01-07-2011, 06:33 AM
“They cut off my fingers, Jeremy, my fingers!”
Daylight fell in through the windows that lined the far wall. Small shadows were cast against the marble floor, and the leather sofa that remained beneath the glass. Fresh daisies had been placed within the vase, these ones were not clinging to life in misery. Their bright white petals were vibrant in the touch of sunlight gracing the room like hope on the face of the day. The world outside was golden, sand rising up and down in mighty peaks, another hot blazing day within the desert.
“Three fingers,” he replied. The clink of glass could be heard, the smooth sound of amber pouring into the small cup. Jeremy set the bottle down and grasped the glass in his hand, shooting the alcohol back promptly, without another word.
“Did you know that they were going to do that?” the anger in her voice began to settle, as she stared upon her leader. Sunlight laced itself into his raven lochs, and glinting light from the glass flecked upon his cheeks. Jeremy never did seem to change.
Victoria had come back from her mission two weeks ago, but it felt as if months had gone by. She had asked, for once, to have a vacation. Not unusual, she had spent nearly all of that time within the confines of her room, or within the training room. Joal was gone, and she had never missed him more than now. In the end, the mission had done just as her mentor had feared, it had made her distant again. The young hunter wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't even look at him. It was any wonder why she had finally come up to his office this time.
“Yes,” he turned away from her and looked out at the desert. Little had changed within Zone Five during her absence. The mission had been, for the most part, successful. Victoria had played solider for South City and endured the worst kind of torture. She had held up against her enemies, and had come home hardened, and less focused on her leader, and her feelings. If anything...the girl had lost a small part of herself in the war, but, the war was over...or so he thought.
“You knew, and you sent me out there?”
“Don't make this personal, Victoria, you're still a hunter,” his reply was sharp, and he turned to look at her sidelong. She barely changed, either. Long coral tresses fell down her back, a few long strands over her shoulder. Her leather uniform was snug to her body, the slit skirt exposing one of her thighs up to her hip. The emotion in her eyes was cold, her lips twitching faintly at one corner. Jeremy turned his gaze to the window again. Even having lost three fingers, and put through the ordeals of South Cities training program, she didn't have a mark on her body.
“Apologies, sir,” she replied, and straightened her back.
Jeremy frowned, but he continued to remain facing away from the youth. Everything they had built...well, it was his fault. His marriage to Olivia only made matters worse. He felt so strongly for Victoria, but, could do nothing. They needed something...anything, to gain an edge, and to make the founders allow such a thing. The leader of Zone Five would lose more than a wife over any affair he attempted, and it pained him to see his hunter so upset, but there was little he could do.
“I have another mission for you,” he said and walked away from the window. His shoes clicked against the marble until he settled himself in his chair behind his desk. Fingers reached into a drawer within the large oak desk, procuring a file from within. “I didn't want to force you up here, but this is important.” His eyes gazed up at her, so formal, with very little life left in her eyes. Jeremy sighed and stood up once again. Slowly he approached her, after setting the document down, and his hands fell to her shoulders.
“Jeremy,” her voice whispered, eyes downcast to the side. It had been a month since he had touched her, not that she would let him. She was wounded, more than by a knife against her flesh, but by a feeling of betrayal.
“I knew they wouldn't kill you, but I wanted you to gain training that I couldn't give you. Please don't hate me for that.”
“I don't hate you,” she replied softly, and remained still. “I'm keeping myself composed. I don't want to find out that, in the end, you can't have me. Yes,” she looked up to interrupt any sort of reply from her leader, “I know that you aren't rejecting me. I know what could happen. I learned a lot out there, during the war, and I know that I have to be patient.”
Jeremy remained silent, and his hands slowly fell away from her. Victoria, however, leaned forward just a fraction and pressed her cheek to the soft fabric of his tie and dress shirt. Instinctively, her leader, her mentor, lifted a single hand to press against the back of her head and slide down languidly along the soft strands. “You made me proud, you know, you really did,” he whispered.
Victoria smiled, small, soft, and with a tinge of happiness as she drank in the scent of his cologne.
“So, what you're saying, is that the alien forces are going to come to Earth and conquer the planet while most of our forces are off fighting a war with these 'invaders' we've been hearing about,” the man asked. He was well dressed, handsome, with blonde hair sleeked back. The chair he sat in was divide from the other seats by a small table with a potted plant. It was one of the most popular talk shows on the network, and their current guest had caused quite the stir in Central City.
