Setting
A hotel serving as the Invictus' main headquarters on Terra and as home to many of the organization's members The Palace has made a name for itself due to it's durable nature and regal appearance on the inside. As well as the fact it possibly stands as the second or third tallest building in Wing City at 120 floors, minus two floors of suites and the basements.
Lit up in big red letters near the top five levels of the building is a sign reading "The Palace" making it hard for not to spot the building itself.
The absence of the Invictus lead to the hotel being taken over by criminals. They have since returned and evicted the criminal gangs that infested it.
Lit up in big red letters near the top five levels of the building is a sign reading "The Palace" making it hard for not to spot the building itself.
The absence of the Invictus lead to the hotel being taken over by criminals. They have since returned and evicted the criminal gangs that infested it.
The Palace
The Palace is a hotel which doubles as the Invictus HQ in a plaza dubbed The Courtyard, large walls made of the finest alloys and stone surround it and other buildings.
Minimap
northwest |
north |
northeast |
west |
You are here. |
east |
southwest |
south |
southeast |
| "out" to The Courtyard » | ||
The Palace is a part of 
Main Street.
2 Places in The Palace:
20 Characters Here
Sonia Hughes [36] The acting leader of the Custodis Lamia and scientist. She is a former member of the Custodis Benevolentia and of the United Kingdom's SIB.
Vena Kenshi [35] Warden, Field Marshal
Yuriko Izumi [21] The twin sister of Johnny Izumi.
Kroger Haggai [10] The former leader of the Invictus PMC and member of their parent organization. Now working to "get a life" at the behest of his family.
Edmund Ferris Galahad [9] All my friends are heathens.
Devika [9] Change is for the better...even if it is for the worst.
Bojangles [8] The gangster of love who makes everybody wonder "Was that an earthquake or was that Bojangles?"
Clive Gildarts [7]
Cynthia Lang [5] "You know exactly what I mean. You're not dumb. Speak more words, nona."
Major Walsh, Ben [4] Commander of the Terran Resistance Force.
Start Character Here »
Yael frowned, shifting uncomfortably. Had she ever learned Uncle Jeremiah’s last name? Surely she had, but… it wasn’t coming to mind at the moment. “Jeremiah,” she said again, trying to think of how to describe him while looking down at the address she had for him. “He’s… German… Taller than me… never smiles?... German?” She’d said that already.
"Oh. Him?" The man asked, "Take the gold elevators. They'll skip most of the floors and take you right up to the suites. His is the first suite floor. Just push the button that says S1." The man said, pointing towards the elevators.
"I'll page him, let him know someone's on their way up. Who should I tell him is coming by?"
"I'll page him, let him know someone's on their way up. Who should I tell him is coming by?"
Oh, thank God. She smiled at the receptionist and headed toward the elevators without answering the final question. She didn’t want to give the surprise away until she was in front of him… Besides, it would be harder to turn her away if he saw her face, right?
Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the proper button and leaned against the wall, looking at her reflection in the shiny metal of the doors. It was obvious she’d traveled a long way… but she was almost at her destination.
When the doors opened, she hesitated a moment before stepping out and looking both ways down the hallway. What if he wasn’t in?
Stepping into the elevator, she pressed the proper button and leaned against the wall, looking at her reflection in the shiny metal of the doors. It was obvious she’d traveled a long way… but she was almost at her destination.
When the doors opened, she hesitated a moment before stepping out and looking both ways down the hallway. What if he wasn’t in?
Sonia, dressed in a white lab coat over her black suit pants and dress shirt, stepped out of an elevator into the lobby of The Palace, several young men and women following behind her. Most of them carrying binders, folders, notepads, tablet computers and clipboards.
"So far we have funding for trips to Hera, Misrana and possibly Niihama if the political situation is alright there for the Taiyou." One of the young men said to Sonia, holding his tablet out for her to see. "Cancel planning the trips until further notice, there are some things I want to work on with Anodyne and with Viktor and his bullet." Sonia said, her accent distinctly English.
"Head down to the labs. I'll be following behind you soon. I just need a bite, yeah?" She said to her younger associates, waving them off as she broke off from the group and headed for the exit.
"So far we have funding for trips to Hera, Misrana and possibly Niihama if the political situation is alright there for the Taiyou." One of the young men said to Sonia, holding his tablet out for her to see. "Cancel planning the trips until further notice, there are some things I want to work on with Anodyne and with Viktor and his bullet." Sonia said, her accent distinctly English.
"Head down to the labs. I'll be following behind you soon. I just need a bite, yeah?" She said to her younger associates, waving them off as she broke off from the group and headed for the exit.
Amariah had sort of discovered Sonia by accident. With a little prompting from John, she was able to pick the other woman out relatively easily, meandering with co-workers and looking far more important than the young woman had originally imagined.
