Guys, Niko is spelt with a K. Come on, now.
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Joe had screwed up. Joe realized that Joe had screwed up, and he was cussing himself out internally while trying not to show it. He knew Agent Lovell from the mission to Gongaga, the mission that went very wrong, very fast, and the home office wouldn't even unofficially confirm for him anything about it. They didn't have any evidence to back it up. Well...no shit. The reactor had blow. The system was unstable and employees were dead when he got there, and that thing... He didn't like to think about it. Joe had fought plenty of monsters, robots, people - he was a fairly seasoned fighter - but that thing? That scared him, and he didn't admit that very easily, like his other fear. Still, that was neither here nor there. He had a problem, and that was that he may have just compromised Maddie's position as a Turk to an ordinary resident of Midgar.
Well, maybe not an ordinary resident. This one's got a story behind her, that's for sure.
Between her sudden change in demeanor and the pointed stare that the Turk-in-civvie-attire was giving him, he knew that he'd definitely been audible enough...which was bad. How would he handle this? Did he just hope that the other woman would forget about it if she was left alone? No, who was he kidding? She had some beef against Shinra, and now a very Shinra thing had happened in her own neighborhood. She'd never forgive OR forget, and while nothing may come of it, that glare from Maddie said it all: 'We need to handle this.', as in that faux pas of a security leak. Fortunately, Agent Lovell seemed to have a good play in her Turk book for this. Her delivery to the other woman probably came off a bit weird, but after giving Joe what he assumed was a meaningful look, she made introductions as a Naomi Chambers. And luckily...Joe had thought of a good way to pick up what she just threw down.
"Naomi? I thought you were Elena. Kinda' hard to tell from a distance. She was in a guard unit I worked with, a real ass-kicker. You were that consultant, right?"
Actually, he didn't know Elena that well. He'd seen her training, just today. Still, if Joe could use a case of mistaken identity - a plausible one, as they were both well-trained blondes - to his advantage, then all the better for it. He now had his sword away, leaned down and picked up his dented helmet with just a brief glance to the now-dormant X-1.
"I'm Joe Hockner. And hey, no problem. It's what I do. Let's get out of here."
Neisha making her way for the entrance notwithstanding, they all had to go out the same way, anyhow.
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There was still the matter of the other X-Series unit, though. X-9 stood in conflict error...while Akira asked about possibly getting out there to defeat that thing. Yes, it was weirdly intelligent, or more-so than a normal Sweeper. It seemed like something had gone wrong, that the Prototype was bad. Maybe they all were. Still, with things settling down to an uneasy calm and a potential standoff with a runaway robot, Akira put forth a plan. Well...maybe about 12% of a plan. He had an idea of using a smokebomb to sneak in to slash and stab it with his weapon, attack the robot while it appeared dormant. It wasn't a great idea, but the only alternative was to wait and see what the Sweeper did, which wasn't likely to be anything good, unless it decided to explode, right then and there. So, Jessie pulled out a smokebomb...
"I have one left over, just for emergencies. Normally, it's for sneaking out of a fight, and normally I'd say what you're asking is a bit crazy, but...what the hell, right? We can't just leave and there's nothing else to do, so we may as well get in the first licks."
The mercenaries thought this was a stupid plan and would rather see about organizing something in here, or at least giving them cover fire for when they probably have to run like hell back to the fort. Either way, they didn't want to go out there and they weren't being paid enough right now to do so. The plan was modified slightly, in that Jessie would be out there to throw the bomb, but that she'd remain in hiding at one point with bomb and her SMG while Akira did his zigging and zagging...which would get the machine's attention. The boy would notice that the machine was not reacting to his presence, though, and in fact only seemed to sit up and take notice to a situation once the smokebomb went off in its vicinity. At this, it naturally began looking around, and Akira struck it in the back...!
...
...
...uhhh...
