Part 1 ◾ Part 2 ◾ Part 3 ◾ Part 4 ◾ Part 5 ◾ Part 6 ◾ Part 7
Part 1 ◾ Part 2 ◾ You are here.
The City of brass and steam, of steel and glass. A City governed by the nobles of the Uppercity and the Guildmasters of the Undercity. The Undercity is becoming a battleground as Guildmasters send their best fighters to destabilize one another.
"I hear that they are calling it the Future Globe."
"Who said that?" Master Scholar Ripley asked with irritation. The vox she spoke through to scramble her voice hissed.
"The Council apparently. But what's a man got to do? They just make these decisions for us." The other Scholar replied, shrugging. He did not know who she was, she enjoyed it that he referred to her as a man and spoke to her as a man. Often these cloistered up nerds become real fools when they see what she is hiding under her cloak and mask.
Two years ago she spread a rumour about herself that the mysterious Master Scholar Ripley had been in a factory accident and burnt by steam. Thus the cloak, mask, voice and gloves.
Now all people would be able to focus on is her intellect.
"It is a stupid name." She replied. "There is no indicative proof that all the images are of the future. We established that the one building fire we witnessed was a few days ahead of time... some of the others are unrecognizable."
"So Time Globe then?" The man replied.
"You are pushing your luck Scholar Markus." Ripley intoned in her driest electronic drawl. "I like to stick to the facts."
"What do you propose we do then?" Markus asked.
She stared at him, trying to decide whether or not she trusted him. He was a handsome Scholar. He would not have known this but the two of them were of similar ages. If they had been ordinary civilians in the Clockwork City, she may have flirted with him. They might have had a connection, he seemed a good enough man with a decent intellect and a sense of humor.
They might have gotten married, moved to the Upper City, somewhere nice a quiet, have some children.
She blinked a few times behind her mask.
What a strange line of thought.
"I have reached a conclusion." She said eventually. "The logic is clear."
Markus had been following the mysterious Master Scholar for a while now. The Master Scholar was a legend among his peers. Several of the full Scholars and a great number of Novices often engaged in theoretical discussions regarding the Master Scholar Ripley.
It was well known that nobody has seen the man's face. The accident that had scarred his face had also done something to his lungs and voicebox and thus the machines that made up his mask also allowed him to speak.
The Master Scholar had quite a following and a lot of gossip surrounded the man. This was not why Scholar Markus was interested in working with the Master Scholar.
"I hear that they are calling it the Future Globe." Markus offered as a way to open a dialogue with the Master. No, the reason he wanted to work with Master Scholar Ripley is his knowledge and track record.
"Who said that?" The Master Scholar hissed. The augmentic box seemed to distort with irritation and anger.
"The Council apparently. But what's a man got to do? They just make these decisions for us." He shrugged.
"It is a stupid name." Master Scholar Ripley replied. "There is no indicative proof that all the images are of the future. We established that the one building fire we witnessed was a few days ahead of time... some of the others are unrecognizable."
The Master was correct of course and true to form the Master stuck with facts and logic. Markus had read the Master's treaties regarding Guild mechanics, politics and factory policy. It whittled away all the personal greviances and focussed on the mechanics and the technology as well as the market implications regarding the actions taken by Guild Masters in the last 10 years.
The Master's mind is fascinating!
"So Time Globe then?" He suggested with a grin.
"You are pushing your luck Scholar Markus." Master Scholar intoned in a dry and stoic tone. "I like to stick to the facts."
"What do you propose we do then?" Markus asked.
The Master Scholar turned and looked at Markus for a long moment. The light from the Time Globe or whatever it should be called were reflected in the round lenses that made up the eyes of the mask the Master Scholar wore.
He could almost see how the Master must be ticking over logical implications and rearranging relevant data in order to come to a solution.
"I have reached a conclusion." The Master intoned.
Here it comes!
"The logic is clear." The Master continued. "How good are you at fieldwork?"
"I am top of my class." He said with a grin. The Master stared at him impassively.
"And in the Under City as well?" The second question seemed to carry emphasis. "It will be dangerous."
There seemed to be a sudden chill in the air. The Under City was indeed dangerous and though Scholars were not exactly attacked outright, they were not exactly safe from the lowlifes.
"I have been there from time to time." He admitted.
"You will gather a squad of Exploritor Scribes and two Novice Scholars and head into the Under City." The Master commanded, the authority was clear. It was not up for discussion.
"What will my assignment be?" He asked simply.
The Master seemed pleased that he did not balk at the instruction. He was handed a transcriptograph from one of the Scribes. "Your mission will be to locate and track this man."
Scholar Markus took the paper, studied it then nodded. "Your will be done."
I hope that you enjoyed the latest installment of The Citadel!
A bit of a perspective swap, I hope that was amusing!
Until next time, cheers!
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