Ghosthands

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "Mmm." The Toa didn't sound pleased by this development, nor particularly impressed by Aerus' decoy plan. "Well, if you can avoid an ID from anyone but this 'guy' of yours, that's good enough. And he can be dealt with if need be." Syrik stepped into the laboratory, looking around in search of the medical supplies he sought among the various devices, worktops, cabinets, and rack upon rack of instruments and samples. His gaze lingered on the observation window of one reinforced test chamber, built into the far wall. Pain. Pain like he'd never felt before. Jolt after jolt of excruciation, accompanied by the harsh buzz of the voltages running through the metal frame and into his body. The restraints, hard and unyielding, digging into his wrists and ankles as he spasmed. The old man's face beyond the glass, grim, unmoved by a child's screams. "Focus." The voice, cold, muffled by the glass. "Feel this, and let it focus your mind. Channel it." The lever. Metal. Large, heavy. The old man had said it would break the circuit and end his torment. But it was beyond his reach. He looked away, stared hard at the floor for a moment, then continued his search. Soon his gaze alighted on the cabinet he'd been looking for. He opened its metal door magnetically as he approached, with a lazy flick of the wrist. He took a roll of bandages and a vial of disinfectant from within and turned back to Aerus. "Right. Let's get back to our friends before they get any ideas." OOC: @Goose

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "That so?" Syrik replied, continuing towards the laboratory. The Toa had shown a flicker of recognition at the name 'Merror', but didn't comment. "I was thinking Onu-Koro. Got a safehouse there we can use for the time being. What's the contingency?"

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika, off the Po-Wahi coast] "Aye, shouldn't be too hard to get a nice haul," Lohkar replied. "Only question is how much'll survive the journey..." OOC: @Snelly @Void Emissary @pokemonlover360

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika, off the Po-Wahi coast] "Backbone," Lohkar remarked dryly. "Much as it pains me to admit it, a lot o' my people are bedwettin' cowards. 'Specially on Seprilli. Always lettin' the warlords push 'em around — or worse, those poncy merchant buggers. That's somethin' we can supply — a bit of good old-fashioned spine." The captain gave a small, self-satisfied chuckle in appreciation of his own joke. "But as for trade goods, that's difficult. Zakaz may be a rough place but it's got plenty o' mineral wealth, an' better tech than you lot. I s'pose there might be a market on Seprilli for exotic food an' drink." A grin began to widen on his face. "I tell you what. If I know my people, they'll go crazy for some o' your Mata Nuian liquors." OOC: @pokemonlover360 @Void Emissary @Snelly

IC (Ageru Tazera) [Bridge of the Chiisai Ryuu] Tazera was just about able to register the Ideatalk between Ayiwah and Koso alongside the spoken words exchanged on the bridge (though parsing these multiple conversations while keeping her eyes on the hostile and wildcard Toa was beginning to give her a headache). Good, more backup was on the way, and it sounded like the Commodore had successfully anchored the Ryuu to the Yukanna too. The odds of a successful hijacking should now be slim to none. That just left the interloper himself, and the other Toa. The latter was now, it seemed, trying to convince the former to focus on escaping over his original harebrained scheme. As much as the very suggestion of letting this would-be pirate get away made her blood boil, and as stubbornly determined as she felt to bring him to justice herself, the rational part of her brain was suddenly struck by the implications of the Onu-Toa's entreaty. Perhaps it would not be such a bad thing to give him the opportunity to escape — or rather, to let him think he had such an opportunity. Letting him leave the Ryuu under his own power might be the right strategy to end this standoff. After all, where could he go? By now half the Dasaka navy would be waiting for him the minute he stuck his head through the hatch, and by rights the local Marines ought to be on the case as well. He'd be the proverbial fish in a barrel. Still, she'd have to be careful not to make her change of heart too obvious, lest the would-be pirate realise his true predicament. Best give them a chance to 'convince' her. "And you expect me to stand aside and let him leave?" she said, once again addressing the Onu-Toa. "Why should I let this man escape justice?" OOC: @oncertainty @Razgriz @Vezok's Friend

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika] "Soon as we've picked up all the crew an' supplies we'll need, plus some payin' passengers," Lohkar replied. "I see this as a business opportunity — we can offer safe passage to those who can't make the voyage on their own, an' sell the location to those that can." He winked. "Make our last few honest widgets before the real fun begins, eh?" OOC: @Void Emissary @Snelly @pokemonlover360

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika] "Bunch o' weirdos, they were," Lohkar agreed. "Hard to negotiate with anyone as crazy as that." He elected not to tell Gunner about the many, many cultists of Zakaz.

