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Post by Squid (Carys) on Oct 1, 2012 12:34:45 GMT -4
Not long after the doctor left, Cole reappeared in the cell Clark was in. His eyes widened as he looked around the small room and then at Clark. "Where are we Clark? Did that Silas guy capture you?" he asked, sounding concerned. "Cool!" Clark murmured happily. "How's Silos?" Cole frowned further at the incoherent answer. When Cole saw him, Silas was a dead man for hurting Clark. "Can you remember anything that happened, Clark? Do you know how we got here?" Clark stared back at Cole in confusion and then looked around the room. "Airs ear? My a' the daughter's office?" Cole sighed and shook his head a little. At least Clark was close to forming coherent sentences, even if his speech did come out a little garbled, and he did seem confused about what had happened. "What's the last thing you remember?" "I was a' school lie normal... Why's my 'ead 'urt, Cool?" "Never mind Clark. Just lie down, I'll figure this out. I'll make sure you're safe..." Internally he felt a stab of guilt at that statement. He hadn't done a very good job of keeping Clark safe last time or they wouldn't be here right now. He wasn't sure what to do yet though. Clark seemed to be starting to make a bit more sense, but Cole still didn't think he'd be able to get very far with Clark in his current state. So they'd have to wait, and hope that in the meantime nothing else would go wrong.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 1, 2012 14:31:06 GMT -4
Silas found out in nine moves that he had underestimated Oryn. He was glaring at the board and desperately trying to find a way to free the king, but it was no use. He had been checkmated already. Keeping his expression calm he demanded another match... which he lost in 12 moves. Another three games passed, and Silas had eventually arranged his pieces in a protective square around the king. He had lost a bishop, a rook, three pawns and both of his knights, and he was absently playing with the head of his king as he waited for Oryn to make a move. He had recovered from his little episode in the corridor, and the anger at being bested on multiple occasions was aligning his thoughts. "The fact that the loss of a king means the end of the game is stupid," he said quietly, more to himself than to Oryn. "Why is the king more important than a pawn? All that makes it different is that is able to attack from all sides... to stab people in the back. And all of the other pieces - more powerful pieces - protect it for no actual reason." He paused, glancing around the room and lowering his voice. He didn't think his room was bugged, but he wasn't certain. "Kind of like Shirune, don't you think? Hiding behind stronger, more capable men who dispose of the other pieces for him, ending the game before it has even began. After all, how likely is it that he'll be checkmated? And if he is, it'll be those who overthrew him that suffer for it. He's got the world under his thumb - if he's removed everything will fall into chaos. And as fun as that sounds, whenever chaos occurs blame is always shifted on those who are different." His lips twitched into a smile. "And even if it doesn't, if everything he's done comes to light, every one of his assassins - and their families," he tacked on as an afterthought, "will be sentenced to death. And although I'm interested in how exactly they'd try to kill me, I don't want to see it." He chanced a glance up at Oryn, and considered giving up on the entire plan. But Oryn was clever, he had just demonstrated that multiple times, and he was one of Shirune's most trusted assassins. He decided to just wing it and see what would happen. "I want to overthrow him and stop all of this. Tear his power away and make him as weak as everyone else. ...But I can't do it alone."
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Post by Cedar on Oct 4, 2012 1:55:24 GMT -4
Oryn leaned back in his chair, his eyes still focused on the chessboard. His mind, however, was on anything but the game. Overthrow Shirune. How often he had wished that such a thing were possible, that this man who had taken so much from him could be destroyed. How often, indeed, had he seen the horrors imposed on society and turned back to his job with a sigh, knowing there was no use in hoping for the impossible. Yet... Silas was competent, Oryn knew, and driven by a firm resolution in his own superiority. Oryn did not like him, but what was mere dislike compared to his deep hatred for Shirune, who had tortured his brother and stolen his humanity? To destroy him, Oryn could stand Silas. Shirune was strong, yes, but the offer was tempting. A world free of Shirune's censorship and hidden tyranny... He had longed for such a world for years, yet it had always lain out of his grasp. But working together, could they perhaps stand a chance? Oryn's mind flitted back to the image of Taru being dragged out of the torture chamber, barely conscious and whimpering with pain. His eyes narrowed to slits of fury, though otherwise he gave no outward indication of the intensity of his own emotional agony. To see that end... His eyes met Silas's, their grey depths burning with an intensity nearly equal to that of the other's gaze. "Then I will help you." With a brief glance down at the chessboard, he reached down and slid his bishop across several squares. "Checkmate."
