"Sure thing, man," Ruffles replied. "Wake me in a couple hours, and I'll take over." After a while, he settled for a slightly overstuffed armchair, and slung his legs over the side with his weapons and bag in a pile at the bottom. After lying uncomfortably for awhile, he took out a hip flask from one of his many pockets and took a nip from it. It contained some gin from the train heist, as opposed to its usual cargo of Valhalla, and the change was welcome. Offering the flask to Warren, he asked, "Hey man, what do ya think of the plan?"
He pulled the gun away. 'Thank god.'"You think I'm gonna tell you that for free? How 'bout this: you tell me how many men you have here in my city and maybe, maybe I tell you if your friend is still alive."
"Auughh... fuck..." Aesop didn't know what to do. If he didn't tell them they would probably take it out on himself and Silo-if he was even still alive. They would eventually find a way to beat it out of him. Aesop was resilient and no amount of fists would make him talk. But these bastards wouldn't just use fists, they'd use anything in their aresenal and wouldn't care about silly morality. Aesop was 100% convinced that he himself would never turn on his friends... but under torture. Hell everyone would be likely to crack, perhaps even Pixie. More then physical torture there is psychological pressure, eventually everything stops making sense and despite your loyalty you may reveal secrets you don't intend to, confusing an enemy for a friend. Of the few codes he had Aesop was not a traitor. 'I'd fucking hang myself before I tell them anything, gladly.' But he needed to know if Silo was alive.
Even if he just told them one thing it could hurt his friends. Though... the maidens have friends in the city, few but some strong ones. Bennie had helped them in the firefight and from the stories he was apparantly a powerhouse, and the less he says the less the banditos would estimate his friends.
Leaning his head against the wall he thought for a moment. "Um... fuck um... okay lets see there's uh..." he whispered mumblings to himself before saying, "...Bar... Barrot's dead..." he looked up to his captor with disgust. "Three. With me and my friend here, and Barrot dead there's three left. Now is he alive?"
"Do you think we could get out of this room every once in awhile? Lady Josephine and I have grown wary of this place, as you could imagine."
EEEhhhrrreeeyyyyy....uummm
That was a tricky one. It wasn't as if they could just be allowed to wander the ship freely. Who knows what they might find or break. Not to mention the rest of the crew and how they might react to seeing a pair of finely dressed young noblewomen about the place.
And then there's the captain.
She'd already brutalized Lilith and nearly throttled Elizabeth... and hat was all in front of Florian and the rest of the crew. It would be much harder to stop this whole mess from blowing up in their faces if he couldn't easily track the concerned parties.
Then again, looking around the barren little room it was easy to understand wanting to get out of it. Provided this wasn't the build up to an escape attempt.
"I will talk to the captain about arranging a way to give you more space to wander." It would be easy enough to arrange an escort... probably.
"I imagine this whole place runs off one massive immersion heater, just give it a minute and it should warm up soon... Maybe."
Sprout grumbled, accepting his cruel fate. After swift and thorough scrub-down, Sprout had managed to get all of the grime off his body before he staggered out of the shower, covered in goosebumps. He looked at himself in the mirror as he dried off, "I'm fuckn' purple, Lily!" He barked, still shivering from the icy water.
After drying off his hair he wrapped the towel around his waist and exited the bathroom. With a stupid grin and his hands on his hips, he announced, "Like what ya' see, purrty lil' lady?"
"...Bar... Barrot's dead... Three. With me and my friend here, and Barrot dead there's three left. Now is he alive?"
Rodrigo knelt down beside him, his pistol limp on his knee and nodded as Aesop spoke. Silence permeated the room for what felt like an eternity until he gave his friend a swift nod, "Three, huh?" The large man gave Aesop a sharp kick to the ribs. "YOU THINK I'M SOME KINDA RETARD!?"
The large man kicked Aesop again, "Some of my men ran into another group of your boys. We took out one of them, but the rest got away. Now listen, you fuckn' dimwitted puta! Tell. Me. How Many. Of Your Boys. There are. In my city. NOW!" He screamed, pressing the barrel of the revolver against Aesop's temple.
"I will talk to the captain about arranging a way to give you more space to wander."
Elizabeth's face lit up, "Excellent!" With renewed joy, Elizabeth dug into her meal. After a few bites she swallowed and smiled at Florian. "This is quite good. Did you make it?"
Still cross legged on the bed, Lilith pulled the chest of carbon towards herself and opened it up, pondering how best to keep such a huge amount of money.
"I'm fuckn' purple, Lily!"
Lilith smiled, rolling her eyes before returning her attention to the case. We need to break this down, nobody is going to accept a bullion bar of carbon for clothes or food. She furrowed her brow, taking a long drag of her cigarette, tapping the ash into the tray she had placed next to her on the bed.
