4885/Meet the Boss

Meet the Boss
Date of Scene:	15 December 2016
Location:	Core Tellus <CT>
Synopsis:	Claire meets the boss and receives a very special mission.
Cast of Characters:	William Pauwel, 1051
Tinyplot:	CODE Chaser: Shattered Judgement

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William Pauwel has posed:
    Typically, when a new relic is retrieved from out in the wilderness, the Prospector Guild will see it handed off to one of their district offices for safe-keeping. Then, once enough of a stock is accumulated (or once a month, whichever comes first), a shipment is arranged from these distributed hubs back to Vaygara for safe-keeping, analysis and reproduction.

This time, circumstances were just a little bit different.

This time, the Guild requested for the particular find- and the agent who found it- to make their way to Vaygara immediately.

    This is strange enough, but remarkable discoveries are typically given special treatment. What happens here is a bit beyond even that. The meeting was arranged for the dead of night-- well into early morning, and well before anyone at all would be awake to take notice. There is no pomp, there is no circumstance, but there are a pair of people in protective equipment at the docks waiting to take the package, and specific orders to not speak a word to anyone and to report directly to the central office.

Specifically, the one that is home to the mysterious chairman of the Prospector's Guild.

The one who wears a mask to conceal his identity, and whose seat is either upheld or replaced by secret council vote every decade or so.

The one whose oak doors are really quite intimidating, if you look at them the right way.

Millium Argent (1051) has posed:
     ".........."

     It's not every day that you get called out from your local district and made to come all the way to Vaygara for a routine relic find. ...WHich meant that either Claire has done something terribly wrong without realizing it, or she's made an incredible find. Silently, and perhaps with a fair bit of trepidation, she stares up at the oak doors, a bead of sweat running down her cheek. She's not technically alone. Millium is here. ...Waiting out in the lobby, of course. Something about this being a personal meeting. Not like that stupid girl'd help anyhow. She'd just say something dumb like 'Millium of the stars is here!' and make everything worse.

     Ugh.

     Okay.

     The guild operator takes a deeeeeeep breath, and then knocks on the doors. Once. Twice. Three times. Then she turns the handle and makes her way inside. "Hello, Sir." She greets slightly rigidly, and almost having stuttered. "I was called to be here at this time today..." Red eyes stare at the mask, and she has to try really hard to not avert her gaze. "... If I'm remembering my schedule correctly."

William Pauwel has posed:
    The Chairman's office is... Well, it's pretty fancy. Everything is in some kind of dark hardwood. There's a grandfather clock in the corner, opposite to a roaring, brick fireplace. There are many, many, many books stacked from end to end in cases along the walls. The Chairman looks up from a single (1) piece of paperwork as Claire makes her entrance.

    "Ah, yes. Agent Claire Reynard, I was expecting you. Please," he gestures at a chair across from his desk, "Sit down. We have something important to discuss." The director leans back into his chair, idly steepling his fingers together against his masked face. "I read your report; it was quite intriguing."

"But first let me ask you," he says, inclining his head, "Are you aware of what it is that you returned with? Do you have any idea, really, of what this is about?"

Millium Argent (1051) has posed:
     ...Wow. This place is fancy. Crap, that just made it even more intimidating. Damn it, no. Stay calm. You got this! You didn't do anything wrong! ...Probably.

     "Yes, sir." She says, forcibly retaking her calm and approaching. She has a seat in the indicated chair across from The Chairman's desk and places her hands in her lap, waiting. Her report? Oh, it must have been about the... Was it the wrecked ship and the black powder? ...That apparently nanozombi virus black powder.

     That immediately fills her with renewed trepidation. Should she have left that stuff alone? Did the higher ups already know about it? Shit. It seemed like a good idea at the time! Find a cure! Why not? While Claire's mind is a vortex of changing emotions, she manages to keep her face steady and shake her head at the question posed. "I... was told that it was some kind of dormant nanomachine colony. That when active, turns people into something that the agents at the site called 'zombies', for lack of a better term..."

     The agent's eyes avert for a moment, and then she looks back at that mask and finishes. "I don't know any more than what I've written in the report, sir. But I make the call to take a sample because I thought that maybe it could be studied, and the active effects circumvented if we could understand it..." She'd go on to ask 'Why do you ask?', but that seemed like a terrible idea at the moment. Let's wait and see.

William Pauwel has posed:
    The Chairman is still and quiet as Claire explains. He's calm. Completely calm. Not a single terrified or nervous bone in his body- or maybe that's why the Chairmen always wear masks? So that nobody can tell exactly how they're feeling.

    "Very good," the Chairman says, nodding as she finishes. "As you say, the black powder is a highly advanced variety of nanomachine. When it makes its way into the body, it acts to overwhelm the immune system and then transform the victim into a host and a biochemical factory for the production of further nanomachines. Very insidious. I daresay it's about one of the most dangerous things one can find in the ruins."

    The Chairman rises and makes his way over to one of the bookcases. He runs his fingers along the many spines and eventually settles on a rather unassuming book. He opens it up and makes his way back to the desk. "Fifteen years ago, a man arrived in Vaygara with a... sample of this substance. We've been studying it ever since, though there are issues, you understand, with trying to perform experiments on a 'live' colony."

    He sighs, passing the book across the table. "A compilation of the work we performed on the colony, if you're interested in taking a look." It's... A confusing mess of scientific terms and jargon that basically sums of to 'THIS IS SOME BAD SHIT.' "It is my hope that we are able to use this dormant sample to develop a countermeasure for the infection. Though it is also my hope that we would not have to."