Shirune strode down the corridor, reviewing the notes he had taken from his meeting with the guards. The man he would be interviewing was suspected of harboring an invisible non-human, an interesting case to say the least, and one he had taken upon himself to examine personally. Reaching the cell in which Clark was being kept, he folded his notes neatly and shoved them in his pocket before entering with a polite smile of greeting. "Hello, Clark. I've been hearing some interesting things about you, and as I am a curious man, I have a few questions for you. Nothing much, really. You wouldn't be opposed to a brief interview, would you?" He glanced up at Clark expectantly, his outward professionalism concealing a constant vigilance for anything out of the ordinary in the room, and the gun he was carrying to deal with it.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 4, 2012 13:26:31 GMT -4
Silas and Oryn bid farewell rather quickly, with Silas promising that he would find and text him as soon and as often as he could to discuss how to arrange Shirune's fall. The mere thought of finally breaking free from the oppression crushing all non-humans and putting humanity in its place made him feel simultaneously joyous and powerful. He wanted to just walk straight into Shirune's rooms and kill him, but he resisted the urge. If he killed him now, it would only just make everything worse. He would bide his time... and get others to join him. Gather a group of non-humans and humans to destroy Shirune, to tear down his gilded throne above the world and watch him fall... and kill him while everyone cheered. Silas didn't know what would happen once it was done - whether or not his people would take over or humans would. So long as humans never thought themselves higher than those who were not, Silas didn't really care which. He had to admit, he was impressed with Oryn. He had seen the fury in his eyes, the determination, and the chess game had proven something that he had already suspected. Oryn was cleverer than most humans, or at least the incompetent ones that Shirune seemed to enjoy hiring. Oryn was worthy of being part of his plan... yet still unworthy enough for Silas to be able to place all blame on him if Shirune somehow learnt of what they were planning. After all, Oryn was the one who had everything to lose and everything to gain.
Once Oryn had left his room Silas had taken to the corridors again, deciding that if he was going to have a day off he was going to have fun with it. Whether the humans liked it or not. He checked his phone again, checking if he had any messages. He rolled it over in his hands almost worriedly, knowing that they would have gotten the message over an hour ago and they still hadn't replied. He was in the corridors where the experiments on non-humans took place, and he wasn't sure why. He remembered his own experiments clearly - endless questions, endless humans invading his privacy without his permission, endless attempts to restrain him. He remembered that they had spent the longest amount of time testing just how much human weapons could affect him, and how much pain he could take. That little experiment had been on them, however - he had paid them back in kind whenever he could. Sometimes he wondered why he had taken the job offered to him after that, but he didn't dwell on it for long. He was glancing through the two-way mirrors at the prisoners within, keeping an eye out for any member of his kind while being fully aware that he wouldn't find one. His phone finally buzzed and he stopped dead. You can visit if you really want. I don't think anyone really wants to see you, though. Silas smiled, tucking the phone away just as a sound reached him that shouldn't have. Muffled screaming, coming through one of the glass rooms. His head snapped to the side, and he could only just see the form of a man strapped to a chair. Judging by the muscles and almost scaley quality to parts of his skin, the man was a non-human. But he had a sack over his head, and was bent in obvious agony. The sight of it made Silas furious.
He stepped towards the door, and it opened for him with a whoosh. The man at the other side of the room, standing behind the non-human with his hand on a lever controlling the electricity, stared at Silas with wide eyes. "M-Mr Almaras!" Silas didn't answer, choosing instead to seize the man's arm and drag it upwards with most of his strength, yanking the arm out of its socket and crushing his wrist simultaneously. The man's screams were infinitely better than those of the non-human's. "You don't torture non-humans," Silas growled, his voice low and dangerous, shaking the man's arm to emphasise his point. "If I catch you doing anything like this ever again, I'll crush every bone in your body and shatter your skull with my littlest finger. Do I make myself clear?" The man nodded repeatedly, and Silas released him. He moved over to where the non-human was bound, and ripped the straps out of the chair. "Don't try to run, they'll catch you," he said in a low voice. "Just bear it, because it'll end. And if they drag you away again, demand to see Silas. Remember that name." He turned and left the room before anyone could speak, his fury ebbing as he contemplated the prisoner. If he heeded his words... maybe he had the second person to add to his plans. After all, he needed all of the strong non-humans he could get... to show the humans that they were a force to be reckoned with.
