Spectral_Bind

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She gave the duffel a light kick, "Only problem with forced withdrawls from Paragon City Banks is that the money runs out eventually and you're forced to do it again."

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Toulonthalas laughed, "I'll drink to that. Lately they haven't been keeping them well stocked, either."

He tilted the wine glass back, drinking about half of what was left, before looking back at the fight on the TV.

He placed his money on the bar, with a small tip and watched the screens of the fight. One thing he couldn’t help enjoy was watching a good battle. He took a sip of the wine, noting the quality was a little less than his pallet preferred, but figured, since he didn’t say which he wanted, it was his own fault.

He took a quick look at the rest of the establishment before watching the Countess Crey fight, “Nice place.”

When he stepped through the door, he couldn’t help but wonder if everyone thought he was the one from this dimension. So many Longbow were killed, thinking he was the Toulon everyone revered as a Hero. They never bothered to broadcast that that same hero had ripped him from his own dimension and brought him here.

He, the Praetorian Toulonthalas, had the same long blond hair, elven ears, and and almond shaped blue eyes. That’s where the similarities ended. A scar covered his right eye, and he had a constant scowl. He wore blackened chainmail shirt, loose-fitting black pants, and a tattered red cloak with the hood pulled over his head. His hands crackled with red energy for a brief second as he walked down the streets of Port Oakes.

That was the other difference between himself and his heroic counterpart. Where the hero chose to learn the sword, Toulonthalas chose to take up magic. He could conceal himself from the eyes of weaker beings and strike them down before they knew what was happening.

He removed the hood of the cloak as he sat at the bar, his eyes shifting to the other patrons. Looking towards the bartender, he nodded a greeting, “Red Wine, please.”

((Just remember Plague, this isn't an Action RP. Don't worry about excitement just yet. Ninjin has some great events in store for everyone soon. No one will be disappointed.))

((Ninjin sent me a message to let everyone know that he is out on business and will be back on Monday. He apologizes ahead of time for any inconvenience this has caused.))

Dr. McChord took the Z-Chip and the connected device into the test room. It occured to him not to look a gift horse in the mouth till he was sure it was the genuine article. He locked the chamber and tested the chip in the same order.

When he aimed the device at the target, he cranked the dial again. He looked down at the Z-Chip, giving off a faint glow.

Did it do that last time?

He released the dispersal button, the electricity arcing across the room again. The archery target caught fire from the blast. The emergency sprinklers quickly put out the fire. Ethan smiled.

The dispersal is the same. Maybe a little stronger, but the desired effect is still the same. Mr. Tharomar will have no complaints.

He scratched his chin, "Might as well start getting this ready for Project Forcast."

He unlocked the testing chamber and returned the prototype Z-Chip to his personal vault. He then made his way to a crafting table. It was something new that wasn't there prior to the explosion. He'd have to thank Mr. Tharomar for the upgrades later. His fingers punched in commands into the device. The mechanical arms began moving. At this rate, the Chip would be ready by before Christmas and by New Years, he could have at least 4 chips produced, if it was his entire focus.

The words of Clarence Thomas echoed in his head, There's more than one way to skin a cat.

His eyes became more focused on the machine. He was going to show that old man not to belittle those lower on the food chain. Some animals, when cornered, became the fiercest of beasts. Dr. McCourd was going to prove that to the old man.

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"Dr. McChord? There's another package for you today, sir."

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Dr. McCourd(after shaking Dr. Van Watts hand) took the package from Milly with a nod and smile, then looked down at the package.

"Thank you, Milly. I appreciate it." His voice was much lighter than when he addressed Dr. Van Watt.

He walked over to his desk, placing the box down. Once Dr. Van Watt had left, he began opening the package. His eyes almost popped out of his head. Then he began to laugh. He reached in, pulling out an exact replica of the Z-Chip prototype.

A piece of paper fell to the floor as he took it out. Placing the chip on his desk, he picked up the paper.

The Lord giveth...

Your Guardian Angel,
C

He walked out of the office, walking over to a shelf. He picked up another clear protector case designed to hold the Z-Chip and walked back into his office. He placed the chip inside the case, then walked over to the safe. He pulled out the control device meant for the chip and attatched it to the new Z-Chip. He sealed the case, and placed the device on top.

"I'd love to see that old man's face when he finds out I'm still here," his eyes sparkled maliciously.

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William leaned against the doorjam, crossing one arm over the other, diliberate and steady as not to spill the remains of his beverage. "What fields of science do you specialize in? If you do not mind my asking, of course."

