Interlude 10: The Job
Tue Jul 25 2000

>> For the past day or so, Hikaru has been treated to a small room with a bathroom, cot and
table. It's not exactly paradise, but compared to being a conversation piece in Shrike's little
black room, it sure feels like it. Still, it hasn't been much more active. Less, actually.
* Hikaru yawns and rolls off the cot onto his feet.
>> There are still no windows, no way to tell time. Every time he's led through corridors he's
blindfolded, but there likely wouldn't be much to see if the two spartan, unpainted concrete
rooms he's been in so far are an accurate representation of the place.
* Hikaru yawns. "I kinda wonder what the others are doing... it'd be nice to see Rayle again,
too..."
* Hikaru taps his foot, being extrenely bored. "I thought they'd let me out of this hellhole when
I said 'Yes' to this..."
>> The door is unlatched fro the other side and opened to reveal...the sunglasses-clad Man in
Black. Well, that's somebody at least. He casually tosses Hikaru a thick blindfold. "Put that
on. We're ready. I'm going to brief you on the way...the bosses can't be bothered."
Hikaru: Yeah, sure, just like the other fifteen times..
* Hikaru just plays along, putting on the blindfold and standing up.
>> As before, the man leads him through what can only be assumed to be winding corridors.
The floor is cold and hard, and their footsteps echo throughout the hall. Occasionally someone
else passes by without stopping...merely a brush of air and retreating footfalls.
Hikaru: ..So?
>> No response.
Hikaru: I...see.
>> Click. A door opens and a cool breeze massages his face.
Man in Black: Careful, there's steps.
* Hikaru is careful and steps down.
Hikaru: ...I thought you were going to brief me on the way.
>> This is the first time he's been outside in...how long? No way of knowing. The sun shines
throuhg his blindfold ever so slightly.
Man in Black: We've got a long trip.
Hikaru: ...We're outside, aren't we? You know... It would be nice if you had done this sooner.
>> No response.
>> After a bit more walking, they wind up standing on what's clearly the metal deck of a boat
from the way it rocks.
Hikaru: ...
* Hikaru makes no noise, knowing he'll get no response.
>> The man leads him down some more stairs, shuts a door, and whisks off the blindfold.
They appear to be in a lower room of some sort of small boat. The room has all the typical
amenities -- it's made clear that they're expected to stay here for the trip as the man latches
the door.
Man in Black: Your things are upstairs. You will get them back when we reach Adlehyde.
Hikaru: I...see. I presume that the princess has returned there?
Man in Black: Yes. *points to a bathroom* Go clean yourself up...shave if you need to. I'll
keep talking.
* Hikaru goes in, nodding his thanks.
* Hikaru does what he needs to -- shaves, cleans, performs...other functions.
>> The man keeps talking as Hikaru freshens up. "The association has arranged for us to
arrive in the main port under an airtight alibi. You don't need to be told what that alibi is; you
will remain unobtrusive until we have left the docks. It is your job to determine the location of
the princess, arrive at that location, and kill her. I will not accompany you, but I will be
watching you."
Hikaru: .oO(Watching me. Damn. That means I can't explain the plan to her...) "Go on.."
Man in Black: Naturally, the association does not trust you yet. I am the only agent they have
sent to watch you, but we have field agents in Adlehyde, and rest assured if you betray us
someone will see you are killed, if not me.
Hikaru: I..understand.
Hikaru: You wish for me to kill her, and return her body as proof, correct?
Man in Black: *chuckles* No need for the latter. Trust me, if the last member of Adlehyde's
nuclear royal family dies, everyone will know. You would be advised to get out as soon as
possible after making the hit, and to do so leaving as little evidence as possible along the way.
However, your methods are your own decision.
* Hikaru mentally curses, realizing the main point of his plan has been shot to all hell
Hikaru: And... what happens after that?
Man in Black: We won't be returning to this boat - it's likely the moment the princess dies or
even goes missing, traffic will be closed. You will meet a second field agent at the back of the
Coal Dragon Smithy.
Man in Black: You won't see me again.
