Interlude 3: The Interview Wed May 24 2000 >> The room is dark and empty...cold. At first it seems like his eyes are still closed, but Hikaru slowly realizes he is in fact looking at a totally featureless black room, lit by a bare- bulbed electrical light dangling from the ceiling by frayed wires. He appears to have been sleeping in a rather uncomfortable chair, the only object in the room, and his muscles are kinked. Hikaru: Geh... * Hikaru tries to remember where he is. >> The last thing he remembers was a choking burst of smoke...back in the Temple of Memory...back fighting Sevena. Hikaru: Bleah. Got ambushed, and got a faceful of happy gas, that's what happened. * Hikaru checks to see if he's bound to the chair. >> His suspicions are confirmed. A rather stiff, cold, metal thing, it holds his legs tight at the ankles. His wrists are manacled and attached with short chains to the armrests, giving him a bit of hand motion, but not a lot. He seems to be without any equipment save his basic clothing. * Hikaru sighs. "Why the hell do I get to be God's whipping boy?" * Hikaru wriggles hopelessly in the chair. >> The room offers no answer. Time passes slowly, or perhaps quickly...it's difficult to tell. Finally there is a rattling at some unseen door as the knob is turned. A man approaches from behind, finally stepping into his line of vision carrying a tray with a yellow cloth over it. He is short, bald and bespectacled, about fifty and slightly pug-faced. Looking around, he clucks his tongue disapprovingly. "No table. Hmm." Hikaru: ...Do you think I care there's no table? I've been unconscious, and it feels like I've been tied to this chair for several days.. -_-; >> The man smiles sympathetically. "Yes, they're rather bad about that. Still, I do wish they'd brought a table. It's so uncivilized to just put the food on the floor. Could you give me a minute?" Hikaru: Uh, sure. Whatever. ^^; * Hikaru blinks. "Wait a minute. 'They'?" >> He sets the tray down and leaves, his footsteps echoing against the cold, hard floor, the click of the door resounding in the silence as he shuts it behind him. Hikaru: ...Oi. >> Hikaru is left without an answer, though the covered tray in front of him provides a certain degree of fascination being the only thing to have pierced the monotony of the room in what seems like an infinite time. Hikaru: Hell. I hope there's a burger in there, or something... >> Surprisingly enough, a faint smell of hamburger wafts up from under the mysterious food tray. * Hikaru smiles the best he can, considering he's not in the best of moods due to the fact he's bound to a damn chair. >> Time passes. There isn't even some sort of repetetive occurrence to measure it by. * Hikaru measures the time by the number of breaths he takes. Okay, one breath a minute, I think...that means it's been 6 hours. >> The man returns, wheeling in a small metal table. He carefully lifts the tray onto it and whisks away the cloth, revealing an appealing (if by now slightly cool) hamburger. Bald Man: Do you like hamburgers, Hikaru? Hikaru: ^_^ Dunno who doesn't. Hikaru: ...Waitaminute. Is this supposed to be an act of mercy or cruel and unusual punishment? ^^; >> He laughs and shakes his head, pushing the tray closer so that Hikaru is capable of eating the hamburger. "I'm not at all into the punishment thing. I've never believed it's a way to get things done. Excuse me, I think I'll get a chair." * Hikaru eats the hamburger to the best of his ability. ^-^ >> He walks by in no particular hurry, returning shortly after with a folding metal chair. He sets this up about five feet away and seats himself in it, folding his hands. Bald Man: I hope you like it. It's the kind my wife makes for me. She's an excellent cook. I always liked hamburgers. Hikaru: ^_^ Arigatou! Bald Man: Now...do you know why you're here, Hikaru? Hikaru: ...Not a clue. Hikaru: Probably has to do with someone I *cough* know though... almost everything recently has. Bald Man: Oh? Hikaru: ...Thompson? -_- Bald Man: Ahh, yes, Mr. Thompson. You trained under him? Hikaru: Yes. Why this is so ungodly important, I'll never know. Bald Man: Well...he was a famous man once. There's some concern that you killed him. Did you kill Mr.Thompson, Hikaru? Hikaru: ...No. He was killed by someone I never saw, with one of my practice swords...I came by just in time to see him die. That didn't exactly win me much trust with my town. -_-; Bald Man: I see. So you and he got along well? Hikaru: Not perfectly... but we got along better than most. Bald Man: I'd like to hear about that. Why don't you tell me? Hikaru: Tell you about...? Bald Man: Your relationship with Aaron Thompson. Hikaru: ...He was the teacher, I was the student. He overworked me some times, but it wasn't that bad. He was a friend, and after my parents died, he basically became a second father to me... >> The man nods somberly. "So you enjoyed your time with him? That's a good thing. People should enjoy their lives." * Hikaru glances at the man nervously. "What are you getting at here, sir...?" >> He shrugs. "I'm just making conversation. I try to add a touch of civility to this place; it's rather spartan, don't you find?" Hikaru: I dunno. It seems kinda black to me. ^^; Bald Man: Yes, we'll, 'that man' prefers it like this. >> He shivers a little. Hikaru: ...Who? Hikaru: That Shrike guy or whatever his name was? Bald Man: You shouldn't say that name around here. * Hikaru blinks. Hikaru: ...Uh, okay. Hikaru: Why? ^^; Bald Man: Just...don't. Not even the rest of the group talks about 'that man' much. Hikaru: I...see. Bald Man: Anyhow! I have to ask...do you have any notable allergies or illnesses? * Hikaru blinks. Hikaru: Uh... Hikaru: I'm allergic to allergies... ^^; Other than that, I don't think so... >> He frowns. "Are you sure? Nothing specific?" Hikaru: ...Not that I can think of. Why does that upset you? Planning on poisoning me or somesuch? Bald Man: *shrug* I'm just doing my job. Oh, I have a card here somewhere with a few questions. >> He fumbles around for a moment or two before producing an index card. Adjusting his glasses and peering at it, he reads: "Who was responsible for the death of Aaron Thompson?" Hikaru: I have no idea. the last thing he told me could've been some sort of clue, but I don't know... Hikaru: He said... "Gawacarp" or something... Bald Man: Gawacarp...very well...and...number two...where are the Messiah Papers? Hikaru: The what? Bald Man: Messiah Papers. >> He enunciates quite clearly, apparently doing this by rote. Hikaru: ...I have no idea what these "Messiah Papers" are. That's why I asked. >> He nods and pushes up his glasses again; they don't seem to like to stay on his tiny round nose. "What happened to Achilles Crest?" Hikaru: Achilles Crest...? I have no idea. I saw him in Adlehyde and he never said where he was going. Bald Man: In Adlehyde? What was he doing there? Hikaru: Dunno. He had me g... * Hikaru blinks. Bald Man: Go on. Hikaru: .oO(Could those be those "Messiah Papers" this guy mentioned? If so...I think the princess might be in trouble if I say much more...) Hikaru: ... * Hikaru sighs. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm afraid I can't tell you any more. If I did, I have the feeling people I know would get hurt. I don't want that." >> He nods. "Well...I should be going then. I'm not sure what will happen next, but I'll keep in touch." He stands and begins gathering his things. Hikaru: ...Yeah... Hikaru: ...Wait. Hikaru: Can I ask you something? Bald Man: Hmmm? Yes? Hikaru: ...What's your name? Bald Man: We don't use names around here. I'll see you later, Hikaru. Hikaru: ... Hikaru: If you don't use names...why call me by mine? >> He departs with a smile and a wave. The door clicks behind Hikaru, and he is plunged into oblivion once again. Hikaru: ... Hikaru: I love how these people never answer your questions. -_-; * Hikaru blinks. "...Rayle? Are you still there, or did I lose you when I got kidnapped?" ^^; >> . . .