When everybody had been appropriately armed, Acolyte approached Harris.
'Alright. It's time you told me who our backup is.'
'Alright. It's time you told me who our backup is.'
'The Pit: Hell Frozen Over' - Arc 3, Chapter 3: 'The One Truth' (Closed, Started)
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Harris threw a backpack over his shoulder and shrugged, "That's on a need-to-know basis and apparently we don't need to know."
He placed heavy emphasis on "we" indicating to Acolyte that this may be a bigger game than he thought.
"Alright men, we've cleared this place out. It's time to move!"
He placed heavy emphasis on "we" indicating to Acolyte that this may be a bigger game than he thought.
"Alright men, we've cleared this place out. It's time to move!"
"Yeah sure whatever" Said Travis as he walked to a private area with Sticks. "Now a lot of people have gravely insulted me, so why don't you tell me how I can get revenge on half the fucking pit eh?"
Sticks left the recruits who remained outside with their guns trained on Travis' men. Conrad stood watch outside of the room. Sticks leaned up against the wall with his arms crossed. He looked incredibly relaxed, "If you don't mind I'm going to skip all the pleasantries and I'm not going to pull any punches. You've fucked up. You've fucked up bad," Sticks smirked arrogantly. "I know it. You know it. Your men know it. The whole goddamned Pit knows it. But you know what they should be made aware of? No one fucks with 'The Dragon'."
Sticks walked across the room and sat down in a steel chair, "Revenge on all of your enemies will take time, but I'm here to put you in a position that'd make it all possible. How would you like to lead the Arctic Wolves?"
Sticks walked across the room and sat down in a steel chair, "Revenge on all of your enemies will take time, but I'm here to put you in a position that'd make it all possible. How would you like to lead the Arctic Wolves?"
No one fucks with 'The Dragon'." Travis smirked. He felt like Sticks was insulting him, and he was, but those words always gave him a mental hard on. Sticks walked across the room and sat down in a steel chair, "Revenge on all of your enemies will take time, but I'm here to put you in a position that'd make it all possible. How would you like to lead the Arctic Wolves?"
Travis beamed a sadistic smile and laughed an evil cackle. "Y'know its times like this that I wish I had like a liquor cabinet or something. But don't think I'm stupid, I know that all you want is a pawn." Travis moved uncomfortably close to Sticks. "Someone tough who knows how to fuck someone up, without question." Travis paused for a moment before leaning back. "And I'm okay with that, as long as you don't try to make me your *****. Believe me man I know how to fuck people up. Y'know that part of your brain that says 'This is the wrong thing to do?' Yeah? Well I never had that. I killed a baby in front of a mother once, and then I raped her and drowned her. So you should know just how willing I am to cross a line that other people say should never be crossed. So tell me, what's your plan? And how the hell are you gonna make sure I take Azrael's place?."
Travis beamed a sadistic smile and laughed an evil cackle. "Y'know its times like this that I wish I had like a liquor cabinet or something. But don't think I'm stupid, I know that all you want is a pawn." Travis moved uncomfortably close to Sticks. "Someone tough who knows how to fuck someone up, without question." Travis paused for a moment before leaning back. "And I'm okay with that, as long as you don't try to make me your *****. Believe me man I know how to fuck people up. Y'know that part of your brain that says 'This is the wrong thing to do?' Yeah? Well I never had that. I killed a baby in front of a mother once, and then I raped her and drowned her. So you should know just how willing I am to cross a line that other people say should never be crossed. So tell me, what's your plan? And how the hell are you gonna make sure I take Azrael's place?."
Sticks nodded intently as Travis talked himself up. When he was done Sticks leaned in close, "I'm not going to lie. This is going to be some tricky business, but I think you're the man for the job. First thing's first, we need allies," Sticks got out of the chair and began pacing around the room. "I have the Aryans under my control, but they're itching for blood and need to be allowed to feed before too long. Unfortunately, the most likely ally we can hope to have in the coming battle are the Crips who--as I am sure you know--don't play nice with the skinheads," Sticks stopped pacing and smiled at Travis. "And that's where you come in."
