Chapter 24: Pity the Flu

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Cephrien stood back as Li and The Moderator spoke with each other. His eyes fixated on the man, he actually seemed like a pretty decent guy. It was hard to imagine him as his own enemy.. but then again-- people came in many different shapes and forms.. This person most likely had the same ideology as the other Manalists.. No matter how nice he seemed-- Deep down, he probably had that obnoxiously zealous side to him that most Manalists seemed to have-- the side that Ceph out-right hated.

Naturally, he kept his thoughts to himself, his eyes floating back over to Li as she offered to give another speach.. This time about the Cat Flu. He almost felt impressed by her dedication-- but at the same time, knew that she was just trying to keep a good profile. However, if she were planning to give another speech, Ceph would prefer to be present at the time in the case of another attack and attempted kidnapping.

[Li Violette]

"I am sure that once the Eyes of God are in place, there will be less room for these sorts of mishaps. But, if you feel that a group that works to fight terrorism is important, then by all means, I would support that." I tell everyone in the Moderator's office, but mostly directed at the Moderator. I give him a small smile then look away. I notice the vials on the table. I pick one up and look at the label. A vaccine from Artz Lehrer, how wonderful. I take one and no one objects. It appears to be taken nasally, so I turn around for a moment to administer a dose. I wouldn't want to become sick.

"I best get busy working on that speech then. You can call me if there are any changes to what The Master has requested for this speech."

I turn around and leave the office, nodding to Cephrien to follow along...which of course he would since I doubt he would linger in that office without me.

I walk down the stairs to the main entrance and leave the HQ for the World Economic Council.

"Well, what do you think of that meeting?" I ask Cephrien.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph quietly follows Li out the door of the office, turning his head to glance at everyone, specifically the Moderator, one more time. He closes the door behind him and continues to closely walk with Li, feeling a tad bit protective of her at the moment. It never really did dawn on him how much potential danger she was in, just by being someone so powerful within the government. As they walk down the stairs and out the doors of the HQ, Ceph slips his hands into his furred coat pockets and watches the streets behind his bangs.

"It smells." was his simple reply to her inquiry.

[Li Violette]

I laugh, since I didn't expect that response. "Yes. It does." I say in agreement. I keep my voice quiet since I wouldn't want anyone to overhear me. It could ruin my career and...end my life. When we are some distance away from the World Economic Council, I talk a little more freely, but not much.
At least I feel safer and freer here than in Rome.
"Well, someday I won't be the one taking orders or...smelling odors.." I say, making a rhyme about my predicament. "However, it takes time. The powers in the world are strong. I must be smart, do what I must do, and in the end it will pay off."

We walk for a while until I reach a teleportation booth. Normally I would use it to teleport to my apartment in Beijing, but, I realize that they are out of order right now. I will simply have to stay in Switzerland.

"I can't go home...I just realized that. Well, I should perhaps head to a hotel. I will work on my speech and get some rest. But, we can continue the conversation there. It will be more private. Anyway, you are my "body guard" so, it is only in the best interest of my safety."

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph nodded as Li spoke of her own ideals-- whatever he needed to do to support her, he would do it. He was her guard, her weapon, and time-bomb, or at least that is what he felt comfortable with. In the end, everything would depend on her-- he couldn't create a new world by himself. He may have been a strong demon, but Ceph was only one person with little to no political power. As they reach the teleportation booth, he remembers that they are all shut down due to the Flu sickness. He recalled seeing vaccinations in the moderator's office and wondered if they were planning on distributing those.. though knowing them, they would probably only give them to people that they actually needed.

As Li talks about staying in an apartment, he bobs his head again. They couldn't go back to his own appartment-- too risky.. so they would just have to rent a new room.

"That's right."

[Li Violette]

I feel a little disappointed that I can't go home since I should water the plants and check the mail. I will try to get there another day. Maybe I can find a flight or something. It hits me how far away China is from here now that teleportation isn't an option. I can't imagine what the world was like before teleporation. Of course, there are still flights, boats, and trains, but, still.

