Post by Raikotsu Sudeki on Nov 21, 2013 18:51:23 GMT -8
Rai had finally left the hospital and came home to recover in his own home. He'd feel better here. But there were still things he need to ask...
The woman from the Barker base helped him to his room she would stand there and wait for her next orders. This gave Rai a chance to ask her whatever came to mind.
"So, whats your name?"
She stared at him for a moment before speaking.
"I don't have one, I was just assigned a number."
"Hmmm. Well I would prefer to call you by a name rather than a list of numbers..."
"You may call me Apprentice, it was what my teacher called me."
"Well.. Thats not really a name-"
"It is the closest thing to a name that I can remember and it is meaningful to me, but if you wish to call me something else that is up to you."
"No if you feel strongly about it I will allow you to keep your name. But I do have other questions if you don't mind?"
Apprentice would bow.
"What do you wish to know commander?"
Rai paused at being called commander but decided to just continue.
"Do you remember anything important that you think I would find useful from when you were working for Barker?"
"Barkers Mask must be retrieved."
"Barkers MASK?!"
"Yes, he refused to use it so as to keep our work a secret from The General."
Rai thought for a moment calculating what this all could mean.
"...That man everyone calls John Strike? The one the killed Barker. Is he the one who I heard in my head?"
"Yes. John Strike's mask was made by the originals and given to him to command. With some augmentation to receive he is able to command the entire army."
""Do you know how I can learn to block him out? Or at least to shield my thoughts from him?"
"I do not."
"Hmm... I can worry bout that later, but back to Barker, if we found his body is there a way to collect his mask?"
"I do not know. There is a finite amount of Masks that can be created to my understanding. The General is the only one who can reclaim them."
"So then how am I to retrieve it?!"
"The man with one arm had the body. If he is an ally, he is in danger."
"Well Mathew is quite capable and can take care of himself."
She'd stare.
"He was standing toe to toe with Barker. The General considered Barker barely strong enough to hold a mask."
"Hmmm... Is there a way I could talk to Strike myself?"
"..."
More pausing.
"With the mask."
The decisions was made.
"Alright then... let see what happens."
Rai put on his mask and attempted to speak with Strike.
"Hmm? What? Who is that? Ohhhhh... The Sudeki boy. Hello."
Rai was shocked it actually worked but then fought through it and continued on.
"How do you know who I am?"
"Your mind. Simply had to ask it and it replied."
"Hmmm, Interesting. Do these masks have any limits?"
"A couple."
Rai would feel a distinct troll face in his mind.
This guy was obviously a dick... reminded him of Leon.
"Like?"
"Each mask is different."
"Makes sense. So I had a question for you. I've been informed that you might want Barkers mask back? Yes."
"Yes. I'll be collecting it soon."
"Why do you want it?"
""Because there are only so many."
"Could I get it?"
"You have one."
"True but my mask, like the others, came from one creature which begs the question why can't any of us have multiple masks?"
"Because that creature happens."
"What if I learned to control them one at a time? Teach my body to adapt to each one to continue onto the next, that way my body is rushing to shut them all out?"
"It literally rips the body apart and turns it to mush."
"Alright thats fine then. But is there a way to remove Barkers mask WITHOUT putting my master in harm?"
"As long as he doesn't resist."
"Well you see... My master is very much... Yeah he's going to resist. Can you show me how to remove his mask and I can give it to you. You can read my mind you know I'm being ernest right now."
"No. But you could retrieve Barker's head for me. It should only take one more turn to pop it off."
"I can do that but would you be willing to teach me something new about my mask in exchange?"
"Depends. Why do you want to know more about it? Everyone else is pretty content with trying to resist using it."
"Well depending on who you ask its because I'm stupid and don't think about the consequences, or because I'm smart enough to realize these masks are only dangerous if we continue to be ignorant of them."
"Ah. Thats understandable, so what do you wish to do with it?"
Rai can begin to feel the strain of the mask.
"I wish to become stronger."
Rai struggled to keep the mask as long as he could.
"We'll see. Get the head, you have twenty four hours."
"As you wish."
