Still Not Safe #2 [M&M 2nd ed]

[Cubey]

(You can find the previous thread here (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118721).)

[Cubey]

Todd tries to race after Devon, but he finds himself unable to do so. Keeping up with her speed is difficult on its own, and to make matters worse she Shifts through buildings, so you quickly lose the sight of her. People around the base stare at you in wonder, but nobody tries to stop you. That is, until your amplifier's communications beep up.

"Good morning, Todd. Can you hear me?" It's the operator you are familiar with by now. "Could you head to the Commander's office? He would like to talk with everyone from your squad. This is very important, so please hurry. Thank you."

At the same time, the rest eats breakfast in rather peaceful circumstances. As you are getting ready to finish, another person appears. It is not a new Shifter though, but someone you know already - Frank Symes.
"Morning. Exercise and classes are cancelled today." He looks around everyone, the HQ and Japanese squad members alike. You notice that his body is bandaged in several places, and has many more smaller cuts. "The Commander wants you to come to his office. I'm going there now, so follow me." Saying that, he starts to take his leave as soon as he entered. Something tells you it's a start of a very busy day.

[Matar]

Todd glares as Devon flys out of his reach.

"Cure ye, swine! I shalt havith my reve-" Todd is interupted by the call on the amplifier, and radios back in.

"Honest to god, it was Ben's fault. I told him to stop, but he was all "Noooooo, I know I'm dooooing!... So, er, yeah. Be there soon. I was bugging Devon in my PSA just now, so I'll be there soon. Uh... I forgot how to get there. Is there a land mark to help me find it or...?"

Todd waves at the people who are looking at him after asking his question.

[Cubey]

"From your current position, the office was in a tall building to... the northwest. Do you see it?" It's not helping a lot, there's more than one large building around.
"There are checkpoints in many places around the base, you can ask an officer stationed there for directions."

[Matar]

"...Hey command? Look out your southeast window. I'm going to be getting my morning training in. Hell me when I'm hot."

Todd begins to jump high into air, to the Northwest. If he is unable to make a jump, or might slam into a building he instead shifts to avoid any damage (In fact, he does just that at least once or twice just to freak the people in the buildings out).

"So! Once I get there, can I enter from the roof? The passion of youth shall not be limited to simply entering through a door!"

[kamikasei]

Cat drains what's left of her tea and follows after Frank straight away - if they'd wanted them to bring anything in particular, they'd have said, so probably even Emi in her pajamas is okay. After eating she feels a little less like murdering everyone to make a nice soft pile of corpses to nap on, so the summons doesn't bother her too much.

[Haven]

Well, that's ominous, Lorne thinks, following Frank out.

[Tengu_temp]

(Emi's actually wearing the same clothes as yesterday - she fell asleep at her computer before taking an opportunity to change.)

"Well, for those who weren't present or didn't hear before, I'm Kurokawa Emi. And I think you're supposed to come to the commander's office now, with us."
Emi gets up from her seat and follows Frank's lead - the fact that it seems to be a serious matter wakes her up better than the tea did, but she really has a bad feeling about this.

[Cubey]

You arrive at the Commander's office, wondering what exactly he might want to ask you about. When the doors open, you realize where the last of Japanese shifters was - he is already inside the office.

"I'm glad to see you all, ladies and gentlemen. I see you hurried to visit me today. It wouldn't be a tragedy if you came later, but the earlier you are here, the better." The Commander seems pleased to see you all. He switches to Japanese, repeating exactly what he just said. Apparently the language is not alien to him.

At the same moment, something fast and green quickly descends from the ceiling, landing on the floor with a thud. It is Todd, clad in his Pure Sophium Armor. Clayton does not act more surprised than a raised eyebrow. You wonder what would Frank's reaction be, but he did not enter the room, taking guard at its doors along the standard security officers.

"And now, that it seems everyone is here." (This sentence assumes everyone did in fact come, instead of finding an excuse to stay behind) "Let's get through our matters starting with the most urgent one. The mission involving SE 02B." The Commander takes a look outside the window, as if making sure nobody is spying on you.
"I already heard it had powerful and inconventional abilities. Also, I recall that one of you said last night that it tried to establish some kind of contact with you. I'd like you to know that the hours you spent on a well-deserved rest were very busy ones. One of the matters we had to attend to was Stork's Nest station, including plans of its restoration. This is why I ask you to tell me everything you know about that Shifting Entity. If it was able to defeat the station's defenses as easily as the worst simulations assume, then maybe the Alexander project should be abandoned altogether. So, tell me everything you remember about the SE. The more information is known, the more accurate our decision in this matter will be. And a decision must be made soon."

[Matar]

"That was freaking AWESOME." Todd releases his PSA, the sound of groaning and creaking metal fills and leaves the room in an instant. "I don't see why we don't do that more of-" Todd stumbles over his own words for a moment and is overcome by a wave of dizziness. It passes quickly however, leaving only a light headed sensation "Often. Oh wow. Haha."

Todd plops himself on the floor, sitting cross legged. Upon hearing the commanders words, he speaks.

"I already told you what I know from talking to it, soooo." Todd points to Lorne. You have a feeling he would pat you on the back if he wasn't sitting down. "You're up buddy! You're the boss of this group of bad-asses, so you should go first."

[Haven]

Lorne looks a little embarrassed to be referred to as boss, but attempts to tell the commander everything he could about the encounter.

"02B was a glowing, white hand-shaped Shifting Entity." He gives the main body's approximate dimensions.

"It was capable of sending out at least twelve extensions of itself, probably more, at a time. The extensions were capable of controlling inanimate objects, including...deceased troopers...and creating unstable and brittle matter from thin air, like a weaker version of the capabilities of Emi's armor. They were very agile and capable of flight and survival in space, as well.

"The main body, which was a large five-fingered hand, had four large extensions, which it used mainly to protect itself much like 01B's tendrils. It apparently took control of Todd and James' bodies, though it did not cause them to attack and they still appeared capable of independent speech. They had some sort of--" Lorne grimaces--"'psychic' communication with it. It seemed to be able to control bodies from a long distance, which is why...Operator Heinrich was not able to fire a second shot. Still...she was able to keep it contained in the core even while...

"When we entered...it had her impaled on several long spikes, sir. We rescued her and Emi healed her but...it filled the room with more of them, and...I didn't evacuate her from the core."

He looks away, but then manages to regain eye contact with the commander. "Is that sufficient to answer your questions?" Lorne asks, his voice shaken a little.

[Tengu_temp]

Emi doesn't feel good about returning to the memories from yesterday - even Lorne's summary already makes her feel more down - so she stays quiet and just gives a minimal nod from time to time, to confirm that his words are correct.

[Cubey]

"I see." The Commander looks serious.
"The Alexander defense will require serious redesigning. While the human element is necessary to fight SEs on equal terms, it is also the most vulnerable part of the system. For now..." He pauses, but it's so that he can think deeply rather than for drama. "Stork's Nest will not be used as a weapon platform. It is too risky. Let's hope no more Entities will appear until a more reliable solution is created."

"And I want you to know one thing. I already know of miss Heinrich's unfortunate fate, and it is not your fault in any way. You did everything you could to save her, so do not blame yourself for her death. The one who is to blame is the Shifting Entity, but if you are looking for a more personal perpetrator then it is the person who let such an unreliable system as Alexander serve in battle conditions. That would be me. Not you." Richard Clayton closes his eyes, noding with a stern expression. He then starts translating his speech to the Japanese squad, giving you time to wonder on what will he say next. Emi notices that he did not mention anything about Patricia Heinrich to them.

"Big cannons like that never work. The fight has to be personal." The nerdy looking Japanese guy, whose name is Akira apparently, notices. His comment is quiet though, not meant to be heard by the Commander.

"The second issue I want you to hear about are the Thoughts of Ascension." Clayton continues. "There always was a possibility that they were a danger, but now this danger is more obvious than ever. Leave gathering information and taking other, more direct action, to trained SECT forces. Your mission is to deal with SEs only, and I am sure it is stressful enough as it is without having to actively work against other humans. But I want you to beware and act cautiously. The Thoughts may try to attack you during your missions, we will provide stronger support forces to prevent that. But you will be most vulnerable outside of missions, when you do not have your Pure Sophium Armor on. This is when the Thoughts will choose to strike, sooner or later, as soon as they are sure of your identities. This headquarters is safe, but outside of it be wary of strangers and minimize drawing attention to yourselves. From now on, do not leave the island without important reasons, and doing so without escort of trained agents is strictly forbidden. Your own lives are at risk here."

"Security is not all, the Thoughts are trying to attack SECT's reputation as well. The video that was released recently brought a lot of public attention towards our organisation - nobody is openly against us yet, but many are wary. We received thousands of questions from all kinds of organisations, and we should do best to address them in such a way so as not only to satisfy the ones who are asking, but the public opinion as well. We are going to hold a conference as soon as possible, and I want you to participate. You will be briefed on what you are allowed to say and what remains a SECT secret, but this will be a very stressful experience anyway, so I do not want everyone to participate, only those of you who are confident in their ability to express themselves publically. I also have a list of those of you who shouldn't participate due to health reasons, but I'd prefer volunteers rather than having to nominate participants."

"So, ladies and gentlemen. Is anyone up for the task?"

[Matar]

He looks away, but then manages to regain eye contact with the commander. "Is that sufficient to answer your questions?" Lorne asks, his voice shaken a little.

Todd sounds completely sincere when saying this.

"Don't sound like that boss. Things didn't go smoothly, and there was a cost. Yeah. But you did a damn good job, better then what anyone else here could have done. You should take some pride in that."

"Yo!" Todd runs his hand through his long hair to remove any tangles and begins to braid it.

"I'm game dude. This is something I've been waiting for. Put me out on the stage and we won't have anything to worry about."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara raises her hand. "I'm fine with talking to the masses. I volunteer."

Putting down her hand, she continues, "Though, if I might interject a bit, I don't think that Alexander should be scrapped. It was made with the knowledge we had at hand - nobody knew that something like this would happen. We're human. We can adapt. And if you're worried about SECT's reputation, scrapping a multi-billion-dollar endeavor like that is going to seem like an absolute waste. Plus, if SECT can get Alexander running, that's one less time you need to use kids to battle pandimensional space monster - which is where a lot of the public worry is coming from."

[Matar]

"There are rules that we need to follow with this whole cannon thing. You messed up on one thing, it should never be our main weapon. Personally, I's say we should make it so it can fire down. Design the system to work with us, ya know? I have no idea how you can do that, but maybe Lorny here has some ideas. I dunno."

[kamikasei]

"I don't know about 'ability to express myself publicly', but if your guys can tell me what you need said I think I can say it without giving away too many secrets or too much fodder for propaganda home movies." Cat sounds firm, if not exactly enthused. "But while we're safe on the island and I know I wasn't planning on going sightseeing... what about security for our families?"

She looks at Todd after he speaks, and though her expression is unreadable, there's a tightness about her mouth that suggests she's not wholly confident he won't provide that fodder for propaganda she mentioned. If anyone can make the team look like "brainwashed children", after all, it's probably the guy who seems completely detached from both reality and normal human emotion.

"I imagine there might be problems getting governments to sign off on a giant orbital superweapon pointing down at the Earth."

[Matar]

"I wouldn't know. All I know is that shooting something on earth would be better. I mean, the chances of it attacking back are slim. So it's sure as hell safer."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara sighs. "Todd, what do you think would happen if the Ascenders got their hands on a space-borne railgun pointed at Earth? Giving Alexander the capability to fire downwards is the last thing we want to do."

[Haven]

Todd sounds completely sincere when saying this.

"Don't sound like that boss. Things didn't go smoothly, and there was a cost. Yeah. But you did a damn good job, better then what anyone else here could have done. You should take some pride in that."

"Yo!" Todd runs his hand through his long hair to remove any tangles and begins to braid it.

"I'm game dude. This is something I've been waiting for. Put me out on the stage and we won't have anything to worry about."

"I..." Lorne wants to say something, but just gives up. "...thank you, Todd."

I never would have expected to hear that from Todd...maybe it is just him undervaluing Patricia's sacrifice.

"But I don't think I can speak about these things on television...Sorry, Commander. I could write an article or a letter, I suppose." I'm sure he expected that.


Sara sighs. "Todd, what do you think would happen if the Ascenders got their hands on a space-borne railgun pointed at Earth? Giving Alexander the capability to fire downwards is the last thing we want to do."

"Yes, that's right. Even if Thoughts of Ascension couldn't take it--and their Shifters can make it into space just as we can--SECT would be shut down, hard, the moment anyone realized we had the ability to launch a weapon more powerful than an atomic bomb whenever we liked."

[Cubey]

"Don't worry. We do not plan to scrap Alexander completely." The Commander strokes his beard thoughtfully. "But we have to make it as reliable and providing as little danger for the operator as possible."

"And I am afraid that I have to veto miss Lowe's and... Todd's applications." Clayton seems mildly uneasy with Todd not having a last name that he can address him as. "Our medical personnel advise against that due to the state of your physical health. Also, I mean no offense to miss Lowe but her young age might worry many of those who would be seeing the conference. Most of you, ladies and gentlemen, are already below legal employment age of most countries, but seeing someone significantly younger might create a very negative emotional reaction, and we want to avoid that."

[Matar]

Sara sighs. "Todd, what do you think would happen if the Ascenders got their hands on a space-borne railgun pointed at Earth? Giving Alexander the capability to fire downwards is the last thing we want to do."

"I guess. It's not like I'm saying we should be able to fire it at the tip of a hat or anything. All I'm saying is that a weapon like that would be good for support fire, that's all. I wouldn't know how they could do it, but it would be damn useful to soften a target up before we get there."


"And I am afraid that I have to veto miss Lowe's and... Todd's applications." Clayton seems mildly uneasy with Todd not having a last name that he can address him as. "Our medical personnel advise against that due to the state of your physical health. Also, I mean no offense to miss Lowe but her young age might worry many of those who would be seeing the conference. Most of you, ladies and gentlemen, are already below legal employment age of most countries, but seeing someone significantly younger might create a very negative emotional reaction, and we want to avoid that."

"Awww, come on. What's wrong with my health? I mean, sure I have a..." Todd stops for a moment, not comfortable with saying what it is "Condition, but it's not like that causes me any harm or anything. It's obviously your call, but I'm you know darn well that I'm the best one for this..."

Todd is obviously disappointed. Very, very disappointed.

[Tengu_temp]

"But I don't think I can speak about these things on television...Sorry, Commander. I could write an article or a letter, I suppose." I'm sure he expected that.


"Don't worry, Lorne - I'm sure there'll be enough volunteers anyway." Emi tries to cheer the boy up, but she's ambivalent about the rejection of Todd's and Sara's offers - on the one hand they really aren't the best ones to represent SECT, yes, but on the other hand at this rate those who don't want to appear at the conference might be required to do it anyway.

And what's the point of limiting us now - do the Thoughts know our identities, anyway? And if they're worried about our safety, maybe they could give us more access to our amplifiers...

[Cubey]

"I know you are disappointed, but remember about the bigger picture." The Commander moves a bit closer to Todd, his hands behind the back (his, not Todd's. That'd be wrong). "This is a mission, and its objective is to present SECT in as good a light as possible. Your condition might become an obstacle to accomplishing that objective." Clayton looks troubled by his own decision as well, like if he too wasn't entirely happy with it.
"I plan for at least one person from each squad to participate. As far as the Japanese squa..."

"I will come." Says the quiet girl from the Japanese team.

"Uwah! Usagi-chan, this is the first time you've ever volunteered for something!" Akiho expresses her surprise even louder than the others, thus she's the only one you can hear well.

"Allow me to participate in the conference, Commander. I will not fail you." Although her words are strong and determined, their tone is gentle and respectful.

[Matar]

"Ugh, alright. Can I at least take part in helping prep whom ever comes up with there speech? You know I'm good with this stuff, it's the least you can do."

[Fri]

P... public speech? There's no way I'd do that. I'll get nervous, and lost my cool, and everything!

Of course, on the outside, James simply shrugs and said "Not me. But in my opinion, Ben and Lorne should be our spokeperson, since they're here the longest."

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

"I'll speak for the team, Commander." Ben said, concise but not quietly. He didn't seem to be afraid of the notion of speaking in public, and he was the shifter who had been with SECT the longest. To him it seemed an obvious choice. Furthermore, it kept Todd from hitting on a reporter or saying something stupid with the entire world watching.

