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 »
Swift nodded, approaching the table where Claire sat. "A condition of my... curse is that I can not be... physical with anyone." He told Claire, "Not until I become normal again." The man added.
"You and I can share a bed, but we can not share eachother until I marry you, or someone else, and they love me truly despite my past and... temperament." Swift explained to Claire, "I do not think there are exceptions."
"You and I can share a bed, but we can not share eachother until I marry you, or someone else, and they love me truly despite my past and... temperament." Swift explained to Claire, "I do not think there are exceptions."
Claire listened, a horrified look crossing her features after a few moments. She lifted a gloved hand to her mouth before lowering it, swiftly buttoning the top button of her dress again. Her cheeks burned a bright red as the blood rushed into them. Youāre terrible, Claireā¦ Terrible.
Reaching into her handbag, she finally pulled out the notepad, flipping randomly until she found an empty page. Clicking the pen, she began to write. When she was finished, she turned it to him to read, unable to meet his eyes.
To her, the words seemed inadequate, so she pulled the notepad back and underlined the first two words for emphasis.
Pulling the notepad back once more, deciding that she wanted to add a line, Claire scribbled at the bottom.
Reaching into her handbag, she finally pulled out the notepad, flipping randomly until she found an empty page. Clicking the pen, she began to write. When she was finished, she turned it to him to read, unable to meet his eyes.
Iām sorry. I didnāt realize.
To her, the words seemed inadequate, so she pulled the notepad back and underlined the first two words for emphasis.
I wanted to tell you that I chose you, but words seem so empty and meaningless. I wanted to show you. Iām yours, Jeremiah. If youāll have me.
Pulling the notepad back once more, deciding that she wanted to add a line, Claire scribbled at the bottom.
I wasnāt planning on leaving, but if its easier for you, I will go.
"Claire," Swift began, "I want you, I do. I want you to stay. But... can I admit something?" He asked her, "I imagine it will make you uncomfortable, sad." Swift said.
"But... I am afraid I doubt how sincere your feelings are for me. I have lived for years, almost a hundred or so. I have seen some who go from person to person searching for something, that special someone."
"Their one and only, but their one and only is rarely the only one. You told me before that you love Charlotte, but you love me. Are you sure?"
"But... I am afraid I doubt how sincere your feelings are for me. I have lived for years, almost a hundred or so. I have seen some who go from person to person searching for something, that special someone."
"Their one and only, but their one and only is rarely the only one. You told me before that you love Charlotte, but you love me. Are you sure?"
Claire pulled the notepad back, setting the tip of the pen against the paper. The pen was still for a long time as she thought about his words. In the silence, a pool of blue ink slowly spread from where the tip of the pen made contact with the paper, blossoming into a small circle that grew with each passing tiny tick of the second hand of her watch. It seemed impossibly loud at that moment.
Finally, she began to write, and she wrote for a very long time.
Leaving the notepad on the table, Claire would rise as Jeremiah read it. Reaching for her handbag, she retreated to the door.
Finally, she began to write, and she wrote for a very long time.
I understand your hesitation. I understand your distrust. I understand why youāre holding me at armās length. I understand. I think I hurt you when I ran off with Charlotte, and for that, I am so sorry. And yes, I do love him. But every single night that passed, I felt as if something was missing. Something wasnāt right. I wasnāt whole. Every single night that passed, I found myself thinking of youā¦ dreaming of youā¦ It was your face that I would see when I closed my eyes in the quiet moments. It was your eyes I would picture. When I looked at my hand, it was your fingers that I saw twined around mine. I was in love with you before I met Charlotteā¦ and it was realizing that I loved Charlotte that made me realize that I was in love with you.
I have lived for a very long time too, Jeremiah. For a very long time, I was not allowed to think for myselfā¦ Now I can. I am still not entirely used to it. I make mistakes. I am an imperfect person.
I have a room at Gambits, room 417. Iāll go back to my room tonight. I leave the decision on how to proceed with this in your hands.
Leaving the notepad on the table, Claire would rise as Jeremiah read it. Reaching for her handbag, she retreated to the door.
"Stay." Swift said, "I don't want you to go. You don't have to stay, you don't have to put yourself through the pain of being around me while I'm unsure." He told Claire.
"I can still kiss, I can still hold. Allow me to do so for tonight, allow me time with you and not just my thoughts, Claire Brownlow."
"I can still kiss, I can still hold. Allow me to do so for tonight, allow me time with you and not just my thoughts, Claire Brownlow."
Claire stood by the door for a moment, eyes flickering between Jeremiah and the notepad. Stepping back over to him, she bit her lip as she looked at him. Slowly, she reached for the pen and leaned over the table to write:
If you want me to, I will stay with you tonight. I donāt expect you to make a decision about me right now. Take your time. Iāve waited my whole life to feel this way about someone. I can wait longer for them to feel this way about me.