IC (Ageru Kilanya) [Fort Kizuno, Odaiba] Kilanya nodded as Shiki stated her training hours. She had tarried to speak with the young Menti and it was high time she continued her inspection of the Kizuno defences, but her timetable for the evening was more open. It would not be difficult for her to commit some time to overseeing the training yards. She could not devote such time purely to helping one Menti with her struggles, of course, but the training session as a whole would undoubtedly benefit from her oversight, and showing her face among the troops was always good for morale. If she happened upon young Shiki while doing so, and had the opportunity to assess her issues properly, that would simply be one small part of a wider gain. The Toroshu almost smiled, chiding herself. Even now, after all that had happened these past months, it seemed her sentimental streak was still alive and well. Why did she feel so compelled to help this young Menti, to the extent that she was already making excuses to arrange her schedule around it? Did she see something in Shiki, some spark of potential that demanded cultivation? Or was it a more selfish desire for connection amid the isolation her status and responsibility engendered? Or a displacement of her longing for the daughter she had barely known, and now might never again? All of them, perhaps. Or maybe it didn't matter — maybe what was important was to hold on to these little moments of humanity in this long and brutal war. Zuto Nui knew, there had been precious few of them. "Only what I ask of all Ageru," Kilanya replied. "Give your all in the defence of our home and people. Stand firm in the face of terror and pain. And above all...cultivate hope." The Toroshu looked away, past Kizuno's far wall and the distant spires of Sado to the cloud-streaked western sky. "It is a fragile crop," she said quietly. "But it may grow in even the harshest soil." She gazed out at the sky a moment longer and raised a hand to brush at something near her eye. Then she turned back to Shiki, wistfulness gone, commanding once more. "That is all," she said. "Until we meet again, Ageru Shiki." The Toroshu inclined her head in a brief nod of farewell, and strode away.

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "Good," said Syrik. "If it's any consolation, I doubt this place would've stayed secret for long. Frankly it's a miracle Echelon kept it hidden as long as he did. And besides, it wouldn't have much served our purposes anyway. At least this way we should have a good-sized window to move out everything we need to somewhere more suitable." He glanced across the room to the door that led to Echelon's laboratories. "Lab still double as the infirmary?" OOC: @Goose

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "You're assuming that if I go for the kill, I succeed," Syrik replied as he resumed his stride (slow enough for Aerus to be able to match, but still brisk) towards the base proper. "Don't get me wrong, I'm good at what I do. But there are three of them out there, plus the Hapaka. And you of all people should know never to underestimate a Matoran." There was a wryness to his words, but the glance he gave Aerus was deadly serious. "Sure, odds are good I can take them all out. But if I can't — if I go for the kill and just one of them gets away — then we have a much bigger problem on our hands than if we simply...let them go." He waved open the door to the central chamber and stepped through. "It's not just about what they know and what they think. It's about what they say to whoever they go blabbing to, and how their story looks. Think about it. A couple of reclusive hermits living in a cave, who gave them some supplies and sent them on their way? That's just another day in the Drifts. Not worth anybody's time to investigate, certainly not when there's a dragon to look into instead. But a couple of reclusive hermits who murdered their friends, just to keep a location secret? That's the kind of thing you investigate. That's how we bring the Sanctum Guard down on our heads, or worse." OOC: @Goose

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "It's all a calculation, my friend. Risk and reward. You have to consider every outcome." The Toa looked back to where Aerus had stopped, and beckoned briskly. "Keep up. The longer we leave them alone out there the longer they have to pull something stupid." OOC: @Goose

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "Yes, but not at the cost of compromising it further. We need to control what information gets back to the Koro."