"The Wolves have already reached out to the Crips in order to invalidate my alliance with the Aryans. With the Crips' allegiance comes the Zulu, or rather, the people responsible for the late Hans von Strucker's death. Though they have yet to give their answer, the Zulu will likely turn away from the Crips as they despise the Wolves. As a 3rd party I need you to convince the Crips that a temporary alliance with the Aryans against the Wolves is necessary if they are to expand their influence and that continuing to ally themselves with the group responsible for Strucker's assassination will spell doom for them when the Aryans go after the Zulu for revenge," Sticks paused for a moment. "You're getting all this right? Of course you are! Don't worry, I am getting to the part you'll enjoy."
Sticks sat back down across from Travis, "You will also point out that the Wolves are responsible for their men's recent erratic behavior. You will tell them that the Wolves laced their meth with steroids in an attempt to facilitate a war with the Aryans who have begun to rebel against their former masters. This is, in part true, though I suppose it doesn't matter since you don't really need to know what is and isn't a lie here anyway," Sticks took a deep breath. "So this is, specifically what I need you to do: go into Crips territory with an offering... the corpse of a recently deceased Warden should do. Then, you tell them what I told you. Try to make it convincing. If you need to you may challenge their strongest warrior to a duel, in which I am sure you will be victorious. Once you have their word you will report back to me," Sticks closed his eyes nodding to himself. "What comes next will be a glorious battle, the likes of which the Pit has never seen. I will assume command of this facility and be your advocate on the surface while you are placed upon Azrael's throne to run things down here."
"When this is over no one will ever spit on your name ever again. Everyone will fear 'The Dragon'. So... what do you say?"
"The Wolves have already reached out to the Crips in order to invalidate my alliance with the Aryans. With the Crips' allegiance comes the Zulu, or rather, the people responsible for the late Hans von Strucker's death. Though they have yet to give their answer, the Zulu will likely turn away from the Crips as they despise the Wolves. As a 3rd party I need you to convince the Crips that a temporary alliance with the Aryans against the Wolves is necessary if they are to expand their influence and that continuing to ally themselves with the group responsible for Strucker's assassination will spell doom for them when the Aryans go after the Zulu for revenge," Sticks paused for a moment. "You're getting all this right? Of course you are! Don't worry, I am getting to the part you'll enjoy."
Sticks sat back down across from Travis, "You will also point out that the Wolves are responsible for their men's recent erratic behavior. You will tell them that the Wolves laced their meth with steroids in an attempt to facilitate a war with the Aryans who have begun to rebel against their former masters. This is, in part true, though I suppose it doesn't matter since you don't really need to know what is and isn't a lie here anyway," Sticks took a deep breath. "So this is, specifically what I need you to do: go into Crips territory with an offering... the corpse of a recently deceased Warden should do. Then, you tell them what I told you. Try to make it convincing. If you need to you may challenge their strongest warrior to a duel, in which I am sure you will be victorious. Once you have their word you will report back to me," Sticks closed his eyes nodding to himself. "What comes next will be a glorious battle, the likes of which the Pit has never seen. I will assume command of this facility and be your advocate on the surface while you are placed upon Azrael's throne to run things down here."
"When this is over no one will ever spit on your name ever again. Everyone will fear 'The Dragon'. So... what do you say?"
Travis listened intently to the smug man, who no doubt thought he was better than The Dragon. "Just a few questions. One, how am I gonna get a warden corpse. Two, why wouldn't the Crips want me dead as I've been spreading shit about them killing Aryans. Three, I really don't think the Aryans and Crips will work together, even with the bullshit about the Zulu, what would they gain, the Crips working with the Zulu could easily take out the Aryans. Four, I'm gonna need something to give me an edge during the fight, you got any pills or anything on you that lessons pain, I've seen those big fuckers. And five... I accept." Travis stood and held out his hand to the snidy man.
Back at the Aryan hideout, Acolyte sat himself as far away from the spot where people were toking meth as possible. With his rifle propped against the wall next to him, he sipped at a bottle of concentrate orange juice, and ate a prepackaged tuna sandwich. In one corner, some of them were setting up wrestling bouts. Spirits were high in anticipation of the coming battle. What was rather jarring was 'Death to Niggers' scrawled across one wall. It really served to remind you just who these people were. The swastika brand over his heart had stopped hurting, and was now itching furiously. He pushed a hand underneath his Kevlar vest to scratch it, and sighed to himself. Then, he popped two more Aspirin. Best to keep regular dosage on the run up to the fight. Three boxes of the stuff would keep him going for a good few days, hopefully without incident.