“Think about it.” Roy motioned with a hand, his features calm, his hands animated. “What better way, than to convince the population of Earth that a threat imminent, and beg for their help,” he said, licking his lips for moisture. “What invading force would attack two planets, and leave Earth out of their scope? Can you think of any time when, in the past, our enemy had decided, 'Oh let's attack Namek instead of Earth', no? I didn't think so.”
The talk show host stared at Roy Munin carefully, skeptical. Sure, Earth had been attacked many times before, but his guest was throwing a lot of rumor to the mix. “Other planets came to help us in our time of need,” he pointed out.
“They've also tried conquering us before. This is only their next plan. Scare the people, force them into fighting an invisible enemy, only to return to their homes leveled, and their families in shackles. I'm telling you, Jack,” he leaned forward, “Earth is in grave danger.”
“Where's the proof, Roy,” the man shook his head with a small smile. “This is all hearsay, you're just assuming the worst in this situation.” The host leaned back, and he looked off to the side, “Roger, play the recording.”
The various television screens lit up with the hazy image of four figures together. Human, Namekian, Frostling, and Arlian side by side. The message was clear, and sound, with the flicking image. It was unclear which of the humanoids spoke but it cast shivers down Jack's spine.
Our worlds are in grave danger from an unknown assailant. These enemies are powerful and ambitious; they will not stop there. To all who can fight, now is the time. Answer the dire call and register with your local Militia representative. They will not be hard to find.
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a human with the others?” Jack asked, the recording finished. He pointed at the television just behind them.
“They could manipulate imagery to have it show anything, or anyone, you and I both know that,” Roy argued, shaking his head slowly. “My poof is sound, rushing off to the other planets to fight for them will only spell our own disaster. It will leave us weak and defenseless.”
“I think that's all the time we have, thanks for coming onto the show, Roy,” Jack smiled charmingly and held out his hand. It was clear in his eyes, he didn't believe a word of it.
“What's going on?” Victoria stared at the computer terminal with a grim frown.
“From what we gathered, there's a threat toward the galaxy...not just certain planets. It's hard to say if this man is correct or not. The message could have been manufactured to fool the inhabitants of Earth into fleeing to the aid of the other planets...only to be attacked, and take advantage of. We need to know what's really going on,” Jeremy leaned back in his chair, lifting the folder. “Our contacts on Namek, and Mercy, have confirmed that the same message was given to their respective planets. However, the Company wants to know all of the facts.”
Victoria took the folder and flipped through it. Very little information was given on Roy Munin, it was surprising. Most people, especially people that spread propaganda, had a paper trail. “You want me to find this guy?” she asked, looking away from the papers to look down at Jeremy.
“A galactic war could mean a lot of things for us. We could make a lot of money from contracts, but a war on Earth could be disaster. First and foremost, we're here to protect the planet, if only to secure our own agenda. Find this guy and find out what you can, it could all just be a rumor, for all we know. We'll be looking into the information on the other planets. If Earth is, in fact, not in danger, your mission will shift toward helping one of the other planets.”
The hunter eyed him for a moment before closing the file. “Protect the planet for our own agenda,” she smirked softly. “Can't make money if we're slaves?” she hummed softly and her eyes glinted. “I imagine I'll fight for whichever planet pays the most, too?”
“You know this business,” Jeremy shrugged softly, returning her smile with one of his own. At least, now, they were back to civil manners. Their personal business would have to wait...perhaps, Victoria's aid in this endeavor, would prove rewarding her anything she might like...including romantic desires. The leader of Zone Five shook his head and stood up.
“We have a few more things to go over before you leave, follow me.” He gave her a lingering glance and headed around her desk. This would be something she might like, something she needed, and she would never feel betrayed by him again. The young hunter followed him obediently, leaving the room silent and filled with sunlight.
Central City was still as dismal as ever, if not worse. Half of the city was cast in an endless rain from an attack that had taken place long ago. The poison in the air was thick, the clouds roiling in anger to make the stinging rain singe the ground. It was hard, but some of the people still tried to make a life there. The other side of the booming city was hardly scathed, if anything, it only improved. Wartime was in the air, people were both worried, and hopeful. Mothers, sisters and daughters roamed the streets with adamant prayers, while their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers left the planet to fight for soil that wasn't theirs. Such was the concern, and the panic, that even women were signing up to fight.