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "No need for you to come inside," Syrik replied smoothly. "We'll be back in just a moment." He glanced down at Aerus, and the two stepped back through the metal threshold. With a wave of the Toa's hand, the featureless door slid shut. Syrik immediately began to stride along the corridor towards the base's central chamber. "You're overplaying your hand out there," he remarked to his newfound partner, in a low enough voice to be sure it wouldn't travel beyond the door. "They're hiding something, but I think most of their story is truthful. They didn't come looking for this place, and I don't think they know what they've found...but now they do know we didn't want them to find it. And they're scared. That's a problem." OOC: @Goose @Tarn @BULiK @~Xemnas~

IC (Ageru Kilanya) [Fort Kizuno, Odaiba] "That is a difficult question to answer," Kilanya replied. "Clearly you must find whatever it is that blocks you, but that is easier said than done. Introspection and meditation may help, but...sometimes an outside perspective is needed, to see in oneself what the self cannot." The Toroshu rubbed her chin, frowning not in displeasure but in contemplation. "When is your next training shift?"

IC (Ageru Tazera) [Bridge of the Chiisai Ryuu] "Whoever that was," Tazera said in a carefully level tone, eyes still warily flitting from one Toa to the other, "I suggest you listen to them. I am Lieutenant Ageru Tazera, officer in charge of the Chiisai Ryuu, and it is my job to defend her against all assailants. And I think the time for avoiding hastiness, Toa Aeragot — " (It was still odd not to have clan names to address the Mata Nuians with, especially to convey the gravity of a situation like this one, so she reached for the title the locals used for their Menti instead.) " — would've been before this man infiltrated and attempted to hijack a vessel of the Dasaka fleet. Whether by my hand or another's, he will be brought to justice and he will not — " Tazera was interrupted by the loud clank of the bridge door finally being wrenched open, and Inzu burst through, hand already on her sword hilt. ::Hold!:: the Lieutenant quickly Ideatalked to her, even as she inwardly breathed a sigh of relief at this evening of the odds. ::Do not engage these Toa until I signal you, or until engaged.:: As vexed as she was by the newcomer Toa's apparent sympathy for the would-be thief, his current careful neutrality was better than having two hostile Toa on the bridge. And as military-minded as she was, Tazera was aware that this was already the biggest diplomatic incident yet between the Empire and the Mata Nuians (it made that business with the madwoman and the slug-creatures look like child's play). Further escalation should be avoided if possible, however inevitable her instincts told her it might be. She turned her attention back to Aeragot. "...he will not escape with this vessel. You'd be wise to either stand aside or assist us in detaining him." OOC: @oncertainty @Razgriz Apologies for the delay, been a very busy couple of weeks.

IC (Ageru Kilanya) [Fort Kizuno, Odaiba] "No." Kilanya's whole aura had changed. Gone was the gentle curiosity, the gracious if detached praise. Now her single eye looked down upon Shiki with the stern and steely gaze of the Rakumetsu Toroshu. "You do not have forever. If the Rakushi come over these walls tomorrow, you will need all the power of a Menti to defend yourself and our kin. 'Forever' is a luxury none of us can afford." Her face softened. Obviously the girl knew the urgency of the situation the Dasaka found themselves in. She needed encouragement and advice as much as dire warnings. "Perseverance is essential, but effort without progress suggests something is blocking you. Often it means there is something simple, yet fundamental, that has eluded us. 'A scythe wielded backwards cuts no stems, no matter how hard one reaps' ." The quote was from the philosophies of the Ageru Tenshuu-ryu, the venerable school of swordsmanship that was arguably the root and heart of Clan Ageru's reputation for Soulsword prowess. The Tenshuu-ryu claimed direct lineage from the techniques and philosophies laid down by Gestheru herself, a claim underlined by the Ageru ruling family's close ties with its masters. Kilanya knew its teachings well.

