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MC23: Calm Before the Storming

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July 28, 2010.  A light rain pattered on the windows of Memory's Skyscraper.  Gathered just inside the lobby were eleven figures as diverse as they come.  All were well-equipped to kill, none with murderous intent for any other around them.  Each had their quirks and irks; but, for now, most of them were annoyed at their missing host.

"'E always does 'dis," the Turncoat Privateer groaned.  "'E calls a meetin' and makes sure 'e's 'de bloody last one to arrive."

"Speak for yourself," snapped the Disgruntled Scholar.  "To every one of our meetings, he has been the first to arrive."

"Our meetings were always here," Kespix admitted.

"Well, none o' 'dis does bullocks to tell us where 'e is," Rynexethak snorted.  "I've barely seen 'dat ass since 'de concert."

Cajexin snorted in her corner as well.  "And people wonder why women are considered items.  Keep your mind out of your pants for once, you whore!"

The Double-Dealing Wench smirked before saying, "Ooh, jealous, aren't we?  I wonder if our 'ost tinks ye look more attractive wit' or wit'out 'de mask."

"Cut 'de chatter, ladies," Scarnfix snapped at them.  "'E's already taken by a girl."

"And he hasn't been in for the longest time," added Sluxio.  "I haven't had any complaints about my drumming for at least a week."

'That is because you turn your mind off so I cannot find you,' Lagaldex growled.

Vredarigox tugged on the Silent Psychic's coat covertly, a clear signal for her Adamant brother to cool it.

"Perhaps he's busy picking up another new recruit," Dranxealex suggested.  "He did say I was his third 'catch' in the past month."

"Yeah, and I was the fourth, wasn't I?" Cajexin added.

Sluxio shrugged and said, "Yeah, if you count the clown guy as the first newbie."

Xanecirge raised his head at this point, acknowledging his involvement in the conversation.  "Yes?  What was it you were saying about me?"

"I believe they were speaking of the notion of you," Sphenxet spoke up, "nothing about."

"Geez, and I thought your language was fancy, Specs," the Windswept Swashbuckler smirked.

Fexyregof sneered at him and pushed up his spectacles with the usual middle finger method.  "I would rather be an overly intelligent scholar than an undereducated Neanderthal any day."

Now it was Sluxio's turn to be disgruntled.  "Neanderthal?  Have you seen the complexity of the weapons I develop?"

"Wait, wait," Xanecirge interrupted, pointing outside.  "There's someone there."

Sure enough, a pair of figures approached the doors to Memory's Skyscraper.  Both blended into the shadows around them, save for one who had a small visible flame under his hood.  Their mutual pace was rather hurried, both obviously eager to get out of the rain.  When the doors opened and the two Nobodies entered in, they immediately drew back their hoods.  The man with the blaze on his face was a complete stranger smoking a cigar; the other face proved more familiar, that of the Mysterious Mage!  However, he didn't look too happy.  "Sorry I'm late; I had some urgent business elsewhere."

"See?  What did I tell you?"  Dranxealex smiled as he playfully elbowed Sluxio.  "He's still on his massive recruitment drive."

"But who is he?" asked Xanecirge.  "He doesn't seem like a savory character, a definite bad influence on the children with his smoking."

The stranger appeared to hear him.  "The name's Naxitoon, pops," he said upon taking the cigar from his mouth.  "They call me the Smoking Gun on account o' these, see?"  In his one hand he flaunted his cigar, the smoke seeming to condense into a ball.

In his other there appeared his Nobody weapon, one with which Cajexin was also familiar:  "A Tommy Gun?  Where the heck did you come from to have that as your weapon?"

"Naxitoon came from Timeless River," Machelix answered her.  Turning to his newest associate, he asked, "Is that one of your specialty cigars?  You've been smoking that for the last four minutes."

The Smoking Gun looked to his cigar and examined it.  "Ah."  He turned towards the doors (which opened at his stare (before flicking the Cuban outside.  Once the doors closed, he turned forward again with a smirk on his face.  A loud 'BANG!' like a firecracker sounded from without the doors a second later.

The display of stealth weaponry left Cajexin impressed.  "Wow, that's quite the arsenal you have."

"Thanks, doll face."  Naxitoon took out a fresh cigar from an interior coat pocket and asked, "Mind giving me a light?"

Gladly Cajexin brought forth her flamethrower and shot a subdued stream of flame at the new Cuban.  It was soon blazing away like the old one.

"Just remember the deal," Machelix warned Naxitoon.  "You keep your smoke subdued and out of our noses, and you can stay here."

"Got it, boss," the Smoking Gun replied with a grin.

Heaving a sigh, Machelix wandered towards his chair, saying aloud, "Alright, as far as real business…"  He collapsed rather heavily into his chair after saying this and before continuing.  "As many of you know (and the rest must have realized) I have been on a rather long recruitment drive."

"You can say that again," agreed Dranxealex.

"The purpose of this has been to increase our strength through force of numbers and individuals.  All of you are skilled in your own, unique ways."  Machelix sharply glared at Sluxio to prematurely silence his sharpened tongue.  "I know that some of you have yet to partake in a mission, but time is of the essence for my next plan."

"Which would be?" asked Scarnfix.