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Post by Squid (Carys) on Oct 4, 2012 16:10:56 GMT -4
Clark glanced up in surprise when a man came into the room. He hadn't particularly been expecting anyone, but then again he still wasn't even sure where he was or why. Cole's reaction to the man was far more suspicious than Clark's. He moved carefully away from Clark, closer to Shirune and looking him over with wary eyes. "An innerview?" Clark mumbled, sounding a bit confused by the idea. "Why would you want to interview me? Are you a news reporter?" He frowned a little and then shook his head lightly. "No... There's still no reason to interview me; I'm just a teacher, and I don't really want to be in the news anyway..."
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 5, 2012 13:00:33 GMT -4
Silas had only just managed to slip into sleep when a knock on his door awoke him. He forced himself out of bed with an irritated growl, rubbing his eyes and pulling open the door. "What." A human that Silas recognised as one of Shirune's officers stood outside his door, his face stony. "Your day off has been revoked." Silas blinked a few times, hardly able to process the information at whatever ungodly hour it was. But when he finally understood, he was filled with rage. "Why? Because I stopped the unjust torture of a non-human?" "Because you severely injured a member of staff." "They severely injured a prisoner. I doubt that Shirune would have approved of that, or-" "You have a job to do, Silas. You will be supervising Oryn when he's sent after the girl he failed to kill." The girl from the maze. "Atom," he said. The girl who he wanted to kill. The officer nodded. "Yes, her. We need you to find her as quickly as you can, before she can spread news of what happened to her. We don't need the bad publicity." The officer regarded him, taking in just how angry Silas seemed. "We also don't trust you with another day off, after last time." "I want to speak with the Emperor," Silas said calmly, his tone contradicting the fury in his eyes and the way his hands were curled into fists. "You don't have any right to disobey him." "And you have no rights at all, because you're not human." Silas lashed out, but the man easily moved out of the way. He walked away without a farewell, and despite his anger Silas couldn't force himself to follow him. He slammed the door shut with force, and immediately turned to punch the wall. His fist left a gaping hole in the plaster, and even though his knuckles were red he didn't feel a thing. Growling out a curse he reached for the phone charging beside his bed. I can't visit after all. Tell him I'm sorry. The reply was practically instantaneous. He wants to hear it from you. Then his phone began to ring.
Silas knocked on Oryn's door not too long after dawn, spinning the keys of the convertible around his finger. He stifled a yawn as he waited for Oryn to answer, glancing down the corridor. He was dressed in civilian clothes, and an ugly black jacket that he just wanted to leave behind. But if he showed his eyes before he found Atom, it would be a disaster. When Oryn finally answered the door, Silas actually smiled at him. "We're going after the girl you didn't manage to kill," he explained, and then dropped his voice. "But we're not going to kill her." Not even bothering to look at Oryn's reaction Silas walked away, heading towards where the cars were parked. "I found her address," he called over his shoulder. "And I'm driving."
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Post by Cedar on Oct 6, 2012 0:44:34 GMT -4
Oryn opened the door moments after Silas's knock, haggard and rather pale--obviously dressed hastily in whatever clothes he had left lying about the previous night. What little sleep he had managed to get had been fitful and plagued by nightmares, and he wasn't sure whether he was angry at Silas for disturbing him this early, or grateful for having something to do. It took him a few moments to fully register what Silas was telling him, and he was about to ask him what he meant when the implications of the statements finally hit him. "I see," he muttered instead. Reaching for his coat and running a hand through his unruly hair in an attempt to make himself look marginally more professional, he followed after his colleague, jogging to catch up. They reached the parking lot not many minutes later, and by the time Oryn climbed into the passenger seat he was almost fully alert--he wasn't particularly keen on letting Silas drive, but there was no use protesting, and all he could do was prepare himself for the ride ahead. Once Silas had maneuvered the vehicle out of the parking lot without crashing into anything, Oryn ventured a question. "So what's the plan?"
Shirune smiled back at Clark, shaking his head. "I am not a news reporter, don't worry, sir. However, I am interested in your situation. Tell me, do you have any family, or do you live alone?" He knew well enough that the teacher's records indicated his existence was solitary, but he deemed it best not to immediately broach the subject of his interest. He hoped, however, that in Clark's confused mental state, he might let slip some vital hint that would give Shirune and his researchers enough information to begin experimentation.