Swift nodded his head, "Stay for as long as you wish. I don't sleep, but I have ways of keeping busy." Swift usually went down to gun ranges or walked in circles around the city. Sometimes, if he could find someone just as awake as he was, he'd play chess.
Maybe tonight he would stay in. Claire was here, after all.
"I told you, I want you to stay."
Maybe tonight he would stay in. Claire was here, after all.
"I told you, I want you to stay."
Claire nodded, setting her handbag back on the table. Her lips quirked up into a small smile before she leaned over to brush her lips against his once more. Her lips moved against his, her breath forming a barely audible whisper. āIāll stay.ā
It was the height of the day and throngs of people were coming and going from The Palace when Whisper made her appearance. She didn't walk in the front door though, but rather she simply seemed to phase into visibility within the lobby.
A few passing people cast her curious glances, but as far as Wing City went, a girl appearing out of thin air ranked fairly low on the oddity scale and soon no one was paying her any further mind as she headed for the front desk.
Her approach was wary, and she hugged her arms about herself as if cold, or simply suffering a bad case of nerves.
A few passing people cast her curious glances, but as far as Wing City went, a girl appearing out of thin air ranked fairly low on the oddity scale and soon no one was paying her any further mind as she headed for the front desk.
Her approach was wary, and she hugged her arms about herself as if cold, or simply suffering a bad case of nerves.
A man and a woman sat at the front desk, both wearing nice black suits. They were more security than receptionists. "Can I help you?" The woman asked Whisper, looking her over.
"You alright there?" The man asked her, an eyebrow raising. "We can get you a blanket or something. It's technically still winter."
"You alright there?" The man asked her, an eyebrow raising. "We can get you a blanket or something. It's technically still winter."
Whisper avoided meeting the woman's gaze, or that of the man who sat beside her. She instead kept her eyes averted to the side and her face partially shielded by a few stray locks of hair. Her unease was more than palpable.
"I'm looking for Johnny Izumi," she explained.
She cast a nervous glance to either side, uncomfortable with her surroundings, and the sheer quantity of people moving through the building. The thought that she shouldn't be there weighed heavily upon her mind.
"I'm looking for Johnny Izumi," she explained.
She cast a nervous glance to either side, uncomfortable with her surroundings, and the sheer quantity of people moving through the building. The thought that she shouldn't be there weighed heavily upon her mind.
"Uh... he's not here. We don't where he is." The woman informed Whisper, "We're actually working on finding him. We have leads, but we can't say anything else." The woman informed Whisper.
"Yeah, we don't want to reveal anything to the wrong person and the WCPD don't want us to reveal anything to the wrong person." The man added.
"Yeah, we don't want to reveal anything to the wrong person and the WCPD don't want us to reveal anything to the wrong person." The man added.
"Not here?" Whisper repeated.
For all it had taken the girl to work up the nerve to come here, the thought that she might not find what she came looking for had simply not even occured to her.
"I really need to find him..." she murmured softly.
The news had seemingly distressed the young psionic for inexplicable reasons.
"Is there anything you can tell me?" she asked finally.
For all it had taken the girl to work up the nerve to come here, the thought that she might not find what she came looking for had simply not even occured to her.
"I really need to find him..." she murmured softly.
The news had seemingly distressed the young psionic for inexplicable reasons.
"Is there anything you can tell me?" she asked finally.
The two at the front desk looked to eachother as if considering what their options were. "Yeah, we can tell you something." The male told Whisper, "He's been kidnapped." The woman added.
"We have an idea who was involved, but we can't tell you anything more than that without losing our jobs or ending up on Langara kissing Aschen asses until they decide not to kill us for being not Aschen."
"We have an idea who was involved, but we can't tell you anything more than that without losing our jobs or ending up on Langara kissing Aschen asses until they decide not to kill us for being not Aschen."
"Wait... Aschen?" Whisper shook her head trying to make sense of the situation. "Is Johnny on Langara?" she asked. Was that what they weren't telling her?
"I'm sorry, I just -"
She shook her head again.
"I shouldn't be here."
"I'm sorry, I just -"
She shook her head again.
"I shouldn't be here."
"No. Not at all. Just telling you information we aren't supposed to might lead to us being there pampering Aschen politicians as punishment. Not worth it." The female receptionist said with a chuckle.
"We don't where he is. We're still pursuing leads."
"We don't where he is. We're still pursuing leads."
"Is there somewhere I can leave a message?" Whisper asked. "For if you find him..." she explained.
She hesitated though the moment she asked it.
"Never mind. I should go."
