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 »
As snow fell on The Courtyard, the nickname for the plaza which housed The Palace, John stood outside of a busy cafe. He had just had a meeting with Phinx about what to in the aftermath of the Thousand Mountains attack. The restaurant, which John put a lot of time and money into, was rubble now.
If Lochlyn had no trouble sending his son there because Yanni and Kazen insulted him, imagine what he'd do if he figured out that Amariah and John were at The Palace.
The young man decided not to dwell on that, instead making his down towards The Palace itself. He wanted to see if Amariah was okay or if she had spoken to Sonia yet.
He saw what she could do the night before. The girl had potential.
If Lochlyn had no trouble sending his son there because Yanni and Kazen insulted him, imagine what he'd do if he figured out that Amariah and John were at The Palace.
The young man decided not to dwell on that, instead making his down towards The Palace itself. He wanted to see if Amariah was okay or if she had spoken to Sonia yet.
He saw what she could do the night before. The girl had potential.
She was wandering the grounds on her own, her fingertips trailing the fortified walls as she looked up towards the tops. There were men everywhere, guarding this place like it was something precious, but she couldn't help but wonder if it would be enough to keep out the likes of Lochlyn.
The man had flown, withstood bullets and thrown a car with his bare hand. If he could do that, he could do anything. But, more than that, she was wondering what it was that he wanted to do with her. Would she be safe leaving this place? Was there something more that she could do to protect herself?
As she came to the entrance, having completed a circle around the grounds, she spied John on the approach, a smile breaking out over her features.
"John!" she said, waving him over. "Where've you been?"
The man had flown, withstood bullets and thrown a car with his bare hand. If he could do that, he could do anything. But, more than that, she was wondering what it was that he wanted to do with her. Would she be safe leaving this place? Was there something more that she could do to protect herself?
As she came to the entrance, having completed a circle around the grounds, she spied John on the approach, a smile breaking out over her features.
"John!" she said, waving him over. "Where've you been?"
John pointed towards the cafe, "In there mostly." He told Amariah as he approached. "I stayed with my sister, Fatin, for the night too." John told the young woman, "Her room is huge." He added.
The young man slid his opaque frames off for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose. They lived on a planet where people could build working spacecraft from bicycle parts and duck tape, but for someone reason they couldn't make glasses that didn't irritate the bridge of his nose.
"What have you been up to so far?" John asked, "Hopefully you're enjoying The Courtyard and The Palace. Hopefully you've noticed the theme with the names." He said with a smile.
He didn't mention that Phinx opened a nightclub tucked away in the area she had named The Dungeon.
The young man slid his opaque frames off for a moment, rubbing the bridge of his nose. They lived on a planet where people could build working spacecraft from bicycle parts and duck tape, but for someone reason they couldn't make glasses that didn't irritate the bridge of his nose.
"What have you been up to so far?" John asked, "Hopefully you're enjoying The Courtyard and The Palace. Hopefully you've noticed the theme with the names." He said with a smile.
He didn't mention that Phinx opened a nightclub tucked away in the area she had named The Dungeon.
"I've been exploring." she confided. "There's a lot of neat stuff here, and the people are pretty friendly too. Only thing is that the people I had expected to see aren't here. Anodyne and Preston and the rest." Her brow furrowed a tad.
"I haven't found Sonia either, but I don't really know what she looks like, so that's sort of compounding the problem." She smiled sheepishly, reaching for his wrist and clasping it before pulling him along.
"So you'll have to show me."
"I haven't found Sonia either, but I don't really know what she looks like, so that's sort of compounding the problem." She smiled sheepishly, reaching for his wrist and clasping it before pulling him along.
"So you'll have to show me."
"Anodyne and her team are usually out in the city or at Gambit's if things are looking sane." He said, opening his mouth to speak as he was pulled. Barely a sound making it out as he was pulled.
