The Weird Meeting Part 1

A terrible sandstorm was forming up. The clouds in the sky were ready to break loose some heavy rain making the matter much worse. Having just started the current meeting with those of the World Heritage Organization, Rexford was hoping it would cause them to make a quick decision in his favor.

"Can we not meet another time Mr.Maccabeus? The weather is not going to settle down by the looks of it."

"No, Business is difficult as it is without us giving into the demands of Nature." Rexford glanced at his cigar on the table ready to take a hit from it. The building storm had him in a pleasant mood. Just looking at the shifting sands outside the window brought a sense of peace. "It is a fair deal to take. Who else would pay so much money for this area?"

"The money is not the point."

"Then it won't be so bad for me to lower the price then and take the long route through litigation. At least this way I can buy the surrounding land that your organization is battling me own."

"Mr. Maccabeus let's not do anything we will regret." The sleazy politician was not on the side of the World Heritage Organization and want the millions for the land he didn't give a single shit about. "But the concern for the weather is not good."

"We should reconvene next week at a better time." The second chair of the World Heritage Organization was unnerved by the lack of Fear in the eyes of Rexford. "I understood some families may be attached to the place but the law of preservation is clear and there is a lot of control and say-so that will be lost. But not because of politics but personal property laws."

"You can sign.. today.." Rexford looked at the politician as his eyes narrowed. "..or we can sign when I make a trip back in a few months. I have more promising locations in Cairo that need to be investigated with a colleague. Hopefully, it does not draw me to Ireland which would then delay my return here."

"Of course, Mr.Maccabeus is a busy man." The politician huddles with the others on the other side of the table. Talking in low whispers and trying to make it as if they had other options. "Listen... we need this money! Forget what you think is here and its historic significance that may draw funding! He is willing to cut a check for millions here and now!"

As they hemmed and haw while protesting, the politician was becoming more irate. Then the sound of the wind cutting into the bunker made the decision for them.

The door burst open with some sand buffering their faces violently.

"Fine! Let's get this done before we are dead!" The second chair was ready to go at once. He signed really quickly and got up to leave with his cohorts trailing behind after. "I can't wait to see what you do with the place, Mr.Maccabeus!"

"Of course." Rexford watched them leave with a smile. The politician is the last to sign and grab the check for the Organization. "Mia, please make sure he gets home safely."

As the only person in the room in Rexford's camp, most thought the woman was side candy or a secretary of sorts. Even getting fresh with her but finding a body part dislocated or a bullet in a not-so-nice spot knocked them out of it.

"Right this way sir." Mia batts her long lashes at the man. "Before I forget boss, William confirmed the Dig Site in Budapest is legit. Going into business with Hanson won't be an issue."

With a nod of understanding the door was closed after the two. With outside security being the last to go with them in the hall.

Rexford laid back in his chair enjoying the afterglow of a completed deal. Relaxing he pulled over the waiting cigar and lit it. He then pulled out his tablet that Richard the heavy Tech one of his friends had modified.

Lots of information he wanted the others to go through but it was time for a little unwinding with reading first. Confidence in the deal was one thing but he also had to play by the book as close as possible.

"At least the signal is not messed up by the storm and connected online easily." Reading up on the tablet messages and spotting an odd email that was there, he paused. "Information about the Magnetosphere Broadening Effect on Earth. The others did say I need to get back into Nature preservation but this is more Outer Spacey for my tastes."

With time on his hand, he went ahead and read through the article anyway.

Outside of the building, the storm around the bunker and laydown tents, a person was walking through unbothered by the heat or sandstorm itself. Most of the security relays for trespassers were unable to pick up much during this time.

As the figure moved closer to the bunker, the tablet Rexford was reading fritz just briefly. The page jumped around and then cleared up with subliminal words encoded in the paragraphs.

Despite the years of training and exposure to the darker elements of life, the encoded message messed with Rexford's mind without him even knowing. No military training or martial training of Earth could compete against this.

Borrowing in through eyes with rays of Gold and Black opening his Soul in ways unheard of. Rexford's fingers started typing away an address he knew nothing of and clicking on links of various symbols he only saw in passing.

Religious symbols that acquainted with "Trials" that test a person in every way. He snapped out of it hours later. His cigar finished with the ashes all over his vest and long sleeve.