[Drascin]

Andy bears a grim grin. "Yeah, I'm in. I knew this would be needed sometime, anyway"

Of course, there's going to be many trick questions and many people trying to maniplate what he said into something else entirely. Rather than scaring him, this makes him slightly irritated - but he's decently certain he can deflect those appropiately. And by taking the speaking role, he could save the less willing people the grief of being there.

[Cubey]

"Then let's sum up - from the main squad, miss O'Donovan, mr Brooks and mr Merina will appear at the conference. Mr Todd's assistance is welcome, of course." The Commander nods. "The Japanese squad will be represented by miss Yoshida. As for the recently transferred American squad, arrangements will be made as soon as possible. I will let you know when will the conference take place during the next few days."

"This is all, unless anyone has questions for me. You may want to pay a visit to Laura... miss Ericks in the medical building. She should be getting up from her bed today."

(The Japanese team might have questions, but giving the players a chance to react first.)

[Matar]

"Yeah. We should see Devon while were down there, unless she left already. Actually... yeah, I think I'll be headed there. I'm not done bugging her. So, uh, anyone want to join me?"

[kamikasei]

"No questions, sir." Cat tries to conceal her relief that Todd won't be at the conference, but she doesn't try very hard.

"Yeah - we should probably all go see her."

[Tengu_temp]

"I think I'll head to my room - I have things to do. Say hello to Laura for me, okay?" By things Emi means taking a shower and/or going back to sleep, not necessarily in this order.
Laura probably won't feel comfortable with a whole crowd visiting her at once, anyway...

[Drascin]

"Well, drop me a note on what I'm not supposed to say as soon as possible, commander" Andy nods.

"And yeah, we really should go see Laura" Andy says as he begins heading for the door.

"Things to do huh? I understand, believe me. Give my regards to your pillow" Andy whispers and winks as he goes by Emi, and keeps going, with that joking grin the group has probably already learned to recognize.

[TooManySecrets]

"Sir, I do have a question."

She pauses.

"What's going to be done about Thoughts of Ascension?"

[Cubey]

"We must find out who are their members, and neutralize them. They also must have bases of operation somewhere. I hope that the person you captured during the last mission will betray a lot of information to us, but we have several other threads that our agents can pursue in search of results. The recording of the mission was being sent in real time to another location, and it is being investigated as well. My apologies if this sounds vague to you. I wish I could tell more but parts of this operation are restricted to everyone but those who participate in it. And we do not plan to involve any Shifters in the operation - your job is to stop Shifting Entities. We have operatives who are trained to deal with humans."

"Aah, that just answered the question I was going to ask!" Akira scratches the back of his head after hearing the translation to Japanese. It seems his question was the only one the Japanese squad wanted to ask, because nobody else has an inquiry to the Commander.

(If those of you who didn't post yet have a question for the Commander anyway, you can write it anyway and I'll answer it flashback-style)

As you leave Clayton's office, you see that Frank Symes is gone already. Taking the lift down is possible with all people at once, although it gets a little crowded so some of you (especially Lorne) might have decided to wait for the second elevator.

"A conference? Sounds very stressful, will you be alright?" Akiho asks her female teammate playfully, receiving only a slight nod in response.

"Fighting other humans... I didn't sign up for this..." On the other hand, Kazuma is quite stressed.

"Hey, we won't actively attack them or anything like that, right? But if they attack you, you have to fight back or be killed." Says Akira, before facing those of you who take the lift with the Japanese team.
"Let's visit Ericks-san!"

It seems that your comrades from Japan plan to visit Laura as well.
"Oh, where are you going?" Akiho sounds disappointed seeing Emi depart, but does nothing to stop her. The building where Laura Ericks is resting is close enough, so there is not a lot of time for chatter. Entering the structure and finding Laura's room is not a problem for you.

And when you enter the room, you find Laura sitting in a bed. She is not alone though.
"Shifting Entities. How many people die because of them, and how many due to other causes? Will the Thoughts of Ascension become a major cause like disease, violence or hunger?"
These words are aimed at you, as you enter. The one who says them is a person who stands by Laura's side. A person you know well, perhaps better than you'd hope for: Devon.

[Tengu_temp]

"See you. I'm going to my room. Talk to you later." Emi feels a bit guilty for disappointing Akiho, but she swats the feeling away - it's her life, she's not obliged to go with the rest and can do what she wants.

[Fri]

"Yes." James' voice is sharp and precise. "Left unchecked, I believe the thought of ascension will be more dangerous than the SEs. The SEs are aliens, natural disaster. They don't think like human, just as how hurricane don't think about its victims.

The Thought of Ascensions are humans. Unlike hurricanes, they can, and will direct their chaos. That's why, left unchecked, they're more dangerous than the SEs."

[Matar]

"Ya know, were fighting an idea right? Killing them won't change anything." Todd walks towards Laura and Devon with a smile on his face. "An ideal! Butting heads against ours, and only the one with the strongest force of will and passion will survive!" Todd pulls up a chair next to Laura and (If she's awake) ruffles her hair. "I really don't think killing them will change anything, after all, you can't kill an idea. And! How ya feeling Laura? Any better? 'Cause we miss ya girl." Todd leans in and whispers, though it's loud enough for everyone to hear "I think Ben missed ya the most. He was all emo."

[kamikasei]

Cat simply ignores Devon and smiles at the woman in the bed. "Hi, Laura. Feeling all right?"

[Cubey]

"Number of deaths caused by Shifting Entities are miniscule in comparison to other, Earthly causes. Of course, if not stopped they will eventually kill everyone anyway. I want you to realize the difference of perspective, whether you look at humans in numbers or treat each person differently."

However, Devon's talk gets ignored by the Japanese team, maybe because they do not understand or want to listen to her. Anyway, they focus on Laura more.

"Ericks-san! Are you alright?"

"Yes... I am fine. I'm sorry." Laura smiles, trying to hide her embarassment. "I did something really reckless and because of that, you had to leave me behind. You went on a mission and I wasn't there to protect everyone. But you are safe anyway, I'm glad."

[Matar]

"Number of deaths caused by Shifting Entities are miniscule in comparison to other, Earthly causes. Of course, if not stopped they will eventually kill everyone anyway. I want you to realize the difference of perspective, whether you look at humans in numbers or treat each person differently."

"Sweety, you can't teach someone something when you aren't willing to learn things yourself. Anyways, no matter how many of the ToA we kill, it won't change anything. You can't just kill an idea like that, it's impossible."

Todd then speaks to Laura with a grin on his face.

"It's fine! You sound like you need a hug, like badly. I would, but hun here" Todd glances at Devon when he says that, having a blast teasing her. "made my hugging arm sore. Soooo... Ben! I think you should take care of that for me."

Todd laughs a little, obviously enjoying making Laura embarrassed, and Ben mad.

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

Todd was, in fact, succeeding, but instead of dragging Todd out of the room by his collar, Ben went around to the other side of the hospital bed. "Hey, Laura." he smiled, settling a hand over hers briefly. "I'm glad you're alright. Don't worry about the mission. You deserve a little rest. Besides, we did alright up there." he remarked, leaving out any mention of Patricia Heinrich. Laura probably already knew the details, but bringing up the casualties would just make someone like her feel guilty for not being there. She was a lot like Emi in that regard.

[Cubey]

Laura lowers her gaze, a blush creeping on her cheeks.
"Alright. I'll try not to worry too much. The situation was very stressful recently, that's all."

"Ericks-san, you should visit us more often!" It seems with Emi's absence, Akiho decided to focus her enthusiasm on Laura.

As for Devon, she stays quiet.

[Drascin]

Andy bops Laura in the forehead playfully. "It's so stressful because you keep trying to stress for everyone. Leave a bit to the rest of us, will you" he grins.

[Cubey]

"I just don't want to lose anyone..." Laura's tone is mildly apologetic, but warm and she seems to be content that you came to visit her.

"Like our previous team?" Devon asks, her tone more sharp than usual. "I do not plan to see that happen either."

"H... hey..." Akira tries to protest, but stops as he hears everything of what the Shifter had to say. As for Laura, she looks very surprised, shocked even, by Devon's words and says nothing.

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

"Christ, Devon," Ben scowled, "You and Todd are a match made in heaven. Both of you are social retards." He turned his eyes toward the dark woman. "None of us have to be reminded of what happened to the other team, alright? We appreciate your resolve, but it's a painful subject, especially for Laura. Try to be more tactful." he said softly, but the undercurrent in his voice made it apparent that he was holding back and really just wanted to start yelling at her. Everything she did rubbed him the wrong way.

[Cubey]

"Do you care about this? Pretending the past never happened will not erase it." Devon is back to her usual, emotionless tone. It sounded almost callous.
"Instead of trying not to accidentally hurt anyone's feelings by mentioning a supposedly taboo topic, you should focus on making sure the situation from the past does not repeat itself."

[kamikasei]

"I imagine there are other places you could be pursuing that focus, then. Why waste time berating us when you could surely be up to something more productive?" Cat asks, pleasantly enough.

[roll0]

[Cubey]

"I will take action then. And so you should, deciding what to do by your own rather than waiting until someone else orders you." Devon starts to move.

"Shouldn't you apologise? Wait!" Despite Akira's protests, she moves through the door and leaves.

"Devon..." Laura whispers painfully, her gaze low. Members of the Japanese team look at her, especially Kazuma and Akiho, uncertain of how should they react. They are exchanging a few words, but since it's in Japanese you cannot understand it.

[Matar]

"Babe, don't take this the wrong way, but nothing you do is going to stop the ToA. They're an idea. You can't stop something like that off with fighting them directly."

Todd pictures himself fighting against a giant scrabble board. The words "Shifting Entity", "Human", and "Armor" are on it. Todd is giving it a powerful uppercut. 'Man... that would be awesome.'

"Also? You needs a hug!" Todd attempts to hug Devon before she leaves. With youthful passion!

[Cubey]

Devon sidesteps Todd's hugging attempts, as if avoiding an attack. Stepping into a wall if there's a need (and there probably is), giving an expression of surprise to whomever was looking at her.

[Matar]

And there is a need. Todd's hugs are as relentless as they are cuddly! When Devon steps through a wall Todd begins to crack up, laughing and grinning. He wipes an invisible tear from his eye and says between the laughter.

"Hahaha, oh man. That was hil-hehe-hilarious. Oh man, I love ya Devon. You're just *Laughs some more* just too much fun."

Todd exhales and plops into a nearby chair, a little tired out from laughing so much.

[Cubey]

Todd's actions bring a smile to Laura's face.
"I... can't remember seeing Devon dodge something so carefully. Not even an enemy in combat."
Although slight, the smile is natural.

The Japanese team discuss the situation, with Akiho wondering about something loudly and Akira sounding like he's explaining. Which is followed by the energetic girl giving Kazuma a hug, mirroring Todd's attempts, to the boy's distress.
The two others remain quiet.

[Drascin]

Andy gives Cat a stealth thumbs-up and sincerely congratulates the girl "Smooth handling of Ms Walking Bomb there" he winks.

Then, as if he had said nothing, he steps back into the main conversation without missing a beat. "Yeah, Todd can have that effect on people" he says, trying very hard to black out the memories of the time he had to tackle a naked Todd himself out from his head. Yeaurgh. It still grossed him out weeks after the fact.

[Tengu_temp]

If someone is going to pass next to Emi's door later that they, they will hear guitar music coming from behind it - mostly sad and melancholic songs.

[Cubey]

Laura looks more serious.
"I know everything that happened - during the mission, the attack on our base in Japan. It must be hard for you all. I... must get up as soon as possible. And Devon is right, we must do something. But, what should we do?" She wonders loudly.

"Ah! I'm sorry, I seem to ignore you too much." She faces the Japanese team. "But... I don't know Japanese at all. Maybe we should get a translator."

"It's okay!" Akira responds, and Akiho begins her usual chatter. Kazuma seems too shy to speak up, and the two others are stoically quiet.

(You are free to timeskip if you don't want to talk with Laura anymore. The next important event happens on early afternoon, unless you initiative something of your own in the meantime, that is.)

[kamikasei]

"Don't worry about it, Laura. The Commander's told us he has other people going after Thoughts of Ascension. We're just to focus on defending ourselves while we deal with SEs. Don't let Devon make you think you need to do everything yourself."

Cat talks with the group for as much longer as they stay, trying to cheer Laura up a bit and steer the conversation away from any action they need to take against ToA. It's not until they're leaving that she offers Andy a quick thanks, before heading back to the dorms and thence to the gym. Absent the formal classes and exercises, she spends the time in her own training regimen.

((Happy to timeskip however suits.))

[Matar]

"Psh, mock me all you like. One day, you shall all fear the terrible might of The Hugs!"

Todd goes around hugging people. Starting with Laura, and skipping only Cat. Everyone is filled with huggy goodness! Afterwards, Todd invites whomever wants to join him in filling the world with huggy goodness and leaves the room, hugging (Or trying to hug) everyone he sees to pass the time.

[kamikasei]

Cat stares after Todd, looking entirely nonplussed.

[Fri]

"And that... was something that won't happen everyday."

[Cubey]

Todd's targets were too surprised to react. Takeshi looks mostly unphased, maybe slightly disgusted (but he didn't oppose, although that might've been because he was one of the first victims), and leaves shortly thereafter. Usagi and Kazuma look uncomfortably embarassed after the act, and Akira is puzzled.
"What's up with this guy?"
Unsurprisingly, the only one who didn't mind in the slightest was the energetic Akiho.

As for Laura, the blush doesn't leave her face but neither does a light smile, as if she enjoyed the hug.

Later, during the early afternoon, each one of you is seperately approached by a person in a SECT uniform.
"Hello. You're supposed to have an appointment with miss Eleonore Darius, the psychologist. She's free to see you now, but if you're busy then you can come to her later."
(Each of you is approached on a slightly different time, and if you're in a group during that time then only one person is asked to come at a time. But everyone received the info anyway, so everyone should react.)

[Matar]

Todd nods his head, giving up his relentless hugging to go see the psychologist. About how many people did he manage hug? It didn't matter much, but he kept track of the number... for some reason.

When he enter the psychologist office, he gives a wave and greets her in his usual fashion.

"'Why 'ello there!" He plops himself down in a nearby chair, with all the grace of a drunken bull "My name is Todd, but I'm sure you knew that already. So, I'm here for an evaluation or something, right?"

[kamikasei]

The messenger finds Cat in the pool, alone unless anyone decided to tag along - she didn't try to gather people. "I should finish up here - I'll be a little while," she tells him. "Better let the next person go ahead of me."

It's not a blow-off, though, and she does indeed make her way to the psychiatrist's office once she's completed her lengths and dried off (and changed, although showing up in a swimsuit would probably have served as effective diversion from any of her real emotional problems in to entirely irrelevant ones).

[Tengu_temp]

Emi stays in her room so far, so the officer probably knocked to her door.
"Um, hi. Thanks for the information, I'll visit her later."
When I feel like it, to be exact. Which probably means never - that's just a waste of time, I don't need any psychological help! Just leave me alone...
She waits until the SECT officer goes away, then returns to her guitar.

[Haven]

Lorne visits Laura with the rest of the team and is generally supportive, though a bit too nervous in the close proximity of all these people to do anything besides smile at her and wave. When Todd starts giving out hugs, Lorne escapes while Todd's busy squeezing someone else.

He's in the laboratory when the messenger stops by. Lorne knows he should be analyzing the data from the fights against the Thoughts shifters and 02A and B, but he can't really stand to review those scenes just yet...instead, he's working by himself on a comparatively trivial mechanical project. On hearing the message, Lorne nods, finishes the step he's on, and then heads for the psychologist's office.

[Drascin]

When Todd tries to hug him, he finds a big hand on his forehead preventing him from doing so, as Andy takes advantage of his superior height and weight to stop him like an older brother would do to his little little sister.

"Sorry, dude, counterspell" he grins slyly.

--------------

For the following day, Andy was mostly thinking. He walked around, and read a bit, but for the most part, it was all done with an absent expression that said very clearly that for Andy the real world right now was not much more than a place to go visit, since his mind was very busy laboring elsewhere.

In this he is, when the messenger finds him. "Mmmm?" he snaps out of it. "Oh, right. The psychologist. Yeah, I'm coming". He heads there with his usual leisurely pace.

[Cubey]

The room that you are led to is arranged to be warm and comfortable. The psychologist waiting for you is a woman around 30 years old, with warm brown eyes and red hair in a style that reminds you of Akiho, only grown up and more motherly understanding rather than unfailingly energetic.

