[h2][color=gray]Undisclosed Location[/color][/h2] [@WhiteAngel25] [hr] Von Galloes smirked triumphantly at Stella response, and offered his hand to her. [b]“Good girl. Now, come with me.”[/b] Whether she took his hand or not, he would lead Stella out of her chambers and down a narrow hall, and through another locked doorway. The moment Stella would step through, the door would slide shut cleanly and quickly behind her. In front of her, the room was split in two. An observation room that she currently stood in, with a large window and another sliding door ahead. Von Galloes moved to the console in front of the window, and pressed a button. The sliding door ahead opened up, revealing a small concrete room lit by caged lights. Von Galloes stepped closer to Stella, gently running his hand over the fuzz of her hair where it had been shaved, before his fingers gently cupped her chin. “You're about to perform a miracle for me, my dear.” His eyes gestured to the room. “You're going to step inside the testing chamber, and I'm going to close the door. Today, we will bear witness to all the [i]careful[/i] augmentations I've done to your new powers. Today, we will see the powers of [i]beyond[/i].” He nodded to the door, and gave her a gentle nudge. “Off you go, daughter of mine.~” As he spoke, there was movement in the testing chamber as a singular target marked in red circles was lowered from the ceiling. [hr] [h2][color=gray]Voidlight Headquarters, Basement Research Labs[/color][/h2] [@Days] [hr] Delving deeper into her experiences with the heart of hearts, and her subsequent experiments, Star would discover a very interesting trait. Beyond the extreme power source, off the charts compared to regular dark energy, she would discover one other key fact: the heart of hearts had a [i]looping effect[/i], connecting one place to another through an [i]unknown space[/i]. [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Gala, Grand Entrance[/color][/h2] [@Days], [@WhiteAngel25] [hr] As Star and Dragon arrived in the VIP valet drop-off area, they would find attendants dressed in paper black opening the back door on Nova's side, exposing her to the flash of the cameras. Upon exiting the car, Star and Dragon would find everything perfectly taken care of for them. Attendants and bodyguards kept the paparazzi back as they would make their way across the banner stationed in front of the steps to the inside of the Louvre. As they moved closer to the building, however, they would see a woman ahead approach them. She was dressed in a brimmed black hat and black feather dress, and had a disarming twinkle in her eye. [b]“Monsier Dragon, Madame Star, what an honour this is.”[/b] She smiled, extending her laced hand in a handshake to both of them. In front of the flashing lights of the paparazzi, she smiled, completely unfazed. [b]“My dears, it's a special day, and you are the talk of the crowd.”[/b] She turned to Nova. [b]“Is it true that you've discovered a new form of dark energy? When will we hear more about this? It'll change the world, it will.”[/b] Then she turned to Dragon. [b]“And I heard through the grapevine you saved this angel from the depths of the sea?”[/b] A dramatic sigh as she pulled her clutch over her chest, pretending to fan herself. [b]“Oh, how romantic!”[/b] She gave a light giggle before her features smoothed into an enigmatic smile. [b]“Oh, but where are my manners.”[/b] She gestured to herself. [b]“Madame Veno, at your service. You are in the presence of the spokesperson of a very, very special group.”[/b] She seemed to smile, before passing over a business card, embossed in gold. In shimmering text, the word ‘Ethereum’, a phone number, and an address were printed on the front. [b]“Consider yourselves cordially invited to my estate at your earliest convenience after this lovely gala concludes…”[/b] [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Gala, Main Area[/color][/h2] [@Lexisheeps], [@WhiteAngel25], [@Days] [hr] Subject #3 gave a small squeal as she laid eyes on Auri. Her memories were scant from, well, [i]before[/i]. She remembered how the woman in front of her cried and cried when Director Galloes told Auri to say goodbye. She still didn't fully understand, but she liked Auri. Subject #3 gently untangled herself from her stepfather’s arm as she crossed the gap to give Auri a hug. [b]“Auri! You look so pretty.”[/b] She said, pulling back and smiling. Her eyes glanced to the woman beside Auri - her [i]mother[/i]. She suddenly felt sheepish and shu, her eyes drifting to the floor as she approached Sabrina. [b]“Hi… maman…”[/b] The words still felt foreign in her mouth, but she tried a small smile regardless. This woman cried and wept over Subject #3’s hospital bed at Star’s place of work. That had to mean something, right? [b][i]”Sabrina!”[/i][/b] Subject #3’s head turned, and her stomach did a little flip. Her [i]father[/i] approached them. A smile hesitantly spead across her face before it became more genuine. Her father scared her a bit, but the time she had spent with him and her stepfather eased the nerves she felt a bit. [b]“Bonjour, papa…”[/b] She said softly, approaching her father, wholly expecting a pat on the head. Before she returned to Nick’s side, and gripped his arm again. A grounding mechanism. It felt good to hold onto the one who saved her. Even better that that [i]someone[/i] was her [i]stepfather[/i]. A slow clap from the side as soft footfalls clacked on the glossed floor. Pointed loafers, expensive suit in hues of black and verdant green accents. Tousled black hair and stubble. The man regarded them with sharp emerald eyes. [b]“My sincere congratulations, Monsier de Villiers, Madame Lennox. Your recovered family truly is a sight to behold.”[/b] His voice was husky and warm, a slight curve to his relaxed lips. He extended his hand to the father and mother of the de Villiers, before he also offered his hand to Nick. [b]“The name’s Rodrigo Vandelez. I'm the representative of the Historian’s Congress. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you.”[/b] Like the mundane world had its United Nations to keep the peace, likewise, the world of architects and history had an international government body - the Historian’s Congress - to ensure the safety of the international community. [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Backstage, Dressing Room[/color][/h2] [@Days] [hr] As Thierry departed from the room, Céline and the girls entered the dressing room once again. She gave Theo a curious look before her eyes glanced back down at her clipboard. [b]“We're behind schedule. If there's nothing else, handsome, it's time to get you on stage.”[/b] She said with a glossed smirk, and gestured to the door. The gala had a makeshift stage built on a raised platform at the end of the main area, and in front of it, the artifact in question covered in a cloth. Céline and the girls led Theo up the steps to the wing of the stage. Theo was protected by velvet curtain on both sides, and he could peek ahead to the gathered guests in the crowd of the gala. Somewhere in there, his family was waiting for him. The MC, an older Louvre staff with a trim mustache and mic pinned to his suit, greeted Theo backstage. [b]“Hello, young man! How are your nerves? You feeling ready?”[/b] [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Mr. Cress’ Office[/color][/h2] [@Lexisheeps] [hr] [b]“Still talking to yourself, old man?”[/b] Said a sneering voice as [i]someone[/i] just let themselves in. She stood over Mr. Cress, pink hair and goggles the telltale signs of exactly [i]who[/i] this was. Von Galloes' right hand, no less. One of the head researchers of Hive Mind. The one who had put Stella to sleep. She took a smug seat on Mr. Cress’ desk, crossing one leg over the other and wrapping pale fingers around her knee, glancing slyly at the Louvre's council member. [b]“So I've had some fun poking around [i]my[/i] new asset, Mr. de Villiers old office. Seems he wasn't too happy about the whole ordeal - his desk is just riddled in fresh scratch marks and dents.”[/b] She gave a boisterous laugh, throughly pleased with herself. [b]“As we discussed, you'll allow me to come and go from his office as I please, full access to his archives and computer, and we'll consider your part of the deal upheld.”[/b] She said, pulling out a lollipop, tossing the wrapper on the floor, and sticking the cherry-flavoured candy in her mouth. She glanced at him and smirked. [b]“Right, Mr. Cress?”[/b]