Her haze gaze didn't shift as Sprout exited the bathroom. "Like what ya' see, purrty lil' lady?" She looked up, taking in the shivering mass of boy flesh. Her expression remained deadpan, "Oh Sprout. Please. Take me now. I can not contain my hunger for cock any longer." She quipped, her voice robotic and emotionless.
Warren shook his head- he disliked drinking, on the job was asking for disaster. He grunted something or other to say as much before thinking for a second.
"The plan? Pretty standard divide and conquer shit. Leaving a lot to Bennie, but someone needs to work with Cameron. Works for me." Warren shrugged, not like he'd come up with much better.
"YOU THINK I'M SOME KINDA RETARD!?" Aesop yelled in pain as he was repeatedly kicked in the ribs. "Some of my men ran into another group of your boys. We took out one of them, but the rest got away. Now listen, you fuckn' dimwitted puta! Tell. Me. How Many. Of Your Boys. There are. In my city. NOW!" The man screamed, pressing the barrel of the revolver against Aesop's temple. Aesop coughed in pain and spoke quick, but taking sharp breaths of air between words. "Fuck fuck I don't know I um..." 'SHIT FUCK FUCK FUCK! God dammit. What if I just give a vague number?' okay a few, a few more I think, but not many. I'm serious like 5 or 6 or something, 7 tops. We didn't bring that many people I fucking swear. I swear on my fucking life. If one's dead its probably about 6 I think." Was this betrayal? Just giving a number? Would this small detail be enough to get all of his friends killed? All he needed to know is if Silo is alive. Then he could stall forever, not tell them anything.
"I only cooked it, others did the rest." Florian replied, taking the question a little to literally.
Florian turned round to see a now presentable (by noble standards) Elizabeth and went back to finding himself a chair. He balanced his plate in one hand as he scooped up mouthfuls of egg, sitting bolt upright with the kind of posture that would shame even one of their captive's peers.
"Is there anything else you need?" He asked.
The next few days would be hectic for all of them and it wouldn't be so easy to make sure the two of them were looked after properly.
"Smelt a bit off did they? That's a bit of a coincidence, I was just chasing a pair of people down in the sewers earlier, I want to ask them a few questions about a case I'm currently pursuing. Maria. The two people that robbed you of your bike, was one of them carrying a large container, possibly made out of leather or something like that?"
Maria was conflicted; while they had to have done something bad to earn a bounty, well, she did believe in that there was some goodness somewhere inside black hearts. Not to mention a harsh fact of life: no one liked a snitch. But the matter of the case did intrigue her. Just what sort of thing did they desperately steal a run-down moped to cart around? Nevertheless there were her own matters to attend to. Not wanting to be stuck there in front of the Gunslinger - partly out of concern for Micky, concern for the odd pair and concern for herself and her ties to certain aspects of... underground activity - not that Maria was important enough to earn a bounty - she hesitantly answered the bounty hunter's question.
"Err... I think so?" Maria said, then bolted back to the cheap hotel and the room she had rented.
"Err... I think so?" Maria said, then suddenly bolted into a nearby building.
"Maria! Wait!" Viola called out as she stretched her arm out. "I didn't...... mean to scare you." Viola then said, sounding a little down about how she acted. After a moment she lowered her arm and kicked at the street, silently cursing herself.
Right now, given her low success rate at getting anything related to the job, Viola realised she was too tired to be chasing down anyone at the moment; and figured a warm shower or something would help clear her head and help her think straight. Double checking that she had everything, she started her walk back to the room she had been using ever since arriving in Feroxi.
"The plan? Pretty standard divide and conquer shit. Leaving a lot to Bennie, but someone needs to work with Cameron. Works for me."
"Yeah. You don't really know the guy but trust me when I say he's good to have around. I bet you heard a few things about Bennie Carmine?" Anyway, him and Cameron, you and me was the best logical combination for distribution of talents, but on top of that, it's put people who're more familiar with each other together. I coulda asked you to be the one to go with Bennie, but why the hell should you trust him?"
Sitting up in his seat, he leaned down and fumbled through his bag. "That reminds me. We still haven't heard anything from the others since we were separated. Maybe they can find something out about Aesop and Silo." Producing his radio, he thumbed the button. "Come in, Slepnir squad. Come in, Slepnir squad. Do you read me?" No response. He tried again. "Hey Slepnir Squad, get your fists outta your asses and gimme a sign, would ya?"
Any returned the kiss, as well as the smile that followed it.
"It would be my pleasure Captain." she answered, before following Meredith out of the room, thus enabling the other crew members who were sitting down to breakfast to put their tongues back in and hold a conversation with each-other.
Once they had all taken their seats in the dining hall, The Gentleman looked at the pair of them and said, businesslike and without a hint of innuendo, "I trust we all found time to view our dossiers last night."
"Oh Sprout. Please. Take me now. I can not contain my hunger for cock any longer."