Okay, it was still going. Apparently, he'd damaged it, but he hadn't hit any sort of exploitable vital part, and the machine opened fire around itself before Overcharge leaping to a hill now and looking around. It had also been shot at by Jessie, but he and her were already going for the fort's entrance, and would be gone even as X-9 fired on them. The robot fidgetted around some more in indecision, until finally, it turned and...leapt off. It was leaving. The lookout said that it was heading due west, flat out. A retreat? It decided to bug out? Well, the good people at Fort Condor wouldn't know, of course, but...
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Right, let's cut to the chase! The actual chase that was happening IN Junon, that is. Rufus actually gave Tseng a Look when he fired that missle. The Turk Leader just shrugged. He wanted to cause the biker adequate distraction from the Vice President's and Lex's own attacks. He was fairly certain those bikes would be suffering a little between the three acts. If they damaged them beyond their capacity to operate, the trio would wipe out and they'd have them, for certain. Unfortunately, there were some rather big UNcertainties to work with, like Kanade's abilities, the demolition abilities of Jessie Raspberry, and the cunning plan coupled with Biggs and Wedge's driving skills. They rode for the scaffolding, the bomb was thrown, there was a decided Plink! as it stuck to the underside of the chopper, and a BOOM!!!
The three bike-riders would not have time to confirm, because they were ducking into the parking garage for escape, and Lex would have have to follow them alone in the jeep. The Ranger himself would be able to see what they did not, though: The helicopter had taken damage, but not severely so. The explosive having been an incendiary device, its power was cut in half by the timely Manaward, meaning Rufus Shinra and Tseng were still aloft. They could not, however, directly pursue. They instead sent out communication to the utility areas the garage was probably connected to, open and exposed due to the construction work. They wanted anybody who was down there to try and stop them.
In said garage, the AVALANCHE members would see this opportunity and go for it: Utility tunnels for official work vehicles that would lead to the service entrances of the city. "That's the way to go!", said Biggs as he steered towards it.
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Alko, meanwhile, most definitely had people tailing her...and they weren't subtle about it. In fact, they weren't that bright, OR that quiet. See, she could already hear them talking as they started to follow her, one of 'em going "That's the girl." and the one in the middle actually confirming "I can see why the Don's taken an interest." before the really stupid one went "Yeah, yeah...why is that again?" and the other two seemingly had to explain. There was a reason for this, of course. These men were not so much notorious as...embarrasing. They were the cream of the crop of idiots, dumbass gangers that stuck together.
Their clear lack of intelligence became progressively more apparent in the exchange that followed.
"Hey, Beck. She's looking our way."
"Well, you just look right back! Ain't you a tough guy?"
"Yeah, I just thought we was tryin' ta' be...you know... Uhh, whadyacallit?"
"Discreet?"
"Right, that!"
"Huh? Dis street? I don't get it."
"Discreet, moron! It means uhh..."
"Well, we're bein' quiet about it, so..."
"...so we're tryin' ta' be sneaky-like!"
They were failing SO BAD at this.
"Uhh, she's going faster..."
"So? You got legs!"
"She's uhh...going into that alley, boss!"
"Gah, the pair o' youse! GET A MOVE ON!"
Aiko was pulling ahead...
"Where'd she go?!"
"I see 'er!"
"Then, shut your yap and make tracks!"
...and weaving her way around the obstacles in their path.
"Damn, she's good at this!"
"I hate ta' see 'er go, but I love to watch her leave."
"The Don won't like it if we just watch, though."
"I know that! It's an expression! It means uhh... Well, uhh... It means...Daaayuuum."
It wasn't exactly taking Aiko much effort to fool these guys and break out ahead, though she DID have to worry about one thing: She knew these alleys, and she knew she might be heading for a spot where a Doomrat nest was. Could she avoid them and get out of here without a confrontation? Or maybe...try and set the rats on THEM?
