Description: Urien has suffered a great many setbacks during his time in Southtown, but... perhaps there is yet time for the venture to become profitable. Refusing to accept that he is outclassed, there is really only one option for the head of the G-Project. In for a penny, in for a pound, it is time to press forwards and continue the work he has started with every resource available to him. Luckily for his minions, the resources available to him are only growing, as the G-Project bears yet more fruit. Unfortunately for Raoghnailt, that means that the self-proclaimed God of the G-Project has no qualms about throwing her into the deep end, and seeing if she will swim...
These are dark times.
For some in Southtown, these are dark times because they have lost their livelihoods. Friends, or loved ones. For others, these are dark times because the machinations of powers greater than themselves has left them awash on an ocean of uncertainty and doubt. Neither of these are the case for Urien, as Urien is -never- uncertain, and he is never in doubt.
At first, Southtown had been a risky venture that he could not afford to miss. Then the gambling had gone sour, and his people had suffered a great deal of pain and loss. Resources had been poured into the project, and the returns had been ... limited. Urien himself had been beaten and bloodied, his capabilities made clearer in the eyes of those whom, frankly, he would have preferred not to have allowed to be aware of his presence, would that time or lady luck had favored him more.
Nevertheless. The times are not dark for Urien. For Urien, these times are bright. This push had cost him dearly, but, it had affirmed one thing, and in his mind, that one thing is enough to justify the entire expenditure.
The days of Gill are over. Urien is in charge.
From the planning, to the operations themselves, Urien has overseen every detail, and although the losses had been more than he would have liked, he could still claim victory in the original goal: To test the forces of those others in the world who would stand against the G-Project, and to weaken them, and drain them. He has, undoubtedly, proven successful there.
And today, there is yet another piece of good news. One which has pleased the head of the G-Project greatly. Another test had bore fruit, and now, Raoghnailt was being brought to the base of operations of Urien's activities. Under cover of darkness, she has been escorted to a small, nondescript building nestled in the back allies of the Business District. There, sat in a luxurious chair, with a bottle of wine sat on a table, and a second, empty chair, in one of his trademark, impeccable suits, sits Urien. Waiting. Patiently.
But from the darkness, there would be light.
Raoghnailt had gone through a great deal with the G-Project. Her kidnapping. The experimentation. The viscious and violent training she was forced to undergo. But she was worth all the effort that was put into her. The young Scottish woman had gone through purgetory in order to prepare her for this one moment. Her supervisor, Mrs. Black, gave her strict orders on how to approach Urien. She was to follow certain rituals when speaking with him, certain rules and responses. This was a man of intense power, and if she messed up, well, then it would be clear that she was not ready for the real world again.
And Raoghnailt did not wish to return back to training.
The door carefully opens, revealing a tall, skinny woman dressed in a forest green evening gown, with soft pink lipstick and careful makeup applied dilligently. Of course, she did not dress herself. Mrs. Black's own reputation was on the line in how she was presented to her boss, and as such, Raoghnailt had to be made professional. Beautiful. She did not have her cane, for Mrs. Black found the cane detestable. A sign of her disability. No, Urien would have to see her without such tools. And in that, she would have an escort. Someone to assist. % R
In the experiments right arm was a faceless man, a flunkie paid to carry out the will of G-Project. With him to assist her, Raoghnailt walked with a subtle grace, elegantly and boldly striding forward. Her face was glowing with a great light, her lips curled in an energetic smile. A lavanader silk blindfold was bound over her eyes, but she was looking towards her boss, her master. She had been looking at him for well over five minutes, since she saw his presence from outside the building. The flunkie guides her around the chair, and stops her softly. And to that, she was alone with the boss. The flunkie bows softly, and leaves the room. This was no business for him.
Raoghnailt stands there, feeling the presence of Urien. The soft prickling tickled her as she took in that dense, subtle force. Raoghnailt was blushing slightly. In her training, she had not come across so much power before, and in that, it was quite revealing on how powerful he was. Standing tall, Raoghnailt opened her mouth, and delicately recited in a thick Scottish accent what Mrs. Black had instructed her to say.
"Good Evening, sir. Raoghnailt reporting as ordered."
For a heartbeat, there is silence.
In truth, Urien was fascinated. There is only so much that can be gleaned from reports, and the capabilities of the latest addition to his ranks were very interesting indeed. The fact that Mrs. Black, like many in the G-Project, wanted only to tell Urien what Urien wants to hear, ensured that he had held back judgment on the fruits of her efforts. For all that, however, it would seem he is pleased. A broad smile coming to his features, he leans forwards, inspecting the girl carefully before, in a smooth motion, he stands.