IC (Ageru Tazera) [Bridge of the Chiisai Ryuu] Tazera gave a short, derisive laugh. "If you were hoping to sail this vessel somewhere," she growled at the Vo-Toa, "you shouldn't have blasted the controls. I'm fairly sure the only thing keeping us from hitting the reef right now is the Toa Maru out there, and I doubt she intends to be an accomplice to your hijacking any more than I do." She looked to the newcomer. "Pay no heed to anything this charlatan says," she said, in a neutral tone but with plenty of warning implied. "He's attacked me several times already, and under the laws of my people — " She looked back to Rudra pointedly. " — what he's done here would already be a capital offence. The best he can hope for now is to be tried under yours. That's if he stands down. Now." She tugged at the length of Soulwhip held between her hands for emphasis, bringing forth a threatening, buzzing twang from the cord of energy. "I won't ask again." OOC: @Razgriz @oncertainty @Vezok's Friend @Rahisaurus

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] Something flickered in Syrik's eyes as Aerus spoke, and then again as Kreigero cut the rope around her waist. Something like frustration, or anger. But his expression remained studiously sympathetic. "In time for your contract?" the Toa echoed with jocular incredulity. "I'd have thought any boss would accept a dragon, a blizzard and a fall down a crevasse as extenuating circumstances. Surely there's no need for you to hurry on that account." He smiled. "But I can understand that after everything you've been through, you'd want to get home as soon as possible. And let's not be overdramatic — the wound doesn't look so bad to me. It just needs proper dressing, and a little rest and warmth, and I'm sure you'll be fine. Take my advice: it's better that you all stick together out here. There's safety in numbers, and I shouldn't have to tell you that Ko-Wahi can be a dangerous place. So..." He turned back to Aerus for a moment, and this time there was a hardness, a warning, in the look he gave his new partner before turning back to the travellers. "...just give us a moment to fetch those bandages for you, and you can be on your way." OOC: @Goose @BULiK @Tarn @~Xemnas~

IC (Ageru Tazera) [Bridge of the Chiisai Ryuu] Things were quickly escalating. She recognised the face of Toa Maru Leah, a warrior and hero among the natives, on the other side of the bridge viewport. That was good. But another Toa, an unfamiliar one, had appeared (Kualsi?) out of thin air inside the bridge. That, potentially, was not. Clearly the interloper thought it was a point in his favour, as he quickly began an attempt to recruit the newcomer to his little caper. She took advantage of the momentary distraction to ensure she had both of the unknown Toa in her line of sight. ::Roger that, ma'am.:: Tazera was quietly relieved. She wasn't sure what Aya meant by 'intercom'; perhaps some new naval slang or local term she hadn't picked up on, but she got the idea. Ideatalk but with one's actual voice, eh? Once again the locals' powers were full of surprises. With the Toa hopefully distracted by the Commodore's ultimatum, the Lieutenant began to circle right, Soulwhip at the ready, hoping to get behind the interloper in the (by her estimation, likely) event that reason was ineffective. OOC: @Razgriz @Vezok's Friend @oncertainty @Rahisaurus

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika] "I don't know what you two could possibly be implying," Lohkar replied with mock haughtiness, adjusting the wheel a little as he spoke. "An' I'll have you know there's nobody quite like me on this 'ere Endless Ocean." He chuckled. "But aye, there are plenty of our sort around Seprilli, an' also plenty who'd think themselves more respectable than us. 'Specially those bloody merchant princes." His smile turned to a sneer. "Snooty posh buggers, the lot of 'em. More riches than they know what to do with. Back in the day I did my bit to try an' help 'em solve that particular problem, by relievin' them of a fair portion of it. Though I'm sure by now they'll have had the misfortune to come by some more..."

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] "Firewood, bandages," the Toa explained reasonably. "Food, if you need it."

IC (Syrik) [Echelon's Lair] Abruptly, the previously silent Toa stepped forward and raised his hands — a possibly threatening motion to the already jumpy trio of Matoran — but no attack came. Instead he brought them together in a clap, and smiled. "I think we've all got off on the wrong foot here," he said, in a jovial tone. "I apologise for my friend's attitude; we don't get a lot of visitors out here, and he gets a tad paranoid about strangers. These have been dark times for Ko-Wahi; it's hard to know who to trust. I'm sure you understand." He looked back towards Aerus. The trio of Matoran would not see the meaningful look he gave his 'friend'. "We can spare some supplies for these unfortunate souls, surely?" OOC: @Goose @BULiK @~Xemnas~ @Tarn

