Happy New Year!
Resident demoness here to update and apologize for the delays. I had a long vacation. ^-^Sadly, the news is still showing that my home country is burning. I was there just a few months ago! Please be safe everyone. u-u
Anyhow, do enjoy this read my Blacklings.
He felt it. The very moment the danger struck, that beam come slicing through the luxury transport like a heated lasknife.
What had become of Riki was yet unknown at this point, but Iason Mink's intrusive thoughts presented him an image of tragedy that in itself caused something beyond unpleasant, indicated by the sudden, irrepressible beating in his chest, this surge of a crushing pain, as if the full weight of Tanagura caved upon his very heart. It was that powerful of a link, and this did hurt him beyond description. Enough that he abruptly paused in stride, as if caught by some unprecedented form of paralysis, a hand immediately clutching at his azure robes over that spot, this hard drum of a beating prevalent, the top Blondie thinking it still tricky to be able to experience this sort of sensation, gasping at its inevitability.
Although, much like the well-practiced and logical monarch of Tanagura that he is, he'd reigned it aside immediately, that way, he could continue forward, his head raised as if nothing happened to begin with.
Behind that visage however, there was this need. All he wanted was to reach where his beloved must be at the moment, the soonest he can, the pull towards wherever this was strong, the urge to be right beside Riki even stronger, Iason needing desperately to ascertain his better half's condition, even whilst on the surface maintaining that calm for everyone else's benefit.
He'd acknowledged the necessity to silence his own mounting fears, not helped by the lack of any concrete news and no exact connection with his Exclusive despite being at nerve centre, all the way here at their Tower of all places.
Which made him decide to actually take to the skies again, the gaps incorporated onto his robes almost giving forth to the tips of his bluer wings, the pair preparing to unfurl. Yet they had not fully as Raoul Ma swiftly pulled up to his side in an Aircar, immediately throwing the door open for the top Blondie.
"You're not flying- come on!" beckoned his best friend in haste, and Neu-Jupiter did get in, albeit after a breath of hesitation.
He did not wish to waste time, Raoul informed him that he was well aware of the situation. Why else would the Biochemist gun to speed immediately after they were sealed in, leaving their Brothers and the entourage behind to just follow their lead as the vehicle roared from a slight hover to a jet in flight, blasting its way from Jupiter's Tower towards the Aerospace Port extension of the Galeo Hub that was certainly closest to the trouble? The idea alone of losing Riki was detrimental not only to Iason Mink, but them all one way or the other.
To accept the possibility of it was unthinkable.
The ship had already been in a precarious slant since the beginning of this ordeal. It had, for the most part, already been going down in the last thirty minutes, for fact, deteriorating from the inside due to the fire that engulfed it internally first that the final blast that struck has effectively disintegrated most of the vessel, the final beam completely destroying whatever structure the ship still retained.
The crumbling transport then met its fate in the Ocean below, with a loud splash and definite boom, a rise of violent waves as it crashed onto the surface, the screams of those unrescued dying alongside the flames, the smoke rising before that too was extinguished, swallowed by the unforgiving leviathan that was these dark waters, drowning everything into a whirlpool created by the sinking.
To make matters worse, only a few of the Pods had managed to disengage, the panic of those hapless and quite frankly stupid victims sourcing most of the drama that caused them their own demise, the staff and craft both as ill-prepared as the other.
Even now as these said Pods were upon the waters floating, the vessel's men that were able to survive scurried aimlessly, trying vainly to pull as much of the other passengers aboard the lifesavers as possible, the face of tragedy admittedly achieving something societal normalcy could not: make all levels of the hierarchy equal. The height and depth of one's position in life no longer mattered. They were the same- just beings either dead or alive at the moment.
As some, beyond salvation, have already resigned to their fate and went under the abyss, while others still struggled in spite of the unavoidable. Either way, statuses could not change that…
It was complete entropy, the way this catastrophe was all spiraling down into madness and trauma. None really acted appropriately enough to overcome the situation. None could.