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Korovitch sat at the desk in his quarters, thinking furiously. Tomorrow, he met with the Colonel. Tomorrow, he found out, at least in part, what the reason was for his sudden call to arms. It'd been a month since he'd had reason to go down into the Pit, and he was interested to find out what had changed that warranted a special unit. Sleepless, he occupied himself oiling the blade of his kukri, and cleaning the fittings with a small tin of Brasso, and a rag. Then he set about once again cleaning his Makarov, and oiling its parts before reassembling it.
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Korovitch sat at the desk in his quarters, thinking furiously. Tomorrow, he met with the Colonel. Tomorrow, he found out, at least in part, what the reason was for his sudden call to arms. It'd been a month since he'd had reason to go down into the Pit, and he was interested to find out what had changed that warranted a special unit. Sleepless, he occupied himself oiling the blade of his kukri, and cleaning the fittings with a small tin of Brasso, and a rag. Then he set about once again cleaning his Makarov, and oiling its parts before reassembling it.
Sticks smiled and shook his hand, "On your first point... well that will be made evident shortly. No need to worry there," Sticks' smile grew more insidious. "Onto your second and third points... the Crips value bravado and your history with them will only make you more convincing. Once you've explained to them how the Wolves are manipulating them into warring with the Aryans, how could they not join our cause? The Crips are an incredibly prideful bunch and the fact that the Wolves are known to have a network of Warden connections has already made the Crips suspicious. They hate the Wardens after all. Hence the offering."
"As for your final point," Sticks reached into his back pocket and handed him a small bag of meth. "This should do the trick. Now if you will follow me outside."
Sticks led Travis outside and Conrad fell in behind them. Sticks sighed, "We can't have any witnesses. I'm sure you won't mind," Travis' two guards were about to scream out when they were suddenly gunned down by the Warden recruits. As they fell in behind Conrad Sticks stopped one of the recruits, "No. You wait here and make sure 'The Dragon' doesn't go anywhere."
The recruit saluted and stood by the door of Travis' hideout. As they started for the surface Sticks winked at Travis, nodding his head in the direction of the recruit he'd left to watch him.
He didn't know this kid's name either.
"As for your final point," Sticks reached into his back pocket and handed him a small bag of meth. "This should do the trick. Now if you will follow me outside."
Sticks led Travis outside and Conrad fell in behind them. Sticks sighed, "We can't have any witnesses. I'm sure you won't mind," Travis' two guards were about to scream out when they were suddenly gunned down by the Warden recruits. As they fell in behind Conrad Sticks stopped one of the recruits, "No. You wait here and make sure 'The Dragon' doesn't go anywhere."
The recruit saluted and stood by the door of Travis' hideout. As they started for the surface Sticks winked at Travis, nodding his head in the direction of the recruit he'd left to watch him.
He didn't know this kid's name either.
Azrael stood up, slowly applauding the scene before him
"Well now, this has been a dramatic night's entertainment hasn't it? So many twists and turns, I'm positively enthralled!"
This was met by ugly guffaws from Sharptooth and his men. Nikolai remained silent, watching as ever.
"No, my dear. We're not going to kill him. Not yet, anyway. However, if you still haven't fully grasped who you are dealing with. He'll be made to regret those words. What you see here is only the beginning of the suffering I can inflict on people. Is this makes you scream and tear your heart asunder, then know that if you displease me again, I will make you watch as we disassemble your dear brother in ways that your delicate sensibilities cannot possibly imagine being done to men. In your own mind I will make you feel everything that I do to him, and when I am done I will have broken you both."
Azrael made his way towards the pair of them, and, wiping away a tear on Lucia's face.
"Remember my dear, this is all Orphan's fault. If he hadn't involved himself. If he hadn't taken it upon himself to be your knight in shining armor, then you and your brother could have been together all this time. I won't lie to you and say your lives here would have been easy, but you'd have had each-other, you could have comforted each-other through the worst of it, and everything would have been oh so simple. It was Orphan who took that away from you Lucia, not I. Look at yourself, and tell me if his intervention has made you strong? Try and tell me this this is how you wanted things to be? Now, time for bed, and I trust that in the morning you will have seen the truth in my words. Nikolai, escort our guest to the deep cells, and keep watch over her there during the night. Security is of paramount importance."