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Dr. McCourd stopped pacing, closing his eyes to get his temper in check. He turned to face Dr. Van Watt, "Morning doctor," his voice was surprisingly calm for someone who was just pacing angrily a second ago.

"Yes, I'm Dr. McCourd. I've got P.H.D.'s in Biotechnology and Electronic Engineering. If you've had a chance to go over some of the more recent projects, I was working on the final piece for Project Forecast."

...until that decrepit old goat took it.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Dr. Van Watt," he extended his arm, to shake the man's hand, his voice completely neutral.

Dr. McCourd was in an even more sour mood today. He didn't bother sleeping, staying up the whole night pacing. He had cleaned himself up, figuring he might as well look his best before Mr. Tharomar destroyed his career and any chance of him being a respectable scientist, after giving up the Z-Chip prototype to Clarence Thomas.

He walked through the extra security, grumbling through the X-ray scan. He had nothing to hide, and went straight down to R&D. He had heard word that the new head was supposed to be in today, but figured it was some high and mighty corporate know-it-all, who had no real clue about science.

When the elevator opened to the underground area of R&D, he had to stop and look at how much was cleaned. The destruction from only a night before was gone. Some of the machinery had been cleared out, due to damage, but the place was clean.

He walked over to his office, nodding at seeing his windows and door replaced. He walked in, noticing the papers he had thrown all over the place were neatly stacked on his desk. He flipped through them, seeing that all was in order. He walked over to his bookcase, seeing all of his books were returned or replaced in the proper order. He opened the hidden safe, and returned the papers, sealing it immediately.

His anger began to well as the empty space where the Z-Chip was, burned in his mind.

Damn that old man

He began to pace. He had a couple of hours before the demonstration, but had nothing to show.

As Dr. McCourd stepped out of the elevator, his jaw dropped, "Holy Jesus! It looked like World War 3 started down here. Were the upper floors just a smoke screen for something down..." he stopped himself and looked towards his office.

The glass around it was shattered, and the door had been ripped from the hinges, thrown into the room. He sprinted around the debris, and made his way into the wrecked room. Luckily the fire didn't do too much damage. He began opening drawers in his desk, the 2nd one, the one with his personal hidden safe.

He looked towards Clarence and then closed the drawer. Then he walked over to the bookcase. Some of the books had fallen off the shelf, except for a select few. He watched Clarence go to the main vault which he (Dr. McCourd) and a few others down in R&D had access to, which wasn't a part of his office.

"What are you goin' over there for? Your pet project is in here. You think I'd keep it in a community vault?"

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"McCourd," Clarence continued, "its actually you I wanted to speak with. Perhaps we can go somewhere a bit quieter. The bottom level, perhaps, " his voice sounded of suggestion, but it was the raise in his eyebrow that gave Ethan the impression that there wasn't much choice in the matter.

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Dr. McCourd narrowed his eyes, "Why not go up to your office? It's more private there. With the cameras and all down in R&D, wouldn't you be worried about people listening in to our conversation?"

He shut the door to his car, and walked over to the barricade. He placed his right hand on it, and hurdled the barrier. He was surprisingly nimble for a desk jockey. He placed his hands in his pockets and watched Clarence carefully, giving his glasses a slight adjustment.

"Doctor McCourd, you're better off not talking to Mr. Thomas like that, trust me," Vanessa's emphasized on trust as she burned a look into him from behind Clarence.

Ethan looked between the two, and just gave a nod, "I'll keep that in mind, thanks."

He fell silent, waiting. He was still pissed that things were getting even more tense, even though the crisis was over. He began walking back to his car. His main concern, was that she was ok. He didn't want to cost her her job, so he figured the best remedy of the situation was to get out of dodge. He stood at his open door for a second, watching the the CEO and his secretary.

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"Your job. Elsewhere," Clarence said and pointed past the officer at nothing in particular.

"Yes sir," the officer scurried away with several others who didn't want to relive what they had just witnessed.

Idle chatter out of the way, Clarence made his way outside to Ethan McCourd in hopes for cooperation. More for the doctor's sake than his. Clarence would hate to have the doctor working on future endeavors with one eye.

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Dr. McCourd crossed his arms, looking at the old man, "What the hell is goin' on? Why'd you ask me about the R&D lab? Did something happen?"

His curiosity and anger was sincere enough. He was more worried about his projects. He knew the Z-Chip was safe in the vault, but he had other things on the side. Clarence Thomas looked deadly serious. He'd cooperate, for now.