"Hello. I'm glad to see you here." She starts, and her voice sounds a bit like the mission control lady. Is it coincidence?
"Please, have a sit. Yesterday must have been a hard day for you... could you tell me about it? Tell me how you felt?"

(Everyone enters the room seperately, so each of you sees no one else inside but the psychologist. Also, if you want to lie, roll Bluff. And roll high.)

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

When Todd attempts a hug, Ben whacked him over the head with a bed pan. <SPANG!!!> He bid the others goodbye and headed to his psych appointment. He'd learned after all the years he'd been a part of SECT that it was infinitely better to just get it over with early instead of making them hunt you down.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"Hello. I'm glad to see you here." She starts, and her voice sounds a bit like the mission control lady. Is it coincidence?
"Please, have a sit. Yesterday must have been a hard day for you... could you tell me about it? Tell me how you felt?"

Ben suppressed a sigh. Here we go again... "Actually, I didn't really know Miss Heinrich at all. It was hard to watch, and I guess we couldn't really help but feel responsible, but I know it was the SE that did it. We stopped it. It was a tragedy, but we got the monster. Just like we got the last one, and like we'll get the next one, and the next one, and so on. I'm going to do my job, save the world as many times as I have to. You guys should know that about me by now. You trained me to handle this sort of thing after all." he said, shrugging.

[Matar]

Todd nods his head and starts to speak. "Well, proud mostly. As well as being slightly annoyed. Alot of good people gave there lives for humanity, that's something to feel proud of, ya know? True blue hero's, body and soul. But... well, this whole thing could have been avoided. I mean, it was really damn obvious that something was going to go wrong. Things like that always do."

[kamikasei]

Cat looks a little uncertain - and hopes the shrink will think it's nerves rather than worry that she might inadvertently reveal something about the videos they saw that she's supposed to be keeping secret.

"I'm disappointed we couldn't do more... but though it's a shame what happened, I think we did a lot of good. It was hard to see so many people had died, but that wasn't something we could prevent... maybe we could have done more for Miss Heinrich, but there's no point beating ourselves up over it, right?

"I know it's a big upset to our plans for Alexander, but really I think we just got unlucky... the first SE it faced was one that could go right around it. For the future, I'm more worried about some of the others maybe beating themselves up too much over what happened than about the SEs or our weapons against them being more of a problem.

"And Ascension... well, they're crazy, right? And they're going to say crazy things. It'll cause some hassle, but ultimately, we're trying to protect everyone from alien monsters and they're trying to persuade people they should just go and die happily... I think that's a PR battle we can win, and meanwhile I just want to focus on training and preparing so we can do our jobs properly and not worry about all that other stuff."

[Haven]

"I've been worrying...ever since yesterday, that the rest of the team thinks I'm a monster. Though it is...probably unfounded, I still--I carried on exactly as I was right after Miss Heinrich's death. It's because...I didn't want anyone to die, since we were still in potentially hostile territory. And I wanted to try to protect them from having to think about it...I suppose I was doing the same for myself, really.

"Because, no matter how much Emi beats herself up over it--it really was my fault, Miss Heinrich's death. It would have been so easy for me to get her out of the room, and if I'd asked someone else to they would have--they were all listening to me, which rather surprised me, but at the same time...that's why I have to take responsibility."

He leans back and stares at the ceiling.

[Cubey]

Here's what the shrink has to say to each of you.

Ben:
"Like you said, it is the SE that did it, not you. Do not feel responsible for what happened, and I'm glad you don't beat yourself up for it, so don't try to start, okay?"
"While you are here, is there anything else you would like to tell me?"
Apparently her mind is already made up on you having not being traumatized because of what happened. Or at least that's the impression you get.

Todd:
"Of course, we are proud of those who sacrificed themselves. But I'm sure everyone would prefer if they survived. This applies to you too, don't try to sacrifice your own life during a mission, okay? What's in the past is done already, but we don't want anyone to die if it can be avoided."

Cat:
"That's right, don't feel bad about what happened. You and your friends are an incredible help to us, and if it wasn't for you then the whole situation would end badly. Sometimes you are fortunate, and sometimes not. This was one of the more unfortunate times, but you saved it as much as you could."
"I'm glad you try not to worry about the Thoughts. It'd be a lie to say they're not a danger, but it's a danger we try to minimize and keep everyone safe. And out of all people, you are the ones we keep safest."
"Is there something else you'd like to tell me? You look like something is worrying you."

Lorne:
"I don't think they believe you to be a monster... you remained calm in a stressful situation. Keeping your cool under pressure is something to be proud about, not ashamed of. Your friends understand that, and even if some of them don't then we'll just have to make them understand, right?" The psychologist smiles, as the last sentence's second part was said in a half-joking tone.
"Don't worry about what you didn't do. It's in the past, there is no need to beat yourself up over it. It's easy to come up with options of what you 'could' do in hindsight, when you give it a lot of thought. But during your mission the situation is always changing, you have to react quickly and can't be always sure if the thing you're doing is the best course of action. You have to do what you think is best at the moment, and I think that's what you did. Nobody has to take responsibility of the mission, even if humans died - someone would if it was their fault, but what happened was not your fault, but the SE's."

[Drascin]

"Honestly? I felt angry. Very much so" Andy says simply. "And that's bad. You know, my role in this thing is to play the tank - take the hits and return them with interest. But I was so angry I completely forgot about the first part" he clicks his tongue, annoyed with himself. "I should have realized when the first weapon that came to mind was Fragarach, honestly, and taken a chill pill. But, you know, the whole mindrape thing unnerves me a lot. I like my brain, you know? And I can't help but presume it's the same for others. So seeing people controlled like puppets... brrr"

"But still, no excuses, really. I should've been covering Patricia, but I was too much of an idiot to do it" he doesn't sound angsty. Determined, more like. Andy's reaction to psychological pushing is generally anger, not sadness. "Not much I can do to make it up to her, now, and I hate that. But I'm pretty sure she would chuck a stone at me from Heaven if I go all angsty, so what I gotta do is make sure it doesn't happen next time".

[kamikasei]

"Well..." Cat stalls, "I guess I'm just worried about Devon, and Todd, and what they might do, or what the others might do in reaction... they both seem determined to act like idiots and have everyone else do the same, I'm afraid it's only going to make things worse for people who already put themselves under too much pressure."

This is true, but also a dodge, so [roll0]

[Cubey]

Andy:
"No, there is no need for excuses. It's natural to get angry in situations like the one you experienced. So an excuse isn't needed, because everyone should understand it. You only have to try not to let this anger take control over you."
"But even if you lost yourself to anger, nobody blames you for what happened. You had no preparation or prior knowledge of that SE, you had no way to predict what it's going to do. You could only react to changing circumstances, and you did the best you could've done, considering how dangerous the mission was."
"You shouldn't hate yourself for not being able to do anything now. Patricia... miss Heinrich wouldn't want that. She wouldn't blame you for her death either, she was not that kind of a person. It may seem it's too late to do anything for her, but you can remember her, her actions and how she paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend the humankind. It may not seem much... but it is."

Cat:
"Oh, is that it? Everyone has their problems, but I think Todd won't do anything stupid or inappropriate concerning this last mission of yours. He was very impressed with everyone involved when I talked with him. As for Devon..." For the first time, miss Darius looks reluctant.
"She never visited me, even when told to. I doubt she's going to do it now, when SECT has so little control over her actions. And that's a shame. She's a very troubled young woman, and she really needs help. Especially now - she may look like she has some kind of a secret plan or ulterior motive, but if you ask me, she's just very lost. Ah, how unprofessional - I really shouldn't talk about people other than my current visitor. Is there something else that worries you?"

[Haven]

Nobody has to take responsibility of the mission, even if humans died - someone would if it was their fault, but what happened was not your fault, but the SE's."

"The commander said the same thing." Lorne half-smiles.

"I know...I understand what you mean, intellectually, but all the same it was...I never saw anyone dead, or anyone die until yesterday. It's...I still feel a little sick, actually. I had to tell some men that all their friends were dead...don't think I did it very well, all things considered.

"And I know I did what I had to, and I'm glad of it, but it does seem rather disrespectful of me. Not to have given Miss Heinrich a moment of silence, or something. They probably think I don't care for neglecting that..."

[Matar]

Todd:
"Of course, we are proud of those who sacrificed themselves. But I'm sure everyone would prefer if they survived. This applies to you too, don't try to sacrifice your own life during a mission, okay? What's in the past is done already, but we don't want anyone to die if it can be avoided."

"Ah, well. I don't plan on dying unless it can't be avoided. So that works out fine and everything. Nothing sucks more then a pointless sacrifice, ya know?"

Todd laughs a little and continues on.

"Sorry man, I'm not really too sure what I should say. Which is a first, to be sure. My passion normally lets words flow off my tongue like a river into the ocean! But eh... I don't have much to say. The last mission didn't effect me, really. My mind... doesn't work like other peoples. Hell, neither does my body. Honestly, I'd be more worried about Emi. She's... not cut out for this."

[TooManySecrets]

"Hello. I'm glad to see you here." She starts, and her voice sounds a bit like the mission control lady. Is it coincidence?
"Please, have a sit. Yesterday must have been a hard day for you... could you tell me about it? Tell me how you felt?"

(Everyone enters the room seperately, so each of you sees no one else inside but the psychologist. Also, if you want to lie, roll Bluff. And roll high.)

"I dunno. It's a bit hard talking about stuff like this to someone I just met, you know. I mean, being open is nice and all, but would you tell your true feelings to somebody you know nothing about?"

[Cubey]

Lorne:
"Witnessing death is never easy, especially for the first time. And it happened only yesterday for you, so it's natural that you still feel sick about it. Give it some time and try not to think about it too much - you'll feel better with each day, unless you let the despair consume you."
"I don't think you were disrespectful. You all were in a dangerous situation, honoring the dead should be left for times when you're sure you are safe. That would be after the mission. You weren't uncaring, you were reasonable."

Todd:
"I see. There is a personal strength in not having an emotional reaction to stress, as long as you realize intellectually that wrong things happened, you just don't let them affect you in a negative way. Do you have anything else that you would like to talk about?"

Sara:
"I may be a complete stranger to you, but I am still the headquarter's psychological help. So I'm not a random person off the street, but rather a trained professional, if I may say so. And some people find it easier to discuss their feelings with unknown strangers rather than with someone they already know. I'm here to help and what will be said in this room will remain between us, so try to open up. If you have anything that worries you, it will really help you feel better."

Emi:
Some time later, she hears a knock to her door.
"Hello. My name is Eleonore, I am the base's psychologist. May I come in?"

[kamikasei]

"Is there something else that worries you?"

"Well..." Cat chews her lip. "I'm not worried about Thoughts of Ascension, as in how to fight them or anything. But I am a little worried about my family. I said I'd do this press conference, and on top of the risk of screwing up and saying something that'll get quoted out of context on all the news networks or get a techno remix on YouTube, it'll put my name out there... but I'm sure SECT have good security in place, and it's not like I'm any better able to look after myself anyway, if I'm surprised or caught without my amplifier." She sighs. "It's just hard... I can knuckle down and do what I have to do myself, but it endangers my parents too, and I can't even tell them what exactly I'm doing.

"But it's fine!" she adds hastily. "I mean, I knew what I was signing up for. And it's not all bad. I get to feel like I'm doing something important. And a lot of the people here are so nice." This is not entirely insincere, even though it's obviously fairly automatic pleasantries.

[Drascin]

Andy:
"No, there is no need for excuses. It's natural to get angry in situations like the one you experienced. So an excuse isn't needed, because everyone should understand it. You only have to try not to let this anger take control over you."
"But even if you lost yourself to anger, nobody blames you for what happened. You had no preparation or prior knowledge of that SE, you had no way to predict what it's going to do. You could only react to changing circumstances, and you did the best you could've done, considering how dangerous the mission was."

Andy shakes his head. "Actually, gotta disagree there Doc, somebody does blame me. Mostly, I do. I could have saved her. And you improve by seeing what you could have done better, and then doing it. Saying "it wasn't my fault, I could do nothing, wah, wah" isn't my style. And it would be disrespectful as ***** with the people that died if I did not improve on what I did yesterday" He looks solemn, which is very rare in him.


"You shouldn't hate yourself for not being able to do anything now. Patricia... miss Heinrich wouldn't want that. She wouldn't blame you for her death either, she was not that kind of a person. It may seem it's too late to do anything for her, but you can remember her, her actions and how she paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend the humankind. It may not seem much... but it is."


Andy nods. "Yeah, that much is obvious. I'm not going to forget it, trust me. I have always tried to be a hero, but Patricia simply was. That's not something you forget easily" he sounds almost pained. Man... five goddamned hours chained to the ****ing alien. The mere act of thinking about it makes him wince. It has to have been horrible. And she didn't so much as say ouch. Brrrr.

[Cubey]

Cat:
"I don't want to worry you, but we should be realistic - if the Thoughts want to know about your identities and relatives, they probably are already aware of them by now. They do not need media conferences to discover that."
"But you bring a good point. SECT should provide security for your families, now that Thoughts of Ascension are actively working and at large. I'll remind Commander Richard, in case he forgot."

Andy:
"You're the only one who blames yourself. It's a vicious circle - you feel bad, so you blame yourself, so you feel even worse, and blame yourself even more. Even if what happened really wasn't the result of bad luck or unexpected powers the SE had, even if it was because you made a mistake... then you should admit that you made the mistake and do your best to try to do better the next time. But don't beat yourself up over it, it will only make what happened even worse. So try not to feel bad - forge these feelings, negative emotions, into determination to get better."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara shakes her head. "Call it a quirk and call me eccentric, Eleanor, but tell me at least something about yourself. I'm sure you've already read my file forwards and backwards, so call it a reciprocated favor. Like, how long have you been working at SECT, at least?"

[Cubey]

The psychologist nods.
"Of course, you're free to ask whatever you want about me. I hope for sincerity, so I should offer it as well. Before I started my work with SECT, I was supervising soldiers that returned home from peacekeeping missions. Post-traumatic stress disorder, similar afflictions - I was monitoring them to see if they develop any. That was my job for several years, even after SECT was formed. Commander Richard hired me about half a year after the organisation was created. We met before, albeit only once and briefly, but I think I left an impression of trust on him if he chose to approach me out of so many possible candidates. That, or my sister gave him a good word about me. She is with SECT as well, as a mission control operator."
"So, to put this in a few words, I am working with SECT for about five years by now. I worked with the old team as well."

[TooManySecrets]

"Thanks." Sara looks out distantly, past Eleanor. "Funny you should mention the old team. It's a shame what happened to them, to say the least. Most are dead, killed by Thoughts of Ascension or willfully sacrificed their lives to attempt to end the SEs."

She looks back at Eleanor, a bit sheepishly. "I'm glad I'm not the head-doc for Laura and Devon."

[Cubey]

"Well, yes. This is a tragedy that deeply saddened me, doubly so that I knew them personally. But... I had to deal with it. I couldn't go around helping others with their personal troubles and worries if I didn't deal with mine first."
"Laura is a nice young woman. But she needs more confidence in her own abilities, and gets attached to people more than what it's healthy. I'm saying this only because you probably realized it on your own already. As a professional, I shouldn't tell everyone secrets of people I work with. As for Devon... I couldn't talk with her, not even once. She always ignored me or just left. It's a shame, because she is a really troubled person. She needs help, especially now. I'm sure you can see that."
"But you didn't come here to listen about other people, right? I spoke enough for now, so it's your turn. Could you tell me how do you feel about everything that happened recently, your last mission?"

[TooManySecrets]

Sara smiles. "I wasn't try to pry into their affairs. It's just that talking can help me set my thoughts straight."

Sara lightly claps here hands together. "Okay, let's go down to it."

"I feel pretty fine about the last mission. Unlike most people, new information doesn't really throw me off. Adapt, adapt, adapt, and all that. I'm not worried about SEs. The biggest problem appears to be Thoughts of Ascension."

"I can't wrap my head around it. What could possess somebody to join up with a group like that? They say that they have the best intentions to humanity, but there's no way to find out, really. All our interactions with them have been pretty one-sided. If I had a chance to talk with one of them, find out why believe in what they believe in, I think that I would have a much better grasp of why they act the way they do."

