::0sn./26/41/T - Salomon

Being one of the few loners amongst the People without any real allies to call his own was risky business in this time of impending chaos. That Salomon presented himself as the biggest threat in the Ark meant that, in the absence of the Elder whom Salomon innately trusted and felt closest to, some faction or other would see it fit to conveniently find a way to get rid of him by sending him into the Zone with no prospect of returning. And if he refused he would be perceived as being uncooperative and a coward, lessening his status. He needed to take action, soon.

When the ship established its new position and the people finished rescuing whatever they managed - and it's worth to mention that Salomon was one of those that tried to save some of the drowning slammers from lower decks (he is a hunter, but - or because of that - he values every life very highly) - Salomon impatience started to grow even more with each day. He was one of those people that tried to get to know what boss Johammed was planing to do. But after seeing that his ranks are also somehow in chaos... his instincts ordered him to act.

One evening he shouted out loud when he was walking back and forth in his den, thinking about their situation:
"I have to do something. Where is Elder!? He would know what to do! I HAVE TO SEE HIM!"

With those words he rushed out from his den, and almost ran through derelict ship's decks, straight to Dawn Vaults. If someone has had seen him, he certainly looked like an infuriated lion going to get his pray, but instead eating it - he just wanted to shread it to pieces. So if he met someone on his way, he didn't paid any attention to them and probably even bumped anyone on his way aside, maybe even scratching/hurting (but nothing serious) them with his claws in the process.

It was commonplace for the Elder to be found in one of the adjoining rooms attached to what was labeled the Grand Room, a huge functional space that clearly used to serve as a ballroom of some sorts. Where necessary they would hold gatherings in the large, high ceilinged room, the only place big enough to have all the People present in one location.

Things went well in the Elder's presence; each member of the Ark, and not just Salomon, felt a personal connection to this near mystical being. In their eyes, their leader was the only true human, an avatar of the past age, unlike the rest of the them with their disabilities and their mutations. Even in their heyday, the Elder seemed to have time for everyone, sharing a story, or a personal note, or a meal together. If they requested or ordered someone to be done, no one would ever refuse the request.

It was no surprise that emotions ran high when the Elder was not seen to be around recently, Salomon being one such person so affected. It would be utterly inappropriate and invasive were anyone invade the privacy of the Elder's living quarters, formerly the ship captain's quarters. Salomon had bashed his way through the massive wooden doors of the Grand Room to find him barging into a meeting of the Vault's choniclers and two bosses, Marlotte and Vislen, together with their retinue.

"What's the meaning of this?" Silat called out as Salomon barged in. "Oh, it's you," everyone knew everyone else in the Ark, "What do you want? Wait outside," he turned back to their meeting, expecting Salomon to comply.

"WHRHHHA!!!" - Salomon roared with a strength, fury and sound of real lion, that was apparently residing within him.

"YOU ONLY TALK! ... AND TALK! We need to act! I need to see the Elder, he will know what to do! You CAN'T KEEP him away from us! He is not YOURS! I DON'T TRUST YOU! He have to see some familiar, friendly face! Even as ugly as mine! I'M GOING IN!" - Salomon nodded with his head towards the door to Elder's rooms.

On his hasty way towards the door, he adds:

"NO ONE DARE TO STOP ME! Or I swear by… ALL HOLY THINGS! I WILL RIPE YOU INTO PIECES!"" - continuing his approach, he was checking whether he would have to fight his way and anyone wants to stop or attack him.

The vocal force of Salomon's tirade took them all by surprise. In the complex factions of the Ark, with its various bosses and DawnVault chroniclers, to stand alone was to not avail oneself of the support and even friendship that one's allies could offer. Water, grub and other resources would go to the partisan ones first before the remainder was farmed out to the loners. This likely explained why Salomon's approach to everything was to establish his dominance and put himself first. It was a dangerous attitude, successful only insofar as he could defend himself from the others he chose to antagonise.

This time his aggression did not go down well with his current audience. The council of the Dawn Vault, plus two bosses and their followers, were present in the grand hall. And Salomon had decided to threaten them all at one go. It sounded like Salomon was prepared to fight them all!

Everyone in the Ark either manifested or developed some form of change, or mutation as the Elder explained it in great detail to each and every one of them. These changes were as varied as there were People, almost no one had the exact same metamorphosis, for those who survived the change. Fortuitiously, this also meant that the sheer variety present meant individuals could fulfil different roles in the Ark. Someone like Salomon, with his feral nature, was useful for tasks outside in the Zone, where physical strength and endurance was needed to survive and to keep even bigger threats at bay. Within the Ark though, not everything could be solved with violence.

Some of the boss' followers and at least one of the Dawn Vault were taken aback by Salomon's ferocity as he bellowed at them. Instinctively, Marlotte's and Vislen's bodyguards immediately stepped next to and in front of their respective leaders; they were no doubt enforcers like Salomon, not so easily intimidated and ready to fight.

The bosses themselves did not speak yet, they were in the chamber chaired by the Dawn Vault, and protocol meant it was another of the council who spoke instead, right after Silat ordered, "Behave yourself Salomon!"