    "You mentioned in your report a young man with a very interesting weapon," he says, then. "One which I do not believe we have had the good fortune to study. However, some of the Ancient texts that we have retrieved from the ruins over the years speak of a tool with similar properties which was once used to cleanse some remarkably familiar infestations."

    "I would like to have you retrieve the weapon, and the boy as well. Please do attempt to convince him to come along peacefully, but if he resists, you are authorized to use whatever means necessary to bring them here." The Chairman moves ever so slightly, just enough for a discerning eye to catch sight of that sheet of paper. It appears to be a... recommendation for promotion. "You will of course be compensated for your work."

"I will direct our security forces to assist you, if it does in fact come to the use of force. You need only send word to me, and I will do what I can to help you."

"So, Agent Claire Reynard. What do you say? Will you help us find a cure for this... atrocity?"

Millium Argent (1051) has posed:
     Oh....

     Oh. So they did know about it. Wait, that stuff makes people into biochemical factories to make more of itself!? ...Clare isn't sure how to respond to that, other than to inadvertently widen her eyes just a tad. "I see..." And she watches as he rises and walks over to one of the many bookcases lining the room, browsing the spines in a seemingly unassuming manner. Picking out a book to read later? ...Nah.

     "So this isn't the first time." She mumbles to herself more than to The Chairman. She looks down at the offered book, arching a brow. A record? ...Well, she was curious. "If it's okay." She responds, reaching out to take the book and put it into her lap, flipping through a few pages to skim briefly. ....What in the world? Claire considered herself to be a fairly studious person. She studied hard and did her best, so she could grasp most of what she glanced through. But... What the hell is this? "...Who in the world made these nanomachines in the first place?" The guild agent grumbles out loud, shaking her head in the process.

     Oh well.

     Mention of Will's Solano gets Claire's attention, and she looks up from the book, right into that mask. "You mean Will Pauwel?" The crazy man who drags in weirdo alien people to run his dungeons with him. "And you think his weapon is the same one from the texts?" Surely that had to be a dumb coincidence. Or maybe not. "........" Retrieve him and the weapon? Ha ha ha ha, yeah good luck with that. The guy barely wanted anything to do with the guild. It didn't take rocket science to figure that one out.

     Which is why the mention of using any means necessary gives her pause. "........" Red eyes glance down at the sheet of paper momentarily, then continue down to the book. She doesn't read. Just think. "My assigned partner seems to be fairly close with him. I'll...see what I can do. And if it becomes necessary... I'll contact you."

     It's for the good of the people, right? Surely Will would understand. And if he doesn't, then... well, it was one person and his gun weighed against a cure for a dangerous nanovirus. Claire knew which choice she'd make.

William Pauwel has posed:
    Presumably the Ancients made them. Which is probably also why the document about them is sort of... Labrynthine. Bits of it are legible, however. Something about 'very rapid adaptation' and 'evolutionary pseudo-biological processes' and very confused passages that basically read 'why does this stuff not attack plants???'

    "Very good," the Chairman says at Claire's assent. "Please do understand that we don't want to harm the Pauwel boy. Far from it, it would be ideal if he were to cooperate with us. But the ability to purge this infection is essential, especially if it means we can save innocent lives as a result."

    The Chairman looks... almost wistful, for a moment. "Ah, this takes me back. It's been a while since-- ah, but it's not important. Just old memories." He nods, then. "Well. That would be all then. Please keep up the good work, Agent Reynard. Let your partner know that we are, as ever, appreciative of her efforts. You both do this organization proud."

AT LEAST SOMEONE APPRECIATES YOU, MILLIUM ARGENT.

Millium Argent (1051) has posed:
     Claire inwardly sighs as her eyes glance over the documents again. Sweet lord this thing was extensive. And half the time it seemed like the person or people who wrote this didn't know what the heck was going on with it either. Eventually, she gives up, after cleaning about as much information as she figured she was going to get without more time to study it. And she closes the book, putting it onto the desk.

     "Of course, sir. I don't want to harm him either." He might be crazy fool, but she wasn't a murderer now. She typed stuff on computers and handled paperwork. Leave the murdering to the soldiers and mercs, please. "I hope he'll understand..." She closes her eyes momentarily, and then nods, opening them back up.

     "Finding a cure is the most important thing. I'm sure a guy who runs around with his heart on his sleeve like him will help out." She does blink and tilt her head slightly at the half mentioned thoughts of old memories, but... well, she can't really pry. Curious as she is. "...Okay." And with that, Claire stands up, and bows. "Thank you. And I'll be sure to let her know. Have a nice day, Sir."

     She turns around and heads for the door, opening it and stepping out. "........." Her legs wobble and she almost sinks to the ground. But she manages to hold herself up, a hand to her heart as she exhales deeply. Sweet lord of fire that was scary as hell. What in the world did she get wrapped up in? Damn it! This is Millium's fault, isn't it?

     God damn it Argent!

     Claire seems to regain her usual amount of anger and briskly walks off at that, no longer wanting to be anywhere near this area. No thanks. Goodbye.

William Pauwel has posed:
The Chairman sits in silence as Claire slips out of his office. And then for a few minutes longer after that. He looks to be deep in thought, as if casting his mind back upon his age old memories.

And then he reaches up to his cheek and pushes a button.

And bright and bubbly and *~sparkly~* pop music begins to play in the earbuds hidden inside his mask.

Ah, yes. The perfect way to start a day.