"Actually, you could ...teleport me home? I just thought of that. Do you mind? I would prefer to be in the safety and comfort of my own apartment. You'll have to teleport me back here ...tomorrow, but, I would really prefer to go home."

I should teach myself to teleport. Maybe I will put that on my to do list, since this is ridiculous. I feel like a teenager without a car asking to borrow their parents'.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

He can't help but flash his assymetrical smirk, he was wondering how long it would take for her to realize that he had the powers to send her back home. It didn't take as long as he had hoped-- Ceph liked a little amusement every now and then. He raised his hand and snapped his fingers to create another swirling vortex that would instantly transport them to China. It was a nifty little trick that he had acquired not long after he had defected from the Invisible Hand--

He takes a few steps towards the vortex before stopping and gesturing for her to enter first.

"After you~"

[Li Violette]

I pass through the portal and find myself back in Beijing...and not far from my apartment. It is great to be home. Cephrien and I walk a few blocks until we arrive at my home. I swipe my ID card and we enter beyond the gates. Then there is another check point and we are allowed through. We take the elevator and take off our shoes before entering my apartment. I lead us to the kitchen where I start watering the potted plants.

"Thank you, I appreciate that. Anyway, I don't have any new plans for Red Infinity at the moment. I think it is best to lay low right now. If this flu is the result of terrorism, things are going to be hard for...different rebel groups. I believe Kith is on vacation in Cuba and I haven't been in contact with anyone else in the organization." I explain to Cephrien while I water. I have an assortment of African violets, ranging from white to deep purple.

"I think recruitment and avoiding capture...while keeping tabs on the other rebel groups are the priorities right now. Anything more than that is simply too dangerous at the moment."

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph enters the house along with Li, but has to lag behind for a minute to unstrap his boots and force them off his feet. He leaves them besides Li's shoes and follows her into the kitchen soon after, noticing how comfortable he felt. He couldn't remember the last time he was able to take his boots off and simply relax in a home like this. By now, he's somewhat familiar with her home-- but decides to keep himself from nosing around. He takes a seat at the kitchen table and watches her water her plants.

When she starts speaking, he makes sure to give her his full attention. As she mentions Kith, he makes a face as he tries to remember who he was.. Wasn't he with him during a mission or two? So finding new recruits and staying out of trouble.. that was the plan, huh.

Maybe if he snooped around enough, he could maybe find the source of this 'Cat Flu'.. it seemed to be a nuisance at the moment.
As she finished explaining their plans, he couldn't help but notice the number of flowers she had. It reminded him of that Flower Shop in Rome, and the woman who ran it.

"You seem fond of flowers." He spoke curiously.

[Li Violette]

"Well, they are easy to take care of...African violets I mean. I can't have a pet...so, I have these. I am too busy to care for anything more...fragile or needy." I say of the flowers. I take a seat at the table and from his expression, I can tell that he isn't too pleased with my plans. For now, I want to play things on the safe side. I have a lot to lose.

"Well...I do have plans to try to befriend the Moderator. I want to be on his good side so I can have a little more power and freedom. Maybe...if possible...try to cultivate a romantic relationship. But, he is serious and focused. In any event, my own plans are to try to gain more power through him."

I finally make eye contact with Cephrien.

"But, if you have any ideas or suggestions, I am more than willing to entertain other ideas."

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

He's slightly surprised with her plans to romance the Moderator. Then again, that would probably be the most effective way to gain even more power and a stronger foothold in the governent. At the same time, however, it could put her in even more danger-- But he couldn't waste time always worrying about her. She could take care of herself. Ceph doesn't quite have any objections to her plans, they are reasonable enough.. though he can't help but feel that the attack at the celebration as well as the Cat Flu outbreak may have been related.. and since the terrorism from outside organizations would hinder their efforts.. it may have been best to snuff them out before things escalated.