Yet.
Where was Riki in all this?
"I'm sorry, Master."
Katron had to look up.
The Exclusive wanted to scold him for his earlier display of negativity, of all people, but at the moment was far too preoccupied with flinching when, upon turning his own gaze towards a spot on his wing where he felt this sting, there he saw the bare bones and ripped skin of his very flesh, feathers zinged, the results of a massive burn he incurred from a few moments ago, having faced with this incident.
Riki is injured.
Which made him think how bad a decision it had been to remove the web of black diamonds just before they traveled. Those could have protected him. What a moronic move early on when, as the Exclusive, he should always anticipate calamity at his every stride, as Iason often warned him. The Blondie always insisted that he kept at least that vanity on him!
Katron meanwhile believes it to be his fault, recalling the moments before reaching this present dilemma, guilt-ridden that he had not done accordingly.
He is the Furniture. It was his responsibility- he should be the one saving his Master, not the other way around...
An hour ago.
They had evaded every obstacle thus far to arrive at the helm of the vessel, only to find out that the ship's command centre was already in extreme disrepair by the time they managed to get there, the pilots dead, the ship having lost full control that nothing could have been salvaged regardless of anyone's valiant efforts. What's more is that they ended up trapped, cornered on all sides by either flames, steely walls, or closed doors sealing the fires out but just as effectively sealing them in the same way.
They had nowhere to go!
But his Master Riki, refusing to give up, just didn't want to entertain the notion of them perishing there, and insisted that, despite such unfavourable odds, that they get the hell out of this dire situation no matter what it took. Immediately, the mongrel in him set to work on a solution.
"Come on, come on!"
He was putting his focus into interfacing with that smaller portion of the System that he found still intact along those doors, trying to pry open one of the sealed entrance-slash-exit hatches so they may get to the safety of the outside "Open damnit!" his own personal frustrations aside.
Even as the Furniture agreed that, in his case, there was no contention, that he has consigned himself to the fact that his Master need not trouble with him at that point. Just as long as the Exclusive was saved, Katron saw himself expendable. The Pet only has to secure himself.
To Riki, however, his friends were never dispensable, and his Nurse should have known by now that, even at the price of his own life, the Pet would do what he could to get him out as well. His life too was valuable.
"Kartron!"
It was radiant, that flash of beam about to cleave the already hopeless ship in two, and for a moment Katron has caught a glimpse of its eerie beauty beyond the blaze set alight into this infernal floating deathtrap. He even raised his arms to protect the Exclusive from the incoming wave, a shield if he could as he heard the latch giving, satisfied with the thought that his Master Riki could now flee.
But he had overlooked a ray of hope, because as those doors gave way to Riki's sheer tenacity and will, with this last hurdle gone, the Pet pulled not only himself but Katron out, reaching to drag the latter with him to safety.
Yet at what cost?
"Katron! Your hand!"
The Furniture swore the blast struck a few seconds earlier than he estimated, but the Exclusive was faster on intentions and doing what he must instinctively. He unfurled his wings without hesitation, drawing Katron behind it, using his sable feathers to cover them both, spinning to hurtle themselves out by dangerously riding the progressing winds generated by the explosions which ensued; something that allowed them to push off, up and away from the ship finally.
They were both thrown, shot out, the Pet successfully taking Katron to escape with him as well, no matter if in the process he'd obtained damage from the billowing fire and detonations that licked over him at the egress. And since he had failed to use the gossamer shield of black diamonds that could have aided him, he lost his precious feathers in the process of the daring rescue.
Quite the damage.
But in spite of this, the Pet maintained his steady hover, now securing both of Katron's hands with both of his to better distribute the burden, flinching again at the slightest shift.
He was seriously hurt! The Furniture clicked his tongue at his complete uselessness. "You had to save me...I'm sorry, Master Riki!" he could only repeat.