And with that, the girl was simply gone, fading from view as strangely as she had arrived.
She hesitated though the moment she asked it.
"Never mind. I should go."
And with that, the girl was simply gone, fading from view as strangely as she had arrived.
It was late when Elise made her way to the Palace. Her black BDU pants were filthy and stained with god knew what. The black long-sleeved t-shirt was the same. Her hair was disheveled and there were dark circles under her eyes. Once upon a time, she wouldnāt be caught dead going out into public this way. Tonight, however, she had something she had to do.
She made her way to the front desk, unable to lift her eyes to the person behind it. āI need to speak to the General, pleaseā¦ Kroger Haggaiā¦ Pleaseā¦ā As she spoke, she pulled her sidearm from its holster and laid it carefully on the counter beside her, disarming herself. Her voice was low, defeated. Finally, she lifted her eyes to the person behind the counter. āI wonāt take much of his time.ā
She made her way to the front desk, unable to lift her eyes to the person behind it. āI need to speak to the General, pleaseā¦ Kroger Haggaiā¦ Pleaseā¦ā As she spoke, she pulled her sidearm from its holster and laid it carefully on the counter beside her, disarming herself. Her voice was low, defeated. Finally, she lifted her eyes to the person behind the counter. āI wonāt take much of his time.ā
"You're in luck." The receptionist told Elise, gesturing towards the express elevator. "He had us a get a car for him. He's going home soon." The receptionist continued, the elevator doors opening slowly.
Kroger, dressed in a black suit with a purple dress shirt beneath it, stepped out of the elevator with Phinx and several Invictus soldiers in tow.
His purple eyes caught sight of Elise, the Arab man stopping dead in his tracks. "Problem?" Phinx asked, reaching into her suit jacket. Obviously her hand was gripping a gun.
"Uh... no. Go on without me. I'll catch up." Kroger told the woman and their escorts, "Are you sure?" Phinx asked, raising an eyebrow at Kroger before turning her gaze on Elise.
"I'm sure." Kroger said with a nod, his words prompting Phinx and the soldiers to began towards the exit. Each person casting a glance towards Elise.
Kroger, dressed in a black suit with a purple dress shirt beneath it, stepped out of the elevator with Phinx and several Invictus soldiers in tow.
His purple eyes caught sight of Elise, the Arab man stopping dead in his tracks. "Problem?" Phinx asked, reaching into her suit jacket. Obviously her hand was gripping a gun.
"Uh... no. Go on without me. I'll catch up." Kroger told the woman and their escorts, "Are you sure?" Phinx asked, raising an eyebrow at Kroger before turning her gaze on Elise.
"I'm sure." Kroger said with a nod, his words prompting Phinx and the soldiers to began towards the exit. Each person casting a glance towards Elise.
Elise turned her eyes to Kroger. For a brief moment, her expression slipped into one of intense pain, but it was quickly controlled. She straightened her spine, standing tall in front of Kroger, her chin parallel with the floor, but she couldnāt quite look into his eyes. They settled on his right cheek. āGeneral,ā she greeted, her voice stiff and formal. āIs there a place where we could speak privately?ā
"I'm retired." Kroger told Elise, "Call me by my name, Elise. Unless you've forgotten that. You like like you've been through hell." The man said, gesturing for Elise to follow him.
"This way." He said, turning and making his way towards a corridor. "There is a bathroom that's being remodeled, unless people are breaking rules or need to go really badly we won't be bothered."
"This way." He said, turning and making his way towards a corridor. "There is a bathroom that's being remodeled, unless people are breaking rules or need to go really badly we won't be bothered."
Elise followed him to the bathroom and once safely inside she took a moment to gather her thoughts. Been through hell? That was putting it mildly. Sheād been preparing her speech the entire time sheād been hiding out in the Sewers, trying to get what she wanted to say to Kroger to be on the forefront of her mind so that she wouldnāt hesitateā¦ so that she wouldnāt stumble with her words once she finally had an opportunity to speak with him. Even still, looking up at him, it took everything she had not to break down. She cleared her throat and looked down, picking a clump of dirt from her BDUs. āI loved you, Kroger.ā Her voice broke and she swallowed, fighting herself for control over herself. āMollemā¦ Everything I did, I did to protect you. To try to protect youā¦ The threatsā¦ the leverageā¦ and he used you as leverage over meā¦ because I loved youā¦ It was because I loved you that I did what I didā¦ to try to keep you safeā¦ā Her voice broke again and she turned away from him, lifting a hand and running it over her disheveled hair, caked in the same stuff that caked her clothes.