"Very good, Raoghnailt. I am glad to see that Mrs. Black did not embellish the truth nearly as much as I had feared."
The words are crisp and clear, as he opens the bottle of wine, and pours two glasses. One, carefully, guided to the blind womans hand.
And then he is settling himself back down into his chair. "I am glad. One of the things I have always felt is that the G-Project should be like... a family." A winning smile is flashed, not, of course, that it would mean much to the blind girl. At least, he didn't think it would. He was still trying to determine just how acute the replacement senses really were.
"Now. I am sorry that your initiation was as... rough as it necessarily was, but, from here on out, I believe that our relationship should be a far smoother one, I trust Mrs. Black has not neglected to explain our... overarching goals?"
A genuine tone of curiosity enters his voice, then. It was always important to be certain precisely how much the people working for him believed that they really were working for the betterment of mankind. One of the more... essential elements to his little family. If they believed they were working for a higher power- and he was the representative of that power- they were far more likely to have taken to the programming, and be prepared to carry out the tasks that he would expect of them in the future.
If not, well. This is a new dawn. He needed as much force as he could muster. Although he would watch Raoghnailt more carefully should her answer fail to please him, it would not be more training for -her-. It would be Mrs. Black's head on a platter. He could afford no more setbacks at this stage in the game!
Raoghnailt cannot see the subtle facial gestures of Urien, but she knows his intent. The nature is much more deep than simply seeing the face. Urien's own aura spoke volumes. There was nothing violent about it, but rather still. Calm. Urien was quite relaxed in the presence of Raoghnailt. Raoghnailt knew anger, even hidden anger. Mrs. Black showed her that.
The Scottish woman turns towards the popping. The fluid bubbles into some container, hanging in the aether. Water chi, contaiminated with some strange energy, some negative force poisoning the purity of the substance. Raoghnailt furrows her brow, pinching the freckles close to her skin. And then, she finally understands."Oh! Thank you!" She exclaims, moving her arm to simply snatch the chi. Or rather, the container. She remembered wine all too well, as well as the glasses they kept in. Taking a sip, she runs the fluid in her move softly. It was excellent wine, the best she tasted. She recalled the boxed kind she bought in college, or what she snuck from her parents. This was certainly better than that stuff!
Still enjoying that first sip, the smile is simply not registered. The words, however, are. To be family. Raoghnailt was slowly feeling the feel of a family. Mrs. Black was the evil stepmother. Urien... Urien was her father. Her real father. Mrs. Black was just a mean stepmother. There was rumors of her sister, Mary, but that was only a rumor. What she heard about the other members. And then, the question about how she felt about the goals of G-Project. Raoghnailt puts her index and middle finger to the corner of her mouth, smudging her lipstick and makeup slightly. She taps it a few times, a look of intense thought in her mind. Mrs. Black told her to respond in a certain way. But she didn't feel like it now. Urien didn't like her, he pretty much just said that. Removing the hand, she replaces it on the wine glass, and promptly speaks from the depths of her heart.
"Humanity is sick. The world is sick. And I was sick. The G-Project is there to heal people like me. Some people get in the way of fixing people... the governments that were supposed to help them." Raoghnailt's tone intensifies, her frame developing a much less subtle glow. "False prophets who claim to help the world, but simply want it under their boot... like Shadaloo and NESTS. People who want power for the sake of power... but we, G-Project, want to help people. Like how you helped me."
The fierce blue glow dies down. "I want to help them so much, sir. I was so fortunate to find the G-Project." Finding. Yes. It seemed that the brainwashing was quite effective in correcting some of the memories that would prove to conflict with the loyalities of Urien. "I was abandoned, and you helped me so much. I want everyone have the same opportunity as me. And to stop anyone from leading them astray. Even if it means... even if it means..."
A concerned groan came from the chest of the woman, her lips tightening to a purse.
Urien can be quite difficult to read, face to face. When he doesn't want to betray his feelings, one may as well be looking at a brick wall. For most. But, the fact is, he is pleased. He listens carefully, taking in everything that the Scottish woman tells him, and processing it carefully. From the words that are spoken, and the increasing glow... yes, he was most pleased indeed. Not only had Raoghnailt taken to the programming as well as anyone could hope, but she had embraced the fruits of the Project.
