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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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.

A part of him is reluctant to leave the boy out all on his own, but he knows he must follow through with the orders. It was the only thing that mattered to him, some kind of purpose in his renewed life.

"...yes, sir."

Over time, he'll forget why it was so important, or what he was even working towards, but he follows through nonetheless, walking forward without another word and watching his surroundings with dull, lifeless eyes. It wouldn't take much to get to where he needed, so long as he wouldn't face... trouble along the way.

Two more guards stood by the hangar, alerted by the odd sight for just a moment, approaching the Lombax. As one reaches for the helmet, the butt of his blaster comes down on the side of the creature's head, then roundabouts to the other, managing to knock the both of them unconscious and dragging their bodies aside. A perfect shot from the blaster could easily kill them both, sure, but the blast itself would make too much of a noise. There would be no telling just how many were staffed here, and Naoi was still out there, only guarded by those he had ensnared.

He approaches the lock, mindlessly typing away at the keys until he deciphers the unlocking sequence, steam hissing from the large, steel door as it twists open. Numerous ships were docked inside, but only some were large enough to transport an extraordinary quantity of people. He would see what his next instruction would be, before making the next move.

Edited 2013-08-08 06:50 (UTC)

Naoi waited for some time, before he started to wonder if the General found what he was looking for. He couldn't really tell what was going on over there, so he decided to check up on him with a question-order: "... if you've found a ship, take it out. You should be safe as long as you keep on that armor."

In the meantime, Naoi took the opportunity to relieve the guards of their weapons. He wasn't sure how they worked, but they might prove useful.

Well, that was certainly all he'd needed.

There weren't any specifications on a ship, so the General started moving to the most accessible one, managing to get inside with ease and flipping a button to open the hangar doors. There was no hesitation in his actions, no questioning to its reasoning. He simply moved automatically, still in that strange oversized armour that he had quickly forgotten he was even wearing.

The ship started up and floated out of the hangar, hovering in midair over the small group as the platform came down, awaiting its recipient. The guards could come, or stay. He didn't care.

Naoi stepped back, watching the ship emerge, before running off to board it, the guards he hypnotized, who had just returned, falling asleep after they return from the building, joining the others on the ground.

"Let's leave this place to somewhere we won't be seen for a while. Fly low, but go far. Quickly please."

Naoi was starting to tire from expending his powers, so he wanted to be far enough from them to end his hold on them. It wouldn't matter if they woke up after they already left, but if they woke up before they make their get-away...

The General is feeling rather lethargic himself, but not enough to drop unconscious suddenly and crash the ship before they could even get too far. No, he's still moving, making sure the boy was inside properly before taking off in the opposite direction. There was a facility down this path, one that had nearly been forgotten about by the locals. His clouded memory only goes so far, but it's enough to know that they'll be safe.

"ETA - fifteen minutes."

Emotion is entirely drained, at this point, the Lombax staring dead ahead through the oversized helmet and not flinching once. For anyone else, it would likely be worrying. For Naoi? He's not losing this one any time soon.

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