At first, he wanted to tell him to let go, but he was aware how he now owed the other more than the sum of himself. His life was Riki's to decide upon, and the verdict was already clear. The Pet wanted him to live.
"It's…fine," it took all of Riki's will to isolate the pain, tuning it out, needing to do so as a temporary fix, the adrenaline enough to keep him going for the meantime thankfully at least.
Riki did a quick assessment despite his own personal agonies, as fast as his mind granted, sweeping over the scene to see the ship already far gone, devoured by the waters and slowly vanishing under, finding there to be no place to land all around them for miles.
Not to the remaining safety Pods which were now overcrowded, their autopilot mechanisms failing to activate. Surely they'd be drifting for a while and that was a danger in itself. Not a great idea considering how close Kryon was, the presence of their fortress looming near, larger as if it was steadily approaching. It could have been his imagination, but still, it was an understandable possibility.
"Damn this-"
"Master, your wing!"
He knows! The Pet almost lost to gravity, once more wincing at a sudden surge of pain to that part of him. He almost lost consciousness then and there likewise, but holding on to every shed of awareness he could grasp, he stayed afloat, shaking his head in refusal.
They needed to get away from here, only one possible course of action coming to mind as he heaved in steady breaths to cease his panting. They have to make it to the Hub, even if he has to fly with this impairment.
"Hang on- we're leaving Katron!"
Galeo Hub was in an immediate lockdown following the arrival of Raoul's Aircar, nothing allowed to go in or out without permission, Neu-Jupiter immediately bolting free of their transport, in clear need of news regarding the accident that occurred, going as far as interfacing with the nearest node of the System there to immediately look for any inkling of his beloved. Tanagura's Chief Biochemist was not far behind him, as well as the other Blondies who are not far behind them in a hurrying parade of their own transports.
But as they progressed into the venue, Raoul saw Iason stop. All too suddenly that it startled him. Then the top Blondie made an abrupt turn towards the state-of-the-art Medical Bay of the Hub, giving reign to a sixth sense and this very strong pull that sang to him like a mythical siren.
"Iason!"
The Master was correct in the assumption. As Raoul hurried to his side and the two Blondies entered the building almost together, Neu-Jupiter found a familiar face waiting there, anxious with his own surreal features grimacing before it broke into one of relief and a strange sense of fear.
It was the Furniture, Katron, his worried visage greeting them both. He'd sent a message to Eos II already, but was informed that the top Blondie was no longer in Tanagura, just now realizing that his Master was in fact already at Galeo, arriving ahead of his correspondence. The timing could not have been any more fortunate and unfortunate all the same. The Furniture knew Neu-Jupiter would be furious, but he's also the only being on the entire planet that could help.
"Katron…"
"Master Iason...Master Riki is…"
Neu-Jupiter need not hear those words. He rushed past the Furniture, into the sterile room Katron was standing watch over, fearing the worst as the doors slid open, allowing him through.
And he was never this disturbed for feeling correct.
For Riki was indeed there. Although not in the state he would have wanted to see him after a while that they've been apart. In that moment, Iason's world ceased on its tracks.
His Exclusive, the being his heart pounded for, his beloved, lay feverish on the bed, the medical droids of the Hub doing their best to tend to him. Some physician elites as well, but things were looking awfully dire.
"Ia...son…" yet Riki still felt the presence of his Lover as well, calling to him in a voice only the Master Blondie could hear.
The Pet was glad beyond words, despite his mind reeling, swimming in this endless delirium of fire, screams, death, and waters deep that continued rising.
The Master's world once again revolved with that.
Immediately, Neu-Jupiter took a knee to his beloved's side, surveying the damage over in haste, taking that hand to press onto his paining heart, squeezing it as gently as he did assuredly.
"Riki-" even the Emperor weeps, and his sorrows are deep, truly and remarkably unlike who he had been.