[Matar]

odd:
"I see. There is a personal strength in not having an emotional reaction to stress, as long as you realize intellectually that wrong things happened, you just don't let them affect you in a negative way. Do you have anything else that you would like to talk about?"

"Actually... yeah. Do you know when Devon's birthday is? And how far away it is?"

[Cubey]

Sara:
"I believe it's desperation that guides the Thoughts. Well adjusted members of the society would never join them - but those who have traumatic past experiences, or just very bad living conditions, in poverty or violence, would be desperate to improve their living. The Thoughts of Ascension offer a fast and easy way to do so, even if it's false, and they also present a scapegoat, that would be us."

Todd:
"No, my apologies. I have no idea when Devon's birthday is - she keeps her past a secret. I don't even know her exact age or nationality, I can only make educated guesses."

[Tengu_temp]

When the woman knocks on her door, Emi is sitting on her bed, playing her guitar - she doesn't put much effort into improving herself right now, and only plays the songs she likes, ones that she can lose herself into.
The base's psychologist? I really don't feel like talking with her - why couldn't one of the others come to talk instead? But she went out of her way to come here, so I guess...
Emi sighs and puts her guitar on her lap.
"Come in."

[Haven]

Lorne:
"Witnessing death is never easy, especially for the first time. And it happened only yesterday for you, so it's natural that you still feel sick about it. Give it some time and try not to think about it too much - you'll feel better with each day, unless you let the despair consume you."

Lorne nods. "I hope you're right."



"I don't think you were disrespectful. You all were in a dangerous situation, honoring the dead should be left for times when you're sure you are safe. That would be after the mission. You weren't uncaring, you were reasonable."

"Thank you...well, I just hope the rest of the team sees it that way.

"Speaking of which...I still haven't told them about my phobia. And I...probably should. Because, I-I do trust them. I think. Mostly. Well, some of them are a little psychotic and that's frightening. But I should probably still tell them.

"I mean...it still somehow hasn't come up yet, which is odd, but fortunate. And I don't quite know how to broach the subject. Mostly I'm just ashamed. My level of comfort aside, though, we're working and living together and, well, facing life-or-death stakes where it might someday be a factor that could get us all killed...so I suppose I should tell them...Right?"

Lorne doesn't sound convinced of his own reasoning.

[Cubey]

Emi:
"I'm coming in then." The door opens and just like she said, the psychologist enters.
"This is a nice room you live in. May I stay for a bit? I'd like us to talk." She takes a seat on the nearest appropriate spot.
"You were through a tough situation recently. Can you tell me how do you feel about it?"

Lorne:
"I agree, you should probably tell them. Even if your friends aren't aware of your phobia yet, they will discover it sooner or later. Your reasoning is sound, the phobia might be a trouble during missions if others don't know about it and aren't able to act in consideration of its existence."
"And if you're not sure how to tell your friends about it, then don't necessarily tell them all at once. Pick one you are most comfortable with and talk with them, one on one, and see how they react. Then tell another of your friends, and so on until they all know."

[Drascin]

Andy:
"You're the only one who blames yourself. It's a vicious circle - you feel bad, so you blame yourself, so you feel even worse, and blame yourself even more. Even if what happened really wasn't the result of bad luck or unexpected powers the SE had, even if it was because you made a mistake... then you should admit that you made the mistake and do your best to try to do better the next time. But don't beat yourself up over it, it will only make what happened even worse. So try not to feel bad - forge these feelings, negative emotions, into determination to get better."

Andy laughs sardonically. "Um, doc, you even listening to what I say? That's exactly what I said! I'm feelin' kind of ignored here" He reclines on the couch "So yeah, to sum up, I made a mistake, now I have to take steps so it doesn't happen again. I've seen enough TV to know what happens when you start bitching at yourself instead of trying to make things better. Ain't a pretty sight, and certainly not my style. You don't break more things. You build them better" he shakes his head. "Besides, again, if I nullify myself like that it'd be a horrible disrespect to the ones that already died. I'm not in the bussiness of offending people I respect, even if they're dead" he ironizes.

[Cubey]

Andy:
"No, don't get me wrong. I'm not ignoring you." The psychologist smiles. "We both said the same thing, but presented it in a different light. I wanted to show you that even horrible tragedies aren't a reason to angst and feel perpetually depressed - it's all in your head, what matters is what you make of them. Now, I'm not saying you angst now, but don't forget this if you ever feel like brooding unconstructively, okay? You have a good worldview, so try not to lose it."

[Tengu_temp]

Emi looks away. She tried to forget about yesterday, and the memories return now, making her feel sad again. And guilty, too, although she tries not to show it.
"...I don't want to talk about it."

[Cubey]

Emi:
"And this is exactly why we should talk." Miss Darius sounds warm and understanding.
"If you don't tell anyone and just keep it bottled inside you, then you'll only feel depressed or angry when these feelings could be avoided. Sometimes telling someone how you feel really helps."

[Tengu_temp]

If I wanted to tell anyone about it, I'd go to one of my friends, not a stranger. How can you help me anyway? You weren't there.

"I don't have anything bottled inside me. I'll be fine, really, I just would rather not return to that."

Bluff: [roll0]

[Cubey]

"Is that so? You look like you don't really believe what you just said. Keeping your negative feelings, your trauma inside rarely ends well. Even if you don't know any real life examples of that, just look at fictional stories - books, movies, animated series... their protagonists sometimes really need professional help. And I just happen to serve that role."
"Don't be embarassed about it. I won't tell anyone else on what we talked about now."

[Matar]

"Well, damn. So... mind if I get going? Not much more to say, and I'd like to get something to eat if ya don't mind."

[Tengu_temp]

This is not a story, I'm not embarassed, and I don't need professional help! Do you really expect me to open up when we haven't even met before?

Emi shakes her head - the fact that Eleonore is so friendly and understanding only makes her even feel more defensive.
"I'm sorry, but I have nothing I want to talk about. What I need right now is some time alone."

[Fri]

Unlike the others, james doesn't visit the psychologist. He spends his time practicing kata in a secluded (some even say hidden) spot of the beach.

[Cubey]

Todd:
"Of course. You are free to go. Visit me again any time you want!" The psychologist says the same to Ben, Andy and Cat, if they don't want to talk anymore.

James:
Not so surprisingly, Eleonore Darius doesn't find you in your training spot. Maybe it's hidden too well, or maybe she simply has no idea where you are at the moment.

Emi:
"I'm sorry too. This meeting would really help you, but I cannot force to talk someone who doesn't want to. I'll check on you later to see if you change your mind, okay? Getting help like this isn't embarassing - I helped even huge, tough marines and they didn't feel embarassed about it at all." Although she looks worried, the psychologist really starts to gather herself up and exit the room, leaving you alone.

[Tengu_temp]

"Well... Alright. And I don't feel embarassed - it's just... Nevermind. Goodbye."
Emi smiles slightly (although there's not much joy in that smile) and waves her hand goodbye. She doesn't want to be completely uncooperative - the psychologist only wants to help her, and she feels guilty for treating her like that. When miss Darius leaves, Emi lies down on her bed, staring at the ceiling.
Why is she trying to help me, anyway? Because it's her job? Or because she cares? But if she cares, she should acknowledge that I don't want help from her - she's a stranger, she doesn't understand how I feel... It was my fault Patricia-san died. No amount of cheering up is going to change that.
Emi turns to her side and curls up. She feels worse than before the visit now.

[Cubey]

(Does it mean nobody has anything else to add for the psychologist?)

Nothing that much unusual happens during the day, unless you actively try to do something on your own (if you do, then say so). Except for one thing, that is...

"You must be strong." One of you, most likely Andy or Cat, is approached by one of the Japanese - Akira. "You have training soon. Everyone wants to train with you, so be prepared!"

[Matar]

(I'm good, nothing much more too add)

Todd spends the rest of his time practicing in secret in his PSA. He doesn't try to keep it that secret, mind you. Mostly just practicing movements at the camp site. If anyone walked by they would see him, but he doesn't tell anyone about it or go out of his way to show off... for once.

[Haven]

After his meeting with the psychologist, Lorne heads back to the quarters, and walks up to Emi's door...but hesitates in knocking on it. Instead, he returns to his own room, puts on some music and immerses himself in coding for a while.

[Fri]

James hides trains in the beach until he's sure that the psychologist's session time had ended.

[kamikasei]

Cat takes her leave of the psychiatrist, and starts to head back to the pool. Halfway there, she slows, then stops, then changes direction, looking for Andy.

[Drascin]

((Well, since we already moved on, let's say we finished the session correctly))

After ending the conversation, Andy leaves, thoughtful. Yeah, he's been completely truthful with the psychologist, but still, there is something that nibbles at him down there. But he'll not annoy the expert with it until he can understand that restlessness himself - if he can't say anything other than "I'm feeling a bit nervous and I dunno why", well, fat lot of good that'd do. An investigator needs something to start from, after all. He'd better give it some thought tonight and mention it next time.

In this pensieve mood he is when the Japanese kid approaches him. He snaps out of it visibly, and turns, smiling sardonically. "Oh, really" Right now, Andy doesn't feel like fighting or talking about such, to be honest. But then something passes his mind, and he feels he needs to say it just in case. He looks at Akira, more serious "Little tip, man - if they do let us do mock fights, when it comes to our dude in green, be careful. He's got trouble with restraint at times. We had to smack him into the ground altogether during the last "training match", he was getting horribly carried away. So please drop the note to your friends. I'll try to keep Todd in check myself anyway, but precaution never hurt anybody, you know?" He thinks about the Japanese team. There is at least one Emi-alike there that doen't seem much enthused with fighting. He'd hate the idea of that kid going against Todd.

By the way, I'm thinking of them as kids and they must be practically my age. Must be they're just so short he admonishes himself.

If Akira wants to answer and keep talking, then Andy will stay as well and converse, and that's how Cat would find him. Else, Andy kept walking around in his pensieve mood, and probably run ino her by accident.

[Cubey]

Akira nods, although he looks slightly uncertain. Could it be that he didn't understand everything you said? Or maybe he is vary of Todd already? Can't blame him if he is.
"Okay. I understand."
But he doesn't feel like saying much more, apparently, since he leaves and can barely be seen again for the day.

Speaking of people who can't be seen, you have no idea where Frank Symes went. You didn't see him around since he escorted you to the commander this morning, even in places where he usually should be if anyone of you is enough of a stalker/investigaror to check that out.

(Probably going to timeskip to the next PSA training soon.)

[Tengu_temp]

Emi spends the rest of the day alone on various mysterious activities in her room - she doesn't leave it unless she absolutely has to. The combination of passing time and escapism makes her feel marginally better. She's a bit disappointed none of her friends came to visit her, though.

[kamikasei]

"Hey," Cat greets Andy once she finds him. "I was going to go for a run, want to come? Or a walk, whatever, so long as there's fresh air. Always better with company, and besides, Todd's out there somewhere." She delivers this in a way that would fit right in to a slasher flick - "that thing that killed Bobby is still out there!"

"We can try and grab some of the others if you think they need the distraction." Cat tries to communicate with her half-smile that she's quite happy for Andy to decide the others are fine where they are.

[Matar]

After training for awhile, Todd walks up to Emi's door with a game box in his hands. The box reads, with big colorful letters "CANDY LAND". He knocks on Emi's door a couple of times, waiting for a reply.

"Ooooy, you in there girl? I brought Candy Land! 'Cmon, let's play!"

[Drascin]

"Hey," Cat greets Andy once she finds him. "I was going to go for a run, want to come? Or a walk, whatever, so long as there's fresh air. Always better with company, and besides, Todd's out there somewhere." She delivers this in a way that would fit right in to a slasher flick - "that thing that killed Bobby is still out there!"

"Oh, hey, Cat!" Andy greets the girl. He's obviously quite cheered up by her presence. "Yeah, I was thinking of going for a walk, myself, I'd love to go with you".


"We can try and grab some of the others if you think they need the distraction." Cat tries to communicate with her half-smile that she's quite happy for Andy to decide the others are fine where they are.

"Yeah, I think at least..." he starts saying...

ScreeeeeeKRUNCH

...but the sound of Andy's mental gears being stopped dead and crushed by that smile can almost be heard outloud in classic comedic fashion. Smart as he is, Andy is but a teenager. A particularly inexperienced one, at that. A girl he likes smiling at him that way is more than he can take without his brain asking for a reboot.

"I, er" he gains some time, as his mind restarts and an ever so slight blush takes his face. Right now, there is nothing he wants more than to just tell the others to go screw themselves and get over their own hangups alone and go with Cat. But... there is something bothering him. Lorne and Emi were really hit by this. They needed the company. Somebody had to care. Come on, man, you can go any other day with them, this a unique chance! he tells himself repeteadly.

"I... yeah, I think Lorne and Emi would really need the company" Damn you, me! Stop trying to be the hero for once, will you!? Shut up, me, we all have to make sacrifices.

He smiles again, though there's a bit of regret in there as well. "And the exercise, too. They both look like a breeze could topple them over" he tries to joke.

[Tengu_temp]

After training for awhile, Todd walks up to Emi's door with a game box in his hands. The box reads, with big colorful letters "CANDY LAND". He knocks on Emi's door a couple of times, waiting for a reply.

"Ooooy, you in there girl? I brought Candy Land! 'Cmon, let's play!"

The door opens enough to show Emi's face, with an expression that says both "I'm tired - give me a break, life" and "I've seen too much to be surprised by that". She looks down, on the box Todd is holding, then up to his face again, both slowly.
So he's not joking...

"What are you, a kid?"

[Matar]

Todd nods his head.

"My youth is as boundless as it is passionate!"

He holds up the box with a friendly smile.

"Besides, it's a great way to relax. So come, I'll shuffle the cards and everything.

[kamikasei]

Cat looks a little confused, but shrugs it off. "You're probably right... if we can persuade them to come along, at least. If not, we'll just have to kidnap them and take them to my grandmother's." On this slightly odd note she turns and leads the way back toward the dorms - chances are Lorne at least will be elsewhere, but maybe someone there will know which elsewhere to try.

She seems unaware of any impact she's having on Andy. Either she's genuinely oblivious, or she's got something of a mean streak. If the latter, at least she's not taking it too far - she'll happily respond to anything he says en route.

[Tengu_temp]

"Yeah, that was a rhetorical question... Sorry, but I'm not in the mood to play children's board games. I'll call you when I feel better."
Emi starts to feel like an ingrate. Todd doesn't understand why she feels like she feels, but at least he wants to help her.
"But thanks for the offer, I guess..."

[Matar]

Todd nods his head and reaches out to pat Emi's shoulder. After three pats he pulls his hand away and smiles.

"Alright then. I'll be waiting for when you change your mind, ready and eager!"


Todd puts Candy Land at his side and begins to walk away.

"Lord Licorice is a patience man, so our adventure with him can him till you're ready."

[kamikasei]

Cat nods politely as they pass Todd coming through the common areas of the dorms, and studiously avoids inviting him to actually speak to them in so far as she is able.

Once they reach Emi's door, she lets Andy take the lead.

((I guess this means Cat's session was the last, though that might seem a little odd.))

[Drascin]

Andy follows Cat, trying very hard to forget he just lost a chance for some alone time with her, but otherwise being his normal self, and joking all the way.

He, in fact, is much less cold to Todd, waving at him friendily, but he also makes sure his body language says very clearly "busy, sorry, later", walking in his usual quick steps. He's got some pretty good guesses of how Todd is going to milk that "we're busy" for teasing, and half of him really wishes he was right, but eh. What can you do. At least that way he'll stay away for a while. Emi and Todd really aren't a good match. Though on the other hand, anger might be good for the Japanese girl, let her blow off steam, and nobody is better at making people angry than Todd.

When they arrive at Emi's door, he gives three knocks on it. "Hey, Emi. This is Andy and Cat. You sleeping?"

[Tengu_temp]

Emi actually considered going to sleep, but Andy and Cat appeared before she had the opportunity to do that.
"Um, no, I'm awake. Hi." Once again the door opens enough for her face to show - she still looks exhausted, but more emotionally than physically. "Um... Any particular reason you came to visit me?"

[TooManySecrets]

Meanwhile, in the past...
Sara shakes her head. "I don't believe in answers that simple because they belie the complexity of the issue. There's already a scapegoat for the SEs ... the SEs themselves. Humanity has always been divided, but throughout history we see time and time again the thing that unites them is a common enemy. The tactic of leaders has always been to define these common enemies, but when you get down to it the differences between each individual human is entirely surmountable. That's why it never really lasts. And now, finally, we have an enemy entirely unlike ourselves - physiologically and psychologically - whose only goal seems to be our destruction, and we are not united against them. Something is not right. Even if we weren't naturally united against our enemy, some ambitious politician should have taken advantage of it by now."

