Chapter 20: The Eyes of God

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

this is the next thread for when the previous one has 20 pages...

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

(( To Li Violette ))

Cephrien reappeared in an alleyway several blocks away from school building that the meeting was being held in. When his feet touch solid concrete, he keeps walking. It was getting dark and a gentle breeze was blowing by.. He decided that he would relax as he aimlessly walked down the street, closing his eyes and quietly letting his senses guide him to the nearest teleportation booth.

It would be wise, at this point, to contact Violette.

'I used a tape recorder to record the meeting.' He immediately gets to the point, neglecting to reflect on the minor invasion earlier.

'Do you want it?'

[Li Violette]

"Yes, that would be nice. I was a little worried." I reply to him in my mind. The safest conversations are those in my mind. I just finished the speech and was headed back to my office. I keep walking down the hall of the Economic Council's HQ in Switzerland.
"What ...went on? Was anyone captured? What did you do?" I ask Cephrien telepathically.
I finally arrive at my office and sit down at my desk.

[Amelia 20]

Amelia finally catches up to Archer and Bonifaz, who are standing near a park by a teleportation booth. She looks them both over, but says nothing. She is still holding Heikki, who is slung over her back. She looks around at cars and people passing by, checking out their Credit Scores randomly. Sometimes she will say a number out loud, but otherwise, she pays little attention to Archer and Bonifaz.

She turns and watches a squirrel climb a tree. She tries to check its credit score, but becomes frustrated when nothing comes up. She drops Heikki on the ground and runs over to the tree. This causes the squirrel to climb higher and start chattering. Amelia shakes the tree to get the squirrel down.
"No credit score...no credit score..." She repeats to the animal.

[Kith Keitoleinen]

Kith steps up to his father's mansion. He has since wrapped the head in his coat, since he didn't feel right walking down the street with a head in his arms. He rings the doorbell and waits for Keitoleinen to answer.

His thoughts travel to Cephrien and he wonders if Cephrien was able to deal with Tristan. He seemed to have the upperhand, so Kith isn't worried. On the other hand, he does worry about Linnea and Ophelia. He wonders if they have gotten Horacio out of prison.

Kith looks up to the sky. He sees something strange, like a giant jet or something. It is too high up for him to get a good look. He wonders if maybe Sota is testing some new technology or something.

[Charon Dejardins/Asphodel]

"Everyone...I will volunteer my home in Helsinki. It is near the University there and is an old Catholic church that I have turned into a wonderful garden, library, and home. I am sure it is perfectly safe since I never have visitors and all of you would blend in well with the college students in the area. I doubt it would draw suspicion." Charon suggests. He offers his own place since he figures he should do something. He doesn't like getting too involved with the rebels, but, at least maybe they will pay more attention to him and what he has to say if he hosts the meeting.

"In any event, my vote is for a return to Helsinki for now."

[Malak Al-Dabaran]

Malak asks around and it seems that there are more people interested in going to Helsinki than anywhere else. It seems to make sense, since many of the comrades live in Helsinki.

"Helsinki it is. I am not sure how long some of us will have to leave London, but, after the meeting, we'll work on finding a new HQ there." Malak decides.

"Everyone, there is a teleportation booth behind this building. It is one of those old, cheap ones, so, I hope it works for us. I don't know of anyone who has been hurt using it, but, let's try not to make too many trips. We'll each carry as much as we can each trip." Malak orders. He grabs a couple heavy boxes and leads the way to the teleportation booth behind the school.

[Max Alexander]

The plane started thrusting in reverse as the jumbo jet landed smoothly on the english tarmac.

After a short taxi ride to the hangar they stpped and were allowed to deboard. Max had a sleek black Audi S6 sedan waiting for them in the hangar.

"Its just a quick drive to my home. Shouldnt take more than 20minutes." They all got in the big sedan and sped off towards his home.

[Jumala Keitoleinen]

Keitoleinen wasn't actually at the mansion when Kith first arrived. He was at work...for the first time in over a week. He arrives home from the office to find Kith at his door, a bundle in his arms. Keitoleinen smirks as he nears the entrance to his home. "Hello Kith, you completed that little task? How did you like it?" Keitoleinen asks as he lets Kith inside.
Keitoleinen takes the bundle and unwraps it. Sure enough, it is a head. "I thought you would kill an elderly person, someone near death...or perhaps someone sickly or an infant. This is what I expected from you. Good. So, how are things?"

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari is happy to almost be at Max's. He looks out the window at the city as it passes by. He thinks about what Momo said about the take over of SOTA. Could she really do it? Maybe it is just some kind of joke. Dinari would ask her more about it, but he doesn't want to annoy her. He gets the impression that she doens't like him much. They drive past what looks like an old school. There are some people moving things into a teleportation booth. He wonders why.
"Thanks Max for making all of the travel arrangements for us. I hope you have some soda when we get there. I'm dying of thirst here."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

"Charon's place it is then." I say after Malak makes his announcement. I help the others move some things and before long, we have the place pretty well cleared out. I think it will be pretty hard for the Invisible Hand..or anyone...to know that we had ever been there.

I do feel upset about this move. It seems so ..awful. What will happen now? Where will the newspaper be published. Will Socialist Revolution ever be able to return there?

I carry a box full of papers to the teleportation booth. "I guess I'll see...everyone in Helsinki." I say to those who remain. I use the booth to go to Helsinki and arrive about a block away from Charon's home.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

'I don't believe anyone was captured.' He replied to Violette telepathically as he continued walking down the empty street. Many people had gone inside due to the chaos earlier.. though it was quiet now.

'After Sidapa showed up, the Manala soldier named Tristan followed as well.. speaking of which, we'll have to have a discussion about him when I get over there.'

Ceph walked to the nearest teleportation booth and began to set it's coordinates.

'Other than that, there isn't much for you to worry your pretty little head about.'

[Li Violette]

"I appreciate all of your help. I am free for the rest of the afternoon, so if you have anything to discuss or wish to drop off that tape, I am going home. You can meet me there. I want to thank you for a job well done." I think to him. I collect my things for the day and look out the window. Outside, I see Global Bank, blocking my view. I think of Annette Rosenthal and what she said about me at the party. "Annette Rosenthal has something against me. I must try to win her trust and ...somehow win her over." I tell Cephrien. "But, that is no concern of yours."

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Cephrien punched in the coordinates in the teleportation booth and stepped in to be warped to his destination. When he reaches the area, he steps out and begins walking to Li Violette's house. He doesn't think he's ever been inside her house before.. if he had, it has been awhile.

'It's more fortunate for her to be on your ass than anyone else I would assume.." He says, referring to Li's issue with Rosenthal.

'-Since many believe her to be a senile old bat.'

He takes the sidewalk as he walks to Violette's house, his black longcoat swishing back and forth. 'I'll be there in a couple of minutes.'

[Max Alexander]

The school they had passed had been transformed into a rehabilitation group for alcoholics. Alcoholism had become a major problem in England.

"We will have all sorts of beverages when we get to my house." A short time later they were out of town now, surrounded by trees on both sides of the road. Max flicked on his turn signal and the big german saloon gracefully turned right up a long driveway, and past a guard house.

The driveway was a good mile long, and at the end stood Max's home. It wasnt even so much a home as it was a small sky scraper, decorated and designed to look like a house. He did run his home office out of the building, and had many people coming and going daily.

He swung around a large fountain in the main plaza of his home and into the massive structure residing next to the mini corporate headquarters. When they entered the garage, it was filled with probably 100 cars. All different styles and makes.

"Welcome to my home." Max said as he exited the car.