Chapter 4: The Opiate of the Masses

[Dinari Dollar]

"Come on, do you really think that the Manalists would allow all that. They would come and shut it all down." Dinari pleads. Really, a part of him doesn't mind the idea but it doesn't really go along with the image that he wants to project for Allmart.

"Allmart is about America, families, tradition, and goodness. I mean, those things sound kind of fun, but we aren't that kind of business."

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I guess I feel afraid of him because of what Charon said. He said that he was a demon and evil. That makes me feel uneasy. "Well, what would you have us do, Attis? We have to do something." I say to the demon.

I eye him carefully, keeping in mind Charon's warning.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

"That is what I want. So you have a choice. You can go ahead with your family friendly American plans and have me to deal with, or you can help me and we can both deal with the Manalists. The Manalists are an enemy to us both and an enemy of greater concern." Kaschei replies.

"You can think about it. I think we can come to an agreement on this. Eventually you will probably come up against the Manalists. Do you suppose they would allow for a Christian nation once you start expanding? How long do you think it will be before they dash your plans to rebuild America. At least...you know you have an ally...someone you could count on in a time of need."

Kaschei doesn't really care about America or Christianity. His main concern is to continue making money off of criminal activity. The rest is inconsequential.

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari feels conflicted. He isn't a fan of the Manalists, but he doesn't want to deal with the mafia either. He scratches his head. He didn't pay much money for the land. The biggest loss would be that it was a huge disappointment and a wasted effort. He feels bummed out. He would rather just not have to deal with the Mafia or anyone. Eventually he might have to deal with the Manalists, but so far they really don't care. He sits there dumbly, unsure of what to say or what to do. How important is Cuba? Would Allmart fight the mafia over it? Would they allow the mafia to taint Allmart's good name? Would he unite with the mafia to fight the Manalists?
The best policy is probably to try to be friends with everyone for as long as possible.

"This is stupid. It could have been a good vacation spot. I dunno. We could divide it. I could have my part, you could have your part. I didn't buy all the land. There is some still available for you. I just can't....I don't know. This is stupid. I don't know what to do. I just don't know." Dinari says shaking his head.

"Okay, I build it up...make it the way I want it, and you can just do your things there and I will look the other way. How about that? I will just pretend I don't know what is going on. I will market it as a fun family vacation spot...but secretly it can have those other things as well. That way it doesn't draw Manalist attention, it doesn't taint my company's image, and we both get what we want. No fighting or wasted resources, kay?"

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

Kaschei considers this. He supposes that it could work. He isn't sure if he likes the compromise, but, it might keep the Manalists away from the island. If things don't go as he would like, he could always have Dinari killed and try to take control of the island himself. He does hate to compromise though.

"Fine, we'll do our thing there, you do yours. Pretend we never met and that you are unaware of our activities there. It is fine enough." Kaschei says.

"Now, put it in writing. I would hate for you to go back on your word."

[Dinari Dollar]

Dinari quickly writes up a contact and signs it. He offers it to Kaschei who also signs it. This seems like a silly formality. He has mixed feelings about things. He feels sick. He wants a burger.

"I want a burger. But here, just...go away please. You are sort of scary and I just want a peaceful day."

He hands the signed paper to Kaschei and hopes that he is satisfied.

[Kaschei Bessmertny]

Kaschei takes it and leaves quietly and quickly after that. He will need time to process it as well. As soon as he leaves the office he leaves a message for Alexei and Mac that business is taken care of and that he will meet them in Cuba now, that plans have changed. He says that they will be able to buy some land in Cuba and are free to do as they please thanks to a special arrangement with Dinari Dollar.

After leaving this long message, Kaschei takes a teleportation booth to Havana to look things over there for himself.

(I will be offline for a few days so don't post to me)

[marsatacker]

"Do something if you wish to... I never suggested you shouldn't, I for one would rather not waste my time to help some selfish humans. And warn me before it starts... I'm not one for political parties so I'd rather handle it in my other form"

Attis kept his eyes moving between the two people, Rose being somewhat unnerving for being so quiet and Hilja seemed to be guarded against him.

[Li Violette]

I leave a message for Cephrien after Sidapa leaves me his message. "Your new mission is to travel to Helsinki and find and arrest Nadi Shynan. She is a former member of the Invisible Hand, but we do not have a record of her formally leaving the organization. She is believed to have quit the organization without meeting with the Moderator. Therefore, she must be put in prison and interogated about her reasons for leaving the organiztion. Do not take Sidapa on this mission. It is too dangerous for him. Instead, tell him that he can remain in Cuba and watch things there. Leave at once since it is important that you capture her before she leaves Helsinki and disappears again." I leave as my orders.