Dr. McCourd couldn't see much from his vantage point behind the barricade. His biggest worry was for the Z-Chip. It was a masterpeice. As long as the safe wasn't damaged, it would be fine. He figured his office looked like a supervisor's office, so it would be ignored.

He paced back and forth next to his car. His mind racing at the different outcomes for the building. Who knew what was going on?

((post featuring The_Ninjin))

Dr. McCourd pulled over to the side of the road, looking down at his phone after Mr. Thomas had hung up, "Damnit, Old Man. What the hell is going on?"

He began cycling through his address book in the phone and called Vanessa. It rang a few times, but she picked up, her breathing in a heavy panic.

"Nessa. What's going on over there? Your boss just called me acting like he was the Spanish Inquisition."

"Umm, umm..." Vanessa's voice was shaky as she tried to find the words to say. Her eyes averted left and right, panic filled them, "I dont know. One minute I'm here working," Vanessa dashed to the fire escape doors, "and the next. Boom!"

Gunfire could be heard over the phone as Vanessa closed the large metal doors.

"I'm comin' back over there." Dr. McCourd hung up the phone and burned out his rear tires. He pulled a fast 180, using the E-brake and headed back to the Tharomar building. As he approached, traffic was stopped and he couldn't get closer.

"No Ethan don't. Its too dangerous. Just... Ethan? Ethan? Hello," Vanessa slammed her phone shut and opened the door to her working floor. She dashed quickly to her desk and grabbed her things before she burst through the doors of Clarence's office. Vanessa pressed the same button Thomas had and the sliding doors opened up, revealing nothing but the elevator shaft.

Figures.

The local Police and Fire Department had already blocked off the roads. Ethan slammed his fist on the steering wheel, and got out of the car. He could see smoke rising from the CEO offices.

Why had Clarence asked about R&D?

Dr. McCourd had done his rounds and it was time for the Z-chip to be completed. He hurried back to R&D and wnet to the machine. He still had to wait a few minutes, but since it was quarter to 8, he was looking forward to actually getting home at a decent hour.

Dr.McCourd pulled out the prototype chip which was the size of a plate. He placed the chip in a plastic case and carried it over to the hand-held machine that he had left on his desk. He began attatching wires to the chip. The machine lit up, the gauges flipping off the scale.

He laughed. It was an accomplishment that he would remember for a long time. As soon as he could get it converted to a micro-chip, it would be ready for Project Forecast. Since this was the backbone, he was sure things would look up for this company.

He made his way into a secure room near the lab. Inside were several appliances. He walked over to each one, and began adjusting dials on the device. The first appliance, an alarm clock, began flickering as it came on. When he directed the device away from the clock, it shut down.

He laughed again, then tested it on a microwave oven. This too turned on, once the dials were set. The last, was a computer. Dr. McCourd adjusted the dials and pressed the button on the hand-held, aiming it at the computer. It started up, instantly. He began to step back, checking the range. He was almost to the door, when the computer shut off.

"Hmm....."

Then he looked at a small archery target he had acquired, under Mr. Tharomar's direct orders. He cranked the dial to it's highest setting and aimed it at the target. A stream of electric current shot out of the device, burning a hole in the large enough to take out the center three rings of the target.

Mr. Tharomar is more dangerous than he seems.

He shut down the device, and left the room. He looked around, seeing the now empty lab, smiling. He figured when the chip was produced as a micro-chip, it would lose some of it's juice, but overall, it was still a powerful piece of electronics.

Locking up the chip in the safe, he locked his office and went home. He couldn't wait to share the news. The building seemed more peaceful this late at night. He walked over to his car, a 1985 Toyota Corolla GTS, and drove home.

((maybe their buxom?))

Dr. McCourd didn't realize it was becoming evening til his stomach rumbled. Looking at the standard clock hanging over his door, he noticed it was a little after five.

Only a couple of hours remaining.

He looked back at his screen, seeing some of the more menial projects that were put on his lap. The first was a new type of pressure regulator for divers, to allow them to go deeper for longer periods of time. the next, a device for optical camouflage, which he thought was someone's idea of a joke. Someone had seen Predator too many times, though he figured the military just wanted a new edge for black ops type missions.

He stifled a yawn, and got up to stretch his legs. Saving his progress on the computer, he shut it down. He figured he'd walk around the building. He wasn't athletic, but he kept in shape by walking the stairs and exploring the rest of the offices. He was alway amused by watching the people who were only working for Tharomar as a cover for a lot of the work he was involved in.

By the time I'm done. The chip should be finished.

