trans_9 | Watching The World Go By [Open]

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Watching The World Go By [Open]

Nova had heard everything she'd needed to hear. As it was, she didn't have much of an opinion of it. If it was all true, then she'd do what she needed to and kill these Ohm or whatever the hell they were. If it was a lie, well, it wasn't as if her current situation was much worse than the on she'd been in before she got here. Hunted by the Terran Dominion for the information she possessed, not to mention her desertion from the ranks. But if it was all lie, she'd play along until it looked like she would get hurt, then the first person who tried would see that she wasn't a helpless little girl.

She stood at one of the large windows of the obs deck, staring out at the Bleed, or whatever it was that Stacy traveled through, as it flashed past. Dressed in a flowy sundress, she stood straight, hands clasped behind her back as she watched the myriad of colors flash by. The Ghost realized that her choice of outfit wasn't the most practical, but she'd spent the last few months confined to her Hostile Environment suit, hiding and running from agents sent to recover her. It was high time she rewarded herself with some real clothes. True, the dress was something recovered from an alien planet, a hand-me-down if you would, but she didn't care. It felt good against her skin, light and airy. It was a good feeling after months trapped in her clinging bodysuit.

Turning from the window, she leaned against a nearby wall, arms crossed under her chest as she watched the various people filing in and out of the room. So many different people. Different species. Shutting her eyes a moment, she released the tight rein of control she usually held her psionics in check by, letting her mind wander over the thoughts of the nearby crew. Dancing lightly over the surface. The thoughts, the emotions she caught through her short moment of freedom, made her smile slightly before she exerted her control again. Opening her eyes, she focused on the people around the room, trying to determine which thoughts belonged to who.

There. That must have been the man who hated this ship with a passion. And there, that girl was the one who wondered if the boy she liked would ever see her the same way. There, the boy who liked the woman but didn't know yet himself. And there, that man seemed to be one of the ones in charge. She let her eyes wander, assigning the individual thoughts to their possible owners. It had been a long time since she'd had time to simply relax and think.

It felt good. Catching a stray thought - someone watching her? - she tilted her head in their direction, fixing them with an almost teasing gaze from her piercing green eyes. The look seemed to say 'I don't bite.'

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Tony was happy. He had real clothes now. A pair of jeans, a t-shirt - he was set. Not to mention shoes. Lovely, wonderful shoes. No socks, but you used what you had. He wiggled his toes with a content sigh as he slid into the obs deck. He glanced around, eyes falling on the woman he'd spoken to briefly during the meet and greet. He was considering saying something when she suddenly turned to look right him. He blinked, slightly unnerved and wandered over, hands in his pockets. He nodded to her, "Hey. You fittin' in alright?"

Tilting her head more in his direction, she laughed quietly under her breath. She recognised theman from their brief conversation during the 'podpop.' He seemed to be alright sort. Returning his polite nod, she flashed him an easy smile. "I seem to be. To be truthful, this isn't too much of a change from the way things were back home."

"What? Fightin' an unstoppable group of unnatural gribblies? Welcome to the club," he offered a fist-pound, "Tony Vasquez, but you can also call me Plays-in-Traffic. Philodox of th' Garou Nation and member of the Bone Gnawer Tribe."

Her lips curved up in wide smile and she laughed, brushing her hair back behind her ear. "Yes, I suppose that's one way to put it." When he offered the fist pound though, her eyes lowered to the hand before raising back to his face, one fine eyebrow arching upward. What was she supposed to do with that? "Nova. You can call me Nova. Soldier."

Sure she wasn't exactly a soldier anymore. But well, small details right? She didn't feel like revealing the extent of her profession to someone she'd just met.

Tony blinked, leaving the hand extended, "C'mon man, pound it. Don't leave me hanging like this."

Stupid cultural differences.

Still, he continues, leaving the hand extended for her for a few more seconds, "Nice t'meet you Nova. Guess I kinda count as a soldier too, though I'm more of a warrior then anythin' else. I mean, we gotta lotta soldiers here, so I'm sure you'll fit right in. One way or another."

Her eyebrow stayed raised before she shrugged and brought her fist down quickly on top of his. That was what he'd wanted right? She'd seen a few of the Marines do that from time to time. Though she'd never really understood the gesture herself.

"I'm sure I will." And that seemed to be all she wanted to say on that subject. There was a long pause as she ignored him and went back to staring out the window, before she turned her attention back to him with a questioning glance. "I take it you've been on the ship for awhile?"

Tony sighed and then shrugged, "Close 'nough."