Sprout's eyes narrowed as his stupid grin grew more insidious, "Lily, ya' know I love it when y'all talk dirty like that." Sprout scooted by and retrieved a clean change of cloths from his backpack and started for the bathroom again. "Unfortunately, I reckon yer gonna hafta wait. There're a whole mess'a hot girls down stairs that're waitn' their turn ta' ride my meat-stick, if ya' know what I mean."
Sprout closed the door behind him, "Now don' go peakn' on me, ya' hear!?" He shouted from the other side of the bathroom door.
Rodrigo shook his head, unsatisfied by Aesop's plea. He sighed as he rubbed his eyes in frustration, "You're nothing but a fuckn' spaz, aren't you? Well, that's fine with me. You're a fuckn' squealer. Gave me far more than that other fucker.' He looked over his shoulder towards the door. " Send him in."
Silo, covered in bruises and blood, staggered into the room and collapsed in a heap next to Aesop. He groaned pathetically. Rodrigo grinned, "Maybe he's be more cooperative tomorrow? Well, I'll let you two sleep on your current situation. I'm sure you'll see there is no way out. Once a piggy starts squeeln' there ain't nothing he won't spill." His was a cruel smile, indeed.
He got to his feet and walked out the door, "Keep an eye on them." The bald, intimidating man nodded and left out the door with him; presumably to stand watch outside the door.
Once the door had closed and Silo had stopped coughing up blood, he looked up at Aesop from where he laid, "Y-you fuckn' ratted out our guys?"
"Hey Slepnir Squad, get your fists outta your asses and gimme a sign, would ya?"
Bennie entered the room, shotgun slung over his shoulder, "You came with a second team?" He grimaced. "Hopefully they fared better than we did. Comm interference ain't a surprise around here. This dome's tricky. We're going to want to find high-ground to get a signal."
"I trust we all found time to view our dossiers last night."
Pixie gave a hardy laugh, "An' I trust that's a joke, right?! No, Gents, y'all know my one eyes makes me a slow reader! Plus, I reckon I was squeel'n too good ta' give the mission much thought last night. Give me the short version an' I can fill in the blanks. Ya' know I'm good fer it."
Tsubaki sat silently in the General's office for a solid thirty minutes before he had finally arrived. She was nothing if not punctual and it was clear he was not. Despite her distaste for the man, she was a proper soldier and she knew the part she played better than anyone. As soon as his presence was made known she stood up and snapped to attention. Though she felt nothing in performing the act for the man, her salute was exemplary and convincing enough for him.
Standing before her, he looked down upon the short soldier, "At ease, Saburo. Do you know why you're here, Commander?"
Tsubaki didn't so much as blink, "No, sir. I have already received my orders and was preparing for departure when your summons arrived."
"Spare me the details, Commander. I asked you a simple question."
"My simple answer is no, General." Tsubaki stated coldly.
He grunted, unamused and continued, "You and your team have already received details on the operation in Frostfall and I expect it will go off with out a hitch. That is not what I am concerned with, however." Tsubaki didn't stir. "I am here to question your loyalty to your commanding officer. I want to know whether or not you're loyal to the chain of command or if you're just our Lord's favorite lapdog: eager to clean the shit off his boots and lick the seed from his---"
Tsubaki's stone-cold demeanor wavered and her brow furrowed, "PERMISSION TO SPEAK FREELY, GENERAL?!" She shouted.
"Denied, Commander."
How dare you....
He smirked and laughed to himself. He enjoyed setting her off. There was something about exploiting the cracks in her mask that really brought a smile to his face. He was nothing but a pig in Tsubaki's eyes. Only loyal to his next paycheck. Not unlike some of her comrades.
Once he'd banished his laughter and regained his composure he continued, "So, am I to assume you will follow your orders despite them no originating from Lord Basilio's mouth?"
"Yes, Sir." Any sign of emotions she had displayed moments ago had faded.
"Good, Lord Basilio will be happy to hear you are every bit the soldier he thought you were. And... perhaps the plaything?" He suggested with a taunting grin.
"Am I dismissed, Sir?"
"Yes, yes, get the hell out of my office!" He said through his incessant laughter.
The moment the word "yes" left his mouth she had already pivoted on her heel and left towards the door. Once she closed it behind her she muttered under her breath, "I'll feed you your own cock one day you fucking scum." Her emotions properly vented and her resolve in check, she headed towards the barracks.
Once inside, she spotted her squad playing cards in the corner of the room. They had likely been ready to depart for some time now. Unfortunately, the General's "urgent" summons had put them behind schedule. She approached the three larger men, and towered over them, despite her stature, "Is everything ready?"
Name: Commander Tsubaki Saburo
Age: 23
Sex: Female
Profession: Soldier in Lord Dio Basilio's army. Leader of the Black Ops squad "Samsara"
Appearance: Tsubaki is short for her profession, standing at 5'3, though the way she carries herself would make one think otherwise. One could easily be fooled by her soft features: a small button nose, modest, pink lips and big, brown eyes. Despite her welcoming features, however, she rarely smiles or displays any emotion at all. Her otherwise attractive features become a thing to be feared when on her bad side. She's also a fan of crimson eye-shadow.