"The whole thing stinks to high heaven. Somebody - or something - is keeping humanity divided and that worries me. A lot."

[Cubey]

Sara's discussion with the psychologist continues.
"Perhaps it's SECT that the Thoughts' members have a grudge against, and the SEs are just an excuse. I wish I knew how their minds work, but I never had an opportunity to talk with one of their members. Until I do, I can only speculate."

"It would be best for you not to worry too much about Thoughts of Ascension for now. We can't do much about them for the time being anyway, that's what Commander Richard has his 'field agents' for. You're free to think about it of course, but don't let it consume you."

[TooManySecrets]

"Oh, so you didn't talk with the agent they captured?"

[kamikasei]

"We were going to go walk around the island a bit. Get some fresh air, you know. Thought you might want to join us," Cat explains to Emi. "You could bring your guitar, see if we can find a spot with good acoustics."

Gonna roll [roll0], as much for the chance of failing horribly as for the chance of actually persuading Emi. Oh, and if she's secretly crushing on Cat I think I get a +4 on that. :P

[Cubey]

"As much as I'd like to, I was not allowed to see her yet. Maybe the higher ups will let me do that later." Miss Darius smiles, and there is mischief behind the smile's warmth.
"You're not trying to use me as a source of information, are you?"

[Tengu_temp]

"I don't know. I don't really feel like going anywhere at the moment..." Emi doesn't look very motivated, but there is hesitation in her voice.

[kamikasei]

"Ah, come on," Cat wheedles. "We were gonna get Lorne to come along too if you're worried about being the only quiet person present. The Japanese team want to see what we're made of in our next training, you know? We need to come up with a strategy! And a way to keep them safe from Todd."

[Drascin]

Andy nods. "Indeed. Besides" Andy grins, "You need to have a walk, air your ideas a bit. Your brain's gonna develop mushrooms at this rate"

[Fri]

As he's sure that the psychologiical torture time had ended, James goes back into the buidling, with a towel around his neck.

He looks at the others wistfully, this is just like back then at school. No matter where he is, he's never able to mingle with people. It's not like he don't like people, he's just really shy and don't know how to talk to people. But, people thought that he's that cold silent guy type. She was the only one who he can talk freely, and now, she's gone.

James then sees how Todd invites Emi for a candyland game and fails. He's a little strange and reckless, that Todd, and a biit too huggy, sure, but he's strong and skilled in battle, and that's what important here. He's also passionate, and unlike him, he knows how to mingle with people... even when people actively rejects him. Outside battle, he's almost like his exact opposite.

Maybe... just maybe...

James coughs and gathers his courage.

"You really have your way around people, don't you?" He said, trying to keep his cool and act like he's just passing by previously. Damnit, it sounds really sarcastic now. Damn his british upbringing.

[Matar]

Todd nods his head.

"Indeed! I mean, sure, I get turned down alot, but you have to understand. There are two Todd's! The one you see before you, and Todd... THE ACTOR! One can be denied, the other..." Todd gives a dramatic bow "Cannot be. Of course, no one ever buys that until I prove it, but... yeah."

[Fri]

James was taken aback for a bit. Usually, people always thought that he's being ironic or sarcastic, no matter what he said. But this todd, he's better than that. Maybe this could work after all.

"I'd prefer beatings rather than rejections you know. Especially constant rejection. You do have thick head..."

Oh god. Wrong metaphor use, isn't it?

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

Ben elected to remain in his room, seated at his desk occupied by his computer terminal. Since Thoughts of Ascension had made themselves public, the news agencies were no doubt in an uproar. So he went to all of the major news networks, browsed blogging sites, watched clips of pundits raving about some part of it or another. The small TV in his room was tuned to CNN and he kept some part of his attention on it while it played in the background. He wanted to know just how their announcement was being received as well as the general public opinion before he went to that conference with the others. If he was going to speak for SECT, he wanted to know everything he could about the situation first.

He also kept an eye out for the articles about him and the campaign against his "imprisonment" that would be springing up. The crazies would be coming out of the woodwork now.

[Matar]

"I never really let fear stop me from doing things. Sure, being rejected sucks, but without it life would be bland and tasteless. But with it? With it life is spicy and tangy, like a well cooked moose burger!"

A pause.

"But yeah, I love to fight to. Help gets the heart pumping, ya know? Fighting with words, or fighting with my fists. My youthful passion makes me great at both!"

Todd is obviously far from humble.

[Fri]

He's not mad! Todd really know how to deal with people after all. James crossed his hand and lies his back on the nearest wall.

"I never had a moose burger, so I won't know. Is it good? Still, fight with fist I can handle that. But with word... I don't know how you can handle that. You have your way around people, I felt that myself. I'm just curious on how do you do that."

Anyway..." James struggles to find something to talk. "How's your relationship with Devon? Still following her around?"

[Matar]

"I never had a moose burger, so I won't know. Is it good? Still, fight with fist I can handle that. But with word... I don't know how you can handle that. You have your way around people, I felt that myself. I'm just curious on how do you do that."

"Oh yeah, there great. And, well. I was always good with words, ya know? Until I hopped into the Green Wizard I normally got my ass kicked in a fight... not that it bothered me, mind you. I fought for kicks. But still! Until I got into the Green Wizard I wasn't great at fighting. Words though? Always been good with them. I just don't try most of the time."


Anyway..." James struggles to find something to talk. "How's your relationship with Devon? Still following her around?"

"Of course! When I see her, that is. And I guess it's going good. For me, at least. I'm enjoying myself. Of course, I always am."

[Cubey]

Ben finds that media generally do not side against SECT, either providing the news of what happened in a relatively bias-free fashion or actively portraying Thoughts of Ascension as dangerous terrorists. Although you do come across mentions of SECT using underaged employees and putting them in dangerous situations. No professional news servers actively call them as using child soldiers - but even a short search through the 'net reveals the "Save Benjamin" protest page, and there's bound to be at least several more similar ones. And judging by the number of comments that pop up, the number of anti-SECT activists is huge.

But overall it seems the public opinion is by SECT's side so far. Maybe it's because too many people suffered because of SEs, and the memories are still fresh.

[Tengu_temp]

"Well..." Emi struggles with something inside her. "Alright, I'll go, but don't blame me if I spoil the fun, okay?"
The door closes, only to open wider after several seconds, revealing Emi with her guitar now. She still doesn't look too enthusiastic, but there must be something she's looking forward to if she decided to come. Maybe meeting with Lorne? "And just to let you know, if you could contract brain mushroom from spending too much time inside, I'd have them ages ago already."

[Drascin]

"Good, good!" Andy laughs. "It's great to see you coming voluntarily. I was fearing I'd have to grab you and bring you myself" No, chances are, Andy isn't fully joking. It's not entirely impossible he would have picked her up and carried her in his shoulder if she refused. We Spanish are a rather physical people, and Andy is more than most.

"And I wasn't talking only about that when I talked about mushrooms, my dear Emi" he adds, while winking knowingly at Cat. And with that cryptic comment, he steps forward. "Now, to find Lorne, no? Let's get moving, then"

[Fri]

"Nice to be you." James said as he corrects his shades' position with his fingertips. He then looks at the rest of the team. "I never knew how to deal with other people myself. Especially with girls. Especially with girls like Devon. I wonder how you can do that."

He continued. "It might be important for us, actually. To... be able to mingle with people and whatnot. I wonder if I can...

He pushes his shades upward.

Learn from you."

[Matar]

Todd nods his head, and then says something rather... unexpected.

"Learn through experience, right? Hey man, I have an idea... Look, the commander is a great man and all, but I don't like how they are handling the ToA's. So... how about we... Well."

Todd points to the sky, or ceiling as the case may be.

"Let's get dangerous. Let's grab the Loli can check out getting a secret interview. There letting us keep our PSA's, so it won't be an issue getting away from our guards. Contact a news station, or do it ourselves and post it online. Put on a shower of respect for the dead, and make the faithless have faith, ya know? Strike the ToA at it's core... it's people. Whadda ya say?"

[Fri]

"Oh yes..." Said James in a strangely collected voice. "You don't know how good that plan sounds in my ears... "

This is getting better and better. The ToA part, of course, not the loli part.

[Matar]

"Indeed! Come, let us find the loli and try to talk her into helping us with this. Come, my brother in arms... to destiny!"


Todd heads off to find to Sara. His stride is gallant, and full of determination. When he finds her he tells her about the plan to do a speech or secret interview, and asks her for ideas on it.

[Tengu_temp]

Emi doesn't comment, one of her reasons being that she's not really sure what exactly did Andy mean there. She follows when the other two go to look for Lorne, or whomever else they happen to meet on the way.

[TooManySecrets]

Still in the past...
"Of course not. I wouldn't even think of suggesting it."

"That being said, it would really put my mind at ease if I knew the thought process of people like that. Oh well." Sara fakes a sigh.

I think that's enough retro-active time travel...

As expected, you find Sara in one of the computer labs. She's simultaneously using her laptop and one of the SECT computers. You can't see what she's doing since the monitors are facing away from the door. Deep in concentration, she doesn't notice James and Todd.

[Matar]

"Oh Loli!"

Todd walks up behind Sara after yelling out like that, places one of his hands on her shoulder and leans over to whisper in her ear.

"I have a plan. How would ya like to get... dangerous? If ya are, we need to go to a place where we won't be over heard."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara quickly turns off the computer and closes down her laptop. You see a fleeting glimpse of some news site or something similar.

"Alright Darkwing, let's get dangerous."

She shoves her laptop into her backpack and shuts down the computer.

"Where we going?" she asks, looking between Todd and James.

[Matar]

"Away."

Todd nods his head.

"An hour walk about, at our camp site. It's away, and we go there alot. So... onward!"

Todd heads out, and begins walking towards the camp site. The walk takes about an hour, and unless someone says something is rather uneventful for the most part. If Sara get's tired on the way, he offers her a piggy back ride, but only if she get tired on the walk there.

((Basically, we are walking towards the camp site. Imma wait for Fri to post before saying we are there though >_>))

[Fri]

"Don't worry. We're not going to breach any law... yet."

James sighs. He's supposed to protect the adrenaline junkie, but now he's going to ask her to do questionable things. And why does everything above sounds kinda wrong in his head?

[Matar]

After making there way to the camp site Todd begins to look around for dry wood to start a fire, as well as plopping Sara down next to the burnt wood left over from last time, should she have taken him up on his piggy back offer.

After gathering some wood he beings to light a fire. He talks while doing so, mainly because he's not real great at starting a fire and it may just take awhile.

"Aight. So, here's the deal. I'm thinking about putting on a speech for the world to see. None of this 'Secret service' BS, just the honest truth and a lot of respect. Something to focus all the hostility to the ToA, honoring the dead, and raising some hell, ya know?"

The fire starts burning, slowly at first before quickly growing in strength. Todd takes a small break from telling Sara and James about the plan to get the flames going full force.

"Thing is, while I can write up the speech and everything, I have no damn idea how to get it out there. The world needs to witness this display of youthful passion and glory! But, uh, hell if I know how. So, that's where you guys come into play. James wants to be a part of this, and Loli, well. We need ya."

Todd pokes the flame with a stick, and then tosses it in to feed the fire.

"Ideas about what my speech should accomplish, figuring out just how to pull this off... all that lot. See, if words can do something, then I can flecking make them do it. It's knowing what all I need to make them do that's the problem."

Todd pats Sara's shoulder.

"And that's where you come in! So, whadda ya say? Willing to break some rules and help out?"

[Drascin]

In the meantime, Andy is knocking on Lorne's door. "Hey Lorne, you there? Cat and Emi and me are going for a walk! Wanna join?"

[Haven]

Lorne at first mistakes the knock for a new beat in the music he's listening to, but upon hearing the seemingly distant sound of Andy's voice, he realizes that's less likely. He takes off his headphones, shrugs on another layer of clothes, puts on his glasses and grabs his amplifier before walking over to the door and opening it.

"Oh, ah...hello," he says. He looks a little like he just woke up--a few loose hairs are sticking up, and his glasses are sliding down the bridge of his nose, which he quickly pushes back up. Chaotic, pulsing electronica can be heard faintly from the headphones on his desk.

"Sorry, I'm afraid I missed what you said," he says with a nod towards his computer. "What's happening?"

((Assuming Andy repeats himself, just to move things along a little :o ))

"Oh, sure, it sounds nice. Ah, one second..." He shuts the door, and a little later reopens it looking noticeably more composed, including the buttoning down of his black overshirt, a jacket, gloves, and the ever-important addition of shoes. The techno in the background is also off.

"That's better," he says with a smile at his friends.

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

Having had to give his eyes a rest, Ben took to wandering SECT headquarters. He pondered going back to the gym, but each step took him closer to the hospital where Laura remained bedridden. He caught himself about halfway there, but just sort of shrugged at the realization and kept on the course his feet had chosen for him.

[Cubey]

By the time Ben reaches the hospital (assuming he doesn't change his destination), Laura's room is emptied already. Everyone else left to their own devices - your team, the Japanese team... but Laura herself is still there.

"Ahh!" Opening the door distracts her and makes her fall down to the floor, fortunately without harm. It seems she was busy with stretching and light physical exercises.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to come in so suddenly..." She tries to get up, already apologetic and somewhat embarassed.
"I was thinking of practicing physically... it will be very troublesome if I get out of shape with Thoughts AND SEs on the loose at the same time."

(The "let's go on a walk!" and "let's have a rogue transmission!" groups seem not to need my post yet, but say if my impression is wrong and you expect me to post after all.)

[Tengu_temp]

"Hey, Lorne." Emi seems a bit happier, but she still doesn't try to hide the fact that she was, practically, dragged along. At least in her mind.
"You look very happy today. Everyone does, in fact." Everyone except for her, at least.

[kamikasei]

Cat shrugs. "It's a new day! Right now, nothing is trying to kill us or anyone nearby. Seems like something to celebrate."

She lowers her voice slightly. "And it finally occurred to me to get someone else to come outside with me, so I get to explore the island without fear of running in to Todd on my own."

She tromps along quite happily, seeming content to keep to herself most of the time but replying to whatever's said and in particular cutting off any negativity from the others. This is to be a happy walk. Happy!

[Haven]

"Hey, Lorne."

"Ah...hey, Emi."


Emi seems a bit happier, but she still doesn't try to hide the fact that she was, practically, dragged along. At least in her mind.
"You look very happy today. Everyone does, in fact." Everyone except for her, at least.

"Well..."

My friends are here. They're talking to me, they aren't looking at me like I'm a monster, and they're inviting me to go hang out, which is not something I'm used to but which I think I like. One of them is...a cute girl I get along with particularly well. And I actually like them all enough that it's just about worth the fear and nervousness that comes with it.

"...getting a little rest helped, I suppose," is all he says, with a short smile. "What have you been up to?" He asks her.


Cat shrugs. "It's a new day! Right now, nothing is trying to kill us or anyone nearby. Seems like something to celebrate."

...why is my life such that she has a point?


She lowers her voice slightly. "And it finally occurred to me to get someone else to come outside with me, so I get to explore the island without fear of running in to Todd on my own."


Lorne chuckles. "Ah, right. Well, I suppose you couldn't just ask the commander for a straw hat and an elephant gun."

[Drascin]

"Dude, no elephant guns. Do you know the recoil on those things? You'd end up hitting the commander's office" Andy grins. "Anyway, let's get moving" he gives Lorne a soft push to get him to start walking next to him, then makes a quick pace. When they're a couple meters away, he whispers out of the side of his mouth "'sides, Emi was all kinds of emo about yesterday. We need to cheer her up a bit. Give a hand with that, 'kay?" he winks surreptitiously, then stops and turns back. "Well, shall we then?" he says to the girls behind, as if merely waiting for them, since they probably needed a couple seconds more to react.

[Tengu_temp]

"...getting a little rest helped, I suppose,"[/color] is all he says, with a short smile. "What have you been up to?" He asks her.


"Nothing special - I mostly just rested. It's hard to forget about what happened yesterday... And it doesn't help when they want you to talk about it. Did that psychologist come to you too?" The last question is directed towards everyone.

Emi doesn't comment on Cat's words, but she can't help but feel that this attitude is kinda... disrespectful? So many people died yesterday - it doesn't feel right to just ignore that.