"Yes, Master." Nikolai intoned, leading her out of the chambers, and down ever further into the bowels of The Pit.
"Well now, this has been a dramatic night's entertainment hasn't it? So many twists and turns, I'm positively enthralled!"
This was met by ugly guffaws from Sharptooth and his men. Nikolai remained silent, watching as ever.
"No, my dear. We're not going to kill him. Not yet, anyway. However, if you still haven't fully grasped who you are dealing with. He'll be made to regret those words. What you see here is only the beginning of the suffering I can inflict on people. Is this makes you scream and tear your heart asunder, then know that if you displease me again, I will make you watch as we disassemble your dear brother in ways that your delicate sensibilities cannot possibly imagine being done to men. In your own mind I will make you feel everything that I do to him, and when I am done I will have broken you both."
Azrael made his way towards the pair of them, and, wiping away a tear on Lucia's face.
"Remember my dear, this is all Orphan's fault. If he hadn't involved himself. If he hadn't taken it upon himself to be your knight in shining armor, then you and your brother could have been together all this time. I won't lie to you and say your lives here would have been easy, but you'd have had each-other, you could have comforted each-other through the worst of it, and everything would have been oh so simple. It was Orphan who took that away from you Lucia, not I. Look at yourself, and tell me if his intervention has made you strong? Try and tell me this this is how you wanted things to be? Now, time for bed, and I trust that in the morning you will have seen the truth in my words. Nikolai, escort our guest to the deep cells, and keep watch over her there during the night. Security is of paramount importance."
"Yes, Master." Nikolai intoned, leading her out of the chambers, and down ever further into the bowels of The Pit.
Travis smirked as the warden's made their exit. Before they were even gone Travis pulled the boy back into his cell, kicking and screaming, randomly firing his weapon in each and every direction in an attempt to escape. Travis, unfortunately could not be as creative as he wanted and resigned himself to just snapping his neck, but it was something. Travis left the cell and regrouped with his remaining men. "Who feels like starting a war? Someone carry that dead warden back there. Everybody carry as much ammo as you can, take them from the extra guns. Clyde, your my top lieutenant now."
The Dragons quickly made there way towards Crip turf, careful, knowing their enemies could be around any corner. Eventually they made it there, the guards letting them pass with the warden corpse in their arms.
"I wanna speak to the leader of the Crips!" Yelled Travis.
The Dragons quickly made there way towards Crip turf, careful, knowing their enemies could be around any corner. Eventually they made it there, the guards letting them pass with the warden corpse in their arms.
"I wanna speak to the leader of the Crips!" Yelled Travis.
Iron-fist was following the Dragons to see the result of her intervention. Unfortunately for her, the plan she set in motion didn't eliminate all of the dragons. However it did weaken the group significantly, even though it cost the mafia an entire hit-squad. What came next was a surprise, and as the day went on Ilene simply watched in awe as the head of the gang worked against himself and destroyed his whole base and followers. What remained was to wait for him to be alone and pounce at him when the time was right. Ilene couldn't hear what went on between the dragon ? Travis ? and the wardens, but their mere presence irked her. Something was terribly wrong, and Iron-fist was going to find out about it herself. Perhaps she will have a chat with the Dragon before she will dispatch him to his demise.
Lucia had almost forgotten they were in Siberia. Despite the blanket she wrapped herself in she was still colder than she had ever been. The cold numbed some of the pain, though it was unlikely there was anywhere on Earth cold enough to numb it all. Her face was dry, her cheeks burning red and she had to constantly wipe her eyes to prevent her tears from freezing on her face. She'd felt absolute despair before, but not like this.
The room was dark and she could feel the still presence of the large man in the room with her. He remained standing at the door. Silent. Well, if not silent surely not loud enough to be heard over Lucia's wailing. For two straight hours she remained balled up on the cot, crying her eyes out. She had never felt more helpless in her life.
Was all that training for nothing? Had her new persona been nothing but a cheap trick? A facade to protect her from the reality of her situation? And if not, did she even have the willpower to summon Kusanagi again?
Her crying slowed down as the third hour approached and eventually turned into an inconsistent whimper. She was trying to clear her head and focus her thoughts. She was trying to see past the pain.
I won't... I can't give in... I can't...