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As for Tace, he had given himself a clear speed advantage here, but he was sort of overestimating the creature's intelligence. It was a predatory that adapted to situations, sure, and it might even have thought to avoid situations like the one he was putting it in now, but...well...there was problem, and it went thusly: Its reflexes were too slowed - given the circumstances - to stop its assault against the man. Tace had done a little TOO well. So, while he was set to stab the thing, the measures he'd taken caused a third option to occur. Its attack was not stopped, as the claws would still rake at the man, but it was ALSO stabbed. Of course, because the Zemelezett was Slowed, it wasn't as deeply stabbed, per se, and its attack wasn't as strong against Tace. It was wounded by the exchange and came in for a landing nearby, and whatever happened to Tace himself in reaction...happened, because the monster didn't immediately attack again. It raised its wings and caused a spell to erupt from itself that seemed to cause some healing of the wound. Zemelezetts are known for having the skill called White Wind. Tace would have to hit harder, and it seemed unlikely that the bird would stand still long enough for him to use his car.
Well, maybe not an ordinary resident. This one's got a story behind her, that's for sure.
Between her sudden change in demeanor and the pointed stare that the Turk-in-civvie-attire was giving him, he knew that he'd definitely been audible enough...which was bad. How would he handle this? Did he just hope that the other woman would forget about it if she was left alone? No, who was he kidding? She had some beef against Shinra, and now a very Shinra thing had happened in her own neighborhood. She'd never forgive OR forget, and while nothing may come of it, that glare from Maddie said it all: 'We need to handle this.', as in that faux pas of a security leak. Fortunately, Agent Lovell seemed to have a good play in her Turk book for this. Her delivery to the other woman probably came off a bit weird, but after giving Joe what he assumed was a meaningful look, she made introductions as a Naomi Chambers. And luckily...Joe had thought of a good way to pick up what she just threw down.
"Naomi? I thought you were Elena. Kinda' hard to tell from a distance. She was in a guard unit I worked with, a real ass-kicker. You were that consultant, right?"
Actually, he didn't know Elena that well. He'd seen her training, just today. Still, if Joe could use a case of mistaken identity - a plausible one, as they were both well-trained blondes - to his advantage, then all the better for it. He now had his sword away, leaned down and picked up his dented helmet with just a brief glance to the now-dormant X-1.
"I'm Joe Hockner. And hey, no problem. It's what I do. Let's get out of here."
Neisha making her way for the entrance notwithstanding, they all had to go out the same way, anyhow.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
There was still the matter of the other X-Series unit, though. X-9 stood in conflict error...while Akira asked about possibly getting out there to defeat that thing. Yes, it was weirdly intelligent, or more-so than a normal Sweeper. It seemed like something had gone wrong, that the Prototype was bad. Maybe they all were. Still, with things settling down to an uneasy calm and a potential standoff with a runaway robot, Akira put forth a plan. Well...maybe about 12% of a plan. He had an idea of using a smokebomb to sneak in to slash and stab it with his weapon, attack the robot while it appeared dormant. It wasn't a great idea, but the only alternative was to wait and see what the Sweeper did, which wasn't likely to be anything good, unless it decided to explode, right then and there. So, Jessie pulled out a smokebomb...
"I have one left over, just for emergencies. Normally, it's for sneaking out of a fight, and normally I'd say what you're asking is a bit crazy, but...what the hell, right? We can't just leave and there's nothing else to do, so we may as well get in the first licks."
The mercenaries thought this was a stupid plan and would rather see about organizing something in here, or at least giving them cover fire for when they probably have to run like hell back to the fort. Either way, they didn't want to go out there and they weren't being paid enough right now to do so. The plan was modified slightly, in that Jessie would be out there to throw the bomb, but that she'd remain in hiding at one point with bomb and her SMG while Akira did his zigging and zagging...which would get the machine's attention. The boy would notice that the machine was not reacting to his presence, though, and in fact only seemed to sit up and take notice to a situation once the smokebomb went off in its vicinity. At this, it naturally began looking around, and Akira struck it in the back...!
...
...
...uhhh...