[kamikasei]

"Not exactly," Cat answers. "Got a call to come to her. Wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Didn't ask about my mother or quiz me about how much time I spent alone with any of my uncles when I was little."

This is delivered jokingly, of course, but a shadow does pass across her face momentarily at the mention of her mother.

[Drascin]

"Oh, yes, she did" Andy nods. "Though I dunno why she bothered with me, really, we were basically agreeing with each other over each other's head. Didn't really need help to know what we agreed on. Though, on the other hand, saying these things out loud does help putting your thoughts in order a lot, so maybe that was the actual point. Damn, if so, that was smooth" he tries to speak casually, knowing how Emi is going to latch onto the first chance to angst he gives her.

[Tengu_temp]

"I see." Emi gets quiet for a moment, just following the rest.
"Well, I didn't talk with her. I never liked psychologists, and I think their ability to help non-crazy people is overrated anyway."

[Drascin]

For all response, Andy gives Cat and Lorne an ironic eyeroll when Emi isn't looking. Oh, please. He got over that "nobody can really understand me so nobody can help me and I need to solve all of my problems alone" phase at thirteen.

However, when he talks he's perfectly nonchalant. "I did want to become a psychologist once, you know. The job description is all kinds of awesome. But then I realized that the first time someone came into my office half crazed due to stress caused by an idiot boss, I'd go and personally whack the boss over the head with a toaster. And that wouldn't do". As he speaks, he keeps guiding the group towards outside. He'd want to get a bit of a walking tour of the island.

[Haven]

"Anyway, let's get moving" he gives Lorne a soft push to get him to start walking next to him, then makes a quick pace. When they're a couple meters away, he whispers out of the side of his mouth "'sides, Emi was all kinds of emo about yesterday. We need to cheer her up a bit. Give a hand with that, 'kay?" he winks surreptitiously, then stops and turns back. "Well, shall we then?" he says to the girls behind, as if merely waiting for them, since they probably needed a couple seconds more to react.

Lorne isn't quite as adept as Devon (not to mention lacking the ability to go through walls at the moment), but then Andy is (one hopes) not as persistent as Todd, so he still gets out of the way of the push. "Well...understandably, though. But I'll, uh, do what I can." Not quite sure what he expects from me, exactly...


"Nothing special - I mostly just rested. It's hard to forget about what happened yesterday... And it doesn't help when they want you to talk about it. Did that psychologist come to you too?" The last question is directed towards everyone.


"Yes, I think she went to everyone. Wasn't just singling anyone out...I think it helped, a little."


"Well, I didn't talk with her. I never liked psychologists, and I think their ability to help non-crazy people is overrated anyway."


Lorne doesn't say anything, but seems lost in thought for a little bit afterwards. If I tell everyone, will she think I'm crazy? Well...I suppose I am, sort of. I guess I must be a little hypocritical thinking of some of the others as psychotic. Well, that's a different kind of crazy. Right?

He continues heading outside as well.

[kamikasei]

"Non-crazy people?" Cat repeats, pulling a puzzled face. "Do we know any?"

[Tengu_temp]

"Um..." Emi decides to drop the crazy people topic - she noticed Lorne's uneasiness about that part. "I'd say there is a difference between telling me to relax and that it's not my fault when I have a horrible boss, and telling me to relax and that it's not my fault when someone died because of my mistake." She doesn't sound very emo when she says that. Just very quiet.
"And she thought I don't want to talk because I'm embarassed. Because that's how people feel when someone dies because of them, right?"

[Drascin]

Andy laughs at Cat's words. "I dunno, I thought you were less crazy than the rest of us, Cat. So if you disqualify yourself I guess that no, I really don't"

Then Emi speaks up again. "Actually, she probably was just being nice and wanting to give you an excuse for not wanting to speak about anything at all with her. Being brutally blunt first thing is usually not a good idea for psychologists" Andy says simply. There's something in his voice, however, that betrays that he's wondering whether in this particular case it would have been a good idea. "I mean, they at least need to wait until you're down on the couch before swooping in for the kill" he grins sardonically.

[Tengu_temp]

"It's nice she gave me that opportunity, then. I don't like talking about my problems to strangers." Once again Emi starts to feel guilty about pushing away the psychologist's help, although she keeps it on the inside. "Yes, I know she's a trained professional, but how can she relate to me if she never even met me in person before, and if she wasn't around when all those things happened?" Emi sighs and looks at some remote spot in the distance. "And psychologists never helped me before anyway."

[Drascin]

"Of course, on the other hand, one could make the argument that if you don't let them help, they sure as hell ain't going to, and never would have. I mean, as you say, they don't know you perfectly. So if you refuse to tell them things openly, what can they do? They need something to work with" Andy says, again, softly and nonchalantly. He's not accusing, merely mentioning a possibility in a very friendly manner. Andy might not have Todd's raw acting talent, but he does know how to convey more than his words say. "They're just normal people who were trained to know what to do, not seers, after all. You might be the best player in the world, but that don't help any when you're playing with an invisible ball, you know what I'm saying?" he gives an open gesture with his hand. "'course, you need to go at your own pace. One can be a pretty private person, yeah? But please do try to open up at least a little. I know it feels like it's just making yourself vulnerable, but it actually really helps, honest" he winks.

[kamikasei]

Cat manages to restrain herself from giving Lorne a quick that's-your-cue kick and simply strides along, enjoying the air.

[Tengu_temp]

"I understand opening up to people I like, but to strangers? I don't see the point. It's not that I want their help, anyway - if I did, I'd go out to look for it myself." Emi might sound stubborn, but she actually seems to be in a better mood now. Spending time with her friends might have something to do with it.

[Haven]

Hey, the kid didn't take "breaks the fourth wall" on his powers, so he can't control when his player's available to post :p

"Well...I think it helped me a little," Lorne says. "It is difficult to...'open up', but at the same time the fact that she was someone I wouldn't see outside of that context meant that it...it didn't seem to matter, I suppose, what she knew or thought about me.

"...Though I did feel like I had to convince her I was going to need a little time," he understates, "to feel better. Well...the important thing is doing whatever you have to do," he says with a little smile at Emi. I-is that a reassuring thing to say? ...I don't think I'm planning on trading my laboratory workspace for the psychiatrist's desk yet, no.

[Tengu_temp]

Emi nods. "Yes, and there is only one thing we really have to do - defeat the SEs. And no matter what I do in my free time, when another monster appears, you can be sure I'll be there with you to fight it. I have my reasons to do it no matter what." She smiles, but due to recalling both of those reasons it's not a very happy smile.
"Alright, that sounded as if I were a video game character, but you know what I mean. So, um, if you worry about me, don't, okay?"

[Haven]

Emi nods. "Yes, and there is only one thing we really have to do - defeat the SEs. And no matter what I do in my free time, when another monster appears, you can be sure I'll be there with you to fight it. I have my reasons to do it no matter what." She smiles, but due to recalling both of those reasons it's not a very happy smile.


"Nothing could be more reassuring," Lorne replies, and then looks a little embarrassed at his sudden earnestness.

He doesn't press Emi about her "reasons", though he does remember her outraged response to the terrorist's claims about "ascension".


"Alright, that sounded as if I were a video game character, but you know what I mean. So, um, if you worry about me, don't, okay?"

"Well...if you won't let the therapists worry, someone has to, right?" he jokes. There's still a nervous edge in his voice, but he does sound a bit relieved to hear Emi's doing better.

[Tengu_temp]

"From all the options, I'd rather if I didn't worry anyone. I can handle all my issues just fine by myself, they're pretty minor, anyway. I know that people show you that they care by worrying, but..." Emi hesitates for a moment. "Everyone already has some problems. I don't want to drop extra ones on top of that."

[Drascin]

Andy bops Emi on the head softly. "Except while you're worried, we are as well. It's one of the problems of friends, you know. They can be such nosy folk"

[Tengu_temp]

Emi crosses her arms. Light bop or not, she doesn't like physical contact that much. "I know that! But there's nothing I'm worried about." It probably counts as a blatant lie, but she's lying to herself rather than to the others.

[Fri]

At the beach, James listens to Todd's explanation and Sara's eventual agreement silently. And then.

"I don't have anything more to add, but first, we must prepare ourselves accordingly.

Because s**t..."

James puts his hand into his pocket.

"..is just going to ascend to the fan." he says as he pulls two new pairs of sunglasses out.

[kamikasei]

"So what you're saying is, the person you need to talk to is someone with no problems who never worries." Cat pulls out her cellphone. "Does anyone have Todd's number?"

[Tengu_temp]

"Come on, just because Todd doesn't recognize he has problems doesn't mean he lacks any. On the contrary - you can count on one hand matters that are not a problem with him." Emi starts to feel grumpy. She doesn't like being made fun of. "Plus, he already called me. He wanted to play Candy Land."

[Cubey]

Todd's group discovers that movement on the island seems busier than usual. More vehicles ride around and security is tighter. You can see that not only as you go towards your special preplanned location, but even as you are already there. It's still hidden enough that you'll probably be able to do your thing unnoticed.

The rest of you (sans Ben, who is in a different place altogether - see this (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7102196&postcount=155) post) stumble upon the two girls of the Japanese team, as they were busy... hanging out, apparently.

Oh, it's you guys again! Hello! Akiho waves furiously as she notices you. Usagi only lowers her gaze and mutters something, but she's too quiet to make any words out.

[kamikasei]

Cat waves at the Japanese girls. "Hi! Been exploring?"

She let's the needling of Emi drop for now - maybe she'll pick up a little if called upon to translate.

[Tengu_temp]

"Yeah, it's us - the whole island is crawling with us so you were bound to run into us sooner or later. Hi." Emi doesn't seem excited - she wanted to spend time with her friends and is not in the mood for hanging out with strangers. Maybe her guitar will be a useful shield that'll keep Akiho from latching on, at least.

[Drascin]

"So what you're saying is, the person you need to talk to is someone with no problems who never worries." Cat pulls out her cellphone. "Does anyone have Todd's number?"

"Cat, you don't break out the threats until further in the interrogation!" Andy mock-admonishes her, grinning.

Then Emi speaks, and Andy is about to make another counterattack - my, but does it seem little Emi doesn't have a sense of humor when it comes to herself. Will have to see about that - when the two newcomers appear. He waves at them friendly. Of course, he doesn't really understand what they're saying, but he can about hazard a guess.

And Emi doesn't sound too enthusiastic, either. She probably realizes she's going to have to translate and hates it.

[TooManySecrets]

Sara looks at Todd incredulously. "Am I up for breaking the rules? Why do you even bother asking?"

"Of course."

"That being said, your plan - as much as it is - needs a lot of work." Sara watches the flames intently, thinking. "Hijacking air waves to put your ugly mug up is probably going to get us all kicked out of SECT faster than a speeding bullet. There are three things we need to do: a) maintain personal secrecy, b) be believable, c) don't undermine any official statements, and d) do it all before the official report."

[Matar]

"I can handle B just fine. And for personal secrecy... how about a secret identity? It'd be exciting! Just so long as I keep my mask on, no one would be able to tell it's me. I can change my voice and everything. The other two you're going to have to help me with though. I think James is gonna have to handle hiding the costumes and everything though. To be perfectly honest, no one would expect him to be a part of this..."

Todd watches the flames as well.

"How would we go about getting a costume though?"

[ChronicLunacy]

By the time Ben reaches the hospital (assuming he doesn't change his destination), Laura's room is emptied already. Everyone else left to their own devices - your team, the Japanese team... but Laura herself is still there.

"Ahh!" Opening the door distracts her and makes her fall down to the floor, fortunately without harm. It seems she was busy with stretching and light physical exercises.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect you to come in so suddenly..." She tries to get up, already apologetic and somewhat embarrassed.
"I was thinking of practicing physically... it will be very troublesome if I get out of shape with Thoughts AND SEs on the loose at the same time."

Ben couldn't quite hide his smile at the girl's clumsy display as he moved from he door to help her back to her feet. "It's my fault. I should have knocked." he said, a hand reaching up to nervously scratch at his hair as soon as she looked stable.

"I thought you might be lonely or...I mean, it looks like you're going a little stir crazy in here." he chuckled. "If you want some exercise, how about we go for a swim down at the pool, or go play some racquetball or something? Uh, if you're up to it, that is." he said, looking back at the door. "And, you know, if we can sneak you out past the nurses." he grinned. "I just thought you might want to get out of here for awhile."

Ben stopped rambling and let Laura get a word in edgewise, forcing himself to shut up and quit acting like the nervous child he felt like whenever he was around his crush.

[Cubey]

"We're looking for a place to eat! Not just your standard boring SECT cafeteria but something special, like a local dish! Do you know anything like that around? Emi-chan, translate this for me, please! Translate, translate!"
Akiho's last sentence was directed at Emi, but other than that she was looking all over your group. At least she doesn't try to glomp anyone. Yet.

At roughly the same time, from Ben's perspective:
"Ah, uhm. Well, I do not have to sneak out of here." Laura gets up and sits on her bed. "I was just getting released anyway. I'm up for anything you want to do, but I don't know if competetive sports are a good idea. I probably won't be much of a challenge... talk about a veteran Shifter."

[kamikasei]

"I don't think there is much to the island besides the SECT base," Cat explains. "Although maybe there are some businesses left at the port from before they took over."

Cat considers what to say as she lets Emi translate. It might be rude, but they're strangers to Emi and mean she's stuck translating too, so it's probably best to avoid having them stick around.

"I think James has done the most wandering around the island - he might know where you should look. You know James? British guy, harmonica? He's back at the dorms so far as I know."

[Tengu_temp]

"Everything on the island belongs to them and there wasn't much around before they moved in, so Boring Sect Cafeteria is the local flavour. But let's ask the rest, maybe they'll know."
Emi did her share of exploring the island, but she was looking for secluded and inspiring spots, and obviously restaurants don't belong to this category. Once again she starts her task of a more or less literal translator whose patience is being tested. Well, lack of any longer monologues means that the test's results are positive so far.

[Cubey]

"Okay! I'll go look around then. Many thanks!" After Emi translates what Cat said, Akiho waves good-bye and quickly departs, dragging the reluctant other girl behind her. Apparently it's not a problem for her that James might not know Japanese. If she's going to find him.
And the notice check from the OOC thread didn't bring any results.

[Tengu_temp]

"That was fast..." Emi raises her hand in a small wave as she watches the Japanese girls leave. "I never thought such genki people exist in reality."

[Drascin]

Andy grins sardonically. "Heh. If I told you..." he answers Emi. It seems Andy has in fact met some people more hyper than that.

"Anyway, where were we before the typhoon?"

[kamikasei]

"We were heading over there," Cat shades her eyes and points to a trees-and-benches setup some distance away that they had not, in fact, been heading for, "since I imagine Emi would like a chance to do something with her guitar besides lug it around. And maybe we can think about what to say to, uh, Usagi? about the press conference. That's going to be weird. Does she even speak English?"

[Tengu_temp]

"I doubt it, unless she knows it but hides it. Which means only one of them speaks English, just like only one of us speaks Japanese. That's strangely fitting." Emi glances at the point Cat is showing. Looks good enough. "Well, if you really need to talk with her and I'm around, I can translate for you. I don't mind it as much as I seem to do."

[kamikasei]

"I'm just wondering how the conference will work. Well, we can ask that Akira guy about it at our next training. You're off the hook," she smiles at Emi.

On the way to the benches, she rubs her arms. "Brrr. I should have brought a jumper. I can't believe Dad was right, but I guess if you make someone pack warm clothes every time they go anywhere they'll eventually need them."

[Tengu_temp]

Emi, on the other hand, tends to dress a bit too warm for hot summer days, which means that she has the advantage during colder weather like now.
"Well, if you ask me, they'll probably tell you everything you should say during the conference, and your only job is to look good doing that and don't say anything else. Not a good idea to be creative - the PR experts already planned what you should do to make SECT looks good, and don't want you to mess it up." She doesn't mean to sound discouraging, but Emi can't help but show her disdain for the press conference. She knows it's needed, but would rather have as little in common with it as possible.

[Haven]

Emi, on the other hand, tends to dress a bit too warm for hot summer days, which means that she has the advantage during colder weather like now.
"Well, if you ask me, they'll probably tell you everything you should say during the conference, and your only job is to look good doing that and don't say anything else. Not a good idea to be creative - the PR experts already planned what you should do to make SECT looks good, and don't want you to mess it up." She doesn't mean to sound discouraging, but Emi can't help but show her disdain for the press conference. She knows it's needed, but would rather have as little in common with it as possible.

