seek out bigger crowds of participants Food and Other Supplies: Warped to Valentis Storage House. Additional Resources: none.

Victor finished typing his report for the event when he recieved a call from Katherine on the computer screen. He pressed the button that read 'answer' with his finger.

V:"Hi Katherine. What seems to be the problem here?"

K:"You've been at the Valentis headquarters for two days now. When will you be returning?"

V:"I'm not returning this time. The event is starting soon and Ms. Rudricks obviously has plans for me to stay. Does Cambria know I'm here?"

K:"No. She thinks your here in 14, but just having to work late."

V:"Good. Don't let her know. She'll get suspicious and figure out the event will start soon."

K:"Alright. I'll make it seem like your stil here. Does the event look gruesome?"

V:"Classified. I'm not sure if I'll be warping to Island Insulae with you and Kody, I think I'll stay here and see that everything runs smoothly."

K:"Okay. I guess I'll try and reach you once we are warped to Insulae."

V:"Okay sounds good. Oh, one more thing, remember, telling Cambria anything is a federal crime and is punishable by death. Keep her busy and make sure she is not suspicious of my location."

K:"I understand."

Katherine ended the call and Victor began printing out the event report. Quickly he made his way back to the main office.

"Here's the report." he handed the papers to Ms.Rudricks who looked over it carefully.

She nodded her head and began typing in the coordinates for the countdown.

"Alright. It begins tomorrow. I expect you ready to work here in the main office at about 3:00. That's about 3 hours before the event begins." Ms. Rudricks put the report into a locked cabinet underneath the panels. The cabinet contained every report of each Exsilium Imbecilus that has ever taken place.

Victor nodded and began to leave the office. He made his way out into the main hall and began walking towards the doors. Once outside of the building he awaited a car to come and pick him up. Victor looked over at the waves lapping on the shore on the beaches only a mile away. The Valentis was located on a secret island that only elite class knew its location. Only way here is by a boat owned by The Valentis and the captain is the only one to actually know its location, but he is never to converse with those from the Sanctions.

Victor got into the car and began driving to his facility made for those from the Sanctions. It was a gated community located on the beach. It housed hundreds of people from all over Concordis, who were here on business regarding Exsilium Imbecilus. Victor was the only one staying in a house in the community because he was the only representative from Sanction 14 and two events coulnd't occur at the same time in different Sanctions, so he had the house and the community to himself.

Victor kicked off his shows and climbed into bed. The sun was setting and he felt more tired then ever. He closed his eyes and drifted into a deep sleep.

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Victor awoke to the sound of his phone going off. He grabbed it and answered the call.

"Hello?" he said sleepily

"Hello? Don't you hello me! What the hell kind of game are you playing here Mr. Eliston?" It was Ms.Rudricks.

"I don't understand ma'am, could you elaborate for me?"

"Exsilium Imbeilus was set to start at 6:50 after school hours. So explain to me why it started at 2:00 during school?"