Still, she'd come here for a reason, and she needed to see it through. Steeling herself, she walked towards the other confidently, holding up a hand to get her attention.
"Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be Sonia, would you? Or know where I can find her?"
Still, she'd come here for a reason, and she needed to see it through. Steeling herself, she walked towards the other confidently, holding up a hand to get her attention.
"Excuse me, you wouldn't happen to be Sonia, would you? Or know where I can find her?"
Sonia turned to Amariah, an eyebrow raising slightly. "Sonia Hughes?" She asked, "If that's who you're looking for that would be me, darling." The Englishwoman told Amariah. "Scientist, private investigator and Invictus PR person, at your service."
"I'm hungry. Chat with me while we walk, I'll buy you something if you want it." Sonia said, stepping around Amariah and again heading for the exit.
"Come on, bird. We don't have all day."
"I'm hungry. Chat with me while we walk, I'll buy you something if you want it." Sonia said, stepping around Amariah and again heading for the exit.
"Come on, bird. We don't have all day."
A little flustered, Amariah turned on her heel and marched after the other woman, catching up in only a few strides of her long legs. "John Izumi had sort of introduced me to the idea of meeting you." she told her.
"I was wondering if you could help me with something. I've got these...talents, and I don't know how to use them properly."
She just hoped this woman didn't write her off.
"I was wondering if you could help me with something. I've got these...talents, and I don't know how to use them properly."
She just hoped this woman didn't write her off.
She nodded as they stepped outside. She was leading the other woman towards an Irish pub that was situated within the same walls as The Palace. Irish men and women, as well as the non-Irish, seeming to be taking more than enough time to enjoy themselves.
"This is the Irish before they drink." Sonia joked as they got closer. She didn't say anything about Amariah's abilities just yet, opting to shake hands with a few of her friends in front of the pub before pushing the entrance open and stepping inside.
"Lookin' lovely as usual, Sonia. Even if ya' are a Brit." The bartender said loudly to Sonia, "My family were Jamaicans before we were British. This is caribbean beauty." She retorted.
"Vodka and a cheeseburger. All the usual on it. If ya' see Nicky or his brother soon let them that I need them. It's important." Sonia said as she took a seat at the bar counter.
"This is the Irish before they drink." Sonia joked as they got closer. She didn't say anything about Amariah's abilities just yet, opting to shake hands with a few of her friends in front of the pub before pushing the entrance open and stepping inside.
"Lookin' lovely as usual, Sonia. Even if ya' are a Brit." The bartender said loudly to Sonia, "My family were Jamaicans before we were British. This is caribbean beauty." She retorted.
"Vodka and a cheeseburger. All the usual on it. If ya' see Nicky or his brother soon let them that I need them. It's important." Sonia said as she took a seat at the bar counter.
"Just a water." Amariah told the bartender, not really feeling too hungry or thirsty. She looked around the bar, smiling at what few patrons looked her way, and settled into a seat next to Sonia. For a few moments she bid her time, looking at her clasped hands that rested on her knees.
"So, John gave me a little bit of an overview of what you do for the Invictus, but do you think you could give me a more comprehensive picture?" she asked, smiling over at the other woman.
"So, John gave me a little bit of an overview of what you do for the Invictus, but do you think you could give me a more comprehensive picture?" she asked, smiling over at the other woman.
"You have to give me one first." Sonia told Amariah, "I can't help you if I don't know what you need help with." She said, slipping off her coat and draping it on the counter.
"You can't just say you have 'talents' and expect me to read your mind or have the thing you need exactly to help. What is it that you can do? What plagues you?" Sonia asked, "Give me the details and I'll give you some of my own."
"You can't just say you have 'talents' and expect me to read your mind or have the thing you need exactly to help. What is it that you can do? What plagues you?" Sonia asked, "Give me the details and I'll give you some of my own."
Amariah blushed, nodding quickly and clearing her throat. That was certainly embarrassing. "I, well, as far as I know, I can ..." She lowered her voice before continuing. "...I can conduct electricity through my hands." she told her. "And my body acts like a magnet. I can move metal objects of any size."
Not without some significant physical consequences, though. "I mean, the issue is that I can't control it, so if I'm startled or something the ability activates itself on its own, and I can't control it." She smiled sheepishly.
Not without some significant physical consequences, though. "I mean, the issue is that I can't control it, so if I'm startled or something the ability activates itself on its own, and I can't control it." She smiled sheepishly.
"Why are you whispering? Nevermind." Sonia said as her drink was slid to her. The woman took a sip, savoring the taste of the alcohol before she continued to speak.
"How bad does it get when you're scared or nervous?" Sonia asked, "On a scale of 1 to 'oh my god, she's a fucking nuke'?" The Englishwoman asked seriously, an eyebrow raising in inquiry.