"The science lab is pretty close." John said, moving a bit faster so that now he was the one leading Amariah. "It's inside The Palace, kind of." He told her as he led her into the tall building.
"I'll have someone call for Sonia. You're an outsider, you can't go down into the lab."
"The science lab is pretty close." John said, moving a bit faster so that now he was the one leading Amariah. "It's inside The Palace, kind of." He told her as he led her into the tall building.
"I'll have someone call for Sonia. You're an outsider, you can't go down into the lab."
She looked up and around the structure as she was lead inside, her brow furrowing a moment as his words met her ears. She let go of his wrist, putting her hand behind her head and scratching the base of her neck.
"Right, of course. I'll just hang out then?"
Something about being deemed an 'outsider' unsettled her. But she understood, so she merely complied with a smile.
"Right, of course. I'll just hang out then?"
Something about being deemed an 'outsider' unsettled her. But she understood, so she merely complied with a smile.
"Yeah, hopefully it won't take long." John told Amariah, heading over to the front desk in the building's lobby. "Tyler, can you call for Sonia?" John asked the young man behind the desk.
"She isn't here. Stryfe sent her down to the WCPD station to gauge what they want for new gear. We're making a donation." Tyler responded, "Should be back soon. It's already been an hour or two."
"Tell her to call me." John said to Tyler before turning and heading back towards Amariah. "How do you like Gambit's Bar?" He asked her, "We can go there, it usually helps me kill time when I people watch."
"She isn't here. Stryfe sent her down to the WCPD station to gauge what they want for new gear. We're making a donation." Tyler responded, "Should be back soon. It's already been an hour or two."
"Tell her to call me." John said to Tyler before turning and heading back towards Amariah. "How do you like Gambit's Bar?" He asked her, "We can go there, it usually helps me kill time when I people watch."
"We're going to wait for Sonia there?" she asked, her eyes rounding. "I mean, sure! Maybe I'll get to see Anodyne there too." Amariah wasn't going to admit it out loud, but she liked Anodyne, her and the rest of the Invictus crew. They were good people.
"Want to lead the way?" she asked as she casually slipped her arm through his. It wasn't for any reason other than, well, just being herself she supposed.
"Want to lead the way?" she asked as she casually slipped her arm through his. It wasn't for any reason other than, well, just being herself she supposed.
"We can take Mary's car. I hope you like leather seats and purple." John said to Amariah as he led her towards the elevators.
Phinx had a very purple muscle car that she would let John drive most of the time. One could see it coming from a mile away.
Phinx had a very purple muscle car that she would let John drive most of the time. One could see it coming from a mile away.
"I don't mind." she replied with a smile, glancing ahead as they made their way to the streets. When she saw the car come into view, her eyes widened slightly.
"It's pretty. Mary likes to ride in style." What did she have back home? A bike. A rusty junker motorbike, but it was still a bike.
"I feel like that girl from Gone in 60 Seconds." she said with a small laugh.
"It's pretty. Mary likes to ride in style." What did she have back home? A bike. A rusty junker motorbike, but it was still a bike.
"I feel like that girl from Gone in 60 Seconds." she said with a small laugh.
"She's big on this stuff. She's kind of gotten me into it. I prefer riding chopper, but I like muscle cars too." He told Amariah, slipping away from her to open the passenger side door for her.
"I'm a gentleman, as you can see."
"I'm a gentleman, as you can see."
"Duly noted." Amariah replied with another laugh. She slipped into the car, running her fingertips over the interior before resting her hands on top of her knees. As she waited for John to climb into the driver's seat, she took a deep breath, before relaxing into her chair.
"I drive a bike too." she told him. "I mean, it isn't a really nice one, but I like them. Picked up the habit from my mom."
"I drive a bike too." she told him. "I mean, it isn't a really nice one, but I like them. Picked up the habit from my mom."
