Description: The Master of NESTS calls upon Kain R. Heinlein once more for a social visit. The two casually discuss matters such as world war and reshaping humanity over drinks, and the beginnings of a gentleman's wager are proposed.
The world is spinning madly on its axis. Everyone in a position of power knows it, be they a fighting warlord or a frantic government official. Meanwhile, the ignorant masses of the world continue on about their days in ignorance of the great power shifts that strain against their boundaries, preparing for the inevitable clashes to come.
Even fewer people are aware of the role Kain plays in it all. And the Master of NESTS, far from a stupid individual, knows the folly of remaining in the dark.
Brief, cordial communications were sent. The location of a helipad was provided, a time was agreed upon. When that time arrives, a fast moving stealth ship of some kind can be seen flying overhead, certainly not a helicopter but not precisely a plane either. The payload is not a bomb, but the midnight robed figure is hard to perceive against the backdrop of the night sky, descending at a steady rate until it lands neatly centered on the painted surface.
The figure may be an enigma to many, but one known to Kain. Though his eyes are hidden by the hood of his robe, this is clearly none other than Igniz himself, awaiting acknowledgement before proceeding further into the den of his sometimes-ally.
There are certain rules and social niceties that must be observed within certain social circles. The rich and influential play their games of status and respect. The powerful, however, play for slightly higher stakes. And how you greet someone can say a lot. Kain does not meet Igniz himself, which a superficial observation might see as a snub. But there is a tall, lean mean with greying hair, wearing an immaculate suit, who is standing at the heliped when Igniz arrives. The fact that Kain is willing to entrust someone with knowledge of Igniz's arrival itself sends all sorts of messages. Games and power.
The man bows smoothly, then gestures toward the house. "Greetings, sir. Mister Heinlein is expecting you." The mansion itself looks remarkably unguarded, considering the station of the man who lives there. But between his suit and the ship, Igniz likely has sensors that have detected the machinery and electronics in place. Not up to the level of NESTS, certainly, but some impressive systems nonetheless. Subtle devices may not scare off intruders, but they also don't suggest that you have something to hide.
Igniz is directed into the house and through a short hall, at which point his guide opens a door and then bows out. The door leads to a richly but tastefully appointed study, where Kain stands by a window, looking down into the yard and the helipad where Igniz arrived. He turns at the opening of the door, and smiles thinly at the other man. "Ah, welcome. Please, make yourself comfortable." Kain's manner isn't warm, but he's not discourteous. He may not consider Igniz a friend, as there are few who qualify for that particular designation, but he does respect the man.
If anyone in power wanted to, such a facility could be bombed into nothingness. The fact that Igniz himself was dropped as a payload on it is testament to the fact that only the knowledge of its location is required. But would that accomplish anything in the long run...? No. Because Kain's organization rises and falls with the man himself. It is his greatest strength...and his greatest weakness. But even so, shattering this domicile to nothingness would no sooner kill its master as mud on his shoes.
Of note, Igniz does not speak to the man who greets him, nor does he remove his hood. He offers a nod in return, following the servant into the abode proper as his suit's sensor suite passively scans the interior of the building, reporting its findings to his retinas and filing the knowledge away on disk for later analysis. It's interesting information, but largely inconsequential in the end as an assault on this location is not likely to ever be needed. Particularly since Kain is no fool as to think any of these secrets have gone unobserved.
Once introduced to the study proper, only then does Igniz brush back his hood with the slightest exercise of will, Kain's senses easily picking up the trifling amount of chi that is used in the exercise. "Greetings, Kain. It has been a regretfully long time; we've both been very busy as of late." Not needling to waste energy on aweing this individual with displays of hovering, he smoothly makes his way over the opposite end of the room. He stands by a chair facing the one nearest to Kain, but does not invite himself to be seated just yet. That, too, is part of the game.
"I must admit, I was impressed with the subtle touch on Taizhou. Wait and see is clearly a dangerous gamble when your own machinations are at foot."
Taizhou. If Kain wasn't in such control of himself, he might frown at that. There were some important things learned, but at quite a cost. The wound he received has healed, but he can still remember what the blade felt like. To say nothing of the very atmosphere in the area. Admitting to weakness is rarely a good idea, however. "I was unsure of exactly what intentions were at play, but I felt it was a good idea to keep an eye on things. Perhaps it could have been more lucrative, but there were a number of interesting devices operating which I found the opportunity to observe." Generally after they had been smashed, granted.
