Chapter
13
Ji-al Qaiera walked down the cold corridor of Maliwan Incorporated. She kept a brisk pace, which was in turn awkward for her assistant to keep up with. Her hands carried only a small folder filled with a few documents. Her assistant on the other hand carried data pad after data pad, binders, files, and more. "Keep up Jordy." she called to the new associate.
"Yes Ma'am." the assistant replied. Jordy Yuroh had been promoted from his intern position with Miss Qaiera's then number two Foxy Banger, but had just recently been pushed up to Qaiera's assistant after the discovery of Foxy's sudden growth in wealth and untimely disappearance from the company. Jordy haall but thought his internship would be terminated along with his bosses leave. Instead he was put on full-time.
Ji-al Qaiera rounded the bend in the hall and promptly stopped in front of a pair of glass doors. She waited for her assistant to come fumbling up, then turned to him and stared fiercely into his eyes, "I know your boss turned his back on this company, and I don't hold that against you Jordy."
Jordy felt his stomach sink lower than he thought possible, he was most intimidated be his new superior's title, demeanor, and overall presence.
"You are about to be privy to certain things that no one but a dozen lucky souls know about. You are my assistant now and I demand one hundred percent loyalty." she said never breaking her stare. "Do I make myself clear?" she asked him.
Jordy drew in a breath, "Yes, or course Ma'am." he replied.
Ji-al Qaiera smiled, then she spun around and the doors slide open. She entered the room followed by Jordy. Inside the room was a bench, some potted ferns, and a door at the other end of the room. To their left and right were small cup-like fountains that held floating orbs. Miss Qaiera walked over to the left fountain and submerged the orb under the water in the basin and pushed it into a small hole in the wall. There was a quiet crack and clink noise. Qaiera stepped back as small seems appeared in the wall outlining a doorway. The partition shifted back and then disappeared into a cubby space in the wall.
Qaiera stepped into the large elevator and had a seat on a nearby bench. Jordy followed, still in amazement over the secret room. The doors closed and the elevator began its descent. Ji-al Qaiera opened the folder and began skimming through the papers. After a minute she closed the folder and looked up at Jordy, "Do you have the data pad on the off-world site?" she inquired.
Jordy nodded and handed over the clear plastic pad. Qaiera turned the pad on and looked over the images and captions. "Do you know about Project X?" she asked still looking at the pad.
Jordy shook his head, then realizing she couldn't see that response quickly followed with a "No Ma'am."
"Project X is our experimental department," she began, "it is where Maliwan has been putting over half of its funding." She handed the pad back to Jordy, crossed her legs and removed her glasses. "If you haven't already figured out Maliwan is the leading corporation in elemental weapons, but not only that. We have many appliances in the everyday household. We manufacture planetary mining equipment. Farming equipment. You name it, it's out there with our logo on it." she said. She let out a dainty cough, suddenly a glass of water appeared from the tabletop next to her. She sipped on it and placed it back on the table. "Everyone these days puts their name on machinery, the industry is becoming more and more competitive. You can't just 'invent' stuff anymore. Humans have been around for centuries now and we've created almost everything our little brains can comprehend. We now look to make what we have better than the next persons. It's almost like a race."
Jordy remained tentative. He was curious to know what Miss Qaiera and Maliwan were up to. "I've heard rumors Ma'am, of what Maliwan does to get the edge." he said, almost now wishing he hadn't.
Ji-al Qaiera cocked her head back, "Really, well let me put light to those rumors." she said. "Yes, we have been looking into the power of the Sirens. We have hunted them for over fifty years now. And now we only have one in our position."
"But Ma'am I've heard we have two?" inquired Jordy. Immediately his heart skipped a beat. What was he doing questioning the CEO of Maliwan like that? But before he could apologize for the sudden belligerence he was silenced.
"You are correct Jordy, we do have two Sirens." Qaiera said darkly. "But you, and everyone else will only know about the one we are about to visit." Her eyes pierced his now. "Are we clear on that?"
"Yes, my apologies Ma'am." Jordy replied.
Qaiera looked at the window which now shown the interior of a massive lab rather the rock they had been passing for the last few minutes. "We have been researching ways to harness the power of the Sirens into our defense department. We have made great strides in advancing our arsenal due to Project X."
The elevator slowed, and the two stood. "Ma'am, I have a question if I may?" Jordy asked, this time more conscious not to blurt it out.
"Go ahead." she replied.
"Are we not looking for the Vault? I mean the power that comes from the void is unlike anything inner clusters have ever seen." Jordy inquired. The inner clusters were the galaxies that were within a year's travel from the human system of Sol. Anything longer was considered the outer clusters or the outer rim of space. Uncharted parts of the universe.
"Why wait two hundred years for the key to be powered up, only to open a vault that is guarded by an alien being from a galaxy we've not yet discovered?" Qaiera asked. "The Sirens are just as powerful in their own way. Why not harness their power to have an everlasting force that we can wield and sell?"
Jordy remained silent. The two stepped out and into a dark metal corridor. They were met by two guards dressed in navy blue uniforms and armor. Miss Qaiera stepped off at a quick pace, followed by Jordy and one accompanying guard. They moved around a corner and down the hall until they arrived at the command center of the underground facility.
