Nightshift 33 - M81-M90 Block

[son-ofkrypton.livejournal.com]

If he didn't know better, he'd say that the intercom announcements were playing mind games tonight, more than usual.

Clark left his room apprehensive. Last night hadn't gone well; he'd probably nearly died from wounds that shouldn't have even been possible and, to make it worse, Alkaid and Badou and Claire had gotten hurt trying to help him. And what was with the intercom announcement? It sounded like Landels had gotten hacked and then there was something about the security system. Was it possible to leave? Or was it a glitch, something that could make the security system even more deadly? Clark didn't know, but he planned to find out.

Gripping his flashlight in one hand, he stepped outside.

here]

Comments

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Well, that was straightforward. He spoke quietly and evenly, though it was nothing he was too worried about. Zelgadis (it couldn't have been Amelia and no one else would know) had openly called him a Mazoku on the bulletin board; it was more embarrassing than threatening, but still rather a lapse. Fortunately, no one here seemed to understand the significance of that term, or else they simply hadn't followed the exchange. Or there were enough of the equivalent here from other worlds that it didn't matter.

"I've met with different individuals within the Institute, attempting to make alliances and also to find others who have magical or supernatural abilities. Tonight, I've arranged a meeting with someone who claims to have the ability to draw out the power of others. I'm curious as to the strength of this ability and whether it could be used for our purposes." ZEX was 'making alliances' in a sense, sort of. Well, it hadn't turned out well, but... "I've met with the princess and Zelgadis since we last spoke, and negotiated a peace with them. Ideally, they will also be helpful for our purposes. I believe Zelgadis remains unaware of your presence here."

His purpose, really, to find magic still extant within the walls of the Institute and to find a way it might be channeled into a greater single force.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

Phibrizzo folded his arms and cocked his head as he listened to Xelloss's report. It was a decent amount of progress, yes, but the Mazoku lord still couldn't help but feel a little impatient.

"And that's it? No other progress to report?"

Well, he could wait if he needed to. He'd done that enough in the past, but it didn't make him any less unhappy to hear that as far as physical progress went, they were still in square one.

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss considered. Really, there wasn't much he could report otherwise, until it reached the point of 'we have a number of people willing to work with me in an organized fashion.' That might be.... quite a ways off.

"I also made a human extremely uncomfortable last night?" That wasn't progress at all, but he was still proud of it. He'd done a good job on that.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

"I...see." Well, that was an accomplishment. Phibrizzo wasn't going to deny the priest that...

"What is your relationship with Rhode," he inquired suddenly. "I encountered last night and she was quite keen to play with you. She also seems to be aware of the connection between you and I." He arched an eyebrow. "And I certainly didn't tell her anything."

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Ah, that was inevitable.

"I met Rhode Camelot on the return ride of the buses from the small town we visited several days ago. On the bus, she correctly identified me as non-human, along with a few other traits. She also pointed out other non-humans on the bus. I believe that her ability may have given her some capacity to recognize the similarity in our forms. You may recall an individual called Reinforce which I warned you about early upon arrival, who also recognized some aspect of my nature?" Xelloss pointed out politely. "As for Rhode's behavior, I believe she's fond of me. She seems to at least have some interest in... the sort of casual hobbies that lower Mazoku often indulge in." There, that was vague enough, as a way to discuss torturing humans.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

Phibrizzo tapped his foot. "Well, since it's your doing, you keep her under control and out of my sight." Hellmaster didn't have any great desire to see the little hellion again, not anytime soon. Continuing on, he put a hand to his chin and said, "Now then, tell me more about your plans for tonight. Who is it that you're meeting?"

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss scratched the side of his face in consternation, not really sure how any of this was actually his doing. After all, he hadn't asked the girl to come over and correctly identify him, or mentioned there was another of his kind in the Institute. But there was no sense in arguing, so he nodded.

"The person I am meeting is named Peter, he is not sure if he can draw out abilities dissimilar to those in his own world, but I thought it was worth a try." Xelloss paused, and decided not to add that he wasn't sure Peter would not get lost or eaten on the way to the meeting spot, having an apparently weak sense of the outline of the Institute.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

Phibrizzo nodded. "Very well. I expect to hear how that goes."

He looked his subordinate sternly in the eye. It might have been a good idea to give him a couple of new orders, but really, Phibrizzo's head was bothering him and he couldn't think very clearly as to what those would be. No, it would be beneficial to let Xelloss do what he had planned, so long as Hellmaster got all of the details later. So he finished, "Is there anything else you need to report?"

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

"Of course, I'll let you know!" Xelloss nodded.

Phibrizzo's behavior seemed odd. He was staring as though he expected something else, or perhaps as though Xelloss ought to be expecting something else, but Xelloss really couldn't guess what it was. Xelloss waited and blinked once at the stare, until Hellmaster finally closed the discussion. "Nothing. Is there anything else you need to ask me about?" It was almost begging for extra work, but Xelloss still felt faintly confused by Phibrizzo's attitude, and he supposed he'd rather know now if something else was going on than find out later.

[hellmunchkin.livejournal.com]

"Nothing. Is there anything else you need to ask me about?"

Well, that was frustrating. The comment seemed to imply there was something he should have asked or that something was up in the Priest's mind. The former possibility annoyed Hellmaster-- Xelloss should have told him everything, as was his duty; the latter worried him-- if there was something noticeably wrong with him...

It was that damned doctor's fault, the one who had cut open his head and done...things to him! If he'd never been strapped to that table, he wouldn't be getting those weird...feelings in his head. He needed time alone to think this through, which meant he needed to send Xelloss away without suspicions.

"No," He responded firmly. "I will leave you to your plans."

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

Xelloss continued to look back at Phibrizzo for another moment, eyes open in confusion. There was something off. Even with Phibrizzo's firm tone of voice, the usual style, it just...

Or perhaps he'd been here too long, and both of them were not exactly feeling their usual. Another polite bow, and no further questions. "Thank you, Lord Hellmaster, I look forward to informing you of the results."

Then a hasty retreat. He hoped he wouldn't be too late and that the man would show up--he was curious.

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