John went around to the other side of the vehicle, slipping in gracefully. He was actually excited to drive Phinx's car. It moved fast. He wouldn't admit it, but he was becoming an adrenaline junky these days.
"Next stop, Gambit's Bar, hopefully while it's not being blown up or something." He said as he slipped the key into the ignition. It roared to life once he turned the key.
"We're out of here." He said, driving the car towards the front gate and out onto the street.
"Next stop, Gambit's Bar, hopefully while it's not being blown up or something." He said as he slipped the key into the ignition. It roared to life once he turned the key.
"We're out of here." He said, driving the car towards the front gate and out onto the street.
Yael squinted at the building through the window of the cab. āYou sure this is it?ā she asked. She wasnāt sure what sheād expected, but a luxury hotel looking place wasnāt at all what sheād pictured. Maybe a generic apartment building. Maybe a small duplex.
The cab driver rolled bored eyes at Yael, lifting a hand to pull curly hair away from her face as she met Yaelās eyes in the rearview. āItās the address you gave me.ā Her hand was on the handle, opening her door to let herself out after popping the trunk. Yael followed her, exiting the cab and staring at the building as the cab driver grabbed her suitcase from the trunk. āThatāll be $48.50.ā
Startled out of her reverie, Yael dug into her wallet, pulling out a fifty and absently handing it to the other woman. āKeep it,ā she muttered, moving toward the building, tugging the suitcase after herself.
The cabbie stood beside the cab looking at the fifty and sighed. āGee,ā she muttered to herself. āA dollar fiftyā¦ that was so generousā¦ thanksā¦ you shouldnāt haveā¦ā Exasperated, she climbed back into the cab and sped away, tires squealing.
Yael made her way to the front doors before taking a deep breath and letting herself inside. The opulence took her breath away and she blinked at the finery. āWow, Uncleā¦ youāre doing pretty good for yourselfā¦ā
Stepping over toward the reception desk, she waited for the clerk to acknowledge her before asking: āUmā¦ Iām looking for someone named Jeremiahā¦ā
The cab driver rolled bored eyes at Yael, lifting a hand to pull curly hair away from her face as she met Yaelās eyes in the rearview. āItās the address you gave me.ā Her hand was on the handle, opening her door to let herself out after popping the trunk. Yael followed her, exiting the cab and staring at the building as the cab driver grabbed her suitcase from the trunk. āThatāll be $48.50.ā
Startled out of her reverie, Yael dug into her wallet, pulling out a fifty and absently handing it to the other woman. āKeep it,ā she muttered, moving toward the building, tugging the suitcase after herself.
The cabbie stood beside the cab looking at the fifty and sighed. āGee,ā she muttered to herself. āA dollar fiftyā¦ that was so generousā¦ thanksā¦ you shouldnāt haveā¦ā Exasperated, she climbed back into the cab and sped away, tires squealing.
Yael made her way to the front doors before taking a deep breath and letting herself inside. The opulence took her breath away and she blinked at the finery. āWow, Uncleā¦ youāre doing pretty good for yourselfā¦ā
Stepping over toward the reception desk, she waited for the clerk to acknowledge her before asking: āUmā¦ Iām looking for someone named Jeremiahā¦ā
"Lady, you're going to have to be more specific. Do you think one guy named Jeremiah exists in this city?" The man at the desk asked, "Seriously? Do you have a last name? Picture? Description. I need something to work with." The young man said.
Yael frowned, shifting uncomfortably. Had she ever learned Uncle Jeremiahās last name? Surely she had, butā¦ it wasnāt coming to mind at the moment. āJeremiah,ā she said again, trying to think of how to describe him while looking down at the address she had for him. āHeāsā¦ Germanā¦ Taller than meā¦ never smiles?... German?ā Sheād 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 didnāt want to give the surprise away until she was in front of himā¦ 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 sheād traveled a long wayā¦ 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 wasnāt 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 sheād traveled a long wayā¦ 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 wasnāt 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."