"How bad does it get when you're scared or nervous?" Sonia asked, "On a scale of 1 to 'oh my god, she's a fucking nuke'?" The Englishwoman asked seriously, an eyebrow raising in inquiry.
"Probably somewhere close to an eight." Amariah replied honestly. "At one point I accidentally caused a bunch of semi-automatics to discharge, and blew all of the fuses in one room. Then there was the time I made all of the light poles on the West side of Main street bend in half, and the time I threw that car across the road..."
She grimaced, glancing to Sonia before looking away. "I could continue..."
She grimaced, glancing to Sonia before looking away. "I could continue..."
"No need." Sonia waved a dismissive hand, "I'll see what I can do for you. I'll be wanting to get you in a controlled environment and test out your abilities at or near it's peak." Sonia said, "It'll help us understand you better while I work on something to... control it." Sonia explained.
"You're a young woman, I'm sure you get startled and such often. Try to... work on your mental fortitude a bit. The last thing we need is you blowing up something every time you hear something too loud for your ears."
"You're a young woman, I'm sure you get startled and such often. Try to... work on your mental fortitude a bit. The last thing we need is you blowing up something every time you hear something too loud for your ears."
Mental fortitude. Amariah figured that Sonia was implying that she needed to man up.
Perhaps John could help her with that?
"Sure thing." she said with a nod. "I don't want to interrupt you when you're busy, so, what's a good time that we can do this?"
She lifted her brows, her eyes searching Sonia's. She hadn't even gotten to tell her that she was looking to join the Invictus.
Perhaps John could help her with that?
"Sure thing." she said with a nod. "I don't want to interrupt you when you're busy, so, what's a good time that we can do this?"
She lifted her brows, her eyes searching Sonia's. She hadn't even gotten to tell her that she was looking to join the Invictus.
"I work on my own schedule and I have a bunch of young, and old, brainiacs to help me out." Sonia said as her burger was sat down in front of her, "Ask John for my number, call me whenever you want and I'll answer unless it's very important business, I'm sleeping or can't hear my mobile over machines."
"As for your brain power you'll be needing... try to face some fears. Go bungee jumping, let a spider crawl on you, hold a snake, take some martial arts lessons orsomething." She told the younger woman with a nod.
"As for your brain power you'll be needing... try to face some fears. Go bungee jumping, let a spider crawl on you, hold a snake, take some martial arts lessons orsomething." She told the younger woman with a nod.
Let a spider craw on her?
"It's not that kind of fear..." she began, before her phone chirped, signalling that it was time to go. Pursing her lips, she glanced at the message before putting her phone away. "But I appreciate any kind of help. You'll be getting a call soon." she told the woman, smiling and scurrying out of the pub.
"It's not that kind of fear..." she began, before her phone chirped, signalling that it was time to go. Pursing her lips, she glanced at the message before putting her phone away. "But I appreciate any kind of help. You'll be getting a call soon." she told the woman, smiling and scurrying out of the pub.
As much as she hated it sometimes Anodyne sat in the back of one of her team's black vans. They had been patrolling most of the day and now they were getting something to eat. She hated not being able to move without them sometimes. She could do a lot more if Stryfe put more trust in her.
Yes, she had conviction and strong morals. But she wasn't going to gun down every criminal in the street. She wasn't crazy.
Frustrated by her current lack of action Anodyne climbed out of the van, scaring a few people that were walking. The armored woman placed her hands on her hips, booted foot hitting the concrete repatedly.
They were taking too long.
Yes, she had conviction and strong morals. But she wasn't going to gun down every criminal in the street. She wasn't crazy.
Frustrated by her current lack of action Anodyne climbed out of the van, scaring a few people that were walking. The armored woman placed her hands on her hips, booted foot hitting the concrete repatedly.
They were taking too long.
He didn't much like to be shirtless, but there he was sitting on a bed in the medical wing of the Invictus headquarters. Intricate Maori tattoos covering much of his torso and part of his biceps. John rubbed on the cast that covered his left forearm and hand as a medic worked on the bruises and cuts he had sustained in the car crash.
"Ow!" John cried, "I didn't even touch you yet." The medic noted, "Never get used to the sting of rubbing alcohol." John said in his defense.
"I've got a fracture, I wonder if Amariah and Kane are less broken than me." John said to the medic, "Kane had some internal bleeding and broken ribs last I heard, but that Paddy is pretty damn resilient." The medic told John.
"Ow!" John cried, "I didn't even touch you yet." The medic noted, "Never get used to the sting of rubbing alcohol." John said in his defense.
"I've got a fracture, I wonder if Amariah and Kane are less broken than me." John said to the medic, "Kane had some internal bleeding and broken ribs last I heard, but that Paddy is pretty damn resilient." The medic told John.