Of Japanese descent, Tsubaki has long, fine black hair that she usually keeps held up in a bundle with a clamp. She only ever lets it down when showering or sleeping. She doesn't have bangs and the front of her hair is usually kept tucked behind her ear.
She may be short but that doesn't mean she's not physically imposing. With the figure of a gymnast, Tsubaki is incredibly nimble and has a surprising amount of raw strength. Toned and thin, she doesn't have much of a chest, but she's consistently teased by her peers for her large rump.
When not in her military issued uniform--whether it be formal uniform or armor--she usually just wears fatigues. On her current assignment she is disguised as a bandit and is wearing a blue, plaid scarf, a tan military-style jacket with a black t-shirt underneath, black, finger-less gloves, tan tight-fitting cargo pants and combat boots.
Though she usually sports her noble-issued plasma rifle and sidearm, her current mission requires she be undercover and has opted to carry an M4 carbine-equivalent and a Beretta pistol-equivalent sidearm. She is also no stranger to knife fighting and carries a combat knife on her at all times.
Personality: Tsubaki is soft-spoken, only ever contributing to a conversation when she feels it necessary. She has no sense of humor to speak of and has a low tolerance for those who don't take their duty seriously. That said, she has a great sense of duty to her fellow soldiers as they are the closest thing she's ever had to a family. She will also defend her Lord, Dio Basilio's, name and honor to the death. She practically worships the man.
Though she is generally cold and methodical she has been known to have a soft-side. She likes children and small animals, thinking them innocent, victims in a hostile world that cares little for them. She's been described as a pessimist and a nihilist, but she prefers to think herself a realist. Tsubaki prefers whole numbers, accurate data, and definitive answers. She doesn't have time for guesswork or indecisiveness.
Biography: Tsubaki grew up on the streets of New Roppongi, the daughter of a poor merchant. In order to feed his family her father borrowed money from the yakuza, or more specifically, the Yamato family. When her father couldn't pay up, the yakuza slew her parents and took her for their own use. One year of servitude and abuse later, when she turned 12-years-old, she was set free by the most unlikely of people. Dio Basilio had been amassing power throughout the ashlands, forging fragile alliances with bandit families from all over the Rock. When the boss of the Yamato family refused to do business with him he showed up to their headquarters personally.
When negotiations fell through Dio offered an ultimatum: they were to work with him or drown in their own blood. They countered by suggesting they settle things over a duel to the death between Dio himself and their best swordsman: Kisaragi. His younger brother, Masakado, watched as Dio defeated his brother's sword... unarmed. The shame he brought to the bandit family with Kisaragi's defeat was so great they agreed to his terms and showered him in gifts in hopes he'd show them mercy. He did, but he didn't do so until he'd gotten all that he desired from them. That included Tsubaki.
Thinking him her savior, Tsubaki accompanied the noble with a smile on her face and went on to live in his tower, looked after by his staff of servants. As soon as she came of age she joined the military in hopes she could some day repay Dio for all that he had done for her. Since that day she has served his name and house honorably and has fought in several military campaigns across the ashlands. She was awarded for her loyalty and skill numerous times and was eventually approached to lead a new special ops squad by Dio himself. She graciously accepted the offer and has been leading the small group on high-risk sabotage and infiltration missions for the last three years.
Name: Bryan O'Lafferty Age: 30 Sex: M Profession: Spec Ops
Appearance: Slightly under average height, with a dancer's build, disguising lean muscle. Brown hair that is constantly backswept, and a trimmed but full beard. Always grinning very widely, with laugh lines around his eyes. Bryan's eyes are his most distinguished feature. He has Heterochromia iridum, meaning his eyes are different colours. In his case, one is dark but vibrant blue, and the other is a bright grass green. Bryan has a habit of slouching that belies his quick, balanced and graceful way of moving. His accent is what was described as a "brogue", that old literature remnants connect to a place called Ireland in Earth that was. This accent is native to the slums of a slightly Northern dome called Maddingham.
Personality: Bryan is always laughing and grinning. He can't resist making a joke, or baiting people, but generally gets along with everyone as long as they can joke a little. Bryan enjoys loud environments, which is at odds with his disorder: A very slight case of Synaesthesia. It allowed him to see sounds as blooms of color, which made them easier to process. However, this made him slightly more susceptible to loud noises, and as such he frequently takes aspirin to counteract his penchant for loud music and conversation, though he's no stranger to shrugging off pain.
Bryan likes drink, as is typical for a member of his family, with a particular passion for beer. On top of this, he is a relentless and successful womanizer, much to the irritation of his female colleagues, who find it boorish.