* Hikaru nods, coming out of the bathroom. "Very well... And am I rewarded for this with
anything other than my life?"
Man in Black: That's not enough? *he skips a few beats, expression deadpan* 1500 gella has
been added to your bag upstairs. You will receive that amount again upon return to the
compound. You can spend the money on whatever you wish, but the 1500 you have now
covers expenses for the job.
Hikaru: Thank you. I was having slight doubts about my competency for this job, seeing as the
Adlehyde family is one known for their skill with magic...
Hikaru: And were I to end up having to take her on face-to-face, I'd require some sort of
healing. I doubt my previous allies will be on my side, either.
Man in Black: If you're smart, you'll find a way to do it in one strike.
Man in Black: A struggle is bad news for us.
Hikaru: I fully plan on doing it in one strike, yet...
* Hikaru coughs. "I'm not noted for my intelligence, I'm sorry to say."
Man in Black: ...
* Hikaru shrugs. "Just stating fact."
Man in Black: At any rate. There will be nothing to tie us to you or to this deed, so don't
bother trying to point the finger at us if we're caught.
Hikaru: ...
Hikaru: And how much time to I have to accomplish this?
Man in Black: It's important it be done before the week is up. If you can't do it by then, we'll
send a more experienced agent and give you a simpler job. But my associates have faith in
you. For some reason.
Hikaru: I had a bit of a....run in with your...I believe he's the head of your group, but perhaps
just a higher up. I believe it would be considered an odd thing to have laid a hit on him...?
Man in Black: Ahhh. That man. He's not the head of the group, but rather our premier agent.
Be flattered you had a chance to meet him.
Hikaru: By the way...pardon my asking...what day is it?
Man in Black: The twenty-fourth day of the seventh month.
Hikaru: ...I see.
Hikaru: What am I to do, if by some chance, I canot make it to the Smithy?
Man in Black: We'll send someone to pick you up once things cool down.
* Hikaru nods. "Very well..."
Hikaru: .oO(Okay... how do I do this without anyone dying?)
Hikaru: .oO(...I can't. So what's more important...my life or the princess's?)
Hikaru: ...What happens in the event that the princess got former word and is not in the area?
Man in Black: We abort.
Hikaru: "Abort"? The mission or -me-?
Man in Black: ...
Man in Black: That's not up to me.
Hikaru: ...I see.
Man in Black: We're almost there.
Hikaru: Good...I can get this over with.
Man in Black: Don't rush. I've been working for the association longer than you, and I can tell
you that patience is the first thing you need to learn.
Hikaru: Patience is a virtue, but waiting gets you killed. I know how it goes.
Hikaru: I'm not going to rush. Just start right away.
Man in Black: Good boy.
Hikaru: ...
>> They continue on in silence for a time. Beyond the walls, the rolling of the sea can be
heard.
>> From above, the sound of steps indicates that many pairs of feet have joined the ones that
had been working the deck before.
Hikaru: ...
Man in Black: ...
Hikaru: ...
>> Three sharp raps on the door break the silence. The man stands and opens the door to
reveal another well-dressed man.
Hikaru: ...Yes? We were having a nice little fit of silence here.
>> Both men ignore Hikaru, talking in low enough tones to purposefully exclude him.
* Hikaru sweatdrops.
>> Finally the man in black turns back to Hikaru, walking away from the door. "We're set.
That man..." he nods his head at the other fellow, "...will show you your things."
* Hikaru nods. "....Thank you."
Hikaru: My...companion wouldn't be among them, would it?
Man in Black: You're working alone.
Hikaru: ...Great. So no windrats, huh? -_-;
Man in Black: What's a windrat?
Hikaru: ...Just never mind.
Hikaru: .oO(Well, time to bite the bullet here. It was a nice life when I had a chance to live it.)
>> The man gives him a long stare (or does he? hard to tell, with those glasses). "...yeah."
Hikaru: ...
Hikaru: You serious that you've never heard of one?
Man in Black: Get going, kid.
Hikaru: Um, yeah.