And he also feels betrayal, slandered by what has been done to his only one. He gritted his teeth in seething rage, especially when he discovered where Riki had been so mercilessly and callously injured, Raoul entering in time to see the horrific disfigurement that even he glared at, while this unsatisfied loathing rose in his best friend.
There was a need to learn the truth. But Raoul has accepted the demanding task, in preparation now to take over Riki's care, thus it was left to the top Blondie to speak with his Furniture. Although, expectedly, not even a few minutes after discovering what had transpired, Neu-Jupiter was only further infuriated, the System seen to flicker irregularly around them, however, thankfully, Iason Mink was making his motions erupt a little more subtly.
The Biochemist had no time for it.
As long as it doesn't end in utter deterioration, the top Blondie will not hear a peep from him. His priority was the Exclusive at the moment, taking all the data from the charts already filed by the Hub's specialists to look at, aiming to redo testing as he sees fit so he may decide on the next plans for treatment.
He, being the one most knowledgeable about the Lovers' physical uniqueness, likewise knows that the usual medical procedures were assuredly insufficient. Seeing as the normal healing Riki possessed did not kick to start correctly, it meant the wound was severe, an injury significant enough to make such an instantaneous feature placed upon the Exclusive fail.
Meanwhile, the other Blondies were seen to have arrived. But they were dispatched to their respective roles to take care of this other matter regarding that ill-fated luxury ship. Somewhere, after all, was the transport the Pet took coming home, and it had already sank to the bottom of the Ocean. Regardless however, data still needed to be extracted from there to determine the cause and the full extent of the damages. Not to mention if recovery was still possible for the bodies that went down with the vessel.
"What happened?" Iason's burning question since earlier, especially now that he has seen what has become of his beloved.
Katron was not about to hold back the details, the truth as he'd witnessed and experienced it first hand. He saw it with his own eyes and would never be mistaken.
"It was Kryon. They were the one that shot us down," he readily volunteered, certain of the very culprit that was responsible, also admitting that if it was not for his Master Riki saving them both, who knew where he would be now.
Perhaps at the bottom of the Ocean like the rest of those other poor, unfortunate souls.
How grateful he was.
However…as he and Neu-Jupiter regard the desecration through the observation window, while the Pet was receiving the utmost care fitting at last, the Furniture could not help feeling angered as well, and sorry at the same time. He was unsuccessful in his duties, and all this he was taking seriously to heart.
There must be a way to atone for his misgivings and avenge his Master, right? What does he need to do to make Kryon pay for this treachery?
Iason could not take his eyes off his ailing Exclusive, not even a moment, for fear that once he did, he might lose him again. As Riki slipped in and out of consciousness, in a daze, the fever in him pitching high and low in cycles.
He wished he could ask Raoul to make even more haste of his preparations, but he was aware that his friend was doing his very best. The Hub was not equipped to handle a Jupiter. Yet they could not just fly him to Tanagura this very instant. There was a procedure that needed to be done here first before the Exclusive was allowed to be transported.
"Riki…"
Katron stood behind with that same look of disappointment and misery on his pretty face, awaiting orders, his head low, his mind clouded with the same worries reflected in the Master Blondie.
Although now he understood why he was fatefully spared. His testimony needed to reach Neu-Jupiter and the Council, providing Tanagura with valuable information as well as the motivation to finally decide upon the city-state, a disguising adversary that has picked at their flock virtually undetected.
Up until now, they had no real cause to get rid of Kryon. This should be reason enough, wasn't it?
Still, the Furniture had not ceased to blame himself for this occurrence, despite the Lord of the Realm not at all voicing any complaints towards him. Neither has he been stripped of rank. He was still the Alpha of the House and Riki's sole caretaker; Neu-Jupiter made this clear when he called for Katze to take Katron in for servicing. They needed to be sure he had not sustained lasting injuries due what was now described by the elites as a harrowing tragedy.
"Why did they…" the Master Blondie wanted to go berserk, the System singing his emotions, especially after what he found out.