Okay, it was still going. Apparently, he'd damaged it, but he hadn't hit any sort of exploitable vital part, and the machine opened fire around itself before Overcharge leaping to a hill now and looking around. It had also been shot at by Jessie, but he and her were already going for the fort's entrance, and would be gone even as X-9 fired on them. The robot fidgetted around some more in indecision, until finally, it turned and...leapt off. It was leaving. The lookout said that it was heading due west, flat out. A retreat? It decided to bug out? Well, the good people at Fort Condor wouldn't know, of course, but...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Right, let's cut to the chase! The actual chase that was happening IN Junon, that is. Rufus actually gave Tseng a Look when he fired that missle. The Turk Leader just shrugged. He wanted to cause the biker adequate distraction from the Vice President's and Lex's own attacks. He was fairly certain those bikes would be suffering a little between the three acts. If they damaged them beyond their capacity to operate, the trio would wipe out and they'd have them, for certain. Unfortunately, there were some rather big UNcertainties to work with, like Kanade's abilities, the demolition abilities of Jessie Raspberry, and the cunning plan coupled with Biggs and Wedge's driving skills. They rode for the scaffolding, the bomb was thrown, there was a decided Plink! as it stuck to the underside of the chopper, and a BOOM!!!
The three bike-riders would not have time to confirm, because they were ducking into the parking garage for escape, and Lex would have have to follow them alone in the jeep. The Ranger himself would be able to see what they did not, though: The helicopter had taken damage, but not severely so. The explosive having been an incendiary device, its power was cut in half by the timely Manaward, meaning Rufus Shinra and Tseng were still aloft. They could not, however, directly pursue. They instead sent out communication to the utility areas the garage was probably connected to, open and exposed due to the construction work. They wanted anybody who was down there to try and stop them.
In said garage, the AVALANCHE members would see this opportunity and go for it: Utility tunnels for official work vehicles that would lead to the service entrances of the city. "That's the way to go!", said Biggs as he steered towards it.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Alko, meanwhile, most definitely had people tailing her...and they weren't subtle about it. In fact, they weren't that bright, OR that quiet. See, she could already hear them talking as they started to follow her, one of 'em going "That's the girl." and the one in the middle actually confirming "I can see why the Don's taken an interest." before the really stupid one went "Yeah, yeah...why is that again?" and the other two seemingly had to explain. There was a reason for this, of course. These men were not so much notorious as...embarrasing. They were the cream of the crop of idiots, dumbass gangers that stuck together.
Their clear lack of intelligence became progressively more apparent in the exchange that followed.
"Hey, Beck. She's looking our way."
"Well, you just look right back! Ain't you a tough guy?"
"Yeah, I just thought we was tryin' ta' be...you know... Uhh, whadyacallit?"
"Discreet?"
"Right, that!"
"Huh? Dis street? I don't get it."
"Discreet, moron! It means uhh..."
"Well, we're bein' quiet about it, so..."
"...so we're tryin' ta' be sneaky-like!"
They were failing SO BAD at this.
"Uhh, she's going faster..."
"So? You got legs!"
"She's uhh...going into that alley, boss!"
"Gah, the pair o' youse! GET A MOVE ON!"
Aiko was pulling ahead...
"Where'd she go?!"
"I see 'er!"
"Then, shut your yap and make tracks!"
...and weaving her way around the obstacles in their path.
"Damn, she's good at this!"
"I hate ta' see 'er go, but I love to watch her leave."
"The Don won't like it if we just watch, though."
"I know that! It's an expression! It means uhh... Well, uhh... It means...Daaayuuum."
It wasn't exactly taking Aiko much effort to fool these guys and break out ahead, though she DID have to worry about one thing: She knew these alleys, and she knew she might be heading for a spot where a Doomrat nest was. Could she avoid them and get out of here without a confrontation? Or maybe...try and set the rats on THEM?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
As for Tace, he had given himself a clear speed advantage here, but he was sort of overestimating the creature's intelligence. It was a predatory that adapted to situations, sure, and it might even have thought to avoid situations like the one he was putting it in now, but...well...there was problem, and it went thusly: Its reflexes were too slowed - given the circumstances - to stop its assault against the man. Tace had done a little TOO well. So, while he was set to stab the thing, the measures he'd taken caused a third option to occur. Its attack was not stopped, as the claws would still rake at the man, but it was ALSO stabbed. Of course, because the Zemelezett was Slowed, it wasn't as deeply stabbed, per se, and its attack wasn't as strong against Tace. It was wounded by the exchange and came in for a landing nearby, and whatever happened to Tace himself in reaction...happened, because the monster didn't immediately attack again. It raised its wings and caused a spell to erupt from itself that seemed to cause some healing of the wound. Zemelezetts are known for having the skill called White Wind. Tace would have to hit harder, and it seemed unlikely that the bird would stand still long enough for him to use his car.