He sips his wine, enjoying it, as he nods slowly. Mrs. Black would -not- have approved of such an unscripted and ill-prepared speech. But, Mrs. Black is not here. Urien is, and Urien finds it more than satisfactory. He could not have asked for a better response. Standing, again, he moves to the side of the room, looking out of the window, at the quiet neighborhood. Flames in the distance, and the sound of gunfire.
"This world is sick." He agrees, "It grows sicker by the hour, and it is up to those of us with the ability to do so, to heal what we can, and wrest power away from the people who would abuse mankind so greatly."
He turns, then, to face the woman more openly. "The gifts I have given you were given because we saw, in you, the potential to be one of the people who will safeguard mankind. Who will help us heal what others have so foolishly wrought. I will not lie to you, there may be times when you are asked to do things you find distasteful, and you may not always understand why. But. Have faith. Together, we will build a better world. One where people do not need to fear for their lives, and do not need to suffer as you have."
This time, it is his turn to give a little shine. Simply a taste of what he is capable of, to show that he really is as divine as it is whispered. Electrical energy crackles over his limbs, building with a gradual intensity. The words he says are spoken so... casually, as though he were discussing the future financial arrangements of her employment, and not his nature, and the future of all mankind.
"I am, after all" He says, smoothly. "A benevolent God."
Urien's speech lifts Raoghnailt's heart from thte dark pit it was in. Somehow, he knew. She didn't want to hurt people. Even the enemies, deep down, we being lead by the cruel shepards. If she had her way, they could just talk it through. But Urien just made it so... clear. He felt terrible to hurt the people as well. But he had to. She had to. They... had to. And when the energy flared up... she flinched. She felt the depth of the power. The raw electrical energy whipped around, his aura burning with a greater and greater fury. It nearly overwhelmed her, and it was so close, she could almost touch it. Truly, Urien was a God.
Her blindfold stains slightly as the tears bleed through.
Falling to her knees, she puts herself prostate in the presence of her lord. Dropping behind the desk, she didn't realize she was out of sight, but it did not matter. She could see her lord. Choking back her tears, she trills out to her master. "Sir, I am honored to serve you. Just... tell me. Guide me what I need to do for the world. I am ready. I am ready to serve, to save. Just... give me your orders."
Urien's smile grows, the display had served its purpose, and that done, he allows the demonstration to bleed away. After all, there is no reason to be... crass. It seems that he truly had nothing to fear. The woman was loyal as any other in his command, and judging from the abilities she had already demonstrated... well. There was no testing like field testing, and there was -much- work to be done.
"At the moment, our primary concern... is monetary." The admission is a bitter one, a harsh edge to his tone, suddenly. "I hate to admit it, but, our enemies have the advantage in terms of manpower and financial resources. All we have is mobility, and, of course, the strength of our conviction."
He sets down his drink, folding his hands behind his back as he looks down on the girl. "Your first mission, therefore, will be to ... rectify this situation, as much as is possible. Southtown is rife with corruption and greed, people who have taken advantage of the chaos to take whatever they can. I wish for you to find a weak point in NESTS or Shadaloo's defenses, and take as much as you can."
There is a moments pause, and then he adds, with a smile. "Rendezvous with Mary, if you are concerned about acting on your own. I realize this is a harsh order for your first mission, but, alas, I do not have the time to order anything less. But, be assured, I will be watching over you."
aoghnailt understood. She probably took up most of those resources. She imagined she would have, that was why she was so important to Urien. She had a duty to return the wealth back to her lord, her master. It was tithing. And taking it from people who did not derserve it.
Raoghnailt rose up again, finishing off the glass in a single, slow swig. To get money. To raid their opponents. "Yes, sir." She answers carefully. Mary. She would finally get a chance to meet with Mary. Maybe she would be as nice as Urien. She was a sister, after all. "Do not worry, sir, I will... I will carry out your wishes to the best of my powers." Mary would be help. After all, she would need help telling the difference between the two... as well as get field experience. "Am I... am I dismissed?"
Urien picks up his drink again, and moves to settle down. "You are." He replies, an easy smile on his lips. "I have every confidence that you will perform admirably, Raoghnailt. I look forward to seeing what you are capable of."
With a wave of his hand, the door is opened again, the signal for the girls help to come back and assist Raoghnailt back out to the car.
Of course... what waited beyond was Mrs. Black. Likely a somewhat harsh contrast to the warmth that Urien had shown her. But, perhaps she might ease off... Urien was pleased, and with his favor, come more rewards.
How long this continues, of course, depends on the results.
Log created on 13:49:37 05/01/2009 by Urien, and last modified on 07:54:39 05/02/2009.