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Post by Jane on Oct 6, 2012 2:16:09 GMT -4
Atom hurried through the streets of the town, head down, not looking at anyone and trying desperately not to attract attention. Hiding was so hard here. Anyone could be an assassin. Anyone could pull out a gun and try to kill her. But she had a hiding spot. She had an apartment. The only home she'd ever remembered having. Hopefully she'd be safe here, at least for a while.
Hurrying up the stairway, Atom climbed six stories to her small, dingy apartment. Ok, so it wasn't the most stylish place, but it was a place she could call home. She dropped onto the bed and closed her eyes. Rest first, then to think about the future. She had to plan. But sleep first.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 6, 2012 2:58:44 GMT -4
"The plan?" Silas repeated, flicking through the radio stations until he found a song that was bearable. "The plan is to find the girl without any incident, make sure that she doesn't kill you or try to kill us, and get her to join us." He cut across Oryn before he could question him. "Two people isn't enough to take down Shirune, and you know that. I know her capabilities, and she's disposable. If we convince her, then we have an addition that works on the outside, out of Shirune's direct influence. She can find people who are already opposing him before his police do, and we can work from there. And if she doesn't agree to help us, then we can kill her and find someone else. Or at least I can, seeing as you didn't-" Silas then realised that he was driving precariously close to another car, and swerved to avoid it. The back of the car clipped a lamppost, but he brought it back to the road with little more than a squeal of tires and some angered beeping from fellow drivers. "Honestly, can no humans drive?" he said exasperatedly.
Silas pulled up outside a relatively normal apartment block, checking the address that he had written down before stepping outside. He glanced at Oryn's face and rolled his eyes. "I didn't drive that badly, you know." He didn't wait for an answer, glancing at the building and seeing the closed curtains at the seventh floor window. "Come on," he said quietly, pulling the hood over his head and grimacing as he did so.
The two of them climbed the six floors rather quickly, and as Oryn prepared to knock on the door Silas pushed him aside and searched for the bolt in the lock through the small crack in the door. He found it, and punched the door. There was the metallic screech of the bolt splitting in half, and the wooden door splintered slightly as it swung open. Silas smiled at Oryn and strolled inside, knowing that the noise probably will have gained Atom's attention. He sat down on the couch heavily, making sure his hood was still up and waiting for Oryn to join him. "And now we wait," he said with a smirk.
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Post by Jane on Oct 6, 2012 3:50:34 GMT -4
Atom woke to the sound of a metallic screech and of wood splintering. She froze on the bed, keeping her breathing deliberately light as she peeped through her lashes. Two people entered the room. one was very short, with a hood over his head. The other made her blood boil. Even in the dim light in her apartment she recognised the assassin who'd shot her twice before.
"And now we wait," one of the men, probably the short one, said. Both men sat on the couch.
Atom closed her eyes again, counting to ten. She had to stay calm here. No more losing her temper. She'd have to get out of this apartment in a hurry. Why oh why did she have to choose an apartment on the seventh story? There was no way she was going to get out of there any way except through the door. Ok, so she'd done that once before, but she'd really rather not use the window.
The problem was that the men were right next to the door. The moment she moved they'd be alert to stop her. She'd have to take them out first. One blow each to the head and she might stun them enough to allow her to get out through her open door.
She counted to ten one more time for good measure, and then sprang from her bed. In a couple of steps she was by the couch, swinging a heavy blow at the assassin's head. Her fist connected, and she fought hard against the rage building inside her, evident by the rim of red round the edge of her vision. They just had to invade her only home, didn't they? Was nowhere safe?
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 6, 2012 4:08:52 GMT -4
Silas was surprised to say the least when Atom sprang into the room, punching Oryn in the head before darting towards the door. He jumped off the couch as quickly as he could, grabbing her arm and yanking her back forcefully. He twisted her arm behind her back, pulling her a little further away from the door. "Do no humans know how to greet guests?" he said, sighing dramatically. "Calm down. We're not here to kill you, but if you insist on attacking us then I might change my-" He was cut off when she elbowed him in the gut with enough force to wind him, and broke free of his hold. She was near the door by now, but Oryn had gathered himself enough to block her path. Silas joined him quickly, glaring at Atom and pulling down his hood so that he could see better. "We're not just going to let you leave," he growled. "Now, do you want us to kill you or are you actually going to listen to us?"