He pulled his hand back with a small grin, although it faltered slightly when she went back to staring out the window. Sheesh. Try to be friendly wit hsome people. The question brought him back, though.

"Me? A coupla months. Maybe longer. It's hard to tell how much time passes on th' ship. The days kinda blend together, you know?"

If Nova were looking through thoughts, she would recognize Alessa's fairly quickly, although Alessa herself wouldn't be seen until she was right in front of the woman. It was part of her power, to appear only when she wanted to be seen. As for the thoughts, they were bound to be pretty nasty: monsters with huge, gaping maws, blood pooling the grounds with limbs scattered about, and of course Alessa, the true Alessa, burning to death at the hands of those fanatics. The only really quiet, reserved thoughts were that of a rather stoic looking girls: one with glasses and quiet power, the other was taller and far more grim. Only one other quiet character popped up: a rather charismatic looking black hedgehog.

When Alessa turned to Nova, she saw her clearly: Alessa may have been in her human guise, but to those humans that had the eyes to see beyond, they would see the the true face of the demon girl.

The two stared at each other, Alessa more so at the dress than anything. She had not left Silent Hill in a very long time, and here most people wore the plantsuit out of necessity. Alessa, therefore, had never seen a dress in this manner, short but pretty, and the girl stared in a rather bothersome fashion.

"Hello," she finally said, after staring a good minute. "Who are you?"

Nova had caught the thoughts, not sparing more than moment for an eyebrow raise. Either this person had lived a life as gruesome as her own, or they had an exceedingly overactive imagination. Either way, the Ghost couldn't say she'd ever felt something quite as malicious before. At least, not apart from the minds of the Zerg. The hedgehog threw her for a loop. It didn't seem to fit in with the other images, the other feelings she'd caught from this person. But she didn't think to much of it. As her eyes scanned the room, she tried to place the thoughts, but they didn't seem to fit any of the occupants. Hmm. Someone she couldn't see? Interesting.

Nova, for all her gifts, saw nothing when she looked at Alessa but a little girl. The underlying power, and malice though, was something she couldn't fail to pick up on. She'd found the owner of those thoughts it seemed.

Noting the girl's stare, Nova raised a brow. Sure this person was more than they appeared, but if Nova was intimidated, she hid it well. She didn't speak until Alessa broke the silence.

"Hello." The brow stayed raised. "My name is Nova. And yours?"

"You may call me Alessa," the little girl replied. "I don't think I've met a being like you before. You seem to be almost a whisper in comparison with the rest of the people on the ship. I'm curious as to why that is."

Alessa was not one to be shy about her business, or her aims. When she wanted something, and fairly quickly, she went to the heart of the matter. When it came to something that would take time to obtain, she waited. She was a demon after all...it wasn't as if she weren't already used to that.

(http://img686.imageshack.us/i/stare.png/)

"Alessa then." She noted the arch tone. There was something that assured this girl that she was superior. "A whisper? Well, in what I do, being unobtrusive is a skill that's highly valued." Okay so that was a vague answer. But really, she wasn't about to be telling a strange little girl that she was an assassin for hire.

She'd met people who were direct before of course. Serving in the army, serving in the predominantly male army, she'd dealt with all manner of human beings. Hell, with her abilities, she'd had to deal with everything they'd said and everything they didn't.

"In what you do?" Well, that was new. What exactly did this woman do? Maybe she would tell her if she simply asked."What exactly is it that you do?" It would be too hard to try and figure it out if she wasn't some kind of supernatural creature. There was already something about this woman that Alessa was trying to figure out, because if she didn't know better, this "Nova" was doing what she was doing: people watching.

"Whatever you do, it has something to do with staying inconspicuous. Can you...can you hear these people?"

"Yes." When Alessa asked the question, Nova tilted her head to the side, piercing green eyes watching her carefully for a long while before she decided on an answer. However, she wasn't about to speak it out loud, and she was sure the girl wouldn't be altogether too surprised by a voice in her head. So it was that Alessa would hear the woman's voice, though it was obvious her lips weren't moving.

I kill people. She was people watching. It was a good way to pass the time. And it let her take stock of her situation. If any of these people became threats, she'd know how to neutralize them.

There was a pause before her mental 'voice' spoke again. And I suppose this answers your second question as well. But yes, I can hear them.

Ah was the reply Nova heard in her mind. A person that knows how to tap into their mind potential. Thank goodness, using words can be so tiring. So you kill people. What sort of people do you kill? You see, I also kill people: I slay the righteous and destroy the last parts of hope a human might have if they wander into my domain. But it was a thing I was made to do.

She stared into the green eyes with her own curious, intelligent ones. You watch them, like I do. What do you think of them?

