[Closed] For a friend

[theonewhodied]

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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[theonewhodied]

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.

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

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!

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

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.

[double_edged]

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?

[theonewhodied]

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.

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

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."

[double_edged]

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?

[theonewhodied]

"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.

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

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.

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

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...

[double_edged]

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.

[theonewhodied]

Good, because as soon as they start making way towards the abandoned facility, Naoi lets the rest go. Just this one, his one-man army, is all he needs to keep and it would appear the old Lombax hasn't any interest in escaping his current position.

He'll keep it up until they get there. Fifteen minutes isn't a terribly long time, he only needs to focus for that long.

"... you have a destination in mind?" he asked, a bit quietly from his seat.

He was making an attempt at small talk, which wasn't what he'd normally do with someone he's hypnotized, but he needed something to keep himself going. Powers and skill aside, he was still merely a boy.

[double_edged]

It's certainly not that he doesn't want to talk to you, Naoi. It's just that he can't seem to think for himself enough to instigate any conversation. The Lombax focuses mainly on his goal, flying low and keeping away from the prying eyes of any straggling guards that may have spotted them. But the boy's voice eventually comes and he responds without a beat, straight to the point.

"There is a weapon facility deep within the woods. It is vacant, and we will not be spotted." For the most part. If they did somehow track them down, the General would be quick to do whatever it took to protect the boy from harm. He wasn't sure why, just that... he had to.

"You will not be harmed."

He's quiet after that, mind phasing out of the conversation to focus on piloting the aircraft once more.

[theonewhodied]

"That'll do... that'll do.

"And I know, because you'll be there," he finished simply.

He didn't need a conversation. He wasn't looking for company. He didn't care. All Naoi really needed was a good distraction, maybe some reassurance, because he felt entirely drained.

The trip will proceed without incident. It's almost too easy of an escape...

Which it was, as just as he reaches his destination, Naoi's influence will depart from the General's mind, with the break of Naoi's concentration and middling loss of his consciousness, leaving him to his own thoughts once more.

[double_edged]

Just as Naoi's consciousness seems to depart, the General's slowly seeps back into focus, hazed eyes blinking once, then a few more times as he stares down at his own gloved hands. His mind is still in a tailspin, realizing that he was, in fact, piloting some sort of craft without any clue as to where he could have been going. It's odd... but something the Lombax quickly corrects as he begins to steer the craft around again. Completely disoriented, he rubs at his eyes-- only to realize he was wearing a strange helmet of some sort.

Which was quickly discarded. Orvus... what was he even doing? Perhaps he needed to find a place to land, sleep all of this off.

But just what was 'this'? He remembered coming back to life, speaking with someone... his body would clearly need some more time to adjust to the change. Constant spells like this were dangerous; not that he minded danger, but he would prefer to be aware of it, first-off.

"This is certainly an interesting situation." It comes as a mumble, the Lombax moving to rub at his eyes again. It almost felt like he had been... sleeping, somehow. Sleepwalking?

He'll go with that.

[theonewhodied]

The mumbling rouses Naoi, who blinks groggily awake, before his eyes snap wide open in fear of his sudden realization that the hypnosis wore off.

He needed to calm himself, but it only got as far as making his expression look decidedly less reminiscent of a deer caught in headlights. "... sir? How far to the weapons facility?"

Assuming that remains their destination.

Just testing the waters now. He'd have to re-establish eye contact for this to work again, but he's not just going to come over and turn his head, that wouldn't go over very easily.

[double_edged]

...oh. Oh there was someone else here? Hunh.

The General's mind is very sluggish to catch up, taking a moment to even formulate a response to that question and starting to rub at his head now with a few more disconnected mumbles. "Weapons...? No. Heading home. I don't think I'm fit to be driving much, boy." Not to mention why he was transporting this boy in the first place.

"Orvus-- ...sorry."

[theonewhodied]

"Pardon?" Orvus, really? Who was that?

No matter. If he were still confused, it might do him well to hypnotize him before he's too aware of what's going on.

"Let me help you with that," Naoi said as he stood up, striding over to remove the helmet. "You won't be needing this here...."

An excuse to get close enough to the General to allow him to see his eyes, as well subtly trying to put him in a suggestive state again: it was promises of help that reeled him in the first time.

[double_edged]

Ahh, yes. It was something to do with the odd helmet, he'd assumed. Taking it off may lessen the headache, though his current position was more baffling than anything else. How did he get here, and why?

"Thank you." His vision was still slightly blurred, and as much as he hated to, the General almost felt compelled to ask the boy to pilot the craft for him, while he rested. That, or manage to set it on autopilot for the time being. Something that could allow him to recover momentarily, and get things back on track.

"--what... was I doing, anyway? I can't remember the past few hours."

[theonewhodied]

Switching it to autopilot would be best, Naoi had no qualifications to fly anything.

"... you were assisting me," Naoi responded. "As forward payment for my half of our deal. You must be tired, working so single-mindedly towards your goal... you've lost sight of the present, but don't worry. Soon, you'll have your reunion to look forward to."

He was speaking softly, almost soothingly. If he would stay calm and look him in the eye, he could have him again.