When this is done, I tell my secretary that I am not taking any more calls since I will be in a private meeting with the Moderator. I assume that Cephrien is capable enough to find this elf female in Helsinki and capture her. He may even know her if they worked together for the Invisible Hand.

Having left these orders, I go to meet the Moderator.

[Hilja Kukkanen/Sasha Pisarev]

I would love to stay and chat, but I see the time and realize that I am late for work! I turn to Rose and Attis.

"I am so so sorry. Attis, you are so strange...and yet very familiar. It seems we ..never really get time to know each other...but there is something I must know.."

I turn to the clock again.

"I'm late for work! I have to get to the Crest Mining office before anyone notices that I am late!"

And with that I quickly leave them both. My, how time flies.


admin: I will be gone in Toronto for a socialist conference for a few days. Sorry if I left anyone in limbo. Hopefully everyone can post and run things while I am away. If anyone new joins, feel free to approve them temporarily until I get back.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

Ceph takes out his cell phone and flips it open.. he spends about a minute reading through the message carefully, he looks over to Sidapa and sees that he did not get the message. He pauses for a second before closing the phone again and sliding it away once more. "Sorry kid, but I gotta go." Ceph says, shrugging his shoulders.

"You stay here and watch things if you want." Though he knew that Sidapa probably didn't want to be here for another second. He slips his hands into his pocket and moves away from his fellow Invisible Hand Assassin.

"Later."

[Tristan Tuzanic]

Suddenly the skies clear up and Tristan is astounded by the sudden change in the weather. He turns to the elven woman and gives her a half smile. "You're a really pretty girl. I have some work to do. But here, have my number. You can give me a call sometime if you want to. My name is Tristan and maybe we can have a good time being miserable together." He jots down his number on a piece of paper and gives it to her. He really didn't get a chance to talk much, but, he has things to do. He still has to prepare to arrest Lucia and her husband, and then there is that mission concerning the priest who may be selling Red Leaf.

He regrets walking away, but, for now he has to remain focused.

[Peter "Levitas" Barak]

Peter was, for lack of better description, pissed off.

He had a copy of the contract with Kaschei in his hand and he was reading it over for the third time. He felt guilty because he'd been playing games with accountants while Dollar was being theatened with pain and death by damned Russians. To make it worse he was losing ground on his own plans if Cuba became a drug den...

'This was controllable,' he told himself, 'They were mafia. They dealt in business, like anybody else. They'd only gotten their way because they'd gotten Dollar alone (he'd already fired the whole front room staff, including the security firm they contracted with) but from this point on they were dealing with Peter Barak!

Drugs were good money, no doubt, but unless they were getting a good cut it wasn't a profitable deal. If Allmart was proving the land for growth and the city for the transactions they should be getting a full half, at the least. He'd take less, of course, but that was the opening position.

Peter stopped pacing and held up the contract again. He couldn't just go rushing in... the mafia had guns and alot of bodies to throw around and he was, at best, a powerful leg breaker. He worked in backrooms, in alleyway, he wasn't a real soldier. He'd bide his time, work his way through the ranks.

He smiled, putting down the contract. This really won't alter the long term plan. They still controlled Cuba, and the ocean around it. The west end of the island was what was really important. Besides, the drug ships would make excellent scape goats should anything go wrong.

This might end up to their advantage.

But still... Kaschei was going to pay, personally, for what he'd done to Dinari. Peter would see to it. And he knew how to nurse a grudge.

[Nadi Shaynan]

Nadi takes Tristans number then say’s “Thanks... it was nice meeting you…” as Tristan walks away she sighs and continues to walk around as she puts the number in her bag that she is caring at this time beside her two Stilettos then zips it back up
The craving had once again gone away this craving was getting annoying to her * maybe it was not the best option to leave Eglin and come here…* she thinks as she looks around
she get’s a sharp headache then she say out loud to her self “well that’s just Grate… maybe I slued of asked Tristan were I cold fined some were to stay…” then sighs again finding a bench and sitting on it leaning back putting her hand one the back of her head and putting her bag beside her.

[††Venice "Cephrien" Ashgrove††]

It's only a matter of time until Ceph arrives in Helsinki where he was told that Nadi Shaynan was located.. Come to think of it, He did remember seeing her at some point.. they could have perhaps gone on an assignment with one another. He calmly walks down an empty street, following an abnormal energy signal that would match to that of a Dark Elf.. she was close by..

Slipping his hands into his pockets, his large coat fluttered in the gentle gust behind him.