She took a deep breath. āRoom 217,ā she whispered. āI only told one personā¦ Room 217ā¦ I was staying in another room, of course, one that looked out onto 217ā¦ so if you came, I would seeā¦ I would knowā¦ But you didnāt comeā¦ You didnāt come to room 217ā¦ But they did.ā She turned on him suddenly, her eyes flashing in anger and betrayal. āYou sent themā¦ I was expecting that maybe youād comeā¦ maybe we could talkā¦ but you sent themā¦. How much did they pay you?ā
She took a deep breath. āRoom 217,ā she whispered. āI only told one personā¦ Room 217ā¦ I was staying in another room, of course, one that looked out onto 217ā¦ so if you came, I would seeā¦ I would knowā¦ But you didnāt comeā¦ You didnāt come to room 217ā¦ But they did.ā She turned on him suddenly, her eyes flashing in anger and betrayal. āYou sent themā¦ I was expecting that maybe youād comeā¦ maybe we could talkā¦ but you sent themā¦. How much did they pay you?ā
"Are you serious?" Kroger asked Elise, staring her down for a moment. "Wow. You think that I would turn you over to the same people who've tried to ruin my life? Who've hurt my friends and my family?"
There was a hint of pain in Kroger's voice, but it seemed to be overpowered by confusion and anger.
"You know, in the past, I believed that maybe we did have a chance until you turned your back on me and went with Mollem despite me telling you it was no problem. The Aschen wouldn't suddenly become better at fighting just because you were involved." The Saudi man said, "I forgave you. I forgave myself for being too nice and letting you go."
"If you loved me you would never come here and accuse for such things. I swear to Allah, on Reiko's grave, on the life of my children, I did not betray you." Kroger's expression became serious, "But, I admit, I'm not sure we have a future after this."
There was a hint of pain in Kroger's voice, but it seemed to be overpowered by confusion and anger.
"You know, in the past, I believed that maybe we did have a chance until you turned your back on me and went with Mollem despite me telling you it was no problem. The Aschen wouldn't suddenly become better at fighting just because you were involved." The Saudi man said, "I forgave you. I forgave myself for being too nice and letting you go."
"If you loved me you would never come here and accuse for such things. I swear to Allah, on Reiko's grave, on the life of my children, I did not betray you." Kroger's expression became serious, "But, I admit, I'm not sure we have a future after this."
Elise listened to his words, her cheeks reddening, but she remained silent until he finished. Even then, she remained silent for a long time, leaning against one of the walls. Her hands reached up to her neck and she reached below her collar to unclasp a thin silver chain. Pulling it off, she looked at the medal that dangled from it, allowing herself a moment to think back to when heād given it to her. Sheād been about to go on a trip with Mollemā¦ Kroger surprised her by coming to her room and helping her pack. It was the day she admitted to him who she really wasā¦ what she really looked like beneath the makeupā¦ the scars that had since been fixed by Aschen doctors. Heād given her the medalā¦ sheād given him a ring sheād had ever since she was a childā¦
āI spent my nights holding this in my hand,ā she started, her voice quiet. āThe nights in bootcamp when I didnāt think I could go onā¦ after the beatingsā¦ the rapesā¦ the tortureā¦ I would spend my nights holding thisā¦ hopingā¦ prayingā¦ that one dayā¦ā She stopped herself, closing her eyes, swallowing. āIt was stupid. I never should have come back last timeā¦ I never should have come to see youā¦ā Holding it out to him, she would wait for him to take the medal from her. āIām not asking for a future, Kroger. I lost that chanceā¦ and so did you. I loved you enough to sacrifice my life to keep yours safeā¦ā Her voice lowered to a heartbroken whisper. āBut what did you do? You let me.ā
āI spent my nights holding this in my hand,ā she started, her voice quiet. āThe nights in bootcamp when I didnāt think I could go onā¦ after the beatingsā¦ the rapesā¦ the tortureā¦ I would spend my nights holding thisā¦ hopingā¦ prayingā¦ that one dayā¦ā She stopped herself, closing her eyes, swallowing. āIt was stupid. I never should have come back last timeā¦ I never should have come to see youā¦ā Holding it out to him, she would wait for him to take the medal from her. āIām not asking for a future, Kroger. I lost that chanceā¦ and so did you. I loved you enough to sacrifice my life to keep yours safeā¦ā Her voice lowered to a heartbroken whisper. āBut what did you do? You let me.ā
"Get out, Elise." Kroger said to the woman, "You come here and try to put the blame on me for the choices you've made? I lost the chance? I doubt I ever had a chance after hearing what you have to say." Kroger said, "I was much better off thinking you were probably getting all that you've wanted."
"It's going to be hard to move on, I admit. I like you. I do. But, you need to leave and you need to never come around here again."
"It's going to be hard to move on, I admit. I like you. I do. But, you need to leave and you need to never come around here again."