Checking assets (Closed - Raogi & JA25)

Place: Cabin 5
Time: 16:30
Characters: Rawk Heuressein (JA25) Lago Isatis (Raogi)


Rawk made a brisk pace through the hallway, resolutely heading towards a certain cabin. Cabin 5. He was already well on his way into performing his duties, both as a security unit, and as something much more sinister. He had been reading the passenger backgrounds, just skipping along trying to find anything out-of-the-ordinary. And boy had he hit a jackpot. Lago Isatis, criminal record, shuffles with the grayer side of corporate business, and many other interesting things Rawk wished to have a word with him for.

On his way, he had been carefully going through all the known facts about this passenger, and all the scenarios this could lead to. Normal passengers and non-security personnel weren't allowed to carry weapons of any sort, but you could never know. If the situation got problematic, Rawk was prepared. Restraining by near-lethal appliance of force. Simple - but probably unnecessary. All he wanted to do was talk.

Finally coming to momentary standstill at the door of Cabin 5, he straightened his jacket and pressed the buzzer. He was prepared to be polite to a certain point, and persuasive to a certain degree. At the moment, he wasn't trying to look in any way imposing, but for him, not looking dangerous was kind of hard.

16:00 was always the time when Lago was making a pause. His afternoon snack. Nobody knew, because he may have been the only one to take such a pause on Lux. Back in his cabin, he was happily eating all types of sweet and sugary things. Luckily today, the work load seemed to be light, so the younger fox was hoping for his tea time to last at least a good hour.

However, at 16:30, somebody rang at his door. After finishing a whole pack of crackers, he had started to lick some lollipops. Today being a hot day on Lux, like usual, he was barechested and the crumbs were just covering all his fur down to his belt. Sighing, he stood up from his bed and went to open the door.

Opening the door, Lago flashed his best smile.

"Hello, Cabin 5 at your service, how may we be of any use for you ?"

Seeing his visitor wasn't moved at all by his cheering, he decided to counter-attack with some kind of light talk and then just go back to what mattered, in the end.

"Well, if we haven't here the merriest sunflower of all the Lux crew, I can be turned into a clown ! Who do you want to see, Sir ? May I help you ?"

Rawk managed to be exceptionally not-amused by this person. In fact, his working eye seemed to magnify into a sort of glare beam, attempting disassemble the foxes's molecular structure. Well, Rawk sighed mentally, and prepared to be wildly annoyed. Half-dressed and delightfully joking, this person did not seem like one to be put in the potential assets file. Oh well, looks can deceive.

"I am lieutenant Rawk Heuressein, and I wish to talk to you in private. May I come in?"

His deep voice and menacing size did not make him seem all that friendly. But he was doing a remarkable job at not being visibly pestered by the lightheartedness offered by this Lago. And as he saw fit, he decided to make his case a bit stronger.

"You are Lago Isatis, repairman, is this correct?"

Blunt as usual, Rawk wasted no time in getting to it. Mentally tearing into the vulpine in front of him in this case.

As Rawk asked to enter in the cabin with a strong tone, Lago put back the lollipop in his mouth and invited him to do so with the usual smile and a slight movement of his paw. But as soon as Rawk entered, the fox made a sign with his hand to stop the wolf, with a very serious face.

"Yes, this is correct... and you'll have to wait a bit... If I let you enter in this dirty mess, little old foxy me will get his ass handled by his boss ! Uno momento, Lieutenant Rawk Heuressein !"

First, he wiped all the crumbles on his fur on the floor.
Second, he hid all the crackers and sweets in his closet.
"That... and understand that if I let all these things out, it'll take more time for a Rumpwall to eat me than for my roommates to devour my PRECIOUS treasure !"
Third, he tidied up all the cabin.
Fourth, he did the vacuuming in the whole cabin.
All that in less than a minute.

After that being done, Lago went back to his happy puppy face, and put back the top of his overalls over his torso. He had sensed that the wolf wasn't here to talk anything light or happy, but it was his duty to keep as cheerful as possible and to not let those people eat him back in their dark world.

"So, as you asked, Lieutenant Rawk Heuressein, I am Lago Isatis, Repairman in the Engine Department and in the air conditioning systems ! Let me guess, seeing your grumpy face, I can only imagine you came right here for me to take a look at your air duct and repair your cabin system ! My advice : first, take a lollipop while I go prepare you some tea and my tools, and we'll go right away to take care of this mess !"

