Editing Avengers 1888 Issue (section)

===''Within the temple, cool and musty, seven minutes to midnight''===
[[Image:Phantus SMALL.gif|frame|the bulbous eyed cretan - Phantus]]
::  The rock ton door scrapes the ground and ceiling in an eerie shrill, just before the crash of closure to the dark room blows the torch to darkness. At first he's blinded by the sudden change in light but slowly, surely his eyes grow accustomed to the gas-lit den while his nose twitches with the aroma of cigar, leather and oak.<br> 
::  The whispy servant cares nothing for the time pieces... what are they to him? Nothing! Their meaning is as alien as water to the sands he walked not moments ago. But a minor nuisence they become, as he finds it difficult to navigate his way through the room without danger of causing one to topple to the ground.<br> 
::  In the edges of the den-like room only a brief silhouette can be glimpsed of another being sitting behind the large oaken desk. With back turned from the jittery servant, gas-light flickers off the golden and violet shimmers adorning the pharaoh-like crown the man wears. <br> 
:::  <font color=green>'''''"Mm..mm...mm...M..aster, I have come as you called. Is it my time in the sun yet again? Phantus has served you well, hehehas he not Master??"'''''</font> ... the little sharp nosed cretin slurs... <br> <br> [[Image:RamaTut.gif|frame|The man with the pharaoh crown speaks...]]

:::  <font color=purple>'''''"Serve?... Ah... yes... pleab you have served adequately. But I dare not say well."'''''</font> ...the voice from beyond the oaken desk says as the hand of the 'master' can be seen toying with a mithral silvered pocket watch... <font color=purple>'''''"But alas minion, my needs outweigh my discust of hearing your prattle... YES... I do have a role for your skills to play in my machinations. Cast your bulbous stare into yonder corner..."'''''</font> <br> ... as the leather chair turns to face scrawny Phantus -  across the room beneath a looming grandfather clock in the corner of the room a pale complected man shakes from trauma at the base of the dark wood walls, pulling his knees to his chest chains clatter on the floor. The prisoner's face is slender with an intelligence behind broken round-rim eye-glasses. Draped in a white coat atop a brown tweed suit. One of his shoes has been ripped from his foot as the other is scuffed beyond repair.... <br> <font color=purple>'''''"You see there minion? THAT is you mission... You will work your ways to make him spill his mind and find that which I seek. Go and find the fraternity for which the age of Alexandrina Victoria holds as 'avengers' - let them know that they will fall before me in terror and time. Let them know they are in their last days. Let them know they cannot protect their queen nor their country. Let them know that no longer will I allow them to 'avenge'...!!"'''''</font> ...says the master. And with a dart of his eyes Phantus chirps a slight cackle as his large eyes whip to position on the professor in the corner. The hideous webbed fingered hand shakes with glee as he reaches out. Lightning crackles between the two beings like a Tesla-coil when Phantus' hand meets the man - and they are gone!! <br> <br> 
::  Somewhere beyond the master's chair, behind and hidden by the dark crimson drapes hanging in front of a non-existant window... the snake-like motion of a new man, tall and dark with an angular jaw weaves his way to 'the pharaoh's' side. The two men stand in the gas-lamp lit room side-by-side, neither dominating in stature over the other. Yet one speaks while the other listens. 
:::  <font color=darkred>'''''"It is good what you do now Victor, you will be rewarded my pharaoh friend... so says Laufey-son."'''''</font> ...speaks the one that had birthed the notion of machiavelli. <br> 
::  As the light fades focusing on the clock faces one after the other, and lastly on the blinking green glow... 



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''See you next time True Believers!''
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[[AGE OF WONDERS - "The IMPERIALS"]]