Dr. McCourd sat back at his computer and logged in. He went through several files, of other side projects, until he came to the Z-Chip and Project Forecast. He brought up a side window which explained the application of the Z-Chip to the weather machine.

"Such a waste," he muttered to himself.

Then he brought up a second window and began looking at another design. He scratched at the whiskers on his chin, thinking he should shave, and began adding to his work. He was a decent typer. He was hoping for no interruptions. Once he got started, he usually spent several hours thinking of new projects, or different applications for current ones.

That was why the Z-chip was done in only a month and a half. He was a workaholic when it came to science. That's why he had done so well in school. He was going to test the chip before old man Thomas got a chance to see it. If his theory was correct, it would do much more.

He sat back, looking at his screen as if realizing an idea. He began typing faster, until a readout of Positron came up on his screen. He didn't have much time. He copied some of the specs from Positron's suit and quickly closed off the connection. Then he cross-referenced the specs from Positron's suit with the Z-chip installed.

"Interesting."

Dr. McCourd sat in his office, rifling through his papers. Then he looked up. He walked over to his door and locked it. Then he went back to his desk. He looked towards the door again, then opened up his desk drawer.

A secondary safe was on the bottom part of the drawer, underneath some papers. He punched in the code, which he changed every other day, and opened it.

He pulled out a peice of paper and looked it over. He looked over the blueprint of a glove. It seemed very hightech, but Dr. McCourd designed it for the purpose of being compatable with the Z-chip. It was his life's work. Once the Z-chip went into mass production, he'd be able to finish it.

His smile was dark as he hid away the blueprint. He punched several numbers into the keypad, changing the access code, and covered it with the papers. Then he closed the drawer. He turned over to the blackboard, and wrote down the formula he had been working on for so long. Then he got up, and erased the board completely.

He walked over to the safe in his bookcase, opening it, and placing the paper within. He walked over to the machine, which told him there were still eight and a half hours left til the chip was completed.

My dream is almost complete.

Dr. McCourd blinked, looking at the biologist. Something about messing with viruses and DNA always seemed to creep him out, which is why he wasn't too fond of Dr. Collins. He respected him as a fellow scientists, however.

"That won't be a problem. The Z-chip will be ready by this evening. If we're lucky, that old man may give us tomorrow off," he laughed, knowing that wouldn't happen in this lifetime. Clarence Thomas was a slave-driver when it came to work.

Dr. McCourd didn't stay at the deli long. He just took his food to go and made his way back to the office. He went straight to the elevator, not even nodding to security. Swiping his card in the elevator, it took him down to R&D.

He went straight to his office. Derek had already left for lunch. Probably to meet up with his girlfriend for lunch. Dr. McCourd unwrapped his sandwich and took a bite. Laying the sandwich down, he leaned down to his mini fridge. He pulled out some Orange juice and drank from the carton.

Only a little while longer.

He looked at the machine that was manufacturing the Z-Chip. It was rather quiet. Dr. McCourd walked over to the bookcase, moving a panel aside to reveal a digital safe. Punching in his code, he opened it pulling out a small control device. Wires stuck out from it, as if they were supposed to connect to something.

Dr. McCourd glanced again at the machine.

I will be hailed as a genius for this. Maybe the old man will finally realize what I'm capable of and put me in charge of all the projects.

Dr. McCourd grinned, though it wasn't a pleasant one, "Guess I'll let them have their fun."

He turned towards the elevator, raising a hand in departure, then he paused turning back to the guards, "If Mr. Thomas needs me. I'm off to lunch."

When he reached the elevator, it was surprisingly still on the same floor, so it opened immedietely. He rode it down to the lobby and left the office, figuring a small walk was in order to the Deli that seemed to be the favorite among those that worked at Tharomar.

Dr. McCourd had reached the upper levels and made his way to Clarence Thomas' office. Both his seceretary's were gone. Looking down at his watch, he figured they were at lunch. Just then his stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten in about five hours.

Grabbing a post-it from Vanessa's desk, he wrote down a message and stuck it to the old man's door.

It's being built now. I'll bring it up tomorrow morning for a test run.

Dr. McCourd

He walked back out towards the elevator. He looked down the hall towards the board room seeing a guard standing in front of the door. With a smirk he walked over.

"Mornin'. Big shots havin' their mornin' mind-melding?" his sarcasm was thick, but not directed at the guard outside.

Toulon ran towards the trees and jumped up, catching a low branch. He swung himself up and knelt on the branch. Looking out, he leapt into the air and vanished ((ala Record of Lodoss War))

((This one is just WAY too fast for me. Thanks for the fun.))