She had been instructed to stay lying on her side. It turned out that dragging herself through a broken window had taken a pretty heavy toll on her back and arms. Deep, long scratches had gouged her skin, and the swelling in her ankle had only improved because the nurse had wrapped and immobilized it in an ace bandage.
Each time the woman leaned in to touch her with the alcohol swabs, Amariah shuddered, her chin tucked to her chest, eyes squeezed shut with the discomfort.
"You're lucky you didn't break an arm." the woman noted with a smile. Sure, a torn rotator cuff was going to set her back a little, but she could have lost her arm altogether!
"John's ok?" Amariah finally asked. The woman began to smooth ointment on the wounds.
"He's whiny, but he's fine."
Each time the woman leaned in to touch her with the alcohol swabs, Amariah shuddered, her chin tucked to her chest, eyes squeezed shut with the discomfort.
"You're lucky you didn't break an arm." the woman noted with a smile. Sure, a torn rotator cuff was going to set her back a little, but she could have lost her arm altogether!
"John's ok?" Amariah finally asked. The woman began to smooth ointment on the wounds.
"He's whiny, but he's fine."
"I'm not whiny and I heard that." John said, touching the bandages that were placed over his cuts. "We just got into a car accident caused by the 60 Million Dollar Man, not to mention he can multiply." The young man hopped off of the bed.
"Yo, Johnny." A man called out as John began towards where he thought Amariah was, "Viktor wants you to call your Yakuza contact, he's working on something that could benefit us all, he said." The man told John as he walked by.
"Can't a man almost die and get a break from work?" John asked rhetorically, "Amariah, we need a marker, I'm pretty sure everyone's gonna write on my cast anyways. You should be first."
"Yo, Johnny." A man called out as John began towards where he thought Amariah was, "Viktor wants you to call your Yakuza contact, he's working on something that could benefit us all, he said." The man told John as he walked by.
"Can't a man almost die and get a break from work?" John asked rhetorically, "Amariah, we need a marker, I'm pretty sure everyone's gonna write on my cast anyways. You should be first."
Her back was bare as the woman applied bandages. Amariah lifted her head and turned to look over her shoulder at John. A faint blush colored her cheeks, but she spoke as if nothing was amiss.
He was shirtless. Coincidentally, so was she. This echoed in the back of her mind as she spoke.
"You pick the color. I'll write something sentimental." she promised before turning to lay her head back down on the table.
"Come around here so I don't have to twist my neck like that."
He was shirtless. Coincidentally, so was she. This echoed in the back of her mind as she spoke.
"You pick the color. I'll write something sentimental." she promised before turning to lay her head back down on the table.
"Come around here so I don't have to twist my neck like that."
"Red, like your hair. Or is that more orange?" John asked as he approached Amariah, "Should I be over here while you don't have a shirt on?" He asked.
"I mean, we're friends, but I think only guys can be shirtless together. And even then it gets a little after awhile." John joked, "How are you holding up?" He asked, deciding to be serious for a moment.
"Not just from the crash, knowing he's going to be coming after you? Don't tell me you're afraid. You can't hang with the Invictus if you're scared."
"I mean, we're friends, but I think only guys can be shirtless together. And even then it gets a little after awhile." John joked, "How are you holding up?" He asked, deciding to be serious for a moment.
"Not just from the crash, knowing he's going to be coming after you? Don't tell me you're afraid. You can't hang with the Invictus if you're scared."
She had a blanket draped over her torso, so any kind of exposure was a minimal risk at this point.
The question of her fear came up, and she averted her eyes. "I was, a little bit, but it wasn't for me." She glanced to his eyes and gave him a one-shouldered shrug.
She grimaced as the woman plucked a piece of glass from the larger wound before dousing it in peroxide. She was embarrassed now, not because of her present condition, but because it almost sounded like John was accusing her of something.
"I'll get better." She mumbled dejectedly.
The question of her fear came up, and she averted her eyes. "I was, a little bit, but it wasn't for me." She glanced to his eyes and gave him a one-shouldered shrug.
She grimaced as the woman plucked a piece of glass from the larger wound before dousing it in peroxide. She was embarrassed now, not because of her present condition, but because it almost sounded like John was accusing her of something.
"I'll get better." She mumbled dejectedly.
"You were doing good against Kane, it was almost hard to tell he was holding back." John said, "Almost." He taunted, "We just need to get you some actual... training." He told Amariah.
"I talked to Sonia on the phone earlier. She'll vouch for you, maybe Kane will too. I know I will." He said, "How would you like to join the Invictus?" John asked Amariah.
"Or at least work with us and get some training until you decide what you want to do?"
"I talked to Sonia on the phone earlier. She'll vouch for you, maybe Kane will too. I know I will." He said, "How would you like to join the Invictus?" John asked Amariah.
"Or at least work with us and get some training until you decide what you want to do?"