[08th October 2010]

[Overlook, New Building Area, Island of Tropico]

Playing at being El Presidente for a few days had been rather exhausting I had found, and the chance to relax as myself once again was rather nice. At the least team of impersonators that the bosses had selected to play El Presidente Ned had gotten the details down to my liking, and the committee really running the island actually doing their jobs. After the past few weeks' nonsense and infuriating insanity it was most welcome to enjoy these few privileges of right of conquest.

I rested my arms on the stone balcony and looked down upon the bay area far below, a mixture of jungle, hilly ground, and largely empty mansions like this one I was in right now. Opulent, even overboard, wealth in an ideal location when most of the populace had lived worse than many a medieval serf had on this world, or in my past one. Which was why it'd be torn down in the coming months like many of the others below to make way for more useful things; like public amenities or in this case a defensive missile battery.

It was after all an ideal spot to cover this section of the island and the harbour town being built below thanks to its rather breath-taking view that I looked out from right now. Breathtaking or not a military installation was a much better option my mind told me as I sighed in relief; enjoying the faint sea breeze on my face as it came up the mountain slopes. It was a rather pleasant feeling under the blazing Caribbean sun, and made it hard to believe a hurricane would be here come tomorrow after midday at some stage.

'Another delay, well nothing to be done about it I guess' I mused eyes tracking over the large construction area as everything was moved under cover off in the distance. Still there had been shockingly fast progress in that handful of projects designed and started in the mere two months and a bit since that fiasco of an operation against Bane, and Kobra, and all the other nutters on the island. At least Senor Bane had proven more tractable since entering our, my, employment and placed under a blood oath of loyalty.

While I was full sure he was plotting against me, and our control, it appeared to have dimmed between keeping him wealthy and showing the bloody results of challenging our...my...control of this place. The Temple foundations were completed to my surprise, as had the reinforcing of the cavern beneath the 'hill' and mansion upon it that the structure would replace. Really the meta-human clash aftermaths had evidently given this Earth construction firms abilities far in excess of those of on my first one I noted considering the matter a little with some amusement. Even the Irish ones were actually pretty good at their jobs to my surprise.

In two months we'd gotten a designed approved that merged my arcane requirements along with those of creating a large doomsday shelter and storage area that was the buildings secondary role; and then actually gotten materials ship in and the first phase started. I should know as I'd started the first incantations only two days ago and the design was working for accessing, and drawing from, the 'background magic' of the world even now.

A surprise, but a rather pleasant one for drawing the needed power into what serves as one of my more heavily fortified Santums...and emergency centre should any of the more world ending threats appear and it came down to saving maybe a portion of humanity from the world. It had been a matter I'd discussed with Nabu, and the old Kent Nelson when he'd taken off the Helm, in confidence as I was pretty sure the Order Primordial had some inkling of what I was.

Or at least assumed I was a Pact based mage like his hosts were; save with the knowledge alone and dependent upon my own reserves instead of the utilisation of an anchor as he and Klarion had done. It was...somewhat correct...view, and if he, it, did not ask than I wouldn't need to clarify any more on it. Politeness was usually the preferred option amongst trained mages even evil ones after all, Lords of Order more than most due to their alignments. With aid from that likes of that, and John of course, I could build upon my own arcane foundations to get to the level of what I wanted...

'A proper fortress-temple there to soak up what magic it can, and to serve as a focus for the island, and in a perfect world serve as an actual temple in the years to come. Healers would be fantastic after all. Library there, and put workshop over there...ah over-thinking things again. Relax, relax, be work again soon enough' I mused turning around and resting my back against the ornate stone wall and facing inwards towards the large swimming pool and entrance to the mansion beyond. Kept clean of course, this and one or two of the other places were serving as rest and relaxation spots for the troops for the moment after all.

Today and tonight it was I and my own merry band of co-workers and minions getting the use of the place, by right of the glorious El Presidente, ie me. I gave a small snort of amusement as I watched John being nagged at the other end of the pool, up on the decking, by Katherine Ryan as he protested about something yet again. Not that I was overly fond of John's choice of girlfriend, she'd didn't overly like me much and while she did have a nice body I couldn't really find the personality and opinion of me all that great. Or the fact she still whined on about magic of course, that attitude of 'cover your ears and close your eyes and the nasty magic will go away!' grated on me a little.

