S1, 03 League Build (March 9, 2018)

Spies league: training/GC

As the two men conversed, shades of twilight began to fall. “The diplomatic situation is worse than walking on thin ice in an earthquake.” The doctor stated gravely.

“Well, when you put it like that, I suppose I can’t help but to help you, reluctantly, but I’ll do it.”

“Thank you my good man. Please take comfort in knowing that your freedom is guaranteed after the research.”

“Thrilling.” There was silence in the room for a moment, Ap’kajli mused that he might have cut it with a butter knife, but only briefly as the Doctor broke the silence, “Yes, well then, do you feel good enough to do some basic physical ability tests?”

“Yeah, my head is clear enough to do a workout.” I said, getting off the bed.

“Really? But you just got up. I mean, most people would be reeling after thirty-seven days of cessation. You’re sure you’re not the least bit drowsy?”

“Not even dizzy, Sir.” The Crusader shrugged.

“Fascinating! A rapid recovery rate, wot.” The Doctor remarked in child-like wonder. “Here, follow me and we’ll cover the basics, like I said. We’ve got a wonderful gymnasium! All the latest and greatest exercise equipment, some of which I designed myself.”

As they left the room, Ap’kajli was careful to notice the two guards at the door, when he asked the Doctor, he simply said, “I had those men stationed here as soon as I heard the Archmage’s announcement, they are on my orders to protect that room and its contents at all costs.”

A set of graceful steps lead down to the main hall. Holding cell 195 was evidently a luxury suite, because it was the only one with such an intricate entryway. Red and blue lights had been installed in and around the door, they flashed intermittently to show that the room was still in use. A dark haired man walked up to the Doctor and began speaking to him in a confidential tone. He too wore a white uniform, though his lacked the little gold epaulettes the doctor was sporting. After a brief few words the Doctor nodded his head to his Ap’kajli, whom the second man had ignored entirely until that moment. He looked to his right and examined Ap’kajli before remembering to smile. “Is this your Patient, Doctor?”

“Quite right,” The Doctor began, “Yes, Mister Crusader, this is Director Savile, he runs this fine establishment.”

“But not your project, Doctor. High command won’t let me interfere, and I don’t want to, frankly. You can use this old building,” He said with a grin, partly to the Crusader. “I’ve got our salvation to think about, well that and the IIA has a better HQ over in-”

“Excuse me, did you say, ‘salvation?’” The Crusader inquired.

The Director smiled, realizing he has said too much and pretended to look at his wrist watch, “Excuse me gentlemen, I, uh, seem to be late for a very important meeting on the twenty-fourth floor. Good day.”

“And a good day to you too, Arthur!” Doctor Thiwize said as the Director began to walk away briskly. “How they ever chose him over me I’ll never know.” He said, still watching the Director.

“Chose him over you? Do you mean as Director?”

The Doctor pursed his lips and exhaled, as he watched the Director turn down another hall. He looked back, patting Ap’kajli’s arm heartily he said, “Let’s not worry ourselves about that. What’s important is that we get those tests, c’mon they’re this way.”

The two of them walked down the corridor in the opposite direction the Director had gone and they too turned the corner. As they walked, the Crusader got to thinking, and before long he voiced his quandary.

“So, mister Thiwize,” He began, and was just as soon cut off.

“Mister Thiwize? Please, mister Thiwize was my father, you can call me Lolimon.”

“Okay, mister Lolimon, did you notice how much the Director was checking his watch?”

(I only mentioned it once, but if you’d been there, you’d know that I could have taken this entire chapter describing the Director’s mannerisms in that short interlude.)

“You mean the watch that wasn’t on his jolly wrist?”

“Yeah, I was about to say.”

“Well say or not, that man has a few more problems than meets the eye.” He said ominously.
The two of men came to a set of glass doors, they had been set ajar, so they just walked in. It was, the Crusader thought, disproportionately large for this building. Two men were at the bikes, and a third was hitting the punching bags as the instructor aimlessly meandered through the complex. It was in this atmosphere that Ap’kajli began his testing. I would tell what exactly the tests were, but if this document were to fall into the wrong hands, it might spell the end of the Imperium. Besides that, it wasn’t the sort of activity anybody would enjoy reading about. Suffice it to say it was arduous and grueling work. The days soon became weeks while they completed these various tests.

March 12, 2098

Ap’kajli had trained his whole life, his people were of the mindset that one should never stop training. So to say this work, which to such as you and me would seem grueling, was hard for him would be a falsehood. The IIA had taken special interest in his training, and sometimes letting him train with other spies, though he was cautioned not to use his powers. When leveled to his baisic skills, he managed to excel. Competition was an integral part of who he was, and he thrived in it. It reminded him of his days of training when he was young…

In those days he would take some other youth in town and go off to the ruins of Himil place, where none of the peaceful townspeople would mark what they were doing, and they’d practice. They’d each pick a private knoll, an alcove, or really anyplace that wasn’t taken, but was far enough from the others that one could concentrate in order to meditate. After a few hours of meditation, they’d begin training; first in combat, then with magic.

The situation was that of secrecy itself. The town was a peaceful one, who believed strongly in nonresistance and in being one with the elements. They had recently been overcome by a neighboring clan and were treated as different race of lower beings altogether. Therefore the youth entered heart and soul into the projects of their “young chief,” for so they regarded Ap’kajli, and strove their best to aquire some of the knowledge of the use of their language which he possessed.

“Crusader!... ster Crusader!” Lolimon’s voice brought Ap’Kajli sharply back to the present.

“What happened?” He asked in a distinctly groggy voice.

“You’ve been standing there for an hour now. The training is over for the day, why don’t you go take a respite back in your dorm?” He said with a tone of concern. The Crusader stumbled, but quickly regained his composure and walked out.

Lolimon knew what it was like to lose oneself to time in reminiscing. He had done it innumerable times since the shift…

Credit: The IIA and Director Savile created by Captain Kenbo.