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Sticks and Conrad watched Travis' group from afar as they set out to Crips territory, "His second-in-Command, Clyde was it? You bugged him right?" Conrad gave him a firm nod, but said nothing. "Good. Follow them. If it looks like he'll spill information he shouldn't, make him the primary target. Secondary targets are to be assigned via your judgement."
"Roger that," Conrad said as he moved out.
The room was dark and she could feel the still presence of the large man in the room with her. He remained standing at the door. Silent. Well, if not silent surely not loud enough to be heard over Lucia's wailing. For two straight hours she remained balled up on the cot, crying her eyes out. She had never felt more helpless in her life.
Was all that training for nothing? Had her new persona been nothing but a cheap trick? A facade to protect her from the reality of her situation? And if not, did she even have the willpower to summon Kusanagi again?
Her crying slowed down as the third hour approached and eventually turned into an inconsistent whimper. She was trying to clear her head and focus her thoughts. She was trying to see past the pain.
I won't... I can't give in... I can't...
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Sticks and Conrad watched Travis' group from afar as they set out to Crips territory, "His second-in-Command, Clyde was it? You bugged him right?" Conrad gave him a firm nod, but said nothing. "Good. Follow them. If it looks like he'll spill information he shouldn't, make him the primary target. Secondary targets are to be assigned via your judgement."
"Roger that," Conrad said as he moved out.
Nikolai wasn't sure if her shivering was because of the cold, or her crying. Perhaps it was both. After a fashion, he decided to do something about it. Taking of his own wolf skins and leaving himself bare-chested. He was used to the cold by now, so it didn't matter. He slid them across the floor at her feet, intention clear. It wouldn't do for her to catch anything down here, but it was more than that.
"Master is cruel" he told her, his voice softer than had ever been spoken out loud. "All Men are cruel. Your tears are their sport, little girl. But while they laugh, you can play your own game..."
She didn't respond to that. Not out loud at least. Was it fear, anger, or grief that fueled her silence. In the darkness it was herd to tell.
"Does the little girl know my name?" he asked her.
"Master is cruel" he told her, his voice softer than had ever been spoken out loud. "All Men are cruel. Your tears are their sport, little girl. But while they laugh, you can play your own game..."
She didn't respond to that. Not out loud at least. Was it fear, anger, or grief that fueled her silence. In the darkness it was herd to tell.
"Does the little girl know my name?" he asked her.
Dumbfounded, she stared at him long enough to insult any normal person. Though... she was clearly not dealing with a normal person. Getting into a sitting position she reached down for the wolfskin and threw it over her back. She hesitated several moments longer before speaking up, "No... I-I don't."
Her voice trembled, but she spoke with confidence.
Her voice trembled, but she spoke with confidence.
The small band of Dragons made there way through Crips territory, hauling the mangled corpse of a young warden. They passed under the gaze of dozens of gang members who all wanted the small group of men dead. Eventually they arrived at the entrance of what looked like an old storehouse. Two men armed with uzis stopped them from entering, "Ya'll gonna see Zig Zag, yo gonna need to leave yo weapons herr."
Before Travis could react the double doors swung open and the hulking man that was Zig Zag appeared, pose in-toe, "Hold up nigga, I don't think we should treat our guests this way. They wanna carry a piece, they can carry a piece. These suckas be way out numbad as it is, ya get me?" When his subordinate nodded Zig Zag looked to the Dragons and the dead warden. "Damn son, you gone fucked his shit up!" Zig Zag burst out into laughter before his expression darkened and he walked up into Travis' face. He had a good foot on him. "Now tell me why a cracka like you is marchin up in my terf after tha shit you pulled? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pop yo goddamn head off like a bottle of fine wine?!"
Before Travis could react the double doors swung open and the hulking man that was Zig Zag appeared, pose in-toe, "Hold up nigga, I don't think we should treat our guests this way. They wanna carry a piece, they can carry a piece. These suckas be way out numbad as it is, ya get me?" When his subordinate nodded Zig Zag looked to the Dragons and the dead warden. "Damn son, you gone fucked his shit up!" Zig Zag burst out into laughter before his expression darkened and he walked up into Travis' face. He had a good foot on him. "Now tell me why a cracka like you is marchin up in my terf after tha shit you pulled? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't pop yo goddamn head off like a bottle of fine wine?!"