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Post by Jane on Oct 6, 2012 4:36:03 GMT -4
Listen to them? Not here to kill them? Atom wasn't about to believe that. One of them was an assassin who'd already tried to kill her before, and very nearly succeeded. Why should she stop and listen? The short guy with the assassin was obviously bad news, considering the people he hung around with.
"I don't believe you." She balled her fists, looking from one man to the other. They were between her and the door. She'd be hard pressed to get out of here alive without going into rage mode. And that was something she really didn't want to do right now. "One, your friend here has already tried to kill me before. Two, you're with him, so that makes you untrustworthy, and three, I don't trust anyone. Now get out of my way before I break both your heads. As your assassin buddy can attest. I'm pretty good at breaking noses and ribs."
Ok so that was more brutal than she'd like to be. But she didn't really have a choice. This wasn't a time to be miss nice Atom. This was a time to try and survive.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 6, 2012 5:09:35 GMT -4
Silas smirked, hiding his inner surprise at the fact that she hadn't responded to his eyes at all. He was so used to everyone panicking just by looking at them... "As you just pointed out, he didn't succeed in killing you," he said, brushing off her threats. "And I'm well aware that Oryn is a bad influence. I'm not asking for your trust, Atom, merely your cooperation. You were in the maze, and you escaped. Don't you know how dangerous you are, and how much trouble we could be in just by letting you live? We're risking everything by not killing you." He paused. She may not recognise him now, but if she learnt of just how much involvement he had had in organising the maze and everything that went inside it he could be treading very dangerously. He glanced towards the corner, where a hidden camera would be built into the wall, spying on everyone in the Empire, and was glad that he had remembered to disable some of the monitors. He only hoped that they wouldn't be up and running by now. "Don't you want to get revenge on Shirune, and the ones who made the maze? To be able to live normally and not have people like us knocking on your door? Or breaking in? Because if you join us that's what can happen."
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Post by Jane on Oct 6, 2012 5:24:02 GMT -4
"Of course I want to get revenge on Shirune and the people who made the maze and put me in it. And sure I want to live without people like you breaking my door down. But that doesn't automatically mean that I'm going to trust you.
"You say that you're risking everything by leaving me alive. How do I know this is not an elaborate trick on Shirune's part to get me back alive? The scientists don't have nearly enough data about me yet.
"And the only reason that your assassin friend, Oryn, didn't kill me is because I'm not an ordinary person. I don't care if you're asking for trust or cooperation or for me to dance a hornpipe. You've got to come up with a pretty good explanation as to why I shouldn't break all the bones in your body and leave you in a heap on the floor. What you're telling me so far isn't exactly filling me with a need to cooperate."
Inside Atom was hoping that they were telling the truth. She wanted to believe this strange, small man with the glowing red eyes. She felt that he was another misfit in this world, no matter how big he was acting. She'd like to be able to trust him. But the fact that he was with the assassin, Oryn, and that he obviously worked for Shirune in some way, made her extra cautious. She still hated threatening them, but she wasn't about to go all nice for them and then die. Safety, then niceness. So yes, no trust them just yet. But she'd hear anything else they had to say.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 6, 2012 8:19:02 GMT -4
Silas was beginning to get irritated by Atom's distrust, and her threats. "You may not be an ordinary person, but Oryn didn't fail to kill you due to your strength," he said, stepping closer to her. "He didn't kill you because he's not cut out to be an assassin. And I very much doubt that you'll be able to break any of my bones. I'd be far more likely to break you." He was getting more and more panicked, glancing towards where the camera was hidden and knowing that it could be up and running at any moment. And if it caught them, then everything would be over before it even began. "We don't have much time," he said, fighting to keep his tone calm. "So answer me properly."
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Post by Jane on Oct 6, 2012 8:31:07 GMT -4
"Break me? So that's why you're here? Nice. You figured the assassin failed so you'd show him how to do the job properly? And you think I'm going to buy any explanation about me? Listen buster, you obviously have no idea what I can do to you. I'm getting tired of you oretending you're trying to help me. Do you think I'm going to believe anyone who so obviously works for Shirune! Do you think I'm going to up and forget the fact that it was people like you who erased my past and shoved me in a maze of horrors? Because of Shirune and his people, I'm the freak I am now. And you think that by telling me you want to overthrow Shirune, that I,m just going to say 'yes I'll help you' and cooperate?"