'Ah, so that's what she's complaining about. Oh, Johnny boy...don't be caught looking isn't that what you said? Well made a mistake there didn't ya?' I noticed with an amused snort as Paula Nyugen sauntered into view from within the mansion, a tray with some drinks held in hand. Hand motion, hand motion, Kit Ryan mouthing something grump as she gestured in the direction of the bikini-clad form of Artemis's mother as she walked. Something I reminded myself of very firmly of as she approached, drinks at the ready while she made do with her latest attempt at amusing herself. I shook my head as she neared.

"You're doing that deliberately again to get him in trouble aren't you?" I asked, stated, the obvious and nodding at the seemingly apologising Englishman and hand wagging Irishwoman. Gemma meanwhile was splashing...though it was meant to be swimming I guessed...away in the pool seemingly uncaring of such thanks to her enjoyment. A shark-like grin flashed on the woman face after she came back up to stand straight, having bent down to place the tray of drinks on the table in the direction of the couple. I sighed at her antics as she replied trying to sound innocent in tone beside been unable to do anything but tell the truth to me.

"Young Master, I cannot lie to you I fear...but you have to admit it is funny and...honestly, after being looked at with pity for all those years; you would not be so cruel as deny me this little bit of enjoying your gift now would you kind Sir?"

"You say that so innocent like ya know"

Bemused shark-like smile "Years of training young master, years of training..." then she waved her hand to the side in a 'no interest' motion "...and I won't push too much at them. I'm just a little...well its been a long time since I've got to walk around and enjoy a place like this. Burning off nervous energy"

I shrugged "Fair nuff, just...please let we never find you hooking up with him, please? I'm pretty sure your daughter might try kill me...well Artemis I mean, because well Jade..."

She snorted in a rather unladylike manner and folded her arms across her chest and giving me the stink eye "Oh don't be ridiculous, scruffy slob with no muscles? About the only use of him is that I could get him to send a few of those magic 'friends' of his after Lawrence"

"I'll say again I am not sending demons or other summonses after your dumbass husband...no matter how much he deserves it, or you want me to do it. And dear heavens don't ask John, he might accidentally end up starting a war or something trying to do"

Because nonsense like that was the last thing I needed. Paula rolled her eyes at me before giving a smile "Of course I won't young man, I'm just amusing myself by thinking happy thoughts. Now, your drink young master..." she finished moving to pick up a cocktail from the tray and hand it to me "...much as I disapprove I might add"

"Hey I'm above the legal drinking age for this glorious island nation"

"Because you changed said legal limit to sixteen young master if I recall correctly?" she pointed out picking up her own drink and motioning at Gemma to come over for her own glass of pineapple juice. I shrugged again.

"Maybe, still means it's the law. Viva Tropico! Land of Freedom! Land of Rum!" I replied taking a sip of the ice cold fruit mixture as the splashing reached a crescendo as Gemma surged out of the pool and made to come over towards me and Paula. I reached over and threw a towel at my apprentice as she stomped forward dripping water everywhere as she did so "Land of Towels! Having fun my apprentice?"

"Yep! This sure is better than school and boring stuff! It's amazing here!" she answered with a happy grin, took her drink in hand and frowned glancing in the direction of Constantine "What'd Uncle John do now?"

"Who knows Gemma dear, who knows..." my still-perhaps-evil minion replied innocently with a kind smile before she drank down a glass of rum, then giving a happy sigh. At least she did before refilling it with the small bottle she'd brought on the tray "...now young master I shall be relaxing over by the pool there on that beach chair. Call if you require anything! Bo-bo-bai now!"

Yes I could see where both Jade and Artemis got the attitude from. Woman acted all stern and serious in front of her daughters now, but I'm guessing Huntress back then was like her eldest daughter was now. I turned in the other direction and guided, while trying to avoid getting splashed, my apprentice over towards the canvass and tree-lined shady area to the side "See didn't I tell you'd enjoy the vacation? Magic first, then sun, sea and swimming pools!"

"Is that why this place feels sorta funny?"

I shrugged before I rested back into the beach chair and looking out over the pool "That's mine and John's wards your feeling, and Veil too...can you see anything up in the sky or around the area?"

Gemma frowned thinking hard "Is that what the shimmering takes..."

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