[h2][color=gray]Undisclosed Location[/color][/h2] [@WhiteAngel25] [hr] The door had slid shut behind Stella, leaving her alone in the testing chambers. Von Galloes pressed a button on the console from behind the observation window. [b]“When you're ready, dear.”[/b] His voice echoed over the intercom. Stella had raised her hand, and [i]zap[/i]! She would feel it. The power of the heart of hearts, coursing through her arm and out her fingertips as a black electrical ray struck the target, leaving it half-melted. [b]“Hmm…”[/b] There were a few fingertips on the handheld console in Von Galloes’ hands, and the ‘necklace’ around Stella's neck suddenly buzzed with static life, shocking Stella in rapid succession. [b]“I've calibrated your frequency, and in turn your new powers. Give the target a try again.”[/b] Von Galloes said coldly, not giving any indication of remorse that he'd just shocked his daughter. A new target switched out the old one. Should Stella try her powers again, she would find an interesting result. Instead of shredding the target like before, a swirling vortex would burst into life from the contact point. Looking inside, it seemed a swirling purple sandstorm was within, with ethereal glowing lights blinking amidst the dust. Von Galloes was slack-jaw as he watched on. Excitement only known to a researcher grew on his face. “Yes… Yes, this is it. My daughter, you've done it. This… This is exactly what we needed. What I've been seeking all this time.” A pause. Von Galloes shifted his gaze from the portal to his daughter. [b]“You deserve a reward. Are you ready to enact my will now? I want you to hit the target again, but this time, envision… [i][indecipherable].[/i] You will ride the heart of hearts like wings, and the world will be your oyster.”[/b] [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Wing of the Stage[/color][/h2] [@Days] [hr] Monsieur Dupont smiled, and clapped Theo on the shoulder. [b]“My boy, you might fool.the world but I know you're a bit afright. Heavens know I would be too, unveiling my first big discovery in front of [i]the man.[/i]”[/b] He let out a boisterous laugh, hands going to his stomach as he rumbled in good humor. He dramatically wiped a tear away, and leveled a warm look at Theo. [b]“No, my dear boy. I'm honored to open for you tonight. This is a very special day, if I dare say. A day where you are a boy no more, but a man, truly and honestly.”[/b] With that, one of the stage hands tapped Monsieur Dupont on the shoulder, and he nodded. [b]“It's time.”[/b] He gave a wink to Theo. [b]“You'll do fine, [i]Monsieur de Villiers.[/i]”[/b] Monsieur Dupont straightened his jacket, and moved into the spotlight of the center stage. [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Gala, Main Area[/color][/h2] [@Lexisheeps], [@WhiteAngel25], [@Days] [hr] Rodrigo Vandelez watched patiently as Nick and Thierry moved to the dance floor, before he turned his attention to Sabrina, fishing three small gift boxes from his inner suit pocket. “I have a little something for you, Madame Lennox. You and your newly reunited kids. Consider it a… token of goodwill, of letting bygones be bygones.” He pressed the golden gift box into the palm of her hand, and did the same for Auri and Subject #3. If they were to open it, the identical gift would be in each: a gold and diamond bracelet with fine detail, shimmering when beheld. A very expensive gift. Rodrigo looked over Subject #3's shoulder to see [i]another[/i] Bergman strolling up, and took that as his cue to leave. [b]“Ladies,” [/b]he smiled sweetly at the three of them,[b] “As you were.”[/b] Subject #3 had a big smile on her face. She didn't really understand why she was getting a gift, but it was very pretty and she had never seen anything like it before. It was held delicately in her hand, like a gem. She of course took one of the cakes as Aaron offered it, remembering the last time she had seen the man, he had put a strange light in her eyes, and told her he'd learn more about her brain and augmentations. That was that, though, and she hadn't heard anything else since. Would now be an improper time? Well, it couldn't hurt, right? Subject #3 smiled, her eyes widened and innocent. [b]“Aaron- wait. No, isn't it [i]Uncle[/i] Aaron? Uhm, have my test results come back yet?”[/b] She paused, before she suddenly remembered.[b] “Oh, look at this!” [/b]She cracked open the small gift box. [b]“One of the gala people gave it to me!”[/b] [hr] The lights dimmed and the music slowed to a stop. A light shone on the center stage in front of the draped artifact, and the murmur of the audience died down as Monsieur Dupont took center stage. He gave a flourish of his arm, with a warm smile on his face. [b]“Ladies and gentlemen, you're in for a treat tonight. Hailing from this very city, a man you all know and love, has continued on with the Noble de Villiers line of archeologists and explorers to give us something no eyes have seen, and no souls have lived to witness in our day and age.”[/b] There was a camera crew in front of the stage with a camera on a metal appendage, filming live for local news and art show channels. [b]“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we celebrate history. Tonight, we will be in shock and awe as a cornerstone of history makes it way back home to the Louvre. And tonight, we have none other than Monsieur Theodore de Villiers to thank. May I warmly welcome our breath-taking, hard-working archaeologist, and may I also mention he's Paris’ top fifty bachelors - Theo!”[/b] He clapped and stepped to the side, giving Theo the cue to take center stage and whisk the audience away. [hr] [h2][color=gray]The Louvre, Mr. Cress’ Office[/color][/h2] [@Lexisheeps] [hr] [b]“Oh please, Mr. Cress,” [/b]she said, smacking the lollipop in her mouth as she enjoyed its sweet cherry flavour.[b] “No need to get all riled up, I was merely confirming you and your other senile folks hadn't gotten any funny ideas like trying to upend my boss’ hard work!”[/b] His proposition intrigued her, even though she could only laugh. If he really thought she was just [i]any[/i] researcher, he would be sorely mistaken. [b]“Hmm!” [/b]She kicked her feet a little as she sat on his desk. [b]“Now a meeting with the [i]big[/i] boss himself, what a thought.”[/b] She leaned back, tilting her to give Mr. Cress a knowing smirk. [b]“Depending on how tonight goes, a meeting between the two of them may very well indeed be the thing to do! Then again…”[/b] She stood, stretching a bit before she made her way to the door. [b]“It may be less of a meeting and more of a [i]begging[/i], by the time the night is over.”[/b] She smiled as she held the door open.[b] “Do enjoy yourself, Mr. Cress.”[/b] And like that, she was gone.