To imagine how his Pet needed to fly all the way to Galeo Hub in such a condition, crashing as they landed, according to Katron's recounting of the incident.
He must have suffered, the vision of this enough to make Neu-Jupiter's blood boil in hate, dangerously close to irrationality.
Riki stirred.
"It's just...a scratch…" yet he managed to mumble, just barely, the image of his worried lover swimming into his muddled mind that it compelled him to soothe his Master's pain, unseen due the guise of his calmness but evident to the Exclusive.
Iason gathered him immediately into his arms. The specialists at Eos II had arrived and Raoul was prepping to start the procedure with this team in aid, alongside provisions for a cryostasis so that the Exclusive can be safely taken back to the Tower for further medication immediately after.
They will save him, whatever it takes.
With this goal in mind, Raoul came through the door with the green, everything set for the process as he tapped his friend on the shoulder: "Iason, we need to start."
It should last no less than a part of the hour, a delicate procedure, but one which was necessary otherwise the Pet cannot be transported to Tanagura.
They all hoped it ended favourably, the soonest it does, the better chances at full recovery.
Even as Riki was lost in his restless dreams; luckily, the warmth that cradled him familiar. It calmed his very being.
"Iason…" he muttered, by some instinct drawing into that embrace.
Iason personally brought him out of the holding room. "Katron, come along," Neu-Jupiter ordered, not the smile or a trace of it in his voice, quietly tarrying with his Exclusive. Just utter anger at this point, no matter how mellow he made it seem.
Katron shuddered. "Y-Yes Master…" it was still fear for the Blondie that made him. He had all the reason to as he bowed his head.
Raoul let his friend pass through first with his beloved, followed by the obedient Furniture who'd kept his head low, the Biochemist looking on before trailing the lot himself, keeping in mind the weight of his obligation, that it was imperative he succeeded lest he wanted to see the worst side to Iason Mink.
Not that he had anything to worry about. His skills always sufficed. He guaranteed it.
But at the moment, the top Blondie appeared to be in a volatile state. Who would dare try and calm him?
News of the incident had been kept terribly under wraps, Tanagura vigilant in its efforts to draw the public away from the Jupiter Couple's affairs and have them focus heavily on the drowning of the civilian luxury ship instead.
Orphe was at the fore of this endeavor, fanning the flames of intrigue and talks about Kryon dealing the first blow on an unsuspecting passenger transport of all things that, clearly, had no means or was not as equipped to defend itself. A mere smear campaign of a strategy. The Blondies were keeping attention away from what's happened and is still happening to Riki. A tactic that appeared to work well enough. But of course the anxiety could only be kept at bay for too long. It has already trickled down; not to the adoring masses or scheming fiends, but among the elites sworn to its secrecy…
He should not have been affected as much as he was, yet Gideon Lagat admitted to be positively out of sync that, although still able to function as Midas' Overlord and playing his part well in the scheme of things, was ever so often checking for news on the Pet since arriving with their brethren. Again, something which Aisha Rosen was noticing with much cold regard, shaking his head in disappointment.
At the fifth time that the Charismatic Noble had inquired, the latter could not, or rather, did nothing to cease himself from finally throwing in a commentary.
"You realize that Neu-Jupiter is with him? As is Raoul?" said Aisha.
Immediately, Gideon was on the defensive. "Are you not worried of what would become of Tanagura if something were to happen to him?"
Aisha glared this time, incredulous of such dubious notions, especially considering how he knew the other to be truly feeling about the being in question.
Gideon was rather obvious with his concerns.
"Are you truly all for the greater good of the Capital?
"Or is there something beyond this pretext of words?"
Raoul Ma was in the middle of administering a dose of medication via one of the many sterile injection tubes attached, Riki at the table with a fever causing him to hallucinate, the injury to his wing having resulted in certain complications yet to be determined.
They were chasing time, the Biochemist admittedly still lost as to what was going on in this Jupiter body that he figured he'd run a few more tests for certainty's sake. Just had to keep the Pet calm. His limbs seem to be spasming ever so often in the last few minutes that that in itself was stirring a distress in Raoul.