Rawk sighed. Deeply. This kind of a thing was just the reason he hated civilian employment. No, Rawk wasn't here to beg help with any electrical systems, nor was he here to make pleasurable chit chat. HE was here to make sure that things will remain in line. Maybe he ought to remind this 'Lago' about the darker shades of life.

"No, my face is grumpy, because it got hit by small-arms fire. But besides that, I am not here on any friendly business, instead, I am here to ask questions."

Rawk's face somehow managed to look even less amused.

"And you are here to answer them, by law, or face incarceration."

He looked at his new 'friend' for a moment and decided to simplify his last statement.

"Meaning that you can be imprisoned."

After this Rawk simply leaned slightly closer to the fox's face, and tried to tear a hole in it with his stare. He would get all the time in the world to answer. There was one way out of this room, and he was standing in it. All 191cm of him. Not looking entirely huggable. Rawk had time.

Well... lost cause... The smile that always shined upon Lago's face disappeared. It hadn't happened in a long time, but the fox sure would have loved that time to never come back. Not like he wasn't expecting anybody to come and bug him about such things, the higher ups always came back to him from time to time. Weirdly enough, today wasn't one of the usual watchdog, coming to take him to the special quarters.

"Guess we're gonna have to play with your rules. Too bad, I wasn't expecting my sunshine to be killed that early today..."

That said, Lago crushed the lollipop violently between his teeth, and put the stick in the bin. A kinda melancholic smile was sticking on his face

"I never said I would never answer your questions, Lieutenant Rawk Heuressein. And since you seem quite eager to make me talk about a few things, I'll try to answer your questions as truthfully as you want so. Not like I have anything to be scared of or to hide."

The fox then stopped staring at the wolf and turned back to the kitchen.

"May you take a sit. I doubt this discussion will be long or anything, but talking uncomfortable things is better done sitting. I'll go make some black strong coffee. If you want some, you're welcome. Just tell me and I'll get you a cup."

As he was about to enter the kitchen, he stopped and turned back.

"I'll let the door opened, so we can discuss the matter while I make the coffee if you are in a hurry."

Rawk grudginly sat down. This was getting quite bothersome. He wanted to tear into the dirty details. He just wanted to make due with his inhispitable bussines and leave. He did not, in any form or shape, wan't to exchange pleasantries. And therefore he looked expectionally un-approachable. His glare-beam-stare invaded the surroundings with a look that could boil a rock.

"No thanks."

Rawk's response was as stoic as he was. Calm and controlled, smooth and cold much like the metal keeping his body together. He did not want any pleasentries.

"Let's cut to the point. You have a history, Lago Isatis, and we are quite interested in individuals with histories. As to the point, we are notably more interested in histories like yours, Mr Isatis."

At this point his deep voice was growling in a manner not unlike a man demanding attention with a deep, growly voice. And his face was full oh exhilarating nothingness.

"My first question is: can you tell me your history. A simple summary of your life. Truthfully, please. I do know a lot about you, via the security files, I simply don't trust a machine to make my impressions on people. Now begin."

His last breath echoed out with a great demand. But with some surprising sympathy.

Today's customer was extremely unfriendly. Once in a while, it happened. Today would be a bad day, nothing to discuss about it. As he was preparing the machine, the water and the coffee, Lago did his best to listen to what that lieutenant had to tell him. His tone wasn't pleasant at all, and the further it went, the more the fox would have wished that guy never came in. As he felt pity in the tone of the voice, it set his teeth on the edge. He just calmed down, and went as precisely as possible about what his past was.

"Left to an orphanage as soon as I was born. Was adopted by Demo Corporation as young as eight. Been place under military training as soon as adoption was confirmed. Started making all the dirty work for them as young as 17. Racketeering, malicious acts, blackmail, bodyguard, murder and escaping were my jobs. Doing that job was against my strong values, so I tried to quit at 25. Been hiding for a whole year God only knows where. Got on Lux last year, as a technician."

Coffee was ready, he poured the black liquid in his mug. Her eyes were lifeless and he nearly let the mug fall from his hands. He sighed a bit, came back to the main room, and sat in front of the lieutenant. Looking at his coffee, not at the wolf, he just kept as professional as he could be.