IC (Ageru Kilanya) [Fort Kizuno, Odaiba] Kilanya remained silent as Shiki explained her methods, not out of any indulgence (there was no time for that), but genuine interest. The principles the young Menti was explaining were useful ones, on levels both practical and philosophical. The scar becomes part of the wall. It is marred, but stronger for it. As she often had to, she suppressed the impulse to raise a hand to her face and rub at the furrow that now ran up the left side of her face. She could not show that vulnerability in front of those it was her duty to lead. "There is no need to apologise," Kilanya replied, with just the hint of a smile. "Your ingenuity and enthusiasm are commendable, especially in one so young." So young...barely older than Enali, she realised, and the memory sent a pang though her heart. She fought to focus instead on the moment at hand, but that was little better. So young...the proud Dasaka Empire now relied on their children to patch their defences and guard their walls. How had they come to this? This young woman should be in the Yards, studying literature and training in the Menti arts, not working on her hands and knees on a front line that could erupt into deadly conflict at any moment. That, at least, was a pertinent point. Young or not, Shiki would need to be ready to fight if the walls she worked on were breached. Kilanya had made sure all able-bodied Menti (and not a small number of Dashi) were receiving combat training whenever their time (and that of the instructors) could be spared. Out of necessity the training was much simplified, even crude compared to the elegant, refined martial arts taught in the Yards, but it was certainly rigorous and eminently practical. "You use your Kanohi with some skill. What is your Discipline?" she asked. "You are training with the same focus and dedication, I hope."

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika] "Well, that's a difficult question to answer, innit?" Lohkar replied. He'd taken the wheel and was steering the Infernavika deftly on her course towards Leva Bay. "Because to know if there's anything I'm still forgetting, I'd 'ave to remember all the things I've forgotten, which I can't do, because I've forgotten 'em." There was a pause. Lohkar cleared his throat. "What I'm sayin' is, it's hard to tell. But so far it does seem to be the whole shebang. Childhood, runnin' off to sea, becomin' the legendary rogue you now see before you..." He shot Yasurek a dazzling smile. "...so on an' so forth."

IC (Lohkar) [The Infernavika] "Best night of my life, luv," Lohkar replied with a wink. "An' I've spent one with a Vortixx girl." He bounded up the steps of the aftcastle to stand beside the helm, overlooking the weather deck. The crew were busying themselves about the ropes and masts, some beginning to climb the rigging to unfurl more sails, but from the hushed atmosphere and constant glances in his direction it was clear they were expecting to hear what had their captain in such a state of excitement. Far be it for him to deny them. "My friends," he declared, hands raised in an oratory pose, "as of last night, my memories 'ave returned to me! I now know the location of my homeland, the glittering isle of Seprilli, off the coast o' Zakaz. I sailed those waters from when I was just a lad, an' let me tell you: they are ripe with treasure an' adventure, for anyone brave enough to take 'em! "Oh, Mata Nui's a nice place, to be sure. But for a man such as meself, it becomes a little too nice. Truth is, I'm goin' soft out here, mates. Fightin' Rahkshi an' cultists is all well an' good, but I am an' always will be a thief, a scoundrel, an' a pirate. I need to go back where I belong! An' so, as soon as the 'Vika is ready, I will be settin' sail with all haste for the place they call the End of all Worlds. "Now, I do not expect all of you to share my enthusiasm for such a voyage. Nor would I demand that any of you go to such perilous lands unwillingly. So to any who do not wish to come, let us part ways at Ostia, an' I shall bid you the fondest of farewells. But to those that will join me, I promise you all the prizes an' plunder you could ever want, upon the Sea o' Zakaz!" He threw his arms wide. "Whaddya say?" A cheer of genuine enthusiasm but somewhat underwhelming volume rose from most of the crew. Lohkar frowned. It occurred to him that the 'Vika was a little understaffed these days. A few new people had joined them after the Battle of Ko-Koro, but that didn't quite offset the general attrition of crewmembers over the past months and years. "All right, we'll pick up some recruits at Ostia — and some payin' passengers, come to think of it — an' make all the necessary preparations to get underway. Then, my friends...Zakaz awaits!" He stood silent for a moment, with all eyes still on him, and clearly caught up in the drama of his own speech. Then he seemed to snap out of it, and waved his hands in a chivvying motion. "Well, snap to it then, ya swabs! We 'aven't got all day!" OOC: @Snelly @Void Emissary @pokemonlover360