Victoria was, for lack of a better word, undercover. Instead of her usual get-up, the hunter wore a long white skirt that flowed in the soft breeze. Sunlight was warm, kissing her pale skin, and dancing in her cherry blossom hair as it drifted well past her lower back. Her blouse was snug, buttoned, matching her skirt with a small pink bow between the two articles of clothing on the front. It was something she would have worn two months ago...something she would have worn, as a girl, a normal human girl.
A smile graced her soft pink lips and she skipped over a bottle on the sidewalk. Bending down, the undercover hunter plucked up the garbage and disposed of it in the nearest recycling bin before continuing down the street. Her crystalline hues gazed around the area that, from all of her visits, was none other than down town Central City. Roy had been spotted down here throwing out his propaganda.
She crossed the street, as the warm breeze clutched at her flowing skirt, and played with her long tresses. Her dainty feet skipped upon the hot cement and she stopped to let her dazzling smile fade into girlish softness. Eyes flicked down the road, and there, upon a box, stood Mr. Munin.
He looked everything like his picture, and everything that the video had displayed. Mahogany hair was feathery, snatched at random by the soft gusts of wind buffeting his body. The lower edge of his suit jacket fluttered carefree with each pass of the waft. A tie was neatly tucked beneath the buttons of the jacket, against his crisp white dress shirt. Anyone who knew Victoria, and knew the life she had lived, would not have been surprised as she stood still and watched him upon that box with a faltering gaze. He did, after all, look like one of the Suits. The hunter in her wanted to respect the man just for what he looked like, the girl...well, she could have blushed, but Vic wasn't like that.
“Mr. Munin?” she asked, fingers clasped together in-front of herself as she stopped right in front of him. “I believe you.”
Her voice was small, her eyes gleaming with youthful vigor, and she looked up at the man on his box. Other people walked by, mothers dragging children, fathers flipping the bird. Victoria stood up to him, like a beacon of hope, a timid smile showing perfect white teeth. One of her feet lifted, toe to the pavement, digging in, out of what could have been shy reaction to his gaze. “Where do I sign up?” she bit down into the plushness of her bottom lip.
Daylight fell in through the windows that lined the far wall. Small shadows were cast against the marble floor, and the leather sofa that remained beneath the glass. Fresh daisies had been placed within the vase, these ones were not clinging to life in misery. Their bright white petals were vibrant in the touch of sunlight gracing the room like hope on the face of the day. The world outside was golden, sand rising up and down in mighty peaks, another hot blazing day within the desert.
“Three fingers,” he replied. The clink of glass could be heard, the smooth sound of amber pouring into the small cup. Jeremy set the bottle down and grasped the glass in his hand, shooting the alcohol back promptly, without another word.
“Did you know that they were going to do that?” the anger in her voice began to settle, as she stared upon her leader. Sunlight laced itself into his raven lochs, and glinting light from the glass flecked upon his cheeks. Jeremy never did seem to change.
Victoria had come back from her mission two weeks ago, but it felt as if months had gone by. She had asked, for once, to have a vacation. Not unusual, she had spent nearly all of that time within the confines of her room, or within the training room. Joal was gone, and she had never missed him more than now. In the end, the mission had done just as her mentor had feared, it had made her distant again. The young hunter wouldn't talk to him, wouldn't even look at him. It was any wonder why she had finally come up to his office this time.
“Yes,” he turned away from her and looked out at the desert. Little had changed within Zone Five during her absence. The mission had been, for the most part, successful. Victoria had played solider for South City and endured the worst kind of torture. She had held up against her enemies, and had come home hardened, and less focused on her leader, and her feelings. If anything...the girl had lost a small part of herself in the war, but, the war was over...or so he thought.
“You knew, and you sent me out there?”
“Don't make this personal, Victoria, you're still a hunter,” his reply was sharp, and he turned to look at her sidelong. She barely changed, either. Long coral tresses fell down her back, a few long strands over her shoulder. Her leather uniform was snug to her body, the slit skirt exposing one of her thighs up to her hip. The emotion in her eyes was cold, her lips twitching faintly at one corner. Jeremy turned his gaze to the window again. Even having lost three fingers, and put through the ordeals of South Cities training program, she didn't have a mark on her body.
“Apologies, sir,” she replied, and straightened her back.