"It's just a sedative. Relax Pet," assured the Biochemist, yet he was admittedly perturbed.
Just what was it that he was looking at this very moment? Was this the variable flaw to a supposedly perfect scheme? A vulnerability to something he believed to be entirely whole and impermeable?
Also, are his calculations fallible?
In all respects, seeing the state Riki Mink was in, it should have been that Jupiter's System had gone haywire as well. Yet it had not, surprisingly, which later would be attributed to Iason himself, the Man taking over all aspects of their digital domain with his indomitable precision, taking the load off of Riki for now so he may concentrate on healing. In spite of the difficulties to this process since he, too, was ailing.
Not physically, but in a matter of depth far more convoluted than anyone comprehends.
But it was not in his vocabulary to let his emotions run amok, nor did he plan to have his Kingdom collapse. Not now when Riki needed him the most.
Even as he stood there with his best friend, doubting even their very capacities as Blondies.
"Iason. Two minutes."
Neu-Jupiter approached the table, only so he could run ungloved fingers through Riki's hair, soothing him, bending down to place a kiss on his forehead. That did the trick to ease his beloved somewhat although his hallucinations were not getting any better.
"My wing…" the small worries while the Pet was falling asleep, those eyes slowly closing, the heaviness of the drugs taking effect, sinking him into blessed rest.
"It will be fine. Sleep my lovely...
"I shall be here when you awake," needless to say this was Iason's promise, declaring in his heart of hearts that, after this, he was loathe to have his lover leave his side ever again.
Not even if he pleaded or would meet him in anger. Iason should never have let him go in the first place, especially not without him.
Never again, he vowed, as, at the elapsed time, Riki finally fell unconscious.
But still, with those thoughts- why. Why did they do this to his better half? To Tanagura? These feathers falling on the floor. It was a sight the top Blondie need not see, never wanted to. Which only made him recall that talk with Katron.
'Kryon ships…' the Furniture was not in the habit for lies. 'I would not have been mistaken.'
Those bastards. They will pay the price of this worse than death, though even that would not assuredly suffice-
Neu-Jupiter has time to think of the appropriate punishment as Raoul, at the helm of the medical controls, stated, "It's time, Iason."
Understood.
Nodding his best friend's way, the top Blondie moved to likewise vacate the premises so the team of experts might be able to concentrate on this matter at hand, as he had a few things to deal with on his own as well.
He did continue to tacitly beseech his friend to make certain Riki returns to him well.
"I leave him to your care Raoul…" said Neu-Jupiter finally.
It's been a long night, but it was a night far from over. In Jupiter's Tower, Iason Mink, as he awaited news regarding Riki's operation, called in Katze through their private communications channel for the more obvious business plaguing his mind, by now trusting his Underground right hand to already be aware, not only of the private goings-on, but of what task he had in store for him.
As always, among the ones far from the purview of Tanagura.
[ The attack came as a shock. ]
"Yes. And an insult to my rule," said Iason flatly, the Positronic Brain above him churning with its ribbons of data in a pulsating mess, something that was felt throughout the Capital and Amoï itself as, the longer that the Pet was in surgery, the less and less pacified the top Blondie was becoming.
[ Do you need- ]
Katze of course knows what was being demanded of him now. His former Master certainly is out for blood for the blood spilt, out for vengeance. He had been under his employ long enough to know what Neu-Jupiter could ever want, and what he is thinking even before he gives voice to it.
"I need it done in three weeks. That should be enough to include all preparation," Iason sat back, a tinge of impatience in his voice, his hand curving slightly against the soft plush of the seat's leather armrest.
He had to wait, to wait until everything was completed, this errand being one of magnitude.
[ Master. There is something you need to know. ]
Iason waved his hand dismissively at some data ribbons floating lower him nearby; things that he tried to occupy himself with, but cannot focus upon obviously. How could he? Not in Riki's absence.
