Gravity II: Opposing Forces
Title: Gravity II: Opposing Forces
Prelude: Janus
Characters: Treize Khushrenada, Duke Dermail, Tsubarov
Summary: Three men discuss a Lady's fate, laying the groundwork for the trouble that follows.
A/N: Part II of Gravity. Aquatinted and a wee indulgent, but I just can't let Eleven linger in The Numbers.
The three men stood in a small room on the observing end of a two-way mirror. On the other side, demonstrating expert skills in assassination, was a young woman with chestnut brown hair. She moved with a catlike grace, and her precision was frightening.
"Of course," Tsubarov said dismissively,"there is a small chance that the split will become permanent."
"Hmm," Duke Dermail, the leader of The Romefeller Foundation nodded as he continued to watch the exercise taking place in the other room. "She's the best candidate?"
"Without question, sir. Once the process is complete she'll be a doll at our command." Tsubarov grinned with satisfaction and added, "Of course once my other project gets off the ground there will be no need for human interference in battle again."
Dermail gave the man a sideways glance and then nodded, remembering the pet project sitting on his desk and awaiting his approval. With the success of this Janus experiment though Dermail found he would likely have to reward his chief engineer in some way. The pipedream of an army with limited human participation seemed like a fair enough trade.
"Does this cadet know what she's signed up for," Dermail asked.
"No. We thought it best to merely offer this opportunity as advanced training, sir," Tsubarov replied. "Her aptitude for this kind of work is already off the charts, and she's young enough that there shouldn't be any of the problematic side effects lesser candidates have fallen prey to."
The duke nodded and turned to the third man in the room who had remained silent. The young man was very bright and sure to become one of the next leaders of the foundation. "And, what do you think about this, Colonel Kushrenada?"
The young man smiled and asked, "Will my opinion really have any impact on your final decision?"
"None."
"Then my opinion is of no importance." He turned, looked at Tsubarov, and said, "Do contact me if you find this Lady requires a handler."
Tsubarov huffed.
"Lady," Duke Dermail questioned, ever mindful of the fate of the aristocracy.
"Of course," Colonel Khushrenada stated. "She comes from a lesser, but noble house in the Germanies."
Duke Dermail looked at the woman again and then said, "Tsubarov, you'd better be damned sure it'll take."
Insulted Tsubarov said, "There will be no problems. She'll be controllable."
"Good. What will you call her?"
"We've decided on Eleven, sir."
Colonel Khushrenada stepped closer to the glass and shook his head at the play on the young woman's last name. It was tasteless, but it was done. She was spectacular though, and perhaps if he had the opportunity he could fix what these old men were breaking.
Prelude: Janus
Characters: Treize Khushrenada, Duke Dermail, Tsubarov
Summary: Three men discuss a Lady's fate, laying the groundwork for the trouble that follows.
A/N: Part II of Gravity. Aquatinted and a wee indulgent, but I just can't let Eleven linger in The Numbers.
The three men stood in a small room on the observing end of a two-way mirror. On the other side, demonstrating expert skills in assassination, was a young woman with chestnut brown hair. She moved with a catlike grace, and her precision was frightening.
"Of course," Tsubarov said dismissively,"there is a small chance that the split will become permanent."
"Hmm," Duke Dermail, the leader of The Romefeller Foundation nodded as he continued to watch the exercise taking place in the other room. "She's the best candidate?"
"Without question, sir. Once the process is complete she'll be a doll at our command." Tsubarov grinned with satisfaction and added, "Of course once my other project gets off the ground there will be no need for human interference in battle again."
Dermail gave the man a sideways glance and then nodded, remembering the pet project sitting on his desk and awaiting his approval. With the success of this Janus experiment though Dermail found he would likely have to reward his chief engineer in some way. The pipedream of an army with limited human participation seemed like a fair enough trade.
"Does this cadet know what she's signed up for," Dermail asked.
"No. We thought it best to merely offer this opportunity as advanced training, sir," Tsubarov replied. "Her aptitude for this kind of work is already off the charts, and she's young enough that there shouldn't be any of the problematic side effects lesser candidates have fallen prey to."
The duke nodded and turned to the third man in the room who had remained silent. The young man was very bright and sure to become one of the next leaders of the foundation. "And, what do you think about this, Colonel Kushrenada?"
The young man smiled and asked, "Will my opinion really have any impact on your final decision?"
"None."
"Then my opinion is of no importance." He turned, looked at Tsubarov, and said, "Do contact me if you find this Lady requires a handler."
Tsubarov huffed.
"Lady," Duke Dermail questioned, ever mindful of the fate of the aristocracy.
"Of course," Colonel Khushrenada stated. "She comes from a lesser, but noble house in the Germanies."
Duke Dermail looked at the woman again and then said, "Tsubarov, you'd better be damned sure it'll take."
Insulted Tsubarov said, "There will be no problems. She'll be controllable."
"Good. What will you call her?"
"We've decided on Eleven, sir."
Colonel Khushrenada stepped closer to the glass and shook his head at the play on the young woman's last name. It was tasteless, but it was done. She was spectacular though, and perhaps if he had the opportunity he could fix what these old men were breaking.