"Can I offer you a drink?" Kain picks up a small glass of his own from a nearby desk, then gestures to a small bar. On it sit a number of bottles with very expensive labels. Heinlein takes a sip from his own drink, waiting for a response. Poison is a pretty foolish weapon to use, particularly against someone with the kind of technology Igniz has available. But there are certainly other reasons not to accept.
Mortality. A subject near and dear to the heart of Igniz. The man before him once laid him low in a test of strength...a tribute to the flaws of his suit's engineering that, hopefully, has since been rectified. But much like Kain, Igniz himself is a man of great control in idle conversation, and he betrays no hint of the satisfaction he takes in reminding one who has defeated him of their own mortality. "It was an interesting scenario. They too are men with ideals...how to put it..." The would-be god frowns, then extends his gloved hands slightly to either side, spreading them with mock supplication. "'Look at us, listen to us. We stand for something...'" At least, Igniz cannot hold back his amusement, and he lets his head drift back an inch as his laughter graces the air. "Foolish, really. They would elicit change to the world in this manner? On a stage where the those who could rule it dance on a stage for the entertainment of those who are nothing...? It will take more than that." Smirking, Igniz then shifts his attention to the finery of Heinlen's bounty. His choice is precise, not aiming for the most expensive bottle of the lot but one that his data suggests would make the most pleasant and flavorful to discuss business matters over.
If Kain is really paying attention after the fact, he might even notice the brief wireless transmission.
"Such thoughts drew me here. Our methods are different, but one thing we can agree on is the absurdity of the current order. Those who think they can govern the world are starting to realize it too." Letting the wine champagne swish in his glass idly as he returns to where he stood early, the smirk of Igniz is broad indeed. "Rats who cannot flee the sinking ship because their greed is too great."
Kain gives a noncommittal nod in response to Igniz's evaluation of the current world order. It's clear that Igniz is here for a power play of some sort. Heinlein knows that men like he and Igniz are not prone to making social calls. He is not, however, sure of the exact direction in which the NESTS leader is headed. But conveniently for Kain's relationships with other men who seek power, being in charge is not his end goal. Although it would certainly be a nice side benefit. No, if other people are going to work to shake up the world, that suits him just fine.
Taking a sip of his drink to pause for a moment, Kain watches Igniz carefully, focusing on the other man's eyes. There's probably not much to read there that he can't already guess, though. He swallows, then swishes his glass around slightly. "Things do seem to be coming a bit unhinged. Of course, desperate men may take desperate measures. The Chinese, certainly, are unlikely to take this lying down. I imagine they feel rather shamed at the moment."
Perhaps somewhat unexpectedly, Kain's conclusion elicits more laughter from his guest. Kain's eyes catch no glimpsed of feign amusement in the process; as near as he can tell, he's not playing up the circumstances. "No...no, I imagine they won't. And they have someone helping them that would surprise most." Raising the glass again, he makes more of an effort to savor the bubbles on the way down this time. He drops the name as if it were the most casual of knowledge. "Vega."
Draining the remainder of the glass, he dismissively sets it to the side, content that some servant of Kain's will deal with it later. Assuming he doesn't help himself to another glass at this rate. "I expect that he is trying to take advantage of the shame you speak of. But he thinks small. China, Thailand, Japan...city after city, crushed by fighters. What would happen if the United States were next? Or the 'United' Kingdom?" The question is rhetorical, the answer obvious. World War. Against fighters.
"Tell me, Mister Heinlein. What would it take for mankind to redeem itself in your eyes?"
Kain does allow himself a raised eyebrow at that. His information sources have noted some Shadaloo movements, certainly, but an alliance between Vega and the Chinese government is certainly of interest. "Given recent events, I imagine any country with the capability will react swiftly at even the hint of something like Taizhou coming to pass. Which would not necessarily be a bad thing, if one knew it was coming..."
He reflects for a moment, taking another sip from his glass. "What mankind needs is to throw off the shackles we've bound ourselves with. I'm sure you're quite familiar with the limitations imposed by 'ethics'." He smiles for a moment. "The end result will be bloody, of course, regardless of the precise manner in which it plays out. But in the end, the species will be better off for it. People don't realize their full potential until they are forced to."