"Huh!? Guess that article was better than I thought." Rexford blinked his eyes and then cleaned off the ashes.

Getting up to get a drink he looked out at the wind for a bit. Watching as the nearby destroyed buildings cleared up every now and then.

"Well, might as well keep reading until Mia gets back."

Moving back to the table he noticed a note and a plate of food.

Mia had come back, left him some food, and went on her way it seemed. Apparently, he was too into his reading to even address her. That in itself was pretty weird he thought.

Then the article itself had him so engrossed that everything else faded away.

After thinking about the last time he had a medical checkup, Rexford sent an email to Leroy for a checkup appointment and a cat scan to be safe. He was overdue on some of his shots not to mention a real look-over for mental health.

Looking over his right collar quickly, he was happy a previous gunshot wound didn't get infected. Having left a day before he was cleared to go overseas was not the smartest decision at all.

"But what to go over now.... hmm I know let's try something new, let's see." With that, Rexford decided to plug into the search bar in regards to something his friend Michael spoke about the last time he talked about interests. "Something about "Game Live" or was Live Cartoon" to go with? Maybe I would get some good video clips of either one of those."

It didn't take long until he came across a thread about a new Online way of life from those searches. The future was getting scary with so many people refusing to go outside.

Give hermits a way and they will thrive.

"Eh might as well...." clicking it, the buffer started to display. "Ah, the joys of bad connection sometimes."

*Knock Knock!* The sound came in crystal clear despite the howling of the wind. Pressing the button on the table, Rexford assumed it was just a member of the restoration crew needing something.

Strangely enough, it was an old person. Hard to tell if it was a man or a woman with such weathered skin. Not to mention more wrinkles than he ever saw on a person.

"Hello, what can I get for you?" Rexford moved into a non-imposing seating position. His hand is close to a firearm within hand reach. "Quite a storm for you to travel through there old timer."

"Indeed it may have been for someone not ready, but it was no problem for me. Your security is good but.. not trained enough for someone such as me." The old timer's voice was quite raspy but the words were easy to understand. "Do not worry, I will go on my way after some time. Surely you are not scared of me are you?"

"No problem... just don't die in here." Rexford gave the old-timer a once over then relaxed again. Something about the situation made him at ease. As if he knew the old timer from a long time ago. So much he even offered a drink. "Feel free to help yourself."

Fixing a drink for himself, Rexford didn't pay attention to the glowing eyes of the old timer in the mirror on the wall. Anytime he thought of safety concerns it just drifted away.

"Welcome to Riftonline Registration." A loud digital computer tone drowned out from the area where his tablet was located.

Next, there was the sound of thunder crashing out. The harsher part of the storm finally arrived it seemed.

"No need for a drink." The old timer sat there for a while observing with unnatural eyes. "Do not mind me at all."

The very words of the old-timer contained a strange pull to them. Rexford's eyes dilated as he took in the order. His honey-colored eyes glowed a tarnished gold before returning to normal.

"The structures out there will take a lot of work to fix, are you up for the task? Most would find it beneath them to try."

"I.. don't see why not. I have my hand in a lot of different professions. I know how to set people on the right path to get it done if I can't. Nothing wrong with being hands on and delegating as needed." Picking up the tablet, Rexford shook his head trying to shake off the weird feeling. "I have a friend that likes History and I am doing this for him as well as myself."

For a second he couldn't understand why he was telling this to a stranger. Another sensation of security issue was pushed to the side.

"That is good. Most businessmen separate themselves from the seedy project details." The old-timer smiled for various reasons. "I won't disturb you much longer, focus on your device."

*Bzzz!* A slight electrical buzzing went off passing around Rexford an old timer. Rexford focused more on the tablet and fell back under the power used on him. His resistance was strong but not enough.

As Rexford went over what he was doing, vague images of what looked to be spears appeared. The only difference between the spear silhouette was the shaft was different colors and contained ancient writings on them of different languages.

'Definitely, the time for him to leave this Dimension as well as the others. Haa, my son, my son you will not be happy. Especially after your Company has done so well. But what must be must be.' The old-timer smiled and then gave a wave of the hand. 'A quick questionnaire to probe his mind further will have to do.'