"The Elder's instructions were that they not be disturbed." Adara spoke, her eyes glowing as she did so. "We will respect that decision. They have entrusted the leading of the People to us. If you have some matter you wish to address, you may raise it." Salomon could see that boss Marlotte was visibly angered that Adara allowed Salomon to interrupt, but held her tongue for the moment.

"Shmere Barere!" - Salomon mocked the so called council, what he emphasized by waving his paw at them disrespectfully.

He didn't stop his walk towards the Elder's quarters and continued his tirade, but with a little calmer voice:
"I've never heard of an Elder entrusting you with anything, with my own - still working perfectly - ears. I wouldn't be surprised if it would turn out that, you have 'entrusted yourself' with this so called 'council'. Don't bother with this pointless chatter. Please continue, don't pay attention to me!" - Salomon made a mocking bow at this moment, even though he was mid-step, still continuing towards the door.

"I'm here only to make sure that Elder have everything he needs... as I haven't seen my dearest friend for some quite time now... besides..." - Salomon finally stopped for a moment, probably being quite close to the Elder's rooms door. He turned towards the seated ones and cheekily said:
"I have decided that it is time for the Elder to appoint his - even temporary - successor. The Ark is not in state that it can wait for your endless debates. And pointless fights for the domination, between selfish bosses. It needs decisions and actions. NOW!

"Our... home needs: a new LEADER!"

"AND I'M THE ONE WHO WILL MAKE SURE THAT IT WILL BE ELDER'S CHOICE. AND NO ONE'S ELSE!"

With this last 'roar mixed with words', Salomon turns on his heels and heads for Elder's quarters doors. Determined to get there no matter what will happen next. But still being ready to repel any potentially incoming attacks.

"Sounds like someone's getting too big for their boots." At the sound of boss Marlotte's voice, one of her heavies from her entourage immediately stepped forward to stand by her side. "Adara, are you going to let this beast stomp all over here with their hairy feet?" For Salomon had indeed charged past the gathered meeting seated at the most prominent table of the former banquet hall, without paying sufficient attention to who was present.

There were three chroniclers of the Vault, Adara being the most senior of the trio, and Silat taking more of the role of spokeperson in their midst. They were seated on one side of the one of the few large tables left on the ship that was still intact and in one solid piece of oak. On their left was boss Marlotte, a heavyset woman with scaly arms instead of skin, accompanied by two of her cronies. It was her enforcer who stepped up next to her when Salomon created the ruckus. On the other side was boss Vislen, who was never ever seen without wearing goggles. He also had two mooks with him who also appeared to be ready to defend their boss should things degenerate into violence.

"And how do you propose doing that by yourself? When you can't even respect the Elder's wishes?" It was Silat again, exhorting Salomon to behave himself. "We're in the midst of a crisis, and all you can think of is politics. If you can't make yourself useful the Ark has no need of you."

"And how do I propose doing that by myself?" - Salomon mirrored the Silat's question, surprisingly with much calmer voice then before, as it could indicate that he really don't care what gathered here are saying anymore.

"Just like that." - he continued almost with silent voice as he would be talking more to himself and others, while he turned on his heel and started to walk toward's Elder's quarters, slowly at first, but then, faster and faster with each step, but being cautious about his surroundings - checking if anyone is willing to attack him.

"And I will respect any wish of Elder... that comes from his mouth." - he concluded, probably being so close to the door so he reached with his hand towards door handle with intention of hasty entering.

The heavy on Marlotte's side was ready to intervene as Salomon brushed aside the rest of the protests. Thalos was his name, if Salomon remembered correctly, distinctive for his metal jaw and knuckles. But Marlotte raised her hand to wave him back, leaving Salomon to climb a short flight of stairs to barge into the anteroom behind the table where the meeting was gathered, the place where the Elder would present every day unfailingly as they dealt with the People and the business of the Ark.

An empty room greeted Salomon. A large desk, as well as the nicest, most undamaged furniture the People managed to salvage from various locations of the ship gave the room a sense of faded prestige. Everyone brought their best finds and possessions to the Elder, and had strived to make their life as comfortable as they could. The room was undisturbed. Some of the papers the Elder always had with them remained on the desk, untouched, for there were few who were literate. A small table to one side contained a precious flask of water and a canteen of grub, also unmolested. The chroniclers were honest in that no one had disturbed the Elder's meeting room in his absence.

As for the captain quarters which the Elder resided in, those were private. No one had ever entered them, nor would the thought even cross their mind. If Salomon wanted to seek it, he could, but it remained a question whether he could actually enter it.

"Whrrr!!!" - Salomon roared again, seeing that the Elder's office is empty - more so in metaphorical sense, as the items seamed to still be at their designated places... but the spirit of the Elder was impossible to feel there any more.

"WHERE is he? I MUST SEE HIM. He has to get to know about the situation. We have to do what has to be done!" - with a new amount of anger Salom asked turning back to the gathered. And this 'we' was obviously about him and Elder. Then he started to run towards nearest participant with intention of lifting him or her in the air, holding by collar and literally shaking the answer out of them.