featherdown | [Closed] For a friend

[Closed] For a friend

All his life, Naoi been powerless. He was human, not a particularly powerful or intimidating species as individuals. He was shorter and smaller built than most boys his age, he made up for it with learning to shoot. He had willingly forsaken his own identity, hoping to find meaning in his shallow existence, and failed. He made up for it by robbing others of their selves, if only temporarily, forcing them to play roles the way he did. There was nothing finer than the hypnosis he developed, no play thing more amusing and no weapon more powerful.

... but simply toying with people's minds and taking out the anger and rage he inherited on their bodies felt hollow and lacking.

He desired a more complete control. Individuals were no longer enough. If he could, he would love to possess a world of his own. He fancied himself a ruler, but what sad few subjects he had!

But, he was a mere boy, not an army unto himself. The strength to overcome that many at once was beyond him, even with hypnosis, he could not permanently win over so many. If he could only acquire a stronger body...

Yes, a strong body with a mind he could break down and rebuild to suit his needs!

Following that line of thought, he began searching for someone he could use...

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"No." Still quiet and calm, his voice, but now with a commanding tone, demanding of respect, despite the obvious difference in rank, size, and even age.

His grip tightens and within seconds, his eyes shift colour to a glowing red. It would appear that time has slowed to a lull, every sound aside from Naoi's voice dropping out of perception, and the world itself will fold upon itself— please, enjoy the feeling of an outside influence reaching into your mind with every intent of holding you captive, Alister.

The Lombax's mouth opens in a retort, about to physically shove the boy off-- when... it suddenly seems okay.

His gaze becomes far more intent, focused on that... lovely glow, yes. Whatever he was holding in his hands from scavenging just slips out of numbed fingers, clattering loudly to the dusty ground. But he doesn't even hear it, fixated on... that voice. Those eyes.

t he pain wwas gone

He felt wonderful.

Edited 2013-07-27 02:54 (UTC)

"You will assist me in usurping power," Naoi proceeded calmly. "You will not abandon me... you will carry out my orders, submit to me and no one else, because only I can give you what you most desire."

It was a tall order, so he half-expected the General to name a price, either now or later, should he maintain within him enough fighting spirit to still be capable of resisting his influence and worthy of the rank he claimed.

There was a time where the old General had a stronger mind, a confident demeanor, and better self-discipline. He was an esteemed Lombax, who led younger, more inexperienced Lombaxes out on the field, to deal with the Cragmite scourge so long ago. He'd watch good men fall to those horrid beasts, and more recruited to take their place. Such was war, and he'd seen plenty of it in his time.

Now? Things had fallen apart.

He was not who he once was - strict, up-kept, and formidable. No. Years of deterioration from the loss of Fastoon assisted with that. For twenty years, he had been left alone with his thoughts, taunting him again and again and again with his mistakes. He became obsessive, selfish, consumed by his one goal and throwing the entire Universe at risk in order to obtain it.

If it had been those twenty years ago, perhaps Naoi would have more of a difficult time piercing the Lombax's impenetrable mind. But times had changed, and he was far more vulnerable. Auburn eyes dull over, ears drooping slightly as he allowed those magnified words to wash over his mind. The stubbornness, the aggravation from before was gone, a deep hollowness taking its place as a low hum escaped the Lombax's throat.

"I want... him back." It's quiet and muttered, coming out automatically as if the other had specifically asked what he'd wanted. "You'll... help...?"

No.

L E A D.

Him?

Naoi's eyes narrowed in focus, toying with his psyche. Lull him into a pleasant dream, an empty promise of what shall never come to pass, at least not by Naoi's own effort: he could not revive the dead, but memories and shadows, Naoi could call upon from within the General's mind to falsify a reality of favourable reconstructions in which his friend still lives.

He will permit the illusions to take hold, however the General's influenced mind chooses to spin them, keeping his silence for now.

He will answer when the deal is sealed.

Naoi had been searching for too long to not be careful.

The silence comes and the General momentarily feels panic welling up in his chest, fearful that he had said the wrong thing, had ruined their connection. But a simple glance to behind the boy, and he spots a familiar puff of blonde fur, grinning up to the old Lombax with a hand on the boy's shoulder.

"Hey, Azimuth! The hell you been, pal?"

This was... no. It was him, but-- how? He was alive and not wounded in the slightest. He was finally okay again...

"Kaden."

He starts to step forward.

"Whoa, hey, take it easy there, buddy. Don't go and get ahead of yourself. You know what happened last time."

He--

Right. Mustn't do anything that might cause the other to vanish again. After all, that was all his fault, wasn't it?