Nikolai smiled a strangely childlike smile. It was fitting, for sharing secrets in whispers.
"I do not know my name too." he told her "Most are clever enough to call me what I am, 'Dog'. A Dog fetches, A Dog guards, and barks, and kills. I am a Dog, so they call me 'Dog', but this is not my name.
Then there are the few, like Azrael," he said the word out loud in her hearing "who call me 'Nikolai'. They call me this because they ask 'What is your name?', and I say, 'Nikolai'; but this is just a word to them. They do not know the why of the word. They do not care. So for them, this is not my name. It is what they call me, but it means nothing."
He faltered just a little, as if he was expecting to be punished for saying these words out loud, but then he went on.
"Many long nights I have been in this place. Since, I think, I was younger than you. Every one of the one long, long nights, when I close my eyes, I hear a woman screaming. Just one word she screams, 'Nikolai! Nikolai! Nikolai!'. again and again. Perhaps she is screaming for me? At me? Perhaps she is my mother? Or maybe Nikolai is someone else? I do not know these things. What I know is this. Nikolai is a good name, a strong name, for a strong beast. So I take it, claim it for my own. After I do that, who Nikolai really is does not matter. I take my bad dream, and I make other Beasts fear to speak it. That is the why of the word. That is why my name is 'Nikolai'.
Many make names for themselves here. They call themselves Orphans and Dragons, but to know the name, you must know the Beast. They call you 'Lucia', but that is not your name. Lucia was a little girl who lived above ground. In this place, you are what you choose to be, and they will not know the why of Lucia, or whatever name you make. They will not understand, and that will be your weapon."
He leaned a little closer, for this was the most important secret of all.
"Men are greedy as well as cruel. They like it when you say 'Master'. They like it, so they do not ask why. If they asked 'Why? Why am I Master?', maybe they would ask 'Who is Master? Is it Azrael, is it Surface Men, or is it neither?'. They do not ask themselves, so Nikolai gets to choose, and they do not know."
"I do not know my name too." he told her "Most are clever enough to call me what I am, 'Dog'. A Dog fetches, A Dog guards, and barks, and kills. I am a Dog, so they call me 'Dog', but this is not my name.
Then there are the few, like Azrael," he said the word out loud in her hearing "who call me 'Nikolai'. They call me this because they ask 'What is your name?', and I say, 'Nikolai'; but this is just a word to them. They do not know the why of the word. They do not care. So for them, this is not my name. It is what they call me, but it means nothing."
He faltered just a little, as if he was expecting to be punished for saying these words out loud, but then he went on.
"Many long nights I have been in this place. Since, I think, I was younger than you. Every one of the one long, long nights, when I close my eyes, I hear a woman screaming. Just one word she screams, 'Nikolai! Nikolai! Nikolai!'. again and again. Perhaps she is screaming for me? At me? Perhaps she is my mother? Or maybe Nikolai is someone else? I do not know these things. What I know is this. Nikolai is a good name, a strong name, for a strong beast. So I take it, claim it for my own. After I do that, who Nikolai really is does not matter. I take my bad dream, and I make other Beasts fear to speak it. That is the why of the word. That is why my name is 'Nikolai'.
Many make names for themselves here. They call themselves Orphans and Dragons, but to know the name, you must know the Beast. They call you 'Lucia', but that is not your name. Lucia was a little girl who lived above ground. In this place, you are what you choose to be, and they will not know the why of Lucia, or whatever name you make. They will not understand, and that will be your weapon."
He leaned a little closer, for this was the most important secret of all.
"Men are greedy as well as cruel. They like it when you say 'Master'. They like it, so they do not ask why. If they asked 'Why? Why am I Master?', maybe they would ask 'Who is Master? Is it Azrael, is it Surface Men, or is it neither?'. They do not ask themselves, so Nikolai gets to choose, and they do not know."
Lucia sat speechless as he explained himself. At first she thought he was just an idiot or a nut-job, but as he went on she thought of something she hadn't since first arriving at the Pit. She thought of the other innocents who suffered the same fate that she had. Of course the thought had occurred to her almost everyday, but it had been a long time since she seriously explored the idea. It was a painful thing to do after all.