*Ethics*. The word is met with an immediate scowl. "Well put. The 'order' of this world is maintained by those who have no real power, yet have everything to lose. Those chains you speak of are what hold it together, while fighters drive the economies of the small-minded instead of humanity's progress." His suspicions about Kain coming into this were correct; he moves to pour himself another glass, his expression thoughtful. "So, if the supposed 'world powers'..." The words drip with sarcasm. "...were to mobilize with the intent of crushing powerful fighters, those who have lived in peaceful symbiosis with the current system would be forced to cast off their chains."
Pausing to take another sip, Igniz doesn't bother to move away from the bar this time. "Or be suppressed. Natural selection, as you were alluding to." The tip of a smirk can be seen from around the edge of the glass as the Master of NESTS looks back to Kain, meeting eyes on his own terms this time. "The catalyst matters little as long as it is still the work of man."
Finishing off his own drink, Kain sets the glass aside. "Of course, the problem with an entrenched order is inertia. Once in place, it's difficult to move. And a failed attempt can simply serve to strengthen it, given a little time to spin the message for the masses." He taps his fingers on the edge of the desk for a moment. "Of course, if the leaders themselves set their downfall into motion, that helps things along quite nicely."
He pauses for a moment, eying Igniz thoughtfully. "Are you perhaps suggesting that you have some plan in mind? If so, it's kind," Kain says, with just the slightest ironic twist to the word, "to come to me about it. I'd be quite interested in hearing what you've been thinking."
The glass is lifted slightly to just above forehead level, Igniz taking the time to studying the artifice on its own merit. "Heh. Kind. You are a wildcard, and putting you under my ownership would be a waste of both of our resources. I am not a gambler with morals however; I count cards." The rest of the glass is downed again, so that Igniz might idly amuse himself by twirling it between gloved fingers. "You will know my hand when the time comes. I will deliver a weapon to the enemies of this world under a false pretense. But the Sword of God will not cut those of his flock." A poignant pause. "Or those he deems worthy of sharing in his kingdom."
"When the enemies of the world come for you with their new power, they will find it useless against you. I ask no specific favor. Merely crush those who stand in your way..." The glass is firmly set down on the table to punctuate the sentiment. "And the bargain will be considered complete."
There is a brief chuckle from Kain. "Oh, I don't think that will be hard to arrange at all." He looks at Igniz for a moment. Even he isn't quite certain how seriously Igniz takes his visions of godhood. But in the end, it doesn't really matter to Kain. Either Igniz will succeed, or he'll fail, and that will say whether he was right or not.
Kain leans lightly against the desk, still watching Igniz. "It has taken some time to secure my current position, so for the time being I bide my time while playing by the rules of the status quo. But there are more methods of crushing people than the direct ones. It's amazing with money and a little... pressure... in the right places can do. But don't worry, when the time comes, I am prepared to do whatever is necessary. And after Geese Howard, the governments of the world will have to try very hard to impress me." He smiles coldly.
Howard. A man that Igniz himself had helped to crush. The reason for his tenous and temporary alliance with Vega. With that reason gone, NESTS and Shadaloo have none left to scrape at but each other...but Igniz is no fool.
"Vega was dead too."
The Master of NESTS frowns, looking first to Kain, then the villa's nighttime backdrop through the window behind him. "Geese is out of the picture for now, but men like the three of you...are not so easily disposed of." Igniz himself could count among that number, but conscious associations of similarity to his inferiors is more than anyone can hope for. "Neither of us are cowards who fear the return of his ilk, but it would be most unwise to discount the possibility."
There it is, in the distance. The spires of southtown. The void in the horizon once occupied by the largest tower in this hemisphere. "You yourself said it. Once entrenched, order is difficult to be rid of. And the hearts of the unenlightened are weak. Even knowing the supposed sins of the King, even with the stones of Babel only recently swept away...it would only take the whisperings of a snake in their ear to secure his place in their heart once more."
Kain nods. "Oh, I'm sure he's around somewhere, licking his wounds." He then makes a dismissive gesture. "I don't think he'd be fool enough to make a move anytime soon, though. I spent a very long time arranging his downfall, and I still have a number of contingency plans in effect. One thing Howard is not, is stupid. He won't act until he's ready. Or thinks he is, at least."