@Balthazar007 @Darkmoon Angel And the limit of time will only begin once we've officially started, correct? I've no trouble letting Darkmoon go first if that's the case, since the preceding post was mine.
@BladeSS4 Unas Movus, I think. Just one. I haven't revealed mine, nor even discussed it with Bal.
Niko had been properly bandaged and given a Senzu Bean before beiing told to rest for a while and just let it take the full effect. He lay there, still concerned over the fight between Angela and Ace. It'd been his intention to stick around in a moment of solidarity to cheer her on, encourage Angela to emerge victorious and allow them to fight out their respective struggles. Yes, this tournament had really grown on him. He was starting to enjoy it, though the fight with Rica had been a stark reeminder that this was no walk in the park. Still, the way it had ended kept playing over and over in his mind. What had happened there? Surely, you'd want to give it your all here, even if your goal was simply maney for the sake of it. You'd get healed up afterwards, no questions asked, regardless, so what was the deal? Niko couldn't fathom it. Unless Ace had been forced to quit somehow, he just couldn't understand why it had happened, and he hoped that it didn't happen again.
Time passed, and with the Semi-Final Rounds being announced to begin soon, Niko got up of his place of rest, pulled out a new shirt from his quarters, and came to the tournament ring area proper to witness the return of Lee and the battle of Bakuto. Lee had already shocked the world by defeating the current champion, showing that whatever standard the multiple-tournament winner had set was now broken and that it was anybody's game. More to the point, Lee worried him because Michael Miocic had a technique that involved whirlwinds, air power, and Lee managed to get through that. Knowledge of how to get through an ability like that would put Niko at a disadvantage if he got to the finals and used his own technique, learned from Athena up in the mountains. Niko would watch this fight carefully, studying either opponent's moves to determine the best strengths and weaknesses of either man.
What surprised him, though, was how quickly it had ended! Bakuto had once again shown his sheer incredible speed via the technique that allowed images of himself to hang for a second or two in the air - something to do with moving so fast that the perception of his placement fooled the eyes as they tried to catch up with the action - and...and...he completely skunked Lee in quick order! Was he really that good? Or was Lee feeling down and out, drained from beating the champ? No, that couldn't be it. Senzu Bean! They worked! They healed and invigorated! Either Lee had been thrown off by Bakuto's actions or even something unrelated...or Bakuto was greater than both the former Champion AND the man who defeated him, making him now a VERY significant hurdle!
I... I must not reveal my own technique in my fight against Angela. If I can't catch this man off guard, I dunno if I can beat him. He's good, he's focused, and he's fast like me. I'll do what I have to against Angela. She'd expect no less. But I have to at least TRY to use the Tatsumaki-Ken to full effect.
Time passed, and with the Semi-Final Rounds being announced to begin soon, Niko got up of his place of rest, pulled out a new shirt from his quarters, and came to the tournament ring area proper to witness the return of Lee and the battle of Bakuto. Lee had already shocked the world by defeating the current champion, showing that whatever standard the multiple-tournament winner had set was now broken and that it was anybody's game. More to the point, Lee worried him because Michael Miocic had a technique that involved whirlwinds, air power, and Lee managed to get through that. Knowledge of how to get through an ability like that would put Niko at a disadvantage if he got to the finals and used his own technique, learned from Athena up in the mountains. Niko would watch this fight carefully, studying either opponent's moves to determine the best strengths and weaknesses of either man.