Finally, Bryan has a huge fondness for knife games, such as five finger fillet and mumbletypeg, able to play them with great skill.
Biography: Born to a family of drunks, Bryan frequently escaped to the streets of Maddingham, which took him into the often less than friendly clutches of other children. As such, he grew up fist fighter. While he got used to being able to take a punch and hitting back, he worked out the best approach was to get hit as little as possible, developing the lithe grace of a dancer.
As he grew through his formative years, he developed an easy going manner that often won over potential enemies on the streets. His family often too drunk to work, he looked after himself by stealing what he needed. Loving the thrill of it, he became a burglar, often targeting minor Nobles. The best way to go about it was usually via the roof, and so he became very acrobatic and balanced in free running. This opened up a new (and less punishable) source of excitement, and another way to make money impressing people with daring feats. But his lust for theft continued. He had never been caught, due to adapting to his Synaesthesia to the point where it was an advantage. This would change, however at the age of seventeen when he broke into a Noble's loft and something caught his eye. A twinned pair of oriental broadswords on a stand. Bryan always stole little things he could carry with no interference to his movement, but this was too good to resist. It got him caught. But instead of punishment, the Noble took an interest in him, and taught him to use the weapons on the condition he use them to serve both their interests.
Bryan was entered in an underground fighting circuit against men and often people his own age. With his broadswords and acrobatics, he was able to acquit himself nicely. However, another Noble noticed and frequently bet on him, entering into informal partnership with the Noble training Bryan. However, an argument about money splitting led to a fight, and Bryan's benefactor was killed. With mixed feelings about the situation, and his slight kleptomania reasserting itself, Bryan left and drifted for awhile.
Several years later, Dio Basillio's agents 'contacted' him and offered him work. Intrigued, he accepted.
Notes: Equipment: Bryan favors no particular firearms and uses them interchangeably. Ever present however, are his Chinese Dao broadswords. Two halves of a single weapon, they share a single specially made sheath, giving the illusion of being a single sword, slung over his back. Separate though, they are light and swift, but stout and deadly. As well as this, he keeps a fixed blade stiletto knife.
Name: Asad Harel Age: 29 Sex: Male Profession: Member of Samara
Appearance: 'Middle Eastern' is a term Asad heard his parents throw around often, apparently he was descended from that particular ethnicity back on the Old Planet, with dark olive skin, dark brown eyes, and pitch black hair, who was he to disagree? The man stood at around 6 feet, 2 inches, with wide shoulders and a lean muscular build with the various scarred remains of countless battles dotted across his skin. He carried himself with balance and poise, very rarely would he be caught slouching. His dark hair was shaved close to his scalp around the back and sides, the hair on top he kept slightly longer, he generally slicked it back, with a few strands of his fringe hanging loose. Asad always seemed to have a significant amount of stubble, despite shaving often, a disadvantage of his race, so he was told. Or an advantage, depending on your perspective. His clothing was typically whatever uniform he'd been ordered to wear, but when given the choice, he would usually been seen wearing a pair of faded jeans, a linen shirt button up shirt, and a black leather biker jacket.
Personality: Asad had a very dry sense of humour, throwing out witty observations even in the middle of a heated firefight. A very focused and disciplined individual, he put his all into the task at hand, with cold, almost ruthless determination. He took no joy from killing, but he didn't particularity abhor it either. Just a consequence in his line of work. The thrill of the battlefield, the heat of a firefight, that was Asad's passion. He loved combat, and he was good at what he loved. Being part of a squad, being a single part in a well oiled machine of precision lethality, it was an art form for him. Asad believed in strength, and strength could manifest itself in a number of forms. He respected strength, friend or foe.
Biography: His childhood was rather uneventful. Asad's parents both ran a small weapons shop in Feroxi, and was exposed to guns at an early age. He grew to love the engineering involved, the craftsmanship, the sound of a magazine being loaded into a clip, or the bolt-action being pulled back on a rifle. It wasn't till much later in his life did he come to appreciate the killing aspect of those weapons. Asad joined the local militia at the age of 16, a career move his parents supported wholeheartedly. It was an honour for a young man to take up arms to protect what was his. He quickly established himself above his peers, his experience with all kinds of firearms giving him a significant starting advantage. Asad quickly rose up the ranks, becoming the captain of his own squad at 18. His career eventually led him to be a part of Lord Dio Basilio's own private spec ops team. He didn't particularly like the man, but he respected the strength he commanded, and might controls everything.
Name: Jun-young Moon Age: 21 Sex: Male Profession: "Samara" Spec Ops Squad Member
Appearance: Of Korean descent with brown eyes and black hair. He has slim, but muscular build and has long hair that is usually worn in a ponytail. Jun isn?t a person who shows his emotions, thus his face is little more than an expressionless mask. He is clean-shaven and will endeavour to stay that way. He has a penchant for smart clothes, as he believes elegance to be a virtue. But, of course, while on duty he?s stuck in a military uniform- not that he minds. His hair is tied with a red silk ribbon - a little memento of his hometown. On his back are numerous scars and by his nape is a small tattoo that simply reads: SSD-173-HWG. Jun is never seen with his sniper rifle on his back when not actively using it, instead he carries it (disassembled of course.) in a black suitcase along with various other things that might be handy, such as mines. The sniper rifle itself resembles a Dragunov sniper rifle.