"I don't think you answered my pal, here."

Robotically, the old Lombax trails his gaze back down to the boy below, making sure to keep eye contact and do whatever he could not to shatter this new reality. Yes... he was going to help, wasn't he? This was proof.

"I will do whatever you ask of me."

Naoi observed the proceedings, stone-faced, until the General made his vow. Only then, did he allow a smirk of satisfaction. "I can do more than simply help," he said, keeping his smile as he placed his hand on his chest. "Whatever reunion you desire, I can give to you... I promise."

When he said it, his arm trembled, fingers clutching at his jacket in a poor effort to hide the shaking. The shaking passes quickly, hardly noticeably.

"I will lend you my mind and you will lend me your body. I cannot possibly infiltrate their ranks, at least long enough to secure us a ship with what you need, with those body of mine... but you could. Keep your half of the deal—" another shiver. "And I'll keep mine."

The shaking isn't the first thing to grab the General's attention, keeping his eyes locked onto the boy's, and nothing else. Calm words washed over his consciousness, melding away the pain and frustration... and suddenly, it was all so simple.

He was a soldier. He would follow orders. He would fight when told to, protect when the time came to it.

This boy... he could bring back his family.

"Tell me... tell me what I must do. I will follow you." Emotion drains from the words the longer he remains, becoming nothing more than a hollow, mindless shell. "We can escape together."

He began to walk away, pausing only to look back briefly, smirking. "Come. And don't make yourself conspicuous, I don't want us to be taken out of the game this early."

He will lead him to the base he meant for him to infiltrate and it should become obvious why Naoi needed someone of his status and stature for this operation. All the patrol officers were clearly bigger, more powerful races than humans, if the massive armour that hid all their features was anything to judge by.

He won't get close enough to be noticed yet.

His main line of defense was nowhere to be found, but that didn't necessarily mean Azimuth was powerless. He still held an arsenal of mines and grenades, as well as physical strength from years of endurance. And even in this state of mind, he was strong, and would put that power to good use, for a good cause.

The Lombax begins to follow just as soon as the words are out of the boy's mouth, moving in a trance-like state. He wouldn't speak unless instructed to, and he certainly wouldn't want to step on anyone's toes. --well. Aside from the ones they were going to, of course. Normally, there would be a cocky remark, or he'd zip on ahead right into the action, but... the Lombax just moves obediently, not even questioning how or why he was doing it.

It was to save his family, wasn't it? That's what he was told.

So, he would believe as much.

Good. It would appear he's won himself a capable soldier in a constant, perfect state of Mushin for as long as his hypnosis lasts.

Without taking any action, he observed them on their rounds for some time.

"... you see the one standing in the corner, on the left? When I tell you to, you will take on that one. I'll have your back."

He planned to hypnotize the rest, should he need to cover for him. His guns couldn't even dent that armor.

Ahh, but he could.

Without a beat, three bombs slip from a dispenser in between the General's fingers, moving ahead of the boy to act as a shield, should they somehow be spotted. Normally, this would be his cue to strike out, cause some mayhem - but he'll wait until the perfect opportunity rises, as to not blow their cover.

But mostly, he's just protecting the boy.

Naoi blinked in surprise at how swiftly he moved to protect him, but decided (quite rightly) it was the effects of the hypnosis and the General's own training, nothing more. Nothing he hadn't seen before. It's best that he not let silly notions distract him from his mission.

He must be just as quick to think. The opportunity moment just passed, but it reoccurs at regular intervals, so it's fine to discuss until the plan is set into motion.

"Will that make a loud sound? Explain the outcome of using your weapons... I don't want to attract the attention of those situated within. There are no cameras that I know of, so if we can settle this quietly, it would be for the best."

The grenades fall back into place just as quickly as they were taken out, the Lombax keeping back for now, and focusing solely on the instruction. Perhaps a stealth kill, then? He could manage that even with what little arsenal he had.

"Their necks are exposed," the words droned out, keeping his eye on the enemy for now. "We can pick them off, one by one."

The unnatural regularity of the words was something Naoi was accustomed to hearing, so he simply nodded, as if they were nothing out of the ordinary. "Is that right? You have good eyes."

In that case...

"We'll split up, you attack from the far right, I'll attack from the far left. Be sure to take one as hostage so they won't shoot— if they shoot anyway, he'll be your shield. Take that one, he looks important."

Naoi drew a loaded pistol, switching off the safety.

Naoi said it much too casually, as though the idea were not only acceptable, but one he was entirely comfortable with.