Atom paused for a moment. She was sick and tired of this situation right now. Any minute now she was going to lose it and do something she'd regret later. She had to get out of here, and fast, and if it meant breaking bones, she was prepared to do it.
"I'm going to give you one last warning. Get out of here before you make me angry. Because seriously, once I lose my temper, you're not going to like what I'm going to do. I don't want to hear what you have to say. I just want you out of my apartment. You can scurry back to Shriune and tell him to think uo a new plan, because I'm not falling for this one, understand?"
Atom prepared her stance for a fight, just in case. Oryn at least knew what she coukd do, and if this other guy was stuoid, he'd soon know it too. She just sure hoped it didn't come to that.
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Post by Squid (Carys) on Oct 6, 2012 14:05:25 GMT -4
"Huh? Of course I don't live alone..." Clark mumbled. Across the room Cole's eyes widened and he stared at Clark, hoping desperately that he hadn't just heard Clark say that. "My father... He moved in with us a couple of years ago because he was getting too old to be able to take care of himself." Cole sighed a little at that, unsure of whether or not to be relieved by Clark's answer. He hadn't revealed Cole's existence at least, but at the same time, it was worrying if he still thought that his father was alive. Charles Evans had passed away almost two years ago. Clark might have been speaking coherently now, but his comment revealed to Cole at least just how dazed he still was. No, he replayed the sentence in his head, something was wrong. Us. Clark had said 'he moved in with us.' Cole frowned nervously and looked to Shirune, hoping he wouldn't notice that one small word, hoping that he would mark it off only as Clark being confused.
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Post by Dragonsashes on Oct 6, 2012 14:10:39 GMT -4
Gage was in another room when he woke up. Another large mirror covered one wall, but this one seemed like it didn't have a door. Strange, Gage thought. He remembered pain. He remembered the name Silas. How long had it been since that room? He didn't even know if it was day or night, right now. Crackling came from over his head. A speaker, Gage thought. Could they hear him as well as speak to him? Were they going to speak to him? How long had he been here, in this prison? Gage tried to remember his life before walled rooms and cameras. Kyra, his heart pounded in his chest at the name. Was she... He closed his eyes again and calmed himself. Don't run, he remembered. Would the man actually keep his word? The crackling got louder for a moment. "#20290, good to see you are awake. I hope your little diversion didn't cause too much damage. Your meal will be with you shortly." "I want to speak to Silas." Gage said to the air. "Unfortunately, your requests cannot be granted at this time. We are going to be reassessing your value to the program." The crackling stopped. A strew of curse words flew from Gage's mouth as he shook his hand at where the sound was coming from. Silas, right. Like that was really going to work.
It took another five minutes before Gage felt strong enough to sit up. He looked down at his arms, noticing the scales were gone. Well, that was one relief. His legs crossed under his body as he closed his eyes assessing the damage. A few sore muscles in his back were all that he could tell. When he opened his eyes and looked himself over he saw some bruises on his upper arms, some skin missing from his chest, and some scratches along his abdomen. It could be worse, he thought. A small door slid open and a plate was pushed in through the hatch. The door slammed shut before Gage could even move. He tried to call out, but his own voice echoed back at him. Alone, he thought. All alone.
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Post by Cedar on Oct 7, 2012 0:05:33 GMT -4
Oryn raised his hands in a gesture of peace, taking a step back. "Look, Atom, we're not here to hurt you. I never wanted to kill you, I swear. Can you just listen to our proposal?" He kept a wary eye on her, but tried to make no aggressive moves. If only she would stop to listen, if she would believe them...
Shirune hardly missed a beat. He had not, after all, acquired his position without brilliant diplomatic skills and a keen ear for even a single word out of place or the slightest unnatural hesitation. His outward expression remained exactly the same, but his mind picked out the word "us" with a brief moment of interest and, it must be said, victory. "Ah, I see," he said, still smiling. "That makes sense. So, at the time he moved in, who else was living with you?" Would Clark, in his daze, actually slip and reveal the answer? So Shirune hoped, but if this did not work, he had plenty of alternative methods for extracting information.