Personality: In a word, reserved. Jun puts on a serious and calm demeanor in spite of his wary attitude towards the word. Make no mistake, he isn?t paranoid, but he isn?t particularly carefree either. Jun?s attitude towards women is less than healthy, as he believes that they have no reason to be anything but the home. Nevertheless, he keeps his beliefs to himself, as his reserved nature dictates. However, that particular belief has been somewhat challenged ever since he left his hometown. Regardless, he?s not being paid for his opinion on anything, just for his abilities. Jun has nothing keeping him loyal to Dio Basilio except for the contract he signed, but his opinion of the man himself is largely neutral. In fact, Jun can?t really say that he knows the man well enough yet. He is, however, loyal to his hometown and as such, does not talk about it or his past.
Biography: Jun was born to a working-class family and grew in the domed city of Mugunghwa-i, along with his little sister, Hye-Jeong. Life was relatively normal for them, well, normal in terms of what counted for normality in Mugunghwa-i. Jun would go to school while Hye-Jeong would stay at home and help her mother out, as it was thought that education would be wasted on women -no point teaching them anything when their sole purpose was producing children and rearing them. He grew up during a turbulent time in Mugunghwa-i, when terrorist attacks from groups against the sexual discrimination were quite common. The most prominent among these groups was one called Kumiho. Jun was drafted into the militia, or rather, the Imperial Guard when he was sixteen.
There, he became a trained soldier and got everything that came with it: an identification tattoo, dog tags, scars from numerous punishment - the instructors seemed to always find something wrong with the recruits - and a job monitoring the exterior of the domed city, shooting anyone or anything that came close without a proper permit from a sniper?s nest. Along with the job came the burden of keeping the existence of the outside world a secret from the citizenry of Mugunghwa-i, as the regime there had chosen to isolate the city from the outside world - not to mention they had the resources to do it. The propaganda that was fed to the citizens was that the outside world was simply a wasteland of dust and ghosts, that it was simply a bad idea to leave.
But just how did they know that Jun would keep such a secret? Well, the final test the trainees were given wasn?t really a test at all, but a proper assignment, or so they were told. After a terrorist recent attack, they sent the recruits to weed out a bunch of rebels escaping from the scene and gave them strict orders to leave none alive. However, the top brass left out an important detail: among the rebels were people close to the recruits. Some had chosen to rebel against the tyrannical regime, while others were caught in the crossfire. The recruits were just assigned targets to take out, those that didn?t would fail and would probably be placed in low-skill jobs. Jun didn?t want to let all of his training go to waste, he didn?t want to become a menial worker. So, like some of the others, he took the shot. Afterwards, he dared to glimpse the identity of Target No. 371.
It was his sister, the not-so-little-anymore Hye-Jeong Moon.
At first, the realization hit Jun like a brick. But the blow was cushioned by reassuring smiles from his parents, superiors and comrades at his graduation ceremony, even though his parents had no idea at time. She had go off to marry at sixteen, as per her parents? arrangement. They had simply assumed that she was busy serving her husband in a distant district. In addition to the smiles, Jun told himself that it her death was a good thing, that Hye-Jeong didn?t have to suffer anymore. He never found out whether she was an actual rebel or not, and still hopes that she wasn?t. After all, the Moons were a good, hardworking family as well as a loyal one, right? That family pride and a sense of duty were the only things that kept Jun going on his long shifts in that sniper?s nest. However, the more he looked at the outside world, he more he wanted freedom.
Regardless of a single soldier?s fate, the agents of Dio Basilio can be found everything, even in an isolationist city like Mugunghwa-i. After all, the man needs to keep an eye on all that occurs on The Rock. While interrogating a rebel, Jun found out that a splinter group of Kumiho was harbouring an outsider that had links to people, important people. Whoever they had links to, Jun didn?t care. It had come to the point where he just wanted out of Mugunghwa-i. He gradually ?liberated? the agent from the splinter group and demanded the agent?s assistance. He got it, and that lead a place in Dio Basilio?s army.
Bryan slapped his cards down triumphantly. "Royal flush!" Leaning forward, he swept the pile of carbon they were playing for over to his side. He was about to gloat when they were interrupted by their commander. "Is everything ready?"
Bryan looked up at her. Based off the muffled shout he'd heard, and the extra layer of terseness in her question, the man had gotten under her skin again.
"Yeh look bonny when yer angry," he said, smiling. The smile flickered at the glare she gave him, but came back in full force, revealing white teeth. Leaning in his chair to an improbable degree and putting his boots up on the table, he said, "aye, Commander. Ready and waitin'."
