Interlude 6: The Interrogation Thu Jun 15 2000 >> Master Thompson and Hikaru sit on the highest hill in the plains near Arctica...it's a difficult to ascend, but allows a clear view of the entire area. Thomspon has laid out a mat, and they're just...sitting there. Hikaru: ...? ^^; * Hikaru sits there. Thompson: Look't it Hikaru...isn't it grand? Hikaru: Uh... isn't what grand, sir? >> Thompson sweeps the vista with one wrinkled, skeletal hand. "The world. Perfect and unspoiled." Hikaru: ...Yeah. I guess so... Thomspon: *chuckles raspily* Ahh, you young ones...so preoccupied with learning how t'fight. There's more to being a swordsman than knowing how t'use a sword. Hikaru: ...Well, yeah. Otherwise, why bother? Guns are for the people that can't appreciate nature as it is... I think that's how you said it, sir... >> The old man nods in approval and stands, his diminutive, mummified frame belying the strength within. "Now Hikaru...I'm the oldest and the wisest man you'll ever meet...but I can't be around forever." * Hikaru nods. "Even the redwoods die or get cut down..." Thompson: I want t'make sure you can carry on the art when I'm gone, Hikaru...but there's one thing you need to remember. Hikaru: Remember, sir? >> He nods. "I need y'to make sure the Messiah Papers stay safe. If you do that...everything will be fine." >> Fade to black...perception vanishes in a haze in the realm of dream. Another day, another time...Hikaru walks leisurely through the frigid, early-morning Arctica streets on his way to class... * Hikaru shivers. Hikaru: .oO(Shoulda remembered to bring a coat today...) >> His breath mists the air as he apporoaches the building where Thompson both teaches and lives. * Hikaru walks up to the door and knocks. "Master Thompson? I'm here for today's lesson..." * Hikaru walks up to the door and knocks. "Master Thompson? I'm here for today's lesson..." > The door swings open with a creak. Thompson lies on the floor in a pool of blood, clutching a hand to his chest, where Hikaru's sword lies deeply embedded. His breath is strained, and it sounds like something tears inside each time he inhales. Hikaru: Master Thompson! O_o * Hikaru rushes to him and pulls out his sword. "What happened?" Thompson: So.....he.........he was better than me after all......Hikaru.....is that you? It's dark..... Hikaru: Yeah... it's me... try not to force it so much... but please, if you can... what happened? o_o >> Master Thompson coughs as the sword is tugged out. "Don't forget what I told you.....it...it was..." He lifts a bony hand and beckons Hikaru closer. * Hikaru leans close. "Who, sir...?" Thomspon: Ga...gacar...p... >> Thompson's hand drops as he dies, and Hikaru is left alone amidst the blood. Hikaru: "Gagacarp"? I... I don't understand, sir... Hikaru: ...Master Thompson! Hikaru: ...Why did it have to be you, Master...what did they want from you? >> There is, of course, no answer...only the memory of his words on the hill. Hikaru: ...I never had a chance to ask him what those "Messiah Papers" were... maybe... they're the reason that he was...? >> Suddenly there are three armed members of the Fenril Guard at the door, blocking the exit. "What's going on here? Sir Thompson!" Hikaru: ... Guard: You! Stay there! You're under arrest for the murder of Sir Aaron Thompson! Hikaru: What?! O_o Hikaru: Murder? Guard: Do you deny it? You're crouching over him with the sword! Hikaru: No! It wasn't me! I came in and he was already... I mean... Other Guard: Damn...boy, where did he put the Messiah Papers? It's important! Hikaru: Messiah Papers? Hell if I know! I don't even know what the hell they are! Other Guard: Don't play dumb! He wanted you to give them to us if he died! Hikaru: Well, guess what? I don't have them, you tweaks! Hikaru: So how the fuck am I supposed to give them to you?! Other Guard: But you know where they are, do you not? Hikaru: No! Like I said, I don't even know what they are, just that they need to be kept safe! Guard: Hmph. If he won't tell he MUST be the killer. Let's get him! Hikaru: ...And you know... * Hikaru looks at his sword, then at the guards. "Well... it's obvious you're not gonna believe me..." * Hikaru sheathes his sword and charges into the guards, knocking two of them over before bolting out the door. >> The guards rush him, but he rushes back. Something strikes him in the head, and everything goes black. >> Slowly Hikaru comes to his senses, regaining his awareness of current events. He's still in the chair in the black room, and now there is a metal tray on wheels in front of him, much like the one with the hamburger, but covered with a white cloth, and without any large bulges or pleasant smells. Hikaru: ...Guh...the fuck? Hikaru: Things didn't happen that way... They never asked about the... Messiah Papers? Yeah, that was it... And I don't remember Master Thompson mentioning them either... he might have, though... and I got away... I