"Tell me."
Katze appeared to hesitate, a bare sliver of inflection reflected on that face. But staying silent about it would do him no good at this point, he was aware, therefore it was best to muster the courage now and make his confession.
[ I knew of Master Riki's early return home. ]
Iason immediately shot him a look, one of apparent displeasure, those eyes cold and glaring.
"Why didn't you inform me?"
Ah, of all things irritating, but he had a hunch as to the reason. Because knowing Katze, this man would not have left anything out, predominantly, any aspect that concerned the Pet. He'd have told him immediately of such important matters.
[ I would have, if only I could at that time. But the planet's System didn't appear to give me such a liberty.
[ I could not get through to send you word, Master. ]
Bingo.
That made the top Blondie think, recalling in an instant how it was an ability that both of them, as the Jupiter Lovers, possessed. He knew exactly what it was that has gone on and imagined Riki ordering the System to keep quiet about his return. Of all the times that he intended on surprises!
But then again, what could anyone have done about it if Riki so wished? Curse how he now knew the power of his new role.
"Do as I ask, Katze," Iason finally, reaching a hand to massage a slight ache that ran its course from one of his temples to the other. The Positronic Brain above was beating as irregularly as his worries were, but he breathed in deep, needing to quell his emotions before it wrecked havoc upon his domain.
The Subarctic Scarface met that with no qualms, bowing a head in full compliance from wherever he was on the other side of the screen. He was a professional. He was also about as faithful as faithful can be to the Empire of his Masters.
If Iason Mink wanted a miracle, all he needed to tell him was what it was. In the same way, if he wanted a pestilence, all that he needed was to point where he intended it to descend.
[ Understood.
[ It shall be done. ]
A little later after that conversation.
Katze wasted no time in seeing to it that his Master's request was instantly arranged, calling onto their underground facilities to make the impossible deadline as he made his way there via a secret passage. A task that was completely and utterly gruesome that, if ever he was capable, he'd have shivered at the mere thought already. But he's seen worse. This was merely scratching the surface, the Subarctic Scarface aware that all of this was according to the Will of Neu-Jupiter; who was he to question?
"Boss, what do you think?"
Upon arrival, one of the caretakers escorted him to the lower vaults accessible only through a few biometrics scans and a special "key", the former Furniture and his entourage of masked underground men filing into this undetermined space where they kept what he was seeking, a large collective of Cryogenics Tubes as far as his eyes could wander, just a small majority of which visible upon entry, a few of the larger containment units obvious even if some simply stood looming in the darkness far off, awaiting their next point of use.
This was the storehouse for Tanagura's War Pets -mermaids, harpies, golems, zombies, mass-produced- you name every mythical or anthropomorphic creature ever to exist and not exist and those one would certainly find here. In this subterranean home for the bizarre. A congregation for the macabre. A warehouse for feral monsters .
At the moment, Katze had his sights on a specific specimen Iason needed, scrolling through a data slate for the specific entry and tapping that.
"These ones..." and with his approval, the whole line that ran straight through to a collection of these creatures were bathed in light. They were ready. They have been slumbering for far too long.
Katze nodded.
"Prepare them for transport. They're needed at the Capital," he said, another data slate pulled up and carried to his side awaiting his thumb print to authorize the beginning of the accumulation.
It would take a few days, give or take, to go through the entire set , but all will be ready easy enough.
"We'll thaw and sedate them for transport then, Boss."
"Good," as Katze swiped on his credentials, shuffling details as well as funding around the backends. He made one thing clear; needless to say heavy punishment will be awaiting anyone who could not meet his expectations. "I don't want any delays."
It was not just for his own good. It was for everyone under the thumb of this Jupiterian Empire. The anger of Iason Mink. It was best to stay on his good side.
With Riki injured, the top Blondie was certainly going to find a way to vent all his hatred out.
Katze had expected as much.