What surprised him, though, was how quickly it had ended! Bakuto had once again shown his sheer incredible speed via the technique that allowed images of himself to hang for a second or two in the air - something to do with moving so fast that the perception of his placement fooled the eyes as they tried to catch up with the action - and...and...he completely skunked Lee in quick order! Was he really that good? Or was Lee feeling down and out, drained from beating the champ? No, that couldn't be it. Senzu Bean! They worked! They healed and invigorated! Either Lee had been thrown off by Bakuto's actions or even something unrelated...or Bakuto was greater than both the former Champion AND the man who defeated him, making him now a VERY significant hurdle!
I... I must not reveal my own technique in my fight against Angela. If I can't catch this man off guard, I dunno if I can beat him. He's good, he's focused, and he's fast like me. I'll do what I have to against Angela. She'd expect no less. But I have to at least TRY to use the Tatsumaki-Ken to full effect.
Penultimate fight, surely? Niko VS Angela, then one of them VS Bakuto.
More data needed, I think. We've achieved an extreme result only. MIGHT wanna find a smaller percentage.
Nevertheless, I droppeth the F-Bomb for how that turned out.
"Secret Techni- Oh, he's dead already."
CHANDRILA
Such a pleasant little world, our Chandrila. Home to Mon Mothma, Galactic Senator and a Leader in the Rebellion...a place of peace and calm throughout the land...and the seat of the New Republic, now that the Empire frays both at the edges and from within. It's not the first time that great powers of people shatter and lay broken upon the floor, hopelessly trying to pick up the pieces when the next phase already seeks to replace their order with its own. A fool's game he would not play, not in earnest.
Order...is a lie.
Before it, a Senate and a loose Confederacy showed their equal inability to control the darkest desires of all sapient life. As you bind many together, you quickly find out that they wish to tear away in as many directions, each according to their own whim. You cannot keep them forever, so you entice them into your orbit, bring them to your way of thinking by cunning or by force. But...how long can you truly master their desires? Should you not encourage their freedom and only make demands of them as necessary? Shall they not flourish outside of captivity, acting upon their drives without inhibition?
Through chaos, there is freedom.
Every being has the freedom to choose, but they are ruled by fears, misgivings, doubt... It holds them back, plunges them towards inevitable failure. Republics and Confederacies afraid of their own power, Empires afraid of their own shadows as they await treachery, and militaries... Never was a greater fear born than that of this simple phrase: The Enemy. Once you know where you stand in the universe, however, there is no fear. Once you see the paths of all other lifeforms and can tell, just by a glance, where they are going and where they've come from, your mind is clear and nothing can stop you.
In freedom, there is clarity.
Fools who walk with their head lowered, unable to see to the right or left as they plod on towards their destiny, are easily manipulated. You have need of only the will and the talent for speech. Of course, those who embrace the Force in all its splendors can achieve more. Much more. Power resides in a word, a glance, a gesture - all these things in the right place can cause so much, an avalanche of expectation leading to a disastrous effect, but only with a mind open to the possibilities.
In clarity, there is power.
There is a purpose, a force in of itself within the Force. The Force does not merely surround and penetrate all things. It has ebb and flow. Some call this balance, but...if this power flows throughout the universe, and that life only makes up one tiny percent of itself, then the balance of the Force is truly made for the galaxies themselves, not this idle boast they call history. No no...this is but a blink of the eye, a small gesture, a minor bump on the road. Take for instance...this room.
The room was an office inside a building within the capital of the planet Chandrila, seat of the New Galactic Republic. Such trappings for only one room! And yet... And yet, it moved with purpose. Not to the benefit of any line in the sand mind you, to any side per se, but something else. It moved according to the will of the man who sat within it, a fairly handsome and somewhat gentlemanly being. A human, adult of age and black of hair. He was simply doing the work of any who would be head of security, here in the Capital. He read reports, he conferred with colleagues, he set teams to put down civil unrest, and he allocated resources for the various endeavours undertaken by the Republic.
He also concealed a number of things in his coat, such as a rather formidable tube-shaped device.