The General's a little sluggish as he moves, but there's a quiet nod and he's already shuffling forward, the rustle of dirt already catching the attention of a nearby guard. Blaster pointed - a shout of "identify yourself!" sounding in the air - and he was moving faster, darting forward to evade the shots and grab the brute from behind after wrestling the weapon out of its clawed hands and into one of his own.

Still surprisingly strong, despite his altered state, the Lombax starts to drag his own captive towards the rest of the crowd, pointing the blaster at the guard's neck.

His captive might try to break free by throwing his weight around, but the others cease their fire when Alister disarms him. Before any could hit him from behind, where they were more hopeful of getting a clean shot, Naoi shoots from a distance, causing another disturbance and dividing their attention. He ducks away to hide, pursuing him would take time, but hey, the momentary confusion should create a good chance to take out more of them unaware!

The Lombax walks in a slow circle around the group, lightly jabbing the gun into his captive's neck to try and get him to settle down. If it stayed like this, they would have the security distracted long enought to disarm the rest of them, and make their way in. So he raises the blaster at the others, giving a monotone order for them to stand down. Surprisingly, the creatures comply, claws raised in the air and his own weapon goes back to his captive.

Who was now elbowing him in the head-- ow.

Wait... where was he...?

Hadn't he been somewhere else just now?

The haze lifts slightly from the General's face and his expression melds from hollow and vacant, to increasing confusion at the sight.

Naoi, hearing the sudden lull of inaction, peered cautiously from his hiding place. Alarm and panic rising at his realization that the General's mind was slipping from his grasp, he searched for him in the crowd with wide eyes.

What could he do to catch his attention without drawing all of theirs as well?!

He hoped he could still grab hold of him even without looking him in the eye... was there still enough of his power there to take back control?

Stop looking confused, they'll kill you where you stand.

A silent command, one that would seem voiced only within his mind. He hoped it would work.

Oh... right. Somehow, he knew he had to listen to the strange voice. That's what he had been doing before, hadn't he?

Heavy eyelids droop for a few seconds, a calming, outside force trying to drive away the confusion and muddledness. When they open again, the life has left and the blaster jabs even harder into the trooper's throat, causing him to cease in his struggling and raise his own claws in the air.

"The area is secure." The General's voice drones, back into that zombie-like state. With the guards unarmed and a captive in his grasp, the Lombax glances over to the boy to assure him it was safe to come out.

And if it still wasn't?

Well. He'd certainly deal with that, wouldn't he?

Naoi took another look around before leaving his hiding place, walking briskly over to look around appreciatively. "Well done."

"Gentlemen!"

Naoi stood before them, gesturing widely with his arms, drawing attention to himself; he was casting his net further to ensnare them as well. "You also did well. Send one to report that the issue has been resolved... as for you—" his gaze lingered on the one in the General's grasp. "I bid you a good night."

Alister won't have to prod at his neck any longer, as he'll fall lax in his arms, fast asleep.

There's an unspoken order for the General to allow the body to slip out of his arm, letting it collapse in a heap by his feet, though keeping a firm hand on the blaster in the other hand. There was no longer an immediate threat, as he watched one of the other guards begin following through with its task, so the General waited for his next instruction.

He had no care for what happened to the rest of them. Only their goal mattered, and he would do whatever it took to reach that goal. Everything else melds out into a haze and his mind goes blank, listening to the muffled conversation without taking much in. He would be patient, like a good soldier.

Naoi smirked and gave the sleeping guard a kick, aiming for the unprotected neck. It wasn't strong enough to kill, but it certainly looked painful. The guard was surely asleep, so the action served very little purpose, aside from amusing Naoi.

"Strip him of his armor. Use it to disguise yourself in order to infiltrate the place."

The reverie is quickly broken as soon as that voice comes, the Lombax's hands immediately coming to undo the various buckles and straps on the odd, complex armour. It wasn't anything he wasn't accustomed to, making quick work of the task and undoing his own soon after. Perhaps it might have been a little strange to suddenly strip himself down out here in the open, but for the moment, he wouldn't give it a second thought.

Follow the order, accomplish his goal, and keep moving. That was all that mattered.

However, he hadn't the size of the guard, as opposed to his own demeanor. The helmet sags on the Lombax's head and the jumpsuit itself is a little baggy, but it fits well enough that he can move. Go inside, hack the door and take out anyone who gets in his way. Simple enough, right?

"I trust you'll be able to find the place where the ships are located... you should be able to pass through without a problem if you try not to look too suspicious.

"By the way, you might find what you need to boost other ships if you want. Feel free to figure out what you'll do to get us a good ship, I trust your judgement on this matter."

The fog will lift from his mind once he's inside, just enough to allow him to decide what to do.

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