"There are 3 things I want you to know, Lieutenant Heuressein. First, I don't want any kind of pity. My life isn't some sob story, and even if I regret what I did in the past, I take on the entire responsibility of my own acts. Meaning threatening me or pitying me are options which will yield you very few result."

He took a sip from his mug. His voice was calm, nearly absent-minded, but his argument was clear enough for the wolf to understand his conditions.

"Second, the higher ups already have their eyes on me. Just make sure you aren't treading on their toes. They can be nasty when they are annoyed."

The fox kept looking at his reflection in the coffee. That discussion was so pointless. Repeating himself time after time after time after...

"Third, I refuse to ever kill again. Or to work for the Patrol Unit. I'm a technician now, and I don't mind being treated as the lowest of scum if it prevents me from wielding a gun ever again. I'll never kill again. I'll never be the bastard I used to be again. Try to force me to do so, and I'll disappear like I did with Demo Corp. Vanishing isn't a problem. Breaking my happy life may be one."

Rawk looked the fox deep in the eye. Did he say his terms to maintain a separation, or for personal reason? This was beyond Rawk, and he actually cared very little. The next thing on hus mind was far different. He could see the look of a killer in Lago's eyes, and his emotion towards him was sympathy, not pity. A mistake he would be glad to correct.

"I accept your terms, altough I do so mire out of kindness than necessity. And beyond that, do not mistake sympathy for pity, for I understand your feelings."

After this Rawk's face softened a bit.

"I have served in battle for long enough to know the feeling of a killers responsbility. "

Rawk was not here to make enemies, but to make sure Lago wasn't a threat. It was most definitely starting to look like there was no need to worry. He looked away from Lago, as if he was string of into history, to his memories.

"You can speak to me freely, this is of the record. I am asking these questions as a concerned individual, not as a grumpy officer. So please, tell me next about your current situation."

Rawk acted in a rational manner, but his mood changed like a machine, from a softspolen veteran to strict officer and back again. It was slightly threatening.

Yeah, whatever you said, man. You were only listening to what interested you, Lago thought, I could feel it from the sound of your voice. The wolf took another sip of coffee. Blah, it was really strong and black... but definitely fitting his mood.

"Lieutenant, if I dare correct you, YOU don't understand my feelings so far. You're a hero : you killed in the name of your army, your country, or maybe even your planet... I'm a killer, as plain as that. A hitman. I killed people to make money. And seeing the amounts I made, I can't even say it was just to get food or a place... I killed because it was natural for me to kill. We aren't of the same species, I'm not as noble as you."

The vulpine looked a bit at the wolf, his ears down to the side, his tail laying lifelessly on the ground. An officer. Just another fucking stupid officer. A I-know-it-all guy. Lago couldn't decipher what were his real intentions, but the more they talked, the less he felt secure.

"Current situation ? You know it all. I'm a run-away from Demo Corp. My head must be quite pricy at the moment. I'm lucky enough to not have been attacked yet by bounty hunters. Lux is my key to a new peaceful life. Well, as peaceful as the redemption road can be. Just your nerdy techinician you love to see when you have a problem and you just don't care about when the problem disappeared."

He stood up in front of Rawk and just showed himself.

"Do I really look like I'm a psychopath running loose on Lux ? Or somebody stupid enough to claim all high I used to be able to kill 10 guys in less than one minute ? Nah, I'm just your fluffy fox you like to make fun of. So, as much as I love to answer your questions, I'll make myself clear : why are you interrogating me ? State your goals as clearly as possible."

Without realizing it, Lago was reverting a bit to his old self.

Rawk raised an eyebrow at this display. He decided instantly to play along, if just to find out more. Altough, the fox might need a lesson in manners, but that propably wasn't Rawk's place to intervene. Ah well. But Lago's words were harsh. He implied that there was something noble in killing. A hero? Lago was, in Rawk's opinion, being quite the hypocrite, calling him a hero without knowing anything about him. No matter. Onwards.

"All right. Allow me to express my apology, my intention was not hostile in any way."

After saying this, he growled in a low key manner, slightly exasperated, he did not need to do this. He could just report no findings, and be on with it. But something made him press on.

He pointed his working eye up and down Lago's body, estimating him.

"All of this aside, can you tell me how you've accustomed to this ship? How are you feeling?"

This next question was to figure out Lago's state of mind. If he was fitting in.