"Probably, but I suppose we have to protect our secrecy and...

"You know, looking over yesterday--I still cannot believe James just attacked in the middle of discussion, unprovoked (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=118721&page=31). While a camera was watching him...and while you were unarmored, Andy...I cannot imagine what he was thinking!"

Lorne seems to realize he's abruptly changed topics, or rather left the rest of the group out of the links of thought connecting the two; he adds "That-that's probably what the conference is going to be dealing with, mostly."

I think I might be a little confused about the timeline. Right now it's still the morning we were all rudely woken up, which is the morning after the mission right? Anyway, mentally replace "yesterday" with "the other day" or something if that's not the case.

[Tengu_temp]

"Mhm, that was impossibly stupid - all the lies the Thoughts are telling about us can be debunked, but the fact it was our side who attacked first is not a lie. I'm sure the pro-ToA faction will latch to it like Akiho and not let go, completely ignoring the fact that millions of people would die if not for us." Emi sighs, sits down on one of the benches and plays several notes on her guitar. "At least Andy didn't get hurt."

[kamikasei]

"Not yet he didn't," Cat answers ominously. "I'm still debating whether we should kick his ass for giving us all a heart attack out there."

She sighs, switching to serious mode. "But yeah... I don't know, maybe we need to have more strategies worked out in advance so people won't take crazy risks on their own initiative, but at the same time all our fights so far have been so different from one another... Maybe we just need more team training. And to talk to James. He might actually be amenable to reason." It's not hard to guess who the person she's contrasting James with might be.

[Cubey]

Haven - that's pretty much right, except that it's afternoon rather than morning. But the same day you're thinking about.

[Haven]

"Not yet he didn't," Cat answers ominously. "I'm still debating whether we should kick his ass for giving us all a heart attack out there."

Lorne stage-whispers "Run!" to Andy.


She sighs, switching to serious mode. "But yeah... I don't know, maybe we need to have more strategies worked out in advance so people won't take crazy risks on their own initiative, but at the same time all our fights so far have been so different from one another... Maybe we just need more team training. And to talk to James. He might actually be amenable to reason." It's not hard to guess who the person she's contrasting James with might be.

"I had been thinking the same thing...they seem to be letting us retain our amplifiers now, and apparently don't seem to have any problem with us using them freely, at least based on how Todd joined the meeting today. So maybe we should organize our own practice. We could start with something like the basketball game, except more interesting because--" Lorne pauses for half a second, sharply recalling what made that so dislikable, but goes on. "--we'd be able to use powers. So if Devon interrupted again, it'd at least be a little more level," he smiles.

"And practicing team maneuvers would be nice too, but not direct combat...I can't help thinking someday we're going to have a rather awful accident with that. Emi, maybe you could make us some 'training dummies' or something...if you think it's a good idea, that is.

"And James might be but...I can't help thinking that Todd isn't too far out of reach either. He hasn't done anything as bad as that, and aside from *sigh* trying to high-five an SE, he's been a reliable teammate on the battlefield. And he seems to have his own bizarre set of rules, if we just knew how to get them to work in our favor...he's calling me 'boss' now, which is a little strange, but it's a start. Though, Andy, you seem to get on with him pretty well, maybe you can get through to him."

Of course, if Lorne knew what James and Todd were getting up to at that very moment, he would have something else to say about the subject.

[Drascin]

"Not yet he didn't," Cat answers ominously. "I'm still debating whether we should kick his ass for giving us all a heart attack out there."


"Meep" Andy says, affecting a fake scared face. "Well, yeah, okay, that was stupidly risky, but hey, sometimes you just need to jump into the pool and hope it's full. And I'm pretty sure that move rather cramped their video. I mean, look at the extremely obvious splicing they had to do just to not get me in there, that's gonna help people doubt what the propaganda said" he smiles. "Besides, it's my job to worry about you lot getting hurt, not viceversa, dammit" he winks at Cat.

"Anyway" he goes slightly more serious "that is an important matter. We must remember that everything we do when fighting the ToA can and will be used against us. Somebody needs to whack James over the head with that fact before he completely screws up everything again. A pity I left my mallet at home".

Then Lorne speaks. Andy nods to the last part.

"Yeah. Todd is crazy - and I mean actually crazy, not as a derogative. I'm pretty sure he has a certain degree of psychopathy or something of the sort. But he can more or less be reasoned with. You just have to remember he's a guy trying to be Kamina, not going with what most of us would consider "reasonable". And I'm pretty sure there's a good bottom down there. I can work with that, personally"

He looks thoughtful. "James... might be actually not that much less crazy than Todd, actually. He seems to be as fanatical to kill Ascension as the ascenders are to kill everybody else, really. And he seems to think Devon is a well adjusted and likable human being with an understandable philosophy of life, which is also a strike against his sanity" he grins. "I dunno, I haven't talked much with him, because he don't talk with anybody much anyway, but he seems to be very obsessed with being strong and strong people. One gets a slightly shonen manga vibe from him, honestly"

He stretches. "So, it seems to me another bit of a get-together is going to be appropiate, to discuss all this with them. And maybe make arrangements for that training. Must be careful, though. There is much badassitude concentrated in the group and we don't want to sink the island whole" he winks.

[Tengu_temp]

Emi starts to wonder if Andy has a nervous tick. He really winks a lot. "The local crazies aside, I must say that I like Lorne's idea. Actually, I wonder why we don't have that already - what's the point of having PE every day and training with amplifiers only once per week, if the former has no use for us at all and the latter is crucial to increasing our chances in fighting the SEs? The timetable should be the other way around." Emi doesn't mention her ulterior motive - the way she feels inside Genesis - but even without that she believes what she just said. "So yes, I wouldn't mind that extra practice. Making target dummies is okay with me, too, as long as you don't expect them to move much."

[TooManySecrets]

Sara smiles. "Er, that's not really what I meant. I mean, really, if SECT saw somebody on TV in a crazy costume spouting off a speech, I don't think it would take too long for them to figure out who it was."

"I say we take a page from ToA on this. Voice-modulated voice-over and some pictures of operations around here. We say that we're afraid that the full story won't get out about SECT and that good people will be hurt by ToA's lies - which is true. Send copies to a number of TV stations, post it on the internet, stuff like that. Not everybody will believe it, but hopefully the people we don't convince will be convinced by the official press report."

"I can get us a cheap laptop, internet access, and a realistic sounding voice-changer. They'll never be able to trace it back to us."

[Matar]

"Done and done, Loli. I'll be honest when I say I don't see much point in a voice changer though, after all I can change my voice and all... but your call. Give me an idea about what to write up, I'll write it up, and then you can check and edit it for me 'n stuff. Together we shall be unstoppable!"

Todd nods and then looks at James.

"Rule One Chicken dood, always work together with your brothers in arms. Together we can do far more then just one!"

[Fri]

...brother in arms. That sounds really good. So far, this 'learning how to deal with people while screwing with ToA in the same time' is good.

"But first, you'll need this... brothers..." he throws his backup shades toward Todd and Sara.

"Now let's get dangerous."

(Because the only thing worse then breaking the law is looking bad when breaking the law)

[Matar]

Todd nods his head and slips the shades over his eyes. He makes a mentel note to go get some green sunglasses when he gets the chance.

[Drascin]

Emi starts to wonder if Andy has a nervous tick. He really winks a lot. "The local crazies aside, I must say that I like Lorne's idea. Actually, I wonder why we don't have that already - what's the point of having PE every day and training with amplifiers only once per week, if the former has no use for us at all and the latter is crucial to increasing our chances in fighting the SEs? The timetable should be the other way around." Emi doesn't mention her ulterior motive - the way she feels inside Genesis - but even without that she believes what she just said. "So, if you manage to convince them to lend us the amplifiers and let us practice on our own, I wouldn't mind that. Making target dummies is okay with me, too, as long as you don't expect them to move much."

"The point, I think, is likely to get us to work out without always being in armor. You need to have your own reflexes and physical ability, not just depend on the suit. Mens sana in corpore sano and all that, you know. All the powers in the world are worth little if you're too dulled out well, okay, not if you're like Charles Xavier powerful, duh, but you get my point. 'sides, you seriously look like a bit of exercise would do you good, Emi" He grins mischievously. "In fact, if they cancelled our PE, I'd make sure you two got enough exercise myself. I'm sure I can find something to act as the classic slavedriver's whip" this last part is obviously a joke, and obviously directed to Emi and Lorne. Cat is plenty athletic already - no, wait, bad train of thought, derail.

"That said, yeah, some extra armor training wouldn't hurt. I'm all for it. Not sure how long they'll let us keep our amplifiers, though" he takes his out and looks at it. "On the other hand, I bet it has a GPS or something like that and they can have us always located with them, so who knows, they might not be opposed to our keeping them"

[Tengu_temp]

Emi crosses her arms. "Maybe those of you who punch, kick and jump around need more physical exercise, but everything useful Genesis does isn't physical anyway - I only need enough exercise to stay healthy, and the PSA training is more than enough for that. And I don't see how canceling PE would change anything for me, I don't attend it anyway. I don't like sports." The last statement is pretty much reduntant - it's written all over her face already.

[Haven]

"So yes, I wouldn't mind that extra practice. Making target dummies is okay with me, too, as long as you don't expect them to move much."

"Well...our enemies don't tend to move much either. But we haven't had much trouble with moving targets really...I think the main things we need to work on are coordinating our attacks and tactics and, really, just fine-tuning use of our powers. We seem to have a great amount of control instinctively...I wonder how much more we could have with some practice."


"In fact, if they cancelled our PE, I'd make sure you two got enough exercise myself. I'm sure I can find something to act as the classic slavedriver's whip"

"Excuse me," Lorne says with mock offense, "just because I have a little modesty about it doesn't mean I can't outjump you any day of the week."

[kamikasei]

"I dunno. I figure they're not just worried about fitness. They've probably got ideas about team building and monitoring how we work together, that kind of thing, and they prefer to do it when we're in tracksuits than in superpowered mystical battle armor or whatever you want to call the PSAs." Cats eyes are closed - she seems to be simply enjoying the air. She opens them and looks at Emi. "Maybe you should talk to the commander, tell him you think we'd be better off with more direct training - even if they prefer not to push us too hard in the PSAs for safety reasons, they could maybe format the other stuff so it's clearer how it applies, and you might find it more worthwhile that way."

She closes her eyes again and leans back so that her head is resting against the tree. Since she's sitting cross-legged on the bench, this creates a rather odd Buddha-like effect. "I know I'll enjoy more access to my amplifier, anyway. I wonder if they'd let me train at the shore."

[Tengu_temp]

"Maybe you should talk to the commander, tell him you think we'd be better off with more direct training - even if they prefer not to push us too hard in the PSAs for safety reasons, they could maybe format the other stuff so it's clearer how it applies, and you might find it more worthwhile that way."


"I don't know..." Emi looks away to the side, her enthusiasm dwindling, not that there was that much of it in the first place. "It sounds as if a lot of talking would be needed, and in the end nothing would come from it anyway, so it'd just be a waste of time for everyone's involved, and the commander is already very busy..." Actually, Emi's reasons are different - on a subconscious level, she simply doesn't want to talk with Clayton. She has a hard time communicating even with all authority figures, even the reasonable ones.
"Um, but I'm not trying to shoot your idea down. If you think that it can work regardless, feel free to go for it."

[kamikasei]

"Well, we'd probably need to clear Lorne's ideas with the commander if we want to do proper PSA training anyway. We could all talk to him together and include changes to out-of-armor exercises in that."

[Tengu_temp]

"That's acceptable, I guess..." Emi still doesn't sound too thrilled, but it's better to talk with the commander in a group than alone. And if they succeed, it will be worth it.

[Drascin]

Emi crosses her arms. "Maybe those of you who punch, kick and jump around need more physical exercise, but everything useful Genesis does isn't physical anyway - I only need enough exercise to stay healthy, and the PSA training is more than enough for that. And I don't see how canceling PE would change anything for me, I don't attend it anyway. I don't like sports." The last statement is pretty much reduntant - it's written all over her face already.

"Oh, really? But you yourself said everything Genesis does isn't physical, so one would logically imagine that PSA exercises wouldn't be enough to keep you healthy enough?" Andy grins. It's obvious he's just messing with her, though. "Nah, just messin' with ya. Your choice. I hate maths, myself, everyone has something they hate". The comparison loses a bit, though, since Andy always goes to every class, including math, while Emi rarely attends any classes at all, but Andy certainly doesn't seem to have said it in that sense or even so much as thought of it like that.


"Excuse me," Lorne says with mock offense, "just because I have a little modesty about it doesn't mean I can't outjump you any day of the week."

Andy laughs. "Well said! It seems I should be more careful about who I'm picking a fight with" he adds. "I'll take you up on that one of these days, probably. Never really tried longjumping as an actual activity, but it'd probably be fun anyway to hang out and embarrass myself a bit trying to beat you"

"Anyway" he goes a bit more serious as the conversation progresses, but still with that nonchalance of his "I don't see much problem. Clayton isn't an ogre - he seems a pretty decent guy for someone in the military. If you'd prefer to not go, Emi, us three should be more than enough to pester him until he agrees" He grins. "I'm sure you've noticed, but we're pretty good at relentless pestering"

[Tengu_temp]

"Well, even with the fact that just staying in your armor for a longer time is tiring and requires some effort, there is also flying - it might just look as if I'm hovering around, but it's much more demanding than that. And I'm sure you know that when I'm not using Genesis, my opportunities for flying are somewhat limited. As for the commander, I can come with you to talk with him if you really need me. I don't dislike him, it's just that..."
Emi hesitates. She's not completely sure how to explain her feelings in that regard, and doing so would probably require opening up further - something she has trouble doing.
"No, nevermind."

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks


"Ah, uhm. Well, I do not have to sneak out of here." Laura gets up and sits on her bed. "I was just getting released anyway. I'm up for anything you want to do, but I don't know if competitive sports are a good idea. I probably won't be much of a challenge... talk about a veteran Shifter."

Ben let a smile spread upon his face. "Alright, then. If you're feeling up to it, how about we just get out for awhile." he said, raising his arm in front of him. "Infernal Requiem...sing for the dead." he said, setting the device on his wrist alight.

A moment later he was encased in his magnificent, red and black armor. Steam hissed from the vents over his cheeks before the helmet shifted and then retracted into his shoulders to show his face. "Come on, let's get in some PSA practice down by the beach, then hang out for awhile once we get tired. I promise I'll go easy on you." he grinned.

[Cubey]

After a few seconds of hesitation, Laura nods. "Okay. Let me... get my amplifier, alright?"
She leaves the room, but it doesn't take long for her to come back. Both of you can go to the beach without interruptions, although maybe with surprised gases from the staff, if you're in your PSA all the way there.

(You can assume you're at the beach now. Although because Todd, James and Sara are at some beach as well, and they made a fire which may draw attention, then you might have found them rather than going to an empty place. Your decision.)

[kamikasei]

"Maybe we can bring it up with the others around dinner time, assuming most of them want to eat around the same time - probably our best chance to nab them." Cat nods in Emi's direction. "So what sort of stuff do you play?"

[Tengu_temp]

"Mostly rock classics and themes from video games and anime. I don't really write my own songs... I'm not good enough yet, even a typical garage band is probably above me. But then, I'm still just a high school student, right?" Emi smiles slightly.

[Drascin]

"Nah, as you want, Emi, really. You seem to dislike talking with the higher ups, and we three should manage pretty well - and if we do as Cat says and wait for dinner, we can enlist others too. Wouldn't want you to get all stressed, everyone has stuff they don't like havin' to do.

Besides, if nothing else works, we can always threaten the comander with mailing Todd to his house" he laughs. "Hell, that'd sure enough convince me!"

The conversation progresses to Emi's music. "Videogame and anime music is totally fine by me. But then, of course, I am a total nerd" Andy grins, and sits down as well - completely coincidentally, honest - pretty near Cat. "C'mon, play us something!"

[Tengu_temp]

"Alright - if you're really such a total nerd, then you should be able to identify a song from an anime that's older than you and was never released in the US." Emi's cheating here - it's much more popular in Japan, even despite its age. She prepares her guitar, plays a short practice chord, and starts with the actual theme.

Listen to her song! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrJbONBSy5A)
It's only played on one ordinary guitar and hummed along, but the melody is still there.