"Good morning Miss Qaiera." the staff greeted as she passed into the room. Ji-al Qaiera walked over to a plush seat and plopped herself down. In front of her was a glass table that sat in between her seat and another's. Jordy pulled up a seat next to his boss and waited patiently for her commands. The man occupying the seat across from Qaiera shuffled in his chair before relaxing. He was an odd looking man, with no hair, big green eyes, and a mouth full of metal teeth.
"Madam it's always a pleasure to see you." the man said, his words resonating through a small hole in his neck.
"Likewise." Qaiera smiled. "What do you have for me today?" inquired Qaiera.
"Well I have good news, and I have bad." the man said.
Ji-al Qaiera looked unfazed, "I like my dessert first Kelsier."
"Yes, or course," Kelsier grinned, "the Eridium was able to maintain Subject 1's power for another month, production will be unfazed."
"Give me the main course." Qaiera said.
"We have been draining Subject 1's power for a significant amount of time now, it seems the Siren will parish soon." Kelsier stated. "Her body cannot take much more. Without another Siren to take her place, we will have to put Project X on hold."
"Did we get enough power out of her to complete the Psy Ops experiment?" Qaiera inquired.
"We did Ma'am." Kelsier answered. "They have been awake for approximately four days after the injections. I believe they are in the training quadroon as we speak."
Qaiera was silent, Jordy watched her, pondering what was going through her mind while at the same time trying to piece together the bits of knowledge he had previous to this meeting with the newfound data. What did all this mean? he wondered.
"Take me to them." Qaiera finally spoke. The three stood, Kelsier leading the way out of the room and into an adjacent viewing area. The three stood before a large window overlooking a massive room full of miscellaneous objects and training obstacles.
"Please Miss Qaiera, take a look at the subjects, each one engineered to near perfection as a warrior." Kelsier said with glee.
"What about the kill switch?" asked Ji-al Qaiera.
Kelsier paused, the slowly replied, "Yes Ma'am, we had those installed in their cerebral cortex."
Qaiera stared down into the room. Below were eight people, dressed in white training suits. It appeared that there were six males and two females. Jordy looked closer and saw that their veins had a faint purple glow to them; that was where there was skin showing.
"Our subjects now have the capability to control objects via psychic connection, briefly see into the future in ways that affect their being, control flame, control the minds of weak individuals, and teleport." said Kelsier with pride.
Jordy was more overcome with wonder. Never in the history of humanity had anybody had an inkling of some sort of supernatural power besides the Sirens whew still remained shrouded in some mystery. Few questions had been answered about these celestial beings, but many more remained. Even for the Sirens themselves.
"Are you sure the kill switch will work?" Qaiera inquired.
"There were nine subjects in the beginning." Kelsier replied.
"Very well, good work Kelsier. As always you impress me with your perseverance and tenacity." Ji-al Qaiera said stepping back into the control room and sitting once more at in the lounge.
"Madam have you acquired the other Siren, what was her name-" Kelsier bagan.
"Abaline." Jordy interjected.
"I have reports from Nevaeh Faswater that she is under the protection of very skilled operatives." Qaiera stated. Jordy handed her another data pad. "Marine Spec Ops, Ashley Vex. Two tours on Frostmoth in the Frost Mine War. One tour on Earth in the Diplomatic Colonial Wars. He was also a part of the team that took down the terrorist and dictator Jalhalla Ruto'telli to end the Fifty Year War." Qaiera said, sliding onto the next bio.
"Impressive if I do say so." noted Kelsier.
"Ah, we have a local cop, Captain of the SWAT unit, Niamh Veriniah. Says here her physical test scores are second to none and her range qualifications are unmatched." Qaiera slid the data to the next person. "Lastly we have a straggler, a local by the name of Toby Rutigliano, son of Axton Rutigliano."
"That is interesting, I didn't know Axton produced offspring." muttered Kelsier.
"There is really nothing on this kid, he has remained of the grid for most of his life. All we really know is he loves video games." Ji-al Qaiera said. "Other than that there is a CL4P-TP with them that Glorious Black is hunting in conjunction with getting us the Siren Abaline."
"What use does the Claptrap have?" Kelsier inquired.
"It holds the location of the keys to the Vault." Qaiera answered.
"Does Glorious Black not know that the Vault on Pandora has been destroyed?" Kelsier inquired again.
"Those keys aren't for a vault on Pandora…" began Qaiera. She could see Kelsier's eyes widen. She quickly changed subject, "Those three have been doing a far more superior job escorting the Siren than Glorious Black had intended. We must aid in removing them from the picture and recapture Abaline." Ji-al Qaiera ordered. "Are the subjects ready for live combat?" she asked.
"There is only one way to find out." Kelsier grinned. "Let's deploy them."
Kelsier chuckled an evilly, Jordy felt uncomfortable around the man. He saw his boss rise and stood too. Qaiera handed Jordy the pads, "Professor Kelsier, have the subjects gear up, we will give them the title of Shiva Team. Make sure they get the best equipment." she paused, "I want the kill switch delivered to my office now, and when Shiva Team is ready send them to my office as well."
"Of course Madam." Kelsier hissed delightfully.
Qaiera and Jordy exited the control room and made their way back to the elevator. Qaiera let her mind wander, Nevaeh… her best friend, would need some more help.