[color=bdbdbd][center]
[color=E6E6E6]The Wild. Si Wong Desert.[/color]
[@Madly33][/center]
Three men, each mounted on an ostrich horse, waited in the sand under the shade of a large rocky formation. They were draped in dusty worn and faded clothing, fabric that had been torn from the remains of other fabric and quilted into their protective wear. Tinted goggles shielded their eyes from the dust and the suns harsh glare, head wraps kept them cool and face wraps kept their lips from cracking in the sun's embrace. Two of them were armed with what looked to be rifles. The third was content to ride unarmed though he carried the pack that shared all of their collective survival gear.

[color=ffffff]"What time do they start?"[/color] One of them asked.

The second peered at the sun as it hung high in the sky. It was just about noon. [color=ffffff]"Soon. Festival should have already begun. Hunt will begin later and their champions will leave the protection of Tu Zin and head into the wilderness."[/color]

[color=ffffff]"Who's our target?"[/color] The third joined the other two, his ostrich horse taking a few unguided steps forward. He reigned it back in.

[color=ffffff]"Vulc."[/color] The man's voice carried undertones of respect with the name. [color=ffffff]"The man always walks away with the biggest hunt. We'll follow him and when he's got the kill, we'll take it."[/color]
[center][img]http://nomadexperience.com/img/divider-1.png[/img]
[color=DBA901][b]K I N G  W U  V I[/b][/color]
[color=E6E6E6]Upper Ring. Palace.[/color][/center]
Wu stumbled into his private chambers and collapsed on the edge of his bed. Sweat was pouring from his brow in profusion, he was hot, clammy, shaking, and his chest was tightening. It was a miracle he'd managed to survive through the rest of the meeting but it didn't seem like he was going to be doing much of anything else. His body had been hit with something and with sudden overwhelming force. He wasn't even really sure what he was sick with. What was originally just the symptoms of a regular cold had quickly spiraled into something else entirely. He found it'd had been extremely hard to move his limbs and his body felt heavy in a way. And the exhaustion... the urge to keep from shutting his eyes and falling asleep. He couldn't know for sure but there was this gut feeling that if he were to slip into unconsciousness, he would never wake up.

Wu opened his mouth to call for assistance but when he tried, he found his voice had been lost. The words he wanted to say refused to come out and so... he conceded defeat and closed his eyes.

His mind continued to race even as darkness enveloped him, his thoughts drifting to the how and why and the uncertainty of his future. How did I get sick? What am I sick with? Have I infected anyone else? Who will run the city in my stead? Even as he asked the questions, deep down he already knew the answers. His title as King was always simply that and when he'd decided to try and expand on that title like his forefathers, he was checked and this time permanently.

All he could do now was await his fate.
[center][img]http://nomadexperience.com/img/divider-1.png[/img]
[b][color=DBA901]A K A N O  F U[/color][/b]
[color=E6E6E6]Lower Ring. Stage.[/color]
[@Medusa][/center]
[color=ffffff]"Is he in there?"[/color]

A woman, the same one from the meeting, the one who'd given the King his tablet, his coffee, his daily wake up call and briefing now spoke to Akano from the other end of the line. Her voice came through as clear, unwavering, determined. [color=ffffff]"Yes."[/color]

[color=ffffff]"Is it done?"[/color] Akano watched as the woman on the stage in front of him began to exchange words with Yuri. Whether they were kind or laced with an annoyance they both shared for the man he couldn't be sure but he did pick up on something. There were nuances in her body language and the way her eyes seemed to focus on the small RSF officer and then suddenly lose him. She was on something and he had a general idea of what.

[color=ffffff]"It will be soon."[/color]

Akano returned to his own conversation leaving Yuri to his fate and twisted his wrist up so he could see the black band wrapped around it. Digital numbers hovered an inch away from the back of his forearm informing him of the time of day: A little after noon. The parade would begin shortly. [color=ffffff]"Good. I'll forward Yahan's files to you. Once you've got them, prep the girl and don't worry about the body. I'll handle it, the media and everything else."[/color]

[color=ffffff]"What about Unity? He's got the media in the palm of his hands. Could maybe spin a few stories of our own in the process and kill two birds with one stone."[/color]

[color=ffffff]"Think it'll take a bit more than a few stories to end him but like I said... you worry about what comes next. I'll handle Unity too."[/color]
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