They knew him as Zaras Oren, and - as far as anybody could tell - he was exceedingly good at the job he was given for his attention to detail, quick decision-making skills, and exemptlary marksmanship. The man in his office sat across from him, irritated his petty problems. The only reason he ever saw the man or anybody else was because the organization and solution of their petty problems allowed him to do what it is he wanted to do. By facilitating fools, you can slip whatever you like under the table and they'll be all-too-happy to ignore it. This particular gentleman was from the Republic War Office, Medical Division, and he had made the complaint of missing articles, believing them stolen and either sold in some black market affair or in preparation for such. He couldn't have been more wrong.
"Soldiers go out on the line, pilots thrust themselves out into space, and all of them risk sudden death at the end of a blaster or in an explosion, but for those that manage to survive the worst, they NEED their medical supplies. What do I tell them when I don't have them and I should, huh?! The medical supplies must be found!"
Zaras sighed, enduring this rant as though he'd heard it many times before or words to the effect. He had, but that isn't what annoyed him. No, what bothered him was that he was preparing the man's placation and he wasn't giving him quiet while he went through the motions for the full effect! No one appreciates the subtle dance anymore, those little nuances that make life worth living. He now gave the man a tired, but calm look, one that might easily be mistaken for disdain, for he had it in large quantities, larger even than his missing supplies...which of course were obsconded with by the man before him.
"Mr. Aerslin, while it is not this organization's responsibility to keep immaculate record of non-security matters, it so happens that we DO - in fact - since the transfer of resources from planet to ship and ship to planet - to say nothing of ship to ship - IS within our purview. To that end, I bequeath to you the facts as I know them. The 'missing' bacta tanks and fluid are not, in fact, missing. They were transferred out to outgoing ships, such as the Escalor, the Triskele, and the Mondao. Additionally, and you may find this very interesting, an independent freighter hired by Dr. Zones was also sent to pick up certain supplies for the University of Bar'leth."
That last one was actually true. He let him see the datapad on that one.
"'Delivery to a Dr. Indoumodo Zones, care of the 'No Don't Put That There'? Is this some kind of a joke?!"
Zaras delivered an empahtic shrug that solidified his confusion along with the gentleman.
"The registry checks out, and the owner and operator of said vessel is a former Rebel Pilot. What can I say?"
"And you seriously expect me to go back with this information as explanation to everyone else?"
"Yes, Mr. Aerslin. It is the truth, plain and clear."
His eyes suddenly dulled. The Force was moving...
"It is the truth...plain and clear."
"You will place your trust in security on this matter."
"I will place your trust in security..."
"Failure in these duties will being the Empire to your doorstep. You don't want that, right?"
"I don't want that... I can't let that happen..."
"I'm so very pleased to hear that, sir. Now, if you will please move along. I'm a very busy man. This planet won't mind itself, after all."
He left, giving thanks, of all things! That was certainly the best part of his work. They thanked him for his treachery. Of course, not every person may be fooled in his manner, which is why he engrained this reinforcement of the belief and the 'truth' in others, getting records to line up and all. Worst comes to worst, Zaras would find himself as baffled as you are, and would hasten to find someone to be responsible so it can never happen again...until the next time. Now, during this conversation, he had received a call upon his personal holo-comm. He was not ready, so he let it wait while he sent this man out. And then...out it came to reveal the face of Darth Simula. He was reporting - judging by his tone alone, he must have been successful. Indeed, Simula would only report failure if he felt that a great deal of effort and resources have been expended with little result, as would Tarak in his place. The man behind the desk, a Dark Lord of the Sith, smiled at the Zabrak.
"I trust your endeavours have born fruit. I, myself, have sequestered supplies away, though finding a proper site will be the real issue. And it occurs to me that a work force will be necessary. Droids would be easiest, as it's only a job of assembly. Still, if you have supplies, I would like them taken to the Dread Accomplace. Anyone who sees it must be made to forget about it later...or die."
The plan moves inexorably forwards. The purpose pushes through that ebb and flow they call balance, and soon...destiny itself may be destroyed. Freedom for all. Freedom, chaos, fear... Glorious.
With this power, I shall break the balance. The Force will never be the same.
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