There was something in the way he spoke. In the way he expressed himself that revealed something wounded... something fundamentally broken. His was a mind that was trying to rationalize the illogical. A mind that was trying to give purpose to a meaningless existence. However, there was no logic or reason in the Pit. There was only despair. There was only madness, betrayal and misery.
Though it made little sense... there was wisdom in his words. This man, despite everything that had happened to him... despite everything that he had to do in service to his masters...
He had made something for himself.
Not because he was told to, but because he wanted to. Something only he could understand.
Lucia looked down at the cot she sat atop considering what he had said. After several moments of silence she met his gaze, "Lucia... Lucia died the day I stepped foot in this place," Lucia was no longer trembling, in fact she was incredibly still. Completely calm. "Part of me knew that... it's probably why I never told anyone my surname. Not even Orphan," Lucia sighed but didn't look away.
"When I took my first life the other day I finally accepted the fact that the little girl I used to know was gone forever and on that day I was given a new name. A name all to myself. A name that gives me power," Lucia gripped the wolfskin she was wrapped in as hard as she could. "Nikolai," She spoke with authority.
"You may not call me 'Lucia'. My name is 'Kusanagi'."
There was something in the way he spoke. In the way he expressed himself that revealed something wounded... something fundamentally broken. His was a mind that was trying to rationalize the illogical. A mind that was trying to give purpose to a meaningless existence. However, there was no logic or reason in the Pit. There was only despair. There was only madness, betrayal and misery.
Though it made little sense... there was wisdom in his words. This man, despite everything that had happened to him... despite everything that he had to do in service to his masters...
He had made something for himself.
Not because he was told to, but because he wanted to. Something only he could understand.
Lucia looked down at the cot she sat atop considering what he had said. After several moments of silence she met his gaze, "Lucia... Lucia died the day I stepped foot in this place," Lucia was no longer trembling, in fact she was incredibly still. Completely calm. "Part of me knew that... it's probably why I never told anyone my surname. Not even Orphan," Lucia sighed but didn't look away.
"When I took my first life the other day I finally accepted the fact that the little girl I used to know was gone forever and on that day I was given a new name. A name all to myself. A name that gives me power," Lucia gripped the wolfskin she was wrapped in as hard as she could. "Nikolai," She spoke with authority.
"You may not call me 'Lucia'. My name is 'Kusanagi'."
"Kusanagi." Nikolai let the word roll around his mouth, around his mind. "Kus-an-ag-i... this is a name from far away. It is a mystery, a secret that your enemies will never know. They will not know it, but they will feel it. When they look twice at a shadow, when they jump at a whisper, and in their last breath they will feel Kusanagi."
Nikolai chuckled, deep and low in his thick accent. "It is good. I like it."
There was silence for a while, then Nikolai spoke again.
"A Red Day is coming Kusanagi. There are many who think they know, many who think they hold the reigns, but they do not. Until that day comes, on the outside, I must be the faithful Dog, and you must be Lucia, but we will know better. When that day comes, I have another part to play; but, when I am done, I will come for you Kusanagi, and if you want, we will leave this place. There will be danger, and blood, with every step, but my Pack is strong, and so are we. We could even leave with Tristan, if you ask. You must ask now though, if it is what you want. We will have no other time to talk, as Nikolai and Kusanagi."
Nikolai chuckled, deep and low in his thick accent. "It is good. I like it."
There was silence for a while, then Nikolai spoke again.
"A Red Day is coming Kusanagi. There are many who think they know, many who think they hold the reigns, but they do not. Until that day comes, on the outside, I must be the faithful Dog, and you must be Lucia, but we will know better. When that day comes, I have another part to play; but, when I am done, I will come for you Kusanagi, and if you want, we will leave this place. There will be danger, and blood, with every step, but my Pack is strong, and so are we. We could even leave with Tristan, if you ask. You must ask now though, if it is what you want. We will have no other time to talk, as Nikolai and Kusanagi."
Lucia didn't know what to say and sat in thought for several minutes. Was this a trick? Was this some kind of game Azrael was playing? No. Looking him in the eyes... she saw a sincerity she hadn't seen since her days on the surface. For whatever reason this... Nikolai wanted to help her. She knew what she wanted to say, but she was afraid of the answer.
After some hesitation she worked up the courage to face the truth, "Does... does Orphan really have to die?"
After some hesitation she worked up the courage to face the truth, "Does... does Orphan really have to die?"