* Hikaru goes topside, squinting at the sun when he first comes out. "Ow!
Bright...white...thingie!"
>> The other man chuckles, pointing to a brown sack. "Your shit's in there. Have a ball."
Hikaru: ...Yeah.
Hikaru: Sure.
Hikaru: Whatever.
* Hikaru grabs his stuff. .oO(Oh well. If I actually went through with this, Rayle'd never
forgive me, so...)
>> Hikaru regains Stuff!
>> Hikaru leaves the boat and steps out into Adlehyde proper...it's midafternoon, and the port
is bustling.
* Hikaru does the obvious thing, asks where he can find the food.
Townsperson: Huh? Food? Everywhere, really. There's a bunch of merchants with food carts
in that direction though.
Hikaru: ^_^ Thanks!
* Hikaru goes off to a food cart.
>> He winds up in front of a vendor selling fruit. Behind him someone's screaming about fresh
fish.
* Hikaru sweatdrops and buys some cherries.
>> Food and money are exchanged, and Hikaru winds up with fresh cherries.
* Hikaru eats them and walks off slowly to the castle.
* Hikaru blinks, and hunts down a weapon shop.
* Hikaru hmms, buys a Short Sword and some Ring Mail...
* Hikaru wanders aimlessly to the item vendor RIGHT NEXT TO HIM and buys 2 Big
Berries and 6 Heal Berries.
* Hikaru THEN goes off towards the castle, where he figures Amelia to be.
>> Hikaru leaves the shops considerably better equipped and less rich.
>> The castle looms over all the rest of Adlehyde. Four guards stand post outside.
* Hikaru does the stupid thing and tries to march in.
>> The guards stop him outright. "The castle is off limits."
* Hikaru sighs. "I wish a simple audience with the princess. She wished to see me again after
the fair, where I happened to *save her*..."
Guard: ...uh huh.
Hikaru: Look. Just because all the guards were sleeping on the job...
Guard: Move along.
Hikaru: ...Not until I get what I, as a commoner and potential hero, have asked quite politely
for.
>> The guard rolls his eyes and shoots a glance at his companions. "The castle is off limits."
Hikaru: ...She's not there, is she?
Guard: I am not kept up to date on Her Highness' whereabouts.
Hikaru: ...In English that means...?
Guard: I presume she is here. She was yesterday, anyhow.
Hikaru: ....Then why can I not have a simple audience?
Guard: The princess is very busy.
Hikaru: Sure.
Hikaru: What exactly is she doing then?
Guard: .....I don't keep a copy of her itinerary.
Hikaru: So how do you know she's busy?
Guard: The princess is always busy.
Hikaru: So how could she take time out to go investigate the incident at the Memory
Temple...?
Hikaru: I do believe you heard word of that?
Guard: *shrugs* That was what she was busy doing at the time, I guess.
Hikaru: ...
Hikaru: You don't have any clue why, do you?
Guard: Why would I? I'm a guard.
Hikaru: ...
Hikaru: ...Then what are you doing out here instead of protecting the princess?
Hikaru: Someone could just sneak in and off her...
Hikaru: ...while I'm...oh, I don't know... distracting you?
Guard: *wearily* There are a lot of guards. I guard the door.
Hikaru: ...Stop guarding, damn it! -_- I want to see the princess!
Guard: That's why I need to guard! We can't just let anyone in any time.
Hikaru: . . .
Guard: We used to have an open-door policy when the old king was here, and look! He got
killed. Sir Endwell has increased security.
Hikaru: I saved that woman's LIFE! Who do you think stood up against El Morte while you
guys were too busy pissing your chonies?!
Guard: Anyone could say that. I don't recognize you.
Hikaru: Because, as I said, you were too busy pissing your pants.
Hikaru: Look, just ask her if she wishes to see a "Hikaru Fujimiya". If she says no, I'll leave
like you want me to.
Guard: ...you can make an appointment at the desk. Go in. It could be a while though.
Hikaru: ...Thank you.
* Hikaru goes in.
Guard: Yeah, whatever.