(In case anyone wants to judge the artistic quality of Emi's performance, taking 10 for 16 total.)

[Drascin]

((I'm going to assume having twelve ranks in Knowledge: Geek popculture, in a kid obsessed with old Sentai and Mecha shows, is going to be enough to know a song from Macross of all series :smallbiggrin:))

Andy listens to the first notes with a scrunched up face, trying very hard to rise up to the challenge and recognize it. However, when the chorus comes by, his face illuminates, and he grins. For a second he wonders whether he should sing along - but Cat's presence makes him a bit more self-conscious than usual, and so he doesn't. Still, when Emi finishes, he gives a soft clap.

"Macross, no? C'mon, give me something harder!" he laughs. "Pretty damn good playing, though. You got some talent. I'm envious - I have sausages instead of fingers, never managed to play any instrument!"

When Emi is looking elsewhere, he winks at Cat - it seems "Operation: Cheer Emi Up" is progressing nicely, no? Indeed, the fact she chose a relatively cheerful song is telling already.

[Haven]

"Wow, Emi, that was brilliant." Lorne says sincerely.

((Incidentally, I'm pretty sure "brilliant" isn't quite as effusive in British English as it is in American English. But hey.))

[Tengu_temp]

"Um, thanks." Emi blushes slightly, feeling a bit embarassed from all the praise. "I don't hear such words very often. My mother thinks it's a waste of time, and that I should fine myself some more useful hobbies." She doesn't hide her disgust, but it passes quickly - Emi started to feel good playing her music and she doesn't want that feeling to disappear.

"Okay, if you want something harder, then how about this?"
She starts to play a different song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rw0uIBCMDjw). It's from a newer show, but maybe Andy only watches ones filled with explosions, not mystery and inter-personal drama, and is not familiar with this one.

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks


After a few seconds of hesitation, Laura nods. "Okay. Let me... get my amplifier, alright?"
She leaves the room, but it doesn't take long for her to come back. Both of you can go to the beach without interruptions, although maybe with surprised gases from the staff, if you're in your PSA all the way there.

After Laura had shifted into her Pure Sophium Armor, Ben's helmet appeared once again and he led the way outside. They didn't head down, but instead went up to the roof at a jog. (The windows were reinforced and Ben didn't want to explain having blasted it open to get outside.) They passed a few medical workers, who gasped and got out of the way, but otherwise made it to the roof without incident. When they came out onto the roof, Ben sprinted to the edge and leaped off with his arms out wide like a swan dive. He disappeared below the lip, but only a few seconds later soared back up on a trail of fire, climbing toward the sky.

He spun around and waved to Laura, then either raced her to the beach or carried her there if she couldn't fly on her own. When the water came into view he came down like a comet, skidding to a halt in an explosion of sand, spray, and then steam right by the edge of the surf. Ben's helmet shifted back into his shoulders again and he turned around.

"Hey, I've got an idea on how we can train those reality-shaping powers of yours." Ben said. "Let's build a sand castle."

He waited a beat for the look of confusion to cross Laura's face, then his helmet shifted back over to cover his grin. "Actually, I guess it would be more accurate to say a glass castle, wouldn't it? Just follow my lead. I'll give you the glass, you shape it to your heart's content." he said as his hands glowed and burst into flame from the elbows down. "Let's build something they'll see from across the island!"

Ben clenched his fists and then pointed his arms down at the sand. Opening them, he blasted the beach in a wide cone with white-hot flame, melting and fusing the millions of tiny particles into solid sheets of glass. They began erupting out of the ground as he moved his arms, ready for Laura to shape them.

[Cubey]

(So, I guess this means Todd, Sara and James are in a different place than Ben is. Just making sure.)

Laura's PSA possesses the ability to fly, so she gently floats down from the rooftop. During your way down you notice what others might have already - the island's bustling with activity today. It seems the security gets fortified, although nobody interrupts you.

"Well... shaping reality is very exhausting... but this makes it a better exercise, right?" Thanks to her helmet covering only the upper half of her face, you can see that Laura looks mildly embarassed. But also rather happy.
"Here I go." She looks focused, although there is no movement from her as she simply levitates peacefully several inches above the ground. But the PSA-generated mist starts to crawl towards the glass. Rather than changing shape slowly, the change is abrupt and nigh instant - the rough glass surface changes into a glass structure, with walls and towers. Unfortunately, it's rather rough and simple, and cracks at its base, shattering down with lots of noise.

"I'm sorry about the castle... I didn't focus enough." Laura sounds apologetic, once the ruckus of her construction falling down goes quiet.

[kamikasei]

Cat smiles back at Andy and gives him a thumbs up. Well done! She's not entirely sure exactly what he was trying to convey, but this seems like a safe enough response. It'll cover both "hey, Emi seems livelier now" and "you guessed right!", and it's not as if Andy would be trying to say anything else to her, is it?

She bobs her head along a little to the next tune, but spends most of it watching Lorne as subtly as she can, curious as to whether he knows this music too. It may be that she has a lot of work ahead of her to keep up with the group's microculture.

[Haven]

Lorne pretty clearly doesn't recognize it (or the previous tune), but he does seem to be enjoying it.

[Fri]

"Wait, we need to conceal our identity?" James said after he heard todd's plan.

"I thought... nevermind. In that case we'll need more than sunglasses. And we have too little personal clothings to disguise ourselves properly. Especially you, todd, since all of your clothings are in shades of green. We might need to... raid other's wardrobe."

[Matar]

Todd nods his head. "I think Loli has all that covered, so I wouldn't worry too much about it. So, we better call this meeting finished for now. Hey, loli. Be sure to contact when you write up an out-line, alright? I'll handle it from there."

Todd begins to walk back, motioning both the Loli and James to join.

"Also! Chicken Man, we have an ultra secret training mission tomorrow. Meet me here in the morning. When the sun is half way up from the water, we shall we begin training!"

Todd punches his open palm as a grin covers his face.

"I have a [i]great[i/] idea. But I'm really going to need your help. So get your rest, and eat your veggies! For glory awaits at us dawn!"

With that Todd heads back to the base. He remains mostly silent on the way back, keeping his plan secret and working out as many details as he can.

[Drascin]

Andy remains thoughtful for the whole song, snapping his fingers in thought. "Ah, c'mon, I know I heard that one once, I'm sure it's from a series Edu watched once, c'mon, what was the name..." He eventually sighs, surrendering.

"Sorry, I know which show it's from, but I can't for the life of me remember its name. It was about a dude without memory, but with like a bazillion in money, and a woman who was trying to help him. One of my classmates downloaded it once, I saw bits of it over his shoulder" He grins, and does a mocking evil fist-clench at Emi. "You win this round, Gadget, but I'll get you next time!"

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks


"I'm sorry about the castle... I didn't focus enough." Laura sounds apologetic, once the ruckus of her construction falling down goes quiet.

Ben's helmet shifted back so that his face could be seen again and he laughed. "Don't worry about it. Half the fun of castle-building is knocking it down afterward." he said as he plopped himself down into a pile of glass shards as if it was a patch of sand. The glass crunched under him as he turned to look up at Laura. "Want to try again, or do you need a rest?" he asked as he leaned back on his hands.

[Tengu_temp]

"That's Eden of the East. It's a very fun show - you should watch it, even if it doesn't have giant robots or guys with pointy swords and even pointier hairstyles duking it out." Emi smiles with satisfaction.
"Alright, let's lower the bar a bit. I'm sure everyone can tell where this is from."

The song she starts to play now is, let's say, quite relevant to the situation they are all in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifzCj1kwJi4).

[Drascin]

Andy acts all mockingly offended "Hey, I take offense to that! I like plenty of shows without explosions! Just the fact that mechs make everything better doesn't mean it's necessary to have mechs to be good!"

Emi isn't even fifteen seconds into the song before Andy chuckles. When she finishes, he goes "Oh, c'mon! Just because I missed one you don't have to go back to elementary stuff!" he laughs. "Gimme a little credit!"

He seems to think for a moment. "Though that series did have an important lesson for everyone" He winks. "Never try to write anything worth it while heavily depressed"

[Haven]

"Alright, let's lower the bar a bit. I'm sure everyone can tell where this is from."

The song she starts to play now is, let's say, quite relevant to the situation they are all in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifzCj1kwJi4).

Lorne claps a little, and then sheepishly admits "Very nice...though I have no idea where it's from."

[Tengu_temp]

"Elementary or not, I just wanted to play that song. It's one of my favorites."
The fact that she was mistaken and not everyone was able to recognize it is quite a surprise for Emi.
"Really, Lorne? But... it's Evangelion! Not only is it a complete classic, but with the job we're having... It's as if a detective has never seen a single film noir. Um... I have it on DVDs, so I can lend it to you, if you want?" Her offer is carried in a bit embarassed tone.

[Cubey]

Ben:
"No, I'm still okay. I was just unfocused, that's all." Laura tries again. Although there are no visible gestures, you can feel that her concentration is immense.
And the result is much better as well. The castle is taller than a human, and its shape is not only definitely castle-like, but you can see smaller details like windows or balconies.
"I did it..." Laura floats down in relief. "I just had to imagine all the details, and the Great Pretender did the rest." She looks tired, although still with her PSA on and levitating above the ground.
"It's beautiful... ah! That sounds like I'm boasting. I really shouldn't - I used this power to do selfish things in the past. Well... nevermind about that." She adds quickly, as if she wanted you to ignore the last few words. "I should talk with the Commander. Thank you for this!"
Before you had a chance to propose doing anything, Laura waves and flies away.

Everyone, next day:
The next morning, everyone finds a piece of paper that was slipped under the door into their rooms. The same thing is written (or rather, printed) for everyone:
Meet us in the PSA training room at 14:00 today. This is a challenge.

Anyone who decides to follow the instructions will find the Japanese Shifters in that location. Surprised? You really shouldn't be. But there's only four of them - the quiet girl, Usagi, is missing.

"I see you got the message. Sorry about the drama, we just want to train. See how strong you are." Takeshi says, leaning against the wall. All four present from the Japan team wear their amplifiers. Other than them, there is no one else here.

[Haven]

"Someone made an anime that's like what we're doing? Well that's...prescient," Lorne says. "It sounds interesting though. I uh...yes, I would like to b-borrow those DVDs, from you."

----

At breakfast next morning, Lorne checks with everyone (who comes to eat breakfast, anyway) to see if they got the notice. He then adds "I think...I'm curious about the capabilities of other Shifters, and it would be quite an opportunity to see them up close, so I believe I'm going to participate. Just as long as things don't go too far, of course. Anyone else up for it?"

[Drascin]

"Warning, though - it's about as bleak and unnecessarily depressing as an anime can be. It just so happens its author was going through a severe depression when he wrote it, and there's so much Diabolus ex Machina you wouldn't believe it. So while it seems somewhat alike, take it with a pinch of salt" Andy chuckles. "There was a still dramatic but much less angsty remake some years afterwards, when he had got over it, now that I think of it"

--------

Andy isn't surprised at all to find the others there.

"Mmmm. Dunno. With all our sesions ending in disaster, I've half a mind to not participate, honestly. But I guess someone has to be on hand to smack Todd upside the head if he starts getting berserkitis again, you know" he gives the others a joking eyeroll. "So I guess I'm in"

[Tengu_temp]

"Alright, I'll give the DVDs to you later. Don't let Andy discourage you - it's not a light and happy show, but far from the bleakest or most depressing anime ever. Trust me, I know." Emi's not lying here - sometimes she's in the mood to watch such stuff. Not often, though - her life was bad enough already, at least from her perspective.

---

Emi doesn't attend the breakfast - just because she had a happier time the day before with her friends doesn't mean she won't spend most of her day in her room. She sends a text message to Andy, Cat and Lorne, though:
"Hey. Did you get a challenge from the other team, too? Will you go?"
She contacts these three not only because she spent some time together with them, but also because she's sure the rest will accept the challenge. Well, apart from Laura, but she's in the hospital anyway, they probably didn't challenge her.

(I assume we know each other's cellphone numbers? Unless someone purposely keeps their secret or doesn't have a cellphone.)

[ChronicLunacy]

Ben Brooks

"Way to blow your chances, Ben..." the teenager said to himself as he watched Laura fly away. He sat down on the field of crushed glass heavily and leaned back, looking up at the castle they'd made. It was a little simple, but the simple act of creating with his fire powers had made the exercise an enjoyable one. Usually he only got to burn things down.

Still, Ben thought as he lifted a hand up in front of him. He mimed picking something out of the air and a small burst of fire appeared above his fingers, resolving into the clear image of a perfect rose. One of the petals even fell off and then winked out as the wind took it away. He looked frustrated and then let the fire-flower go. It quickly went the way of its extinguished petal as the wind caught it. Ben got to his feet and brushed off the excess glass like any normal person might pat themselves free of sand.

"Next time, then." he said with resolve before his helmet reached up to obscure his face once more. He bent his legs at the knees and then took off into the air.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next morning, Ben got his note along with the rest of his teammates. He could easily guess who it was from and it was no surprise to find the Japanese Shifter team waiting for them in the practice arena shortly after breakfast. Ben had slept with his amplifier on and idly rubbed his wrist as he listened to Takeshi explain the details.

"I'm curious, too. I'm in." he smiled in response. He couldn't wait to see what their PSA's were like or what powers they commanded. A bout to burn through some of his lingering frustration about striking out with Laura again the day before would also be welcome.

[Matar]

The first things Todd does when he wakes up is get dressed. He braids his hair and slips on a dark green shirt and some dark green pants. He grabs a pair of green sun glasses (Where he found them is anyones guess).

When he leaves his room he picks up the note on the floor and reads it. A grin comes to his face, and he reminds himself to ask James when fourteen O'clock is...

Afterwards he rushes to where James and him are supposed to meet up at. It's still mostly dark out, but you can see the barest glimps of the sun coming over the horizon. He'd be there in time, of coure. He was actor, and he never missed his shot.

Upon reaching his destination he looks out towards the ocean, stricking a dramatic pose and waiting for James.

[kamikasei]

"Maybe I should borrow them after Lorne, too. Since it'd be nice to have some idea of what you guys are talking about, half the time. And since the theme song is apparently nice," Cat smiles at Emi.

-----

I'm going along to see what's going on, at least, Cat replies to Emi's text the next day.

And indeed, she shows up prepared as if for regular training. "I suppose the commander doesn't know about this? Well, what do you want to do? We outnumber you - do you want us to choose four?"

"If I thought we could keep Todd from participating at all, I'd love to try, but I guess having you there to tackle him if he gets carried away is the next best thing," she murmurs to Andy.

[Haven]

"Alright, I'll give the DVDs to you later. Don't let Andy discourage you - it's not a light and happy show, but far from the bleakest or most depressing anime ever. Trust me, I know." Emi's not lying here - sometimes she's in the mood to watch such stuff. Not often, though - her life was bad enough already, at least from her perspective.

"A-alright. I've never watched an anime before, actually, so I suppose I can't really make the comparison."

---


Emi doesn't attend the breakfast - just because she had a happier time the day before with her friends doesn't mean she won't spend most of her day in her room. She sends a text message to Andy, Cat and Lorne, though:
"Hey. Did you get a challenge from the other team, too? Will you go?"


Lorne texts Emi back:

yes & yes. are you? should be interesting, but if it's too much so we'll NEED you there D:

[Cubey]

"That's the idea." Takeshi glances back at his group. Kazuma looks very uneasy, like if he was dragged in here. And since Akiho is holding his arm and not letting go, making him move with her, that's probably true.

As for Akira, he is giddy with anticipation, his eyes glancing at his amplifier time and time again. He seems to be looking forward to this.

(More detailed reactions once I know who comes and who decided to stay behind.)

[kamikasei]

Cat looks around. "Well, Andy, Lorne, Ben, and I guess I make four," she observes. Since her motive is to keep Todd from participating if possible, it's only an added bonus that they've got the "four elements" lineup...

"We can ask one of the trainers to come down and referee."

[Tengu_temp]

"Well... If you'd like to watch other series, I've got a lot of them, so I can lend you some of them, as well... Although you'd have to tell me what exactly do you like, they're quite varied." Underneath the shy demeanor Emi actually feels quite proud she can spread anime to her unaware friends.

---

Lorne receives a response to his message:
"Ok, I think I'll go to. See you later."
Indeed, when the time comes, Emi appears in the training room. She takes the promised DVDs with her as well.