========================================
Ruffles glanced up at Bennie's appearance. "Yeah. Didn't mention 'em before 'cause we can't count on them at the moment. Gotta be able to plan without them. Anyhow, think I should wait 'til morning or go hiking for better reception now?"
"Lily, ya' know I love it when y'all talk dirty like that."
Rolling her eyes, Lilith sighed and returned her attention to the case. We can't keep this much on us, we need to decide where we're staying in the long term, and hide it.
"Unfortunately, I reckon yer gonna hafta wait. There're a whole mess'a hot girls down stairs that're waitn' their turn ta' ride my meat-stick, if ya' know what I mean."
Lilith smirked, "Well, yes, I'm sure a young man like yourself, with a case full of carbon, would be quite the popular chap." She stretched her arms above her head, cracking her fingers and neck. As the boy picked up some 'clean' clothes, he shuffled back into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
"Now don' go peakn' on me, ya' hear!?"
"I don't know, it might be too much for me to resist." Lilith grinned as she got to her feet, sneaking over to the door, she quickly cracked it open without looking inside, "HURRY UP I'M STARVIN'!"
Asad frowned as he let his cards fall loosely from his hand and onto the table, glancing over at Jun, he aimed a thumb at Bryan.
"Why do we always play with this cheatin' sing-song bastard?" He smiled dryly "Luck my ass." His expression hardened as the commander approached, straightening in his chair.
"Is everything ready?"
"Aye commander, I've double checked all the equipment, nothing to report."
"Yeh look bonnie when yer angry,"
Asad stifled a smirk. He was right, she was kinda hot when she was flustered.
The slight frown was replaced by his usual calm smile in an instant.
"I should hope so, for I's hate to have to dock you marks for lack of appropriate study." he replied playfully. "In short, you are a journalist writing for the Boomhower Gazette, a periodical that Light-Year Media has been looking to acquire for some time. All the necessary forgeries have been made, your story will check out if anyone looks any closer. I am posing as your Senior Editor. You're something of a protege of mine, you see. We'll be attending to drink fine wines, eat expensive canapes, and covertly discuss the prospects of a merger. At this point, all we need to worry about is being asked awkward questions that we don't know the answers to, so I suggest that you spend the few hours we have left before we need to park the Maiden somewhere discreet doing your homework."
Jun sighed as he placed his cards down on the table. He had never had any luck at these pointless games. Then again, the carbon would probably be earned back quickly enough. One of the perks of being in the squad. Asad seemed a little worked up about losing, at least from the frown and from what he said. Jun didn't sympathise as he still didn't see the importance of the pile of dirt on the table. Mugunghwa-i had created its own currency and had downplayed the significance of carbon - lowly citizens and soldiers, even the Imperial Guard, didn't need to know about that, after all.
"Why do we always play with this cheatin' sing-song bastard?"
Did he expect Jun to follow up with another joke? Well, the sniper was a serious one. And that's putting it lightly. "Because he is the most willing, sir. 'Cheatin' sing-song bastard' or not." He curtly replied to the dry remark. However, banter was cut short by the Commander's entrance. Jun immediately shot out up of the chair and gave a salute to his superior.
"Is everything ready?"
"Yes, Commander." He replied. Was the question really necessary? Regardless, he tried to swat thoughts about Bryan's remark away. There was nothing attractive about that scowl. What did she expect, honesty? While she was the Commander, the officer in charge of Samsara, she was still a woman. A woman trying to play a man's role, no less. Of course such a thing would be mocked. At least the General had that much sense. Nevertheless, regardless of her sex, she was still the Commander. Jun could only think of her as the Commander, and that suited him just fine.
Aesop felt shame run through him as he was called a squealer, a pig, a rat. Silo being pushed into his room in his current state made him realise just how much he was fucking up by saying anything at all to those bastards. Silo was in a much worse state than Aesop was, crumpled on the floor. The banditos took their leave and Silo said clearly pissed at Aesop, "Y-you fuckn' ratted out our guys?"
"No I..." he stuttered and stumbled over his words. "All I said was a number, that's it. And I was just saying it to see if you were alive. I'm not saying anything else I let them pull my finger nails out and kill me before I say anything else. What can they do with a number? I swear all I needed to know is was if you were alive." Aesop pleaded, hoping Silo would believe him. He had fucked up again. Every single time he had fucked up and fucked up more. 'God, everyone would be better off if I was dead.'
Tsubaki looked down upon her subordinates with the same unreadable frown they'd come to know her for. They were good soldiers, of that she was certain. That isn't to say she didn't have issues with them, however. Bryan was a womanizer and a joker above all else. Bot qualities she despised. For someone to approach an important job with such candor was off-putting, to say the least. The flirting was just the bitter cherry on top.