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Post by Jane on Oct 7, 2012 0:33:23 GMT -4
Atom took a step towards Oryn. "Never meant to kill me? You shot me! Twice! I've only just finished healing up, and you expect me to believe that yoh never meant to kill me? You try being shot and facing the pointy end of a knife. You are an assassin, and you definitely meant to kill me. I don't believe you, and I'm not listening to you any longer."
Pulling back her fist, Atom let fly at Oryn's gut. Shd'd had enough of the lies of these people. She wanted out. Now. They couldn't possibly be telling the truth.
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Post by Squid (Carys) on Oct 7, 2012 1:08:26 GMT -4
"Well Cole of course," Clark responded quickly. Only after the words were out of his mouth did he blink slowly at Shirune, realizing what he had said. He frowned a little and then glanced away from Shirune, letting his eyes wander around the room before falling on Cole nervously. Cole sighed, not entirely shocked that this had happened. He just shifted himself, moving closer to Clark, and more between him and Shirune. He didn't know how this was going to play out, but he was going to be ready to protect Clark if he needed to.
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Post by Cedar on Oct 7, 2012 1:53:10 GMT -4
Oryn doubled over and staggered back, gasping. He was shocked by the suddenness and ferocity of Atom's attack, but her words held even more power, for they, with painful clarity, cut through to the deep guilt he carried. You definitely meant to kill me... He had, and he could not forgive himself for that, but yet... "I meant to, yes," he whispered. "But I didn't want to." He tried to ignore the images that flashed back to him, of Taru writhing with pain and pleading for mercy, but they were too strong. He blinked back the tears forming in his eyes. No, he did not want to kill, but seeing his brother tortured was the worst punishment imaginable. "I'm sorry... I couldn't refuse. If I refuse, if I fail..." he paused, taking in a shuddering breath. Yet he had to say it, if it was the only way he could prove his honesty. "If I ever fail a mission... my younger brother... they punish him instead." There were tears running down his face now, and his fists were clenched in anger. "Torture... electrocution, flogging, near-drowning... and I can do nothing but watch. He's just a kid--why torture him?" Oryn was practically sobbing now, though his voice remained quiet and pained. "I would take any torture in the world not to do this, but his screams, his pain... I cannot take. He never did anything to deserve it! Why would they be so cruel, so inhumane, as to make me pay for my failure in Taru's blood?!" Of course, he knew exactly why, but that only made the pain all the sharper. He closed his eyes, no longer resisting the tears. "I hate the Empire," he whispered.
So, there was someone named Cole. This was... interesting. Shirune's expression remained utterly calm. "Ah, I see. So, can you tell me more about Cole? What exactly is your relation to him?"
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Post by Squid (Carys) on Oct 7, 2012 2:21:16 GMT -4
Clark turned slowly to look at Shirune again, not saying anything for a moment, though he kept opening his mouth like he was about to say something. "I... Cole... He was my pet..." he stammered eventually. His eyes kept darting over to Cole, no matter how much he tried to keep himself from looking that way it was a hard instinct to control. "He was a cat... Black cat... So his name was Coal. Like the stuff. C-O-A-L... But, uh, he died... Sad thing, rather not talk about it..."
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 7, 2012 3:32:25 GMT -4
Silas could only stare as Oryn completely lost his hold on himself. His words were enough for Silas to remember the snow, the attack, even though it was not the same. Silas had no family, really - he would never know nor understand the seemingly human notion of protecting your own blood. But the one person he was supposed to protect... they had survived, but the cost... Silas looked away, banishing the thoughts, but when Oryn brokenly whispered his hatred of the Empire he couldn't help but glance at him. And that was when he saw the tears, but his mind saw something different. To him, the tears were red. My eyes! Oh god, my eyes! Silas, help me! Please! SILAS! He brought his hands to his own eyes, his breathing ragged as he tried to fight the guilt, the horror, the fear. But the images still burned in his mind, and nothing he could say nor do would reverse anything. The tears would still fall, the pain would still be there, and he would still be to blame until the day he died. "I can't," was all he said, barely getting the words out before ripping the door open. He had to get away, away from stupid humans that would never understand, to somewhere that he could just hide and pretend that he wasn't to blame. Why was it different from all of the people he had murdered? He had never felt any sort of guilt towards them... He had only set one foot out of the apartment when Atom grabbed his arm.