Heinlein also turns to look out the window at the city beyond. "Most of his allies that remain in the city have been coopted or removed. I've rebuilt some of his power structure, but even if he were to take it back... there are a few weak links intentionally left in place." He smiles. "The whole thing could come crashing down quite easily. It makes for a dangerous game, but will be useful when the time comes. And in the event something should go wrong, I still have all my other resources to fall back to." Probably not a bluff, if he's even willing to mention a potential weakness to Igniz.
Well now, that was an unexpectedly forthcoming explanation. Igniz expects that it it's the pride talking. It confirms what some of his own agents had been able to piece together on their own, but it remains an impressive bit of planning on Kain's part all the same.
"Your seeming inaction is indeed puzzling to some. But not all are fools. If I might make a suggestion, a public display of some sort would be warranted. A feint to keep them speculating. But I leave that to you."
Turning from the window with a sweep of his voluminous robe, Igniz turns and begins to make his way toward the door. But before he gets there...he pauses, halfway turning with a gloved hand to his chin. "Our methods may be different, but what seperates us from the others is that we would change the very nature of mankind. Would you be interested in an idle wager to pass the time? I'm sure you're familiar with the story of Job..."
Kain crosses his arms, shifting his position against the desk slightly. "Public displays have a way of becoming even more public than expected. Howard learned that the hard way. Having gained a good reputation in the eyes of the public, I'm not eager to give it up until I'm going to get something in return. Done carefully, of course, public messages can be made that only the intended recipients will understand."
Kain watches as Igniz turns and walks toward the door. Many men of power have a bit of a flair for the dramatic, so the sudden exit isn't unexpected. But Kain expects that there will still be an attempt to have the last word. And... ah, there we go. "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. Job 14:1. There are certainly some truths to be found in the bible." A brief grin flashes across his face. "What sort of wager did you have in mind?"
Igniz waves his hand off to the side dismissively on the former subject. "Yes, yes. I would never suggest strutting around with a bared chest like the others are prone to doing. Even Vega has begun to learn the merits of subtlety..." He rolls his eyes. "I should give pigs wings to commemorate the occasion."
Ah, good. Kain is a learned man, but some foolishly dismiss the merits of the Bible as foolish superstition. Igniz knows it from cover cover...after all, one must know the enemy. And there is none in this world that Igniz hates more than...
Kain will no doubt catch the uncharacteristic grimace. It passes quickly. "The specifics can be negotiated via correspondence, but the premise is this. One individual will be given power but no direction. The other will start with nothing and be shaped through ceaseless adversity. The former will be suited to my ideals, and the latter your own. Who will make more of their existence in the end?"
The shoulders of the God shrug. "There is no great prize to be won, and I have no individuals selected. It is nothing more than a game to pass the time, and your own input is welcome."
Kain rubs his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "An interesting wager. I accept. Although the latter individual may be somewhat more difficult to arrange than the former. Still, I'm sure some adversity can be manufactured, if need be." He nods to himself, then holds out his hand toward Igniz. "A bet, then. I'll keep an eye out for some suitable individuals, and let you know if I come across any before you do. Then we can arrange the necessary additional steps."
Igniz grips the proferred hand firmly, shaking to seal the deal. "Just so. I will not interfere with either object of the wager, save for the initial 'gift'. And you are welcome to shape your champion in whatever way is true to your ideals." The latter makes for an interesting trap. Kain has more freedom to tamper with his own contestant, but the manner in which does must not cheapen his own beliefs.
"Very well then. I look forward to your candidates, and will let you know if I find any interesting specimens in the intervening time. Good day, Mister Heinlein."
Igniz turns once more, donning his hood as he passes through the door. He exits the building as he came in, wasting no time with dawdling over the scenery or conversing with servants. Not waiting for the helipad, once he steps outside he simply spreads his arms and flies off into the night sky, no doubt to rendezvous with another transport ship.
It was certainly an oddity for a social call, but in the world that these two men live in...such prospects are quite limited indeed.
Log created on 18:43:53 11/12/2010 by Igniz, and last modified on 18:38:02 11/13/2010.