Asad was a similar case, but to a much lesser extent. Where she more or less despised Bryan on a personal level she had a lot more respect for Asad's attitude. He joked occasionally, yes, but more often than not it was to cool his nerves. War could get under any veteran's skin, no matter how battle hardened, after all.
Jun was the worst by far. The irony was that, despite her personal qualms with the man, he was the most loyal soldier under her command. He followed orders, swiftly, efficiently and without question. However, she knew he was only loyal to a point. His was a loyalty to the chain of command, not Tsubaki specifically. After three years of high-risk operations together she had hoped the man would warm up to his commanding officer, but no, despite not voicing it she could tell he resented her just as much as she did him.
They were an awkward group to be around, that much was certain, but they were a well-oiled machine. Machines didn't need to "get along".
"Yeh look bonnie when yer angry."
Tsubaki looked to Bryan without moving her head, "Now's not the time, O'Laffery."
Seeing that they had finished their preparations she nodded and turned towards the door, "I apologize for the delay. Grab your things and meet m by the crawler outside. We depart ASAP."
"All I said was a number, that's it. And I was just saying it to see if you were alive. I'm not saying anything else I let them pull my finger nails out and kill me before I say anything else. What can they do with a number? I swear all I needed to know is was if you were alive."
Silo sighed and forced himself into a sitting position, screaming out in pain as he did so. After taking a moment to get his barrings he spoke, "Not sure I am going to be alive much longer, Aesop. I think they know I ain't telling them shit. They've already got you pinned as the weak link and they're probably going to off me in front of you tomorrow to make a point." He looked down at his bloodied hands. A look of sorrow painted on his face. "I'm sorry... I'll be getting the easy way out. You're the one they'll be trying to break. Your torment will last far longer."
He looked to Aesop, "Please man, tell me you can take it. Please tell me you won't snap. I need to know my friends won't come to harm for my mistakes."
"Yeah. Didn't mention 'em before 'cause we can't count on them at the moment. Gotta be able to plan without them. Anyhow, think I should wait 'til morning or go hiking for better reception now?"
Bennie shook his head, "This place is far worse at night, Jake. We need to lay low for now. Y'all saw hell today and could use a good rest, anyway. First thing tomorrow we'll try to make contact with them. That good with you?"
"Alright, alright!" Sprout shouted in response. Soon after he emerged from the bathroom with a new change of cloths: a blue t-shirt, cargo shorts and sneakers. He looked to the case of carbon and scratched his head. "You reckon the stash is safe here 'n the room?"
"... At this point, all we need to worry about is being asked awkward questions that we don't know the answers to, so I suggest that you spend the few hours we have left before we need to park the Maiden somewhere discreet doing your homework."
Pixie had gone through three pancakes in the time it took the Gentleman to describe her cover. She nodded along as he spoke and when he was done she wiped her lips off with a napkin and smiled, "Sounds good, sounds good. I reckon it says in here somewhere how I lost 'n eye? 'Er am I the 'blind journalist'?" Pixie laughed.
She grabbed the dossier as she got up from the table. It was a fine breakfast, indeed. Noble contraband was always nice to have while it lasted. After fingering through the pages of the dossier quickly she looked back to the Gentleman, "Shouldn' take long fer me ta' do my homework. I'll be thumbn' threw it between sets. Y'all can find me 'n hanger if ya' need me."
"This place is far worse at night, Jake. We need to lay low for now. Y'all saw hell today and could use a good rest, anyway. First thing tomorrow we'll try to make contact with them. That good with you?"
"Guess it has to be," Ruffles replied. "Not that I like waiting when Aesop and Silo are getting reamed by banditos."
Bryan put his index and middle fingers to his temple in a casual salute. "Aye, commander." Swinging his feet off the table, and levering himself up fluidly, he picked up the sheathed swords where they were propped against the table, and swung them onto his back. The sheath's gold filigree flashed under the room's lighting as it passed through the air. "Look alive, boyos! It's go time!"
Rumours had led them to the train station, and Eddie was left no option but to question a staff member. A likely looking train conductor had admitted to working or otherwise being about the station all the previous day, so that was a good place to start.
"Did a ship dock here?"
"We get a couple ships every now and then, stranger. Be more specific."
"It wasn't held by a Noble. That specific enough?"
"Well gee, I'm... I'm not sure. It's hard to pay attention when ya work as hard as I do to make ends meet." The conductor flashed Eddie a grin. But Eddie was getting tired of questioning people, and even tireder of bribing them. He drew off his right glove quickly, but drew off the left in a slow and exaggerated motion that drew the eye. Drew it to the glint of his metal plated hand. The conductor stammered. "I--yeah. Some one eyed ***** and a real flash bastard picked up this real fine piece o'ass. Please don't hurt me, mister Metal, I was only funnin' with ya, I--"
"Alrighty then. Which way did it fly?"
The conductor began spilling the information like a punctured water skin.
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