didn't have to fight them, I ran out a window... Hikaru: ...Maybe it did happen. Maybe THIS is the dream..... bleagh... brain's fuzzy at the moment... * Hikaru wakes up a little more. "Okay...situation. Not a dream. Tied up. Tray in front of me, without food." Hikaru: Could mean they want to dissect me... Or maybe they're just trying to fuck with my mind. >> "I think that was how it happened. I think you're wrong." >> The voice comes from behind him. Apparently he's not alone. Hikaru: ...Who? Hikaru: Who are you? And who the hell do you think you are to say what's right or wrong in my life? >> The Shrike steps forward. "Your life is all our lives, Hikaru. What you say and do has an impact on everyone in the world." Hikaru: Ah. Shriek. Or whatever the fuck your name was. And you know... how do you know what's happened? Shrike: I have many skills. *he whisks aside the cloth on the tray to reveal an array of dental and surgical instruments* My colleague is fond of you, which is why he has failed. I don't intend to make that mistake. Hikaru: ...I swear, when I get out of here, the first thing I'm going to do is rip you apart, ninja freak. >> He selects a pair of needle-nosed pliers from the tray, examining them appraisingly. "You would do well to respect me here. This is my domain." Hikaru: ...Yeah, well... I'm sorry, but I'd like to keep living and I'm afraid you can't stop me from doing that if I don't want you to. Shrike: How do you figure? Hikaru: You'd be surprised what you can live through. Shrike: You don't seem to fully appreciate your situation here. Hikaru: I'm captive, you're sadistic, you have implements of torture. What else is to appreciate? Hikaru: No matter what you do to me, you can't make me learn what I don't know. And, quite frankly, I don't know what or where these god damned "Messiah Papers" are! Shrike: I'm not sadistic. I'm just a professional. The heart of the situation is, at this point you only live if I want you to. It would be advised to be kind to me. Hikaru: It'd be in your best interests to keep me alive. Kill me, and who else can you interrogate? Shrike: You're rapidly losing your usefulness. Don't forget that. Hikaru: ... Hikaru: I was useful? How? Shrike: You currently have information we need. However, you're being difficult about it. We're a team, Hikaru. We have to work together. Hikaru: I'm not being difficult. I'm just telling you straight. I don't know what the Messiah Papers are, nor do I know where. I may know things that could lead to that, but as to direct knowledge? None. >> He takes Hikaru's left hand, examines it critically, and then carefully pulls off his thumbnail with the pliers, dropping the bloody nail onto the floor. Shrike: I have all day. * Hikaru winces, bleeding. Hikaru: ...Interesting methods. I assume you can also squeeze blood from stones? Shrike: *he tears off another fingernail on the left hand, much more violently this time* Be polite. We're all friends here. All right then. Let's move on to something else. Hikaru: ...Fine... Shrike: Why was Achilles Crest in Adlehyde? Hikaru: Dunno. Had something to give to...princess. Shrike: I see. Why did he give it to you? Hikaru: Dunno. Think it might've had to do with this whole "War King" thing... that I was Thompson's pupil and all. Shrike: Good, good. I'm glad we could work together. *takes a white cloth and cleans some of the blood off the pliers* Shrike: What was the thing he wanted you to deliver? Hikaru: I don't know that, either. It was an envelope of some sort. Shrike: I see. And the princess now has it? * Hikaru braces himself for pain he knows is coming. "I don't know. She might, but I've already promised to protect her with my life." >> He simply taps his lip with the pliers thoughtfully. "But you did deliver it?" Hikaru: Mind my asking why you want to know? Shrike: Yes. * Hikaru closes his eyes. "Tell me anyway." >> NOW he takes off another fingernail. "You knew that was going to happen. And we were doing so well, too." Hikaru: I'm sorry, Shrike. I don't break promises. Hikaru: And I don't sell myself out. Shrike: Don't think of it as selling out. You'll be helping a lot of people. Hikaru: ... Hikaru: "Death" could be synonymous with "helping a lot of people" in the right circumstances. Shrike: It could indeed. But we wouldn't ask something so traumatic of you. We like you. Hikaru: Then why not let me go? Shrike: Because we like you. >> He dabs a cloth into a bottle and presses it against his fingernails, burning them briefly. Smells like hydrogen peroxide. "Your perceptions are faulty. You have been being deceived for a long time now. I'll leave you to think about that for a bit." Hikaru: I like my perceptions, thank you. Ignorance is bliss and all that rot. >> He pushes the tray far enough back to be seen while being well out of reach, wipes his face with a handkerchief, and exits. The door seems very loud as the deadbolt slips into place.