Then the mask dissipated and Rai started breathing heavily from the strain. After a few moments of catching his breath Rai would turn and look at Apprentice.
"Alright. I need a favor..."
The woman from the Barker base helped him to his room she would stand there and wait for her next orders. This gave Rai a chance to ask her whatever came to mind.
"So, whats your name?"
She stared at him for a moment before speaking.
"I don't have one, I was just assigned a number."
"Hmmm. Well I would prefer to call you by a name rather than a list of numbers..."
"You may call me Apprentice, it was what my teacher called me."
"Well.. Thats not really a name-"
"It is the closest thing to a name that I can remember and it is meaningful to me, but if you wish to call me something else that is up to you."
"No if you feel strongly about it I will allow you to keep your name. But I do have other questions if you don't mind?"
Apprentice would bow.
"What do you wish to know commander?"
Rai paused at being called commander but decided to just continue.
"Do you remember anything important that you think I would find useful from when you were working for Barker?"
"Barkers Mask must be retrieved."
"Barkers MASK?!"
"Yes, he refused to use it so as to keep our work a secret from The General."
Rai thought for a moment calculating what this all could mean.
"...That man everyone calls John Strike? The one the killed Barker. Is he the one who I heard in my head?"
"Yes. John Strike's mask was made by the originals and given to him to command. With some augmentation to receive he is able to command the entire army."
""Do you know how I can learn to block him out? Or at least to shield my thoughts from him?"
"I do not."
"Hmm... I can worry bout that later, but back to Barker, if we found his body is there a way to collect his mask?"
"I do not know. There is a finite amount of Masks that can be created to my understanding. The General is the only one who can reclaim them."
"So then how am I to retrieve it?!"
"The man with one arm had the body. If he is an ally, he is in danger."
"Well Mathew is quite capable and can take care of himself."
She'd stare.
"He was standing toe to toe with Barker. The General considered Barker barely strong enough to hold a mask."
"Hmmm... Is there a way I could talk to Strike myself?"
"..."
More pausing.
"With the mask."
The decisions was made.
"Alright then... let see what happens."
Rai put on his mask and attempted to speak with Strike.
"Hmm? What? Who is that? Ohhhhh... The Sudeki boy. Hello."
Rai was shocked it actually worked but then fought through it and continued on.
"How do you know who I am?"
"Your mind. Simply had to ask it and it replied."
"Hmmm, Interesting. Do these masks have any limits?"
"A couple."
Rai would feel a distinct troll face in his mind.
This guy was obviously a dick... reminded him of Leon.
"Like?"
"Each mask is different."
"Makes sense. So I had a question for you. I've been informed that you might want Barkers mask back? Yes."
"Yes. I'll be collecting it soon."
"Why do you want it?"
""Because there are only so many."
"Could I get it?"
"You have one."
"True but my mask, like the others, came from one creature which begs the question why can't any of us have multiple masks?"
"Because that creature happens."
"What if I learned to control them one at a time? Teach my body to adapt to each one to continue onto the next, that way my body is rushing to shut them all out?"
"It literally rips the body apart and turns it to mush."
"Alright thats fine then. But is there a way to remove Barkers mask WITHOUT putting my master in harm?"
"As long as he doesn't resist."
"Well you see... My master is very much... Yeah he's going to resist. Can you show me how to remove his mask and I can give it to you. You can read my mind you know I'm being ernest right now."
"No. But you could retrieve Barker's head for me. It should only take one more turn to pop it off."
"I can do that but would you be willing to teach me something new about my mask in exchange?"
"Depends. Why do you want to know more about it? Everyone else is pretty content with trying to resist using it."
"Well depending on who you ask its because I'm stupid and don't think about the consequences, or because I'm smart enough to realize these masks are only dangerous if we continue to be ignorant of them."
"Ah. Thats understandable, so what do you wish to do with it?"
Rai can begin to feel the strain of the mask.
"I wish to become stronger."
Rai struggled to keep the mask as long as he could.
"We'll see. Get the head, you have twenty four hours."
"As you wish."
Then the mask dissipated and Rai started breathing heavily from the strain. After a few moments of catching his breath Rai would turn and look at Apprentice.
"Alright. I need a favor..."