Thread: Shadows in the Light: Prologue

Short addition, but an addition nonetheless! Not bad for your first time back out Nick. The words were good to hear, especially from the man it was coming from. Alexander Derrithal, the man who was responsible for making sure that members of the Order got the training they needed, and made sure that teh work they did was worth doing. Thank you sir. Nicolas replied with a smile. We've heard from a miss...Maka Koa, she had a number that she says she got from you. You're willing to sponsor her into the Order? Nicolas opened his mouth but Barry beat him too it. Probably is, but he's only been on the job a few days. I'll sponsor her. The big man said with a nod. Nicolas looked at him. Thought you didn't want her on board. Didn't seem like it in Hawaii. Niclas pointed out. Yeah, well, you made good points. And you're too new back to take on someone like this. So she'll have to make do with me. Gods help her. Fuck you too Nick. Gods help you too. All three men in the room laughed. Barry teaching Maka was going to be a very interesting thing to observe, to be sure. Nicolas looked forward to seeing how it all panned out. Barry had left the room, looking for something to eat. Nicolas had remained behind for a private debriefing with Alexander. So you're back. Not that I'm complaining mind, but I didn't expect you to be back at all. Alexander said calmly. Nicolas nodded. I didn't expect to either. But sometimes...well, I think this is what I'm supposed to be doing. Only thing I've really been good at for any length of time. So, here I am. Back in the saddle. Nicolas replied. All fine and good. You think this new girl, Maka, is going to be a boon to us? Kept herself together from six months of being tortured. She's going to need some help ehre and there to stay straight, but she'll be useful. You don't find that kind of willpower often. True enough! Well, anything else you wanted to go over? Nicolas hesitated. I'd like to know about Alcadizzar. Alexander looked away. Not surprising. We're still trying to recover from the loss. He was able to cover so much ground, do so much. Hell you know better than I do what he was capable of. We still don't know what was after him, other than that it was dangerous, and that it got him. Alexander said with a wisp of sorrow to his voice. What was even out there that could get him? I mean, he fought with things that were from nine layers deep! And won! He'd felled some of the most powerful spirits we've ever seen. Nicolas said quietly. I know. I know that all too well Nick. But the fact remains, he died. And it wasn't from natural causes. We know he'd been trying to push his Sight deeper, despite advice to the contrary. We both know how dangerous it is to look deeper than the eighth layer, and he was well past that. Apparently his psyche was fragile at that point, and whatever he found there was more than he could bear. I'm sorry Nick, I know you two were friends, but...there's nothing else we know. Any investigation? We turned Sophia loose on it. Nicolas nodded. Sophia was the best tracker in teh Order, able to follow people, and even spirits through the land and layers. If anyone could have found what had happened, it would have been her. She find anything at all? We don't know. She's been missing for more than three months. Nicolas felt his guts go cold. Speaking of which, there's an assignment up for grabs. looking into a missing person from the Order. Interested? Nicolas smiled, and nodded. Show me where to start.