"If there is terrorist activity involved with this flu outbreak. I'd like a hand in taking them out. It may make things go quicker since most of the Invisible Hand is out of commission."

Of course, he would do things his own way. Siding with the Hand again was near impossible for him at this point.

[Li Violette]

"If the terrorists are involved with the elf that kidnapped me, then yes, kill them. There's no need to have terroristic elves threatening my life. If the terrorists are not aligned with the elf, then I would say...see if they will work with us...or if their actions benefit us in any way. Remember, a group friendly to us might be able to do the dirty work. Why put ourselves at risk when others are already willing. If they are ...somewhat on our side now...they can always be taken out at a later date. Especially if they are mere humans." I order. I yawn and stand up.

"Well, it's been wonderful chatting, but I need a shower and a nap. Then, I have the speech. I will contact you when I need to be teleported. I do appreciate all that you do. Good night." I say, and bow my head slightly before leaving the room for my bedroom. Although it's been a rough week, I feel in control. I know that I am not and that my position in the world is quite precarious, but, I have a vision.

[Linnea Korpela]

"Thank you Kith," Linnea smiles and takes the cone. It may be a small gesture but it really is the first nice thing that has been shown to her in a while.
They head over to the table and she sits on the opposite side of Lucio and Kith.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," she says with sympathy once Lucio finishes his story. She knew what the Tower of Terror was like, it had happened to all too recently. Linnea nodded her head, "Yes it is quite a feat to escape the Tower of Terror."
She started to eat the ice cream cone and she looked at Kith's skin.
"I may have some aloe in my bag if you would like to use it later for your burn." she looked at Lucio and beamed. "We are vacation."

[~Ophelia Vespera~]

Ophelia finished snipping a rose bush in the greenhouse behind her shop, and took the leather gloves off of her hands. She stood back from the rose bush, admiring its newly trimmed limbs and full blossoms. They took her breath away, no matter how many she grew.

She turned around went back to the front of her shop to check on the workers who were repairing the front of her shop. She had only been able to restore a few window panes since the robot incident, and finally the last window panes were being repaired. It had put her in a bit of debt, but as she walked into her shop to see the last window fixed up, she felt nothing but relief.

"Thank you very much for repairing. It looks fantastico." Ophelia complimented the workers. They merely stared at her with no response to her gratitude. The only gratitude they wanted was in the form of money obviously. She reached into her apron pocket and pulled out some money, counting the total amount of bills to pay them with, then handed them to both.
"Here you go, I will try pay the rest to you as soon as I can," she said with a little less gratitude and a little more grim, "Have a nice day."

"Good doing business with ya, Ms.Vespera," one worker finally replied, thumbing through the bills to make sure there was not one missing, "Make all your payments on time, n' we won't have a problem."

"Of course, sir."

They both packed up their tools and exited without another word, and Ophelia went back behind her counter to gaze again at the finished windows. The words "Flower Shop", were pasted in perfect purple lettering on the glass door, with newly installed metal bars across the door and wide windows to prevent break ins. Or god forbid another random robot attack.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

Peter syas to the side during the discussion. Among powerful men isn't the place to make his views well knonw. Best to blend with Dollar and just be another company man for the moment. Of course he was a Manalist himself. Unlike much of the world, which seemed to pay lip service to the religion or to embrace it beyond reason, Peter felt he was a moderate. he fundamentals made sense to him: strength was the true path and the strong should rule the weak. Easy. Why screw that up with all the little details about what was and was not strong?

Besides, this was just an illness. The world needed to suck it up. People got the flu all the time and the world kept moving. So everyone stays home for a couple of days, so what? After all, without anybody out there to need stuff nobody needed to make anything for a couple of days anyway.

To keep himself interested he slowly edges his way between the various powerful individuals, moving closer to Bambi one inch at a time. He had every effort for his motions to go unnoticed, like a tiger in the tall grass.

However, when the ideal of Allmart's expansion came up he paid more attention. A grin had been spreading across his lips since it was brought up as plans swam through his head.