Jeremy frowned, but he continued to remain facing away from the youth. Everything they had built...well, it was his fault. His marriage to Olivia only made matters worse. He felt so strongly for Victoria, but, could do nothing. They needed something...anything, to gain an edge, and to make the founders allow such a thing. The leader of Zone Five would lose more than a wife over any affair he attempted, and it pained him to see his hunter so upset, but there was little he could do.
“I have another mission for you,” he said and walked away from the window. His shoes clicked against the marble until he settled himself in his chair behind his desk. Fingers reached into a drawer within the large oak desk, procuring a file from within. “I didn't want to force you up here, but this is important.” His eyes gazed up at her, so formal, with very little life left in her eyes. Jeremy sighed and stood up once again. Slowly he approached her, after setting the document down, and his hands fell to her shoulders.
“Jeremy,” her voice whispered, eyes downcast to the side. It had been a month since he had touched her, not that she would let him. She was wounded, more than by a knife against her flesh, but by a feeling of betrayal.
“I knew they wouldn't kill you, but I wanted you to gain training that I couldn't give you. Please don't hate me for that.”
“I don't hate you,” she replied softly, and remained still. “I'm keeping myself composed. I don't want to find out that, in the end, you can't have me. Yes,” she looked up to interrupt any sort of reply from her leader, “I know that you aren't rejecting me. I know what could happen. I learned a lot out there, during the war, and I know that I have to be patient.”
Jeremy remained silent, and his hands slowly fell away from her. Victoria, however, leaned forward just a fraction and pressed her cheek to the soft fabric of his tie and dress shirt. Instinctively, her leader, her mentor, lifted a single hand to press against the back of her head and slide down languidly along the soft strands. “You made me proud, you know, you really did,” he whispered.
Victoria smiled, small, soft, and with a tinge of happiness as she drank in the scent of his cologne.
--
“So, what you're saying, is that the alien forces are going to come to Earth and conquer the planet while most of our forces are off fighting a war with these 'invaders' we've been hearing about,” the man asked. He was well dressed, handsome, with blonde hair sleeked back. The chair he sat in was divide from the other seats by a small table with a potted plant. It was one of the most popular talk shows on the network, and their current guest had caused quite the stir in Central City.
“Think about it.” Roy motioned with a hand, his features calm, his hands animated. “What better way, than to convince the population of Earth that a threat imminent, and beg for their help,” he said, licking his lips for moisture. “What invading force would attack two planets, and leave Earth out of their scope? Can you think of any time when, in the past, our enemy had decided, 'Oh let's attack Namek instead of Earth', no? I didn't think so.”
The talk show host stared at Roy Munin carefully, skeptical. Sure, Earth had been attacked many times before, but his guest was throwing a lot of rumor to the mix. “Other planets came to help us in our time of need,” he pointed out.
“They've also tried conquering us before. This is only their next plan. Scare the people, force them into fighting an invisible enemy, only to return to their homes leveled, and their families in shackles. I'm telling you, Jack,” he leaned forward, “Earth is in grave danger.”
“Where's the proof, Roy,” the man shook his head with a small smile. “This is all hearsay, you're just assuming the worst in this situation.” The host leaned back, and he looked off to the side, “Roger, play the recording.”
The various television screens lit up with the hazy image of four figures together. Human, Namekian, Frostling, and Arlian side by side. The message was clear, and sound, with the flicking image. It was unclear which of the humanoids spoke but it cast shivers down Jack's spine.
Our worlds are in grave danger from an unknown assailant. These enemies are powerful and ambitious; they will not stop there. To all who can fight, now is the time. Answer the dire call and register with your local Militia representative. They will not be hard to find.
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that a human with the others?” Jack asked, the recording finished. He pointed at the television just behind them.
“They could manipulate imagery to have it show anything, or anyone, you and I both know that,” Roy argued, shaking his head slowly. “My poof is sound, rushing off to the other planets to fight for them will only spell our own disaster. It will leave us weak and defenseless.”
“I think that's all the time we have, thanks for coming onto the show, Roy,” Jack smiled charmingly and held out his hand. It was clear in his eyes, he didn't believe a word of it.
--
“What's going on?” Victoria stared at the computer terminal with a grim frown.
“From what we gathered, there's a threat toward the galaxy...not just certain planets. It's hard to say if this man is correct or not. The message could have been manufactured to fool the inhabitants of Earth into fleeing to the aid of the other planets...only to be attacked, and take advantage of. We need to know what's really going on,” Jeremy leaned back in his chair, lifting the folder. “Our contacts on Namek, and Mercy, have confirmed that the same message was given to their respective planets. However, the Company wants to know all of the facts.”