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Post by Jane on Oct 7, 2012 3:50:15 GMT -4
"Hold on a minute here. Where do you think you're going?" He wasn't just going to walk off like that. They'd finally got her attention, and this guy was trying to leave already? "No one's going anywhere until I understand exactly what's going on." She dragged Silas back inside and put her back against the door. Funny, a moment ago it had been them stopping her from leaving, but now it was the other way round.
"You, Oryn, you say that you meant to kill me but didn't want to, that you only did it because of your brother. Why should I believe that you're not here because of your brother again? Maybe Shirune asked you to come and capture me and threatened to do something to your brother if you didn't. I don't know whether I can trust you. However, I'm giving you ten minutes to give me a convincing reason as to why I should listen and cooperate. And after that, if you haven't convinced me, then I'm leaving. So, get on with it." Atom crossed her arms.
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Post by Cedar on Oct 7, 2012 4:16:20 GMT -4
"Do you honestly think that I, knowing your capabilities, would simply walk into your apartment and try to talk to you, if it were my goal to capture you? It would have been far easier to enter quietly and at least attempt to catch you unawares. No, that was never my intent. I am tired of the Empire and its evil designs. I can't take it anymore, being forced to either kill or watch my brother's pain. I'm done playing Shirune's games." Oryn shook his head, brushing tears from his eyes roughly. "If this Empire can be overthrown..." He trailed off. "I can't keep living like this," he whispered painfully. He hated to admit it, hated himself for being so weak, but he couldn't hide the truth.
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 7, 2012 5:16:41 GMT -4
Silas nodded, still refusing to actually look at Atom or Oryn. He was still angry, and, for some strange reason, scared - but he had managed to calm himself enough for a mask of indifference to settle. "Oryn is right," he said, and it surprised him how easily he could say the words. "We can overthrow the empire if we play the game right, and if you join us it will all end up in your favour. If we pretend to kill you, then this apartment will be a safe zone. No one will bother to check the cameras when they know no one should live here, and your life will be a normal one. No more assassins sent to end you, just safety. And all that we want you to do is listen for any whisper of a rebellion. Anything at all, and text anything you hear to this number-" he took out a piece of paper, scribbled on it, and handed it to her. "If you don't have a phone, get one. One of us - or both of us - will arrange a meeting with them under the guise of an assassination. We'll pretend to kill them, then talk to them just like we did here." Silas wasn't fond of the thought of talking to humans instead of killing them, but he saw no other way for the rebellion to rise. "We will find a way to slip under Shirune's radar." He paused, glancing towards where the camera would be and turned back to Atom. "If you're going to try to run, now would be the time to do so. If not, I'm going to need to fake some evidence that I've killed you."
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Post by Jane on Oct 7, 2012 5:38:03 GMT -4
Atom thought for a minute. These guys were offering her safety, and the chance to help overthrow the empire, and more importantly a chance to get back at Shirune. She still wasn't entirely happy with them, and she certainly wasn't ready to completely trust them. Actually she didn,t really trust them at all. But they were her only chance to be safe, and to have a shot at breaking every bone in Shirune's body. And seriously, she wanted to have a go at that.
"Fine. I'll take this number, and I'll go along with your plan for now. However first time you try to kill me, or it looks like you double crossed me, I'll be out of here faster than you can blink, and I will come to kill you. Is this understood? I am not a person you want to cross. This is my promise. Now give me that number and get out pf here. I was trying to sleep." Atom pulled open the door and glared at the two me. "Move."
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Post by Cuppy/Wonders on Oct 7, 2012 5:54:34 GMT -4
Silas blinked a few times, surprised by her abruptness, but he didn't move. "We need evidence that you're dead," he repeated. "So that Shirune doesn't check on you. You've already attacked Oryn, so that's some evidence, but if he thinks that I attacked him..." He paused. "We need more solid evidence. Like hair, or blood, or... something."
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Post by Jane on Oct 7, 2012 6:02:25 GMT -4
"Lovely idea...not. Fine. If you need something, but I'll get it myself. I don't trust you to do it at all. You got a knife?" Atom grabbed a knife from Oryn's belt and hacked off a clump of hair. Then she drew the balde across her palm, drawing blood. Her final move was to cover the ends of the hair in blood. Handing the knife back to Oryn, she closed her fist over the cut.
"There, blood and hair. Anything else or can you finally leave me alone?" Atom chucked the hank of hair over to Silas. Opening her fist again, she traced the newly healing cut across her palm. "Because I've had enough for one day."
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