Machelix growled at him before answering, "I'll get to that soon."  The Mage cleared his throat and faced the rest of the Espionage Entourage.  "We are going to reclaim our dignity.  Too often have we been rejected as Nobodies, barred entry into other Organizations or looked down upon if we are lucky enough to squeeze our way into their ranks.  Aside from working on things within our group, I have also been digging up info on the other Organizations.  It would seem Players has erased all connections it had with all of its operatives."

A few tears lit up Vredarigox's eyes, but it definitely wasn't a huge loss for her.

"Also… I have left Organization Infinity as a Superior and as a member.  My hand was forced on this matter by the new restraints that were put on incoming members.  The fact that my old mission files are still in the mainframe didn't help me either.  To think my own organization would betray me like this…"  [Note:  the lowercase is correct.]

Kespix cleared his own throat to get the Mage's attention and asked, "What exactly are we going to do?  Sit here discussing our failures?"

This time Machelix's reply wasn't curt; he needed a wake-up call.  "No, we are going to prove that we are worthy of respect the only way we can:  we are going to do battle with the Rogues of Axiom."

"Ugh, ye still be goin' on about 'dat?" Scarnfix disgustedly asked.

Fexyregof felt the need to put his two cents into this conversation as well.  "It has been a year and a half since you started your schemes and endeavors to get at least one of us into the Rogues."  His eyes shifted nonchalantly to Kespix when he said this.  "So far you have yet to receive even a passing glance from their ranks."

Sudden the Mage raised his eyes to his number four.  "Are you sure about that?"

"Would you be willing to stake your life on it?" Sphenxet added.

The Disgruntled Scholar snorted before saying, "Of course, if I still had a life to stake on it."

Machelix got up from his chair and answered, "Then you would have lost that one as well.  The gauntlet has been thrown, with Sphenxet as my emissary and witness."

"Axiom and Infinity need cease before we get started, though."

Sluxio raised an eyebrow at the last speaker.  "What are you on about, Mr. Xenves?"

"He means that the Rogues are already preoccupied with the other Org. Infinity," Machelix translated.  "Their confrontations need to end before we begin our wave."

"Why can't anyone just spit out what 'dey mean around 'ere?" groaned Scarnfix.

"That would make things too easy; we should be getting used to challenges, especially now," Machelix said.

"Speaking of challenges," Naxitoon spoke up, "what are we lookin' at in regards to these Rogues?  Are we goin' into a street brawl or a hit?"  A smile formed at the prospect of the latter.

"Hopefully it's nothing too serious, right?"  Xanecirge looked hopeful about a positive response.

Machelix's face revealed mixed messages, sending positive outlooks both ways.  "Each of you will be taking part in a one-on-one fight in a different world, all three systems of worlds up for your destinations:  the Disney-verse, the Nu-verse, or the Game-verse."

'Vredarigox wants to know the reason for the solitary teams,' Lagaldex told the Mage.

The Entourage Superior stroked his chin as the question rattled around in his brain.  Finally he said, "I felt that separate duels rather than an all-out battle would leave the advantage with us.  Your arenas have also been chosen to give each of you as much of an edge as possible:  that was one of our conditions.  We are also allowed to use any and all weapons in our individual arsenals for the confrontations."

"Wait, 'we'?"  Rynexethak's interest was piqued by the choice of words.  "Ye be takin' part in 'dis as well?"

"Aye," Machelix replied, smiling (with his vampire's grin) for the first time since walking through the doors.  "You really thought I would miss an opportunity like this?"

Something didn't sit right with Xanecirge about the conditions.  "We seem to have a lot of advantages in this.  Do our opponents have anything?"

Machelix nodded and replied, "They get to select which of us they wish to face.  I thought that was fair, compared to our edges and given their numbers and skill."

"That sounds fair to me."  The clown Nobody took his seat once again.

Looking around from his own chair, Machelix asked, "Any other questions?"  No one raised their hands.  "Alright, meeting adjourned."  Collectively those Nobodies who were still sitting stood and made their way for the stairs.  "Your assignments are on your pillows," the Mage said over his shoulder.  "Naxitoon, with you not being so hard to find, yours will be brought to you no matter which room you choose."

Lagaldex stopped Machelix before either could ascend the stairs.  'Vredarigox and I are concerned about our seeming lack of weaponry.  Neither of us wants to appear weak.'

Machelix smiled as he relayed a solution response:  "For distance, I would recommend a telekinetic object throw for you, since you retained some of your Psychic power in your element.  A mind assault should serve to round out your arsenal.  As for your sister, her Barrier as a small attacking shield and her Psycho Boost at a distance ought to work just fine."

With business concluded, the Mysterious Mage and the Silent Psychic trailed behind the crowd traversing upstairs.
This is the official meeting announcing my challenge to the Rogues of Axiom as well as a little introduction to my as-of-yet unknown Nobodies, Sphenxet, Dranxealex, Cajexin, and Naxitoon. The last two's personalities and persona can be pretty much guessed with this info.

Tell me what you think otherwise.

All Nobodies mentioned here: :iconpumpkinapprentice431:
© 2010 - 2024 PumpkinApprentice431
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rabbit-chainsaw's avatar
Are their going to be any Org-Nu characters in this too other than Geoffery?