Victoria took the folder and flipped through it. Very little information was given on Roy Munin, it was surprising. Most people, especially people that spread propaganda, had a paper trail. “You want me to find this guy?” she asked, looking away from the papers to look down at Jeremy.
“A galactic war could mean a lot of things for us. We could make a lot of money from contracts, but a war on Earth could be disaster. First and foremost, we're here to protect the planet, if only to secure our own agenda. Find this guy and find out what you can, it could all just be a rumor, for all we know. We'll be looking into the information on the other planets. If Earth is, in fact, not in danger, your mission will shift toward helping one of the other planets.”
The hunter eyed him for a moment before closing the file. “Protect the planet for our own agenda,” she smirked softly. “Can't make money if we're slaves?” she hummed softly and her eyes glinted. “I imagine I'll fight for whichever planet pays the most, too?”
“You know this business,” Jeremy shrugged softly, returning her smile with one of his own. At least, now, they were back to civil manners. Their personal business would have to wait...perhaps, Victoria's aid in this endeavor, would prove rewarding her anything she might like...including romantic desires. The leader of Zone Five shook his head and stood up.
“We have a few more things to go over before you leave, follow me.” He gave her a lingering glance and headed around her desk. This would be something she might like, something she needed, and she would never feel betrayed by him again. The young hunter followed him obediently, leaving the room silent and filled with sunlight.
--
Central City was still as dismal as ever, if not worse. Half of the city was cast in an endless rain from an attack that had taken place long ago. The poison in the air was thick, the clouds roiling in anger to make the stinging rain singe the ground. It was hard, but some of the people still tried to make a life there. The other side of the booming city was hardly scathed, if anything, it only improved. Wartime was in the air, people were both worried, and hopeful. Mothers, sisters and daughters roamed the streets with adamant prayers, while their sons, brothers, husbands and fathers left the planet to fight for soil that wasn't theirs. Such was the concern, and the panic, that even women were signing up to fight.
Victoria was, for lack of a better word, undercover. Instead of her usual get-up, the hunter wore a long white skirt that flowed in the soft breeze. Sunlight was warm, kissing her pale skin, and dancing in her cherry blossom hair as it drifted well past her lower back. Her blouse was snug, buttoned, matching her skirt with a small pink bow between the two articles of clothing on the front. It was something she would have worn two months ago...something she would have worn, as a girl, a normal human girl.
A smile graced her soft pink lips and she skipped over a bottle on the sidewalk. Bending down, the undercover hunter plucked up the garbage and disposed of it in the nearest recycling bin before continuing down the street. Her crystalline hues gazed around the area that, from all of her visits, was none other than down town Central City. Roy had been spotted down here throwing out his propaganda.
She crossed the street, as the warm breeze clutched at her flowing skirt, and played with her long tresses. Her dainty feet skipped upon the hot cement and she stopped to let her dazzling smile fade into girlish softness. Eyes flicked down the road, and there, upon a box, stood Mr. Munin.
He looked everything like his picture, and everything that the video had displayed. Mahogany hair was feathery, snatched at random by the soft gusts of wind buffeting his body. The lower edge of his suit jacket fluttered carefree with each pass of the waft. A tie was neatly tucked beneath the buttons of the jacket, against his crisp white dress shirt. Anyone who knew Victoria, and knew the life she had lived, would not have been surprised as she stood still and watched him upon that box with a faltering gaze. He did, after all, look like one of the Suits. The hunter in her wanted to respect the man just for what he looked like, the girl...well, she could have blushed, but Vic wasn't like that.
“Mr. Munin?” she asked, fingers clasped together in-front of herself as she stopped right in front of him. “I believe you.”
Her voice was small, her eyes gleaming with youthful vigor, and she looked up at the man on his box. Other people walked by, mothers dragging children, fathers flipping the bird. Victoria stood up to him, like a beacon of hope, a timid smile showing perfect white teeth. One of her feet lifted, toe to the pavement, digging in, out of what could have been shy reaction to his gaze. “Where do I sign up?” she bit down into the plushness of her bottom lip.
![[Image: VictoriaJuly.jpg]](http://rpnexus.com/sig/miscsig/VictoriaJuly.jpg)
![[Image: ManSoldWorld.png]](http://rpnexus.com/sig/UG/ManSoldWorld.png)