It's more a curse I was born with and seem to have learned some measure of control over. I know what you mean. People lie with their words. Thoughts are much harder to lie with. All kinds of people, if the price is right. Political targets, terrorists, women, children, businessmen, families. Whoever I'm hired to. She shrugged, her eyes never leaving the girl's. I do what I need to do to survive.

At the question, Nova broke into a slight smile. A not altogether pleasant looking expression. I doubt many of them could do what needs to be done if it came down to it. There are a few. But not many. They're too busy with their petty squabbles and individual agendas and selfishness to see past them. Each seems to have their own innate ability. But that doesn't mean a thing. When they work together, they fall apart. Their group is weak.

So you're something of a bounty hunter then. Well, that's fine. People are easier to understand if you know what it is they're capable of. So many times I have go to look deeper into people, and when I have something to do that requires more of my strength, it can be troublesome.

Here, a smile broke on the little girl's face. That's an astute observation. Personally, I think working together would help if they kept in mind that a threat that puts them all in jeopardy must be taken down with all of their help. I would not, however, underestimate petty squabbles and selfish reasoning. Even that can serve a purpose, if used in the right way.

I think I'd be termed as more of an assassin. I don't solely hunt down criminals with bounties on their heads. Oh? I think you'd have me at a disadvantage there. I don't exactly know much about you. I doubt you'll have too far to dig with me though. I get things done. Whatever it takes.

Noting the smile, Nova's own expression shifted to match. I've sensed a lot of strong personalities around. I doubt many of them could stay in such close proximity to each other without ending up at loggerheads. Tch. Men. Oh I know the uses of those things. I just find them utterly inane. There are larger matters at hand. I don't see how someone could be callous enough to place a personal desire above that. Careful Nova, your idealistic nature is showing.

An assassin with the ability to see into other people's minds. I am impressed. But I don't make it a habit of doing that with people: it tends to leave you conspicuous, at least in my case, and upsets the crew. At the moment, I'm perfectly fine staying out of their radar. They can pay attention to the malcontents that actually like being seen.

Alessa gave her version of a shrug, which was really more of a tilting her head to the side. The ways of the human being are more complicated than many think, especially when that one has been granted superhuman powers. They all believe that they have the right way of thinking, and that can be tiresome. I'm curious: with no one to outright slay, what will you do?

There went the mental equivalent of a laugh, Alessa. It wasn't something I asked for. It only makes you conspicuous if you're caught. And I'm nothing if not stealthy. Besides, for the moment, there's been no need to probe deeper than their surface thoughts. The unease is almost palpable on this ship. I doubt the civilians would have lasted long without the protection of those in 'authority' here. And why yes, she did just somehow project those quotation marks through thought-speak.

Nova smirked at the gesture. They're not really. Left to their own devices, without check and balances, people inevitably fall to their basest desires. Power corrupts. Maybe not the soul, but the mind. Those with power, their thinking is warped by it. So much so that they begin to think they possess more power than they do in reality. I've seen it time and time again. At the question, the Ghost had to pause and think for a moment. The silence was palpable. Though for any bystanders watching, it would probably have just looked like a woman and a young girl having an exceedingly long staring contest. I'll watch and wait. When the time comes that my skills are needed - and trust me, the time always comes when my skills are needed - I'll do my job. There isn't much more to it than that.

My, what a nicely brainwashed weapon you are, Nova. Even apart from your Terran Dominion handlers.

Alessa nodded. True enough, although my probing can sometimes give others a glimpse of my mind, and it isn't exactly the nicest place to be. So doing that means I have to be careful about how much I do it, and how slight my hand is. As for the unease, well, they have a nightmare god that seems to be occupying the ship, and little to no information regarding what he can do. I know, of course, and its why I've started to make preparation of my own.

Here though, Alessa returned the laugh. Believe me, you don't have to tell me how corrupt people can be. True, I would probably not go around killing children, as I set my sights on specific monsters, but as far as that goes, I am indiscriminate. Those that upset the balance of the world, those that stay vested in a power they do not deserve, they go through me. And they learn what real power is.

Alessa nodded her head. And in that case, who would be the one that hires you? These "authority" figures?

My kind were taught to shield our minds from others. It's difficult to do while actively probing into another's head, but not impossible. But being careful, specially when sifting through people's thoughts is always advisable. It's easy to get lost otherwise. I've known others who lost themselves in the thoughts of another person, lost focus, and died for it. The nightmare god, really now? And you have information on him? Care to share any of that information? Not that she really believed in gods or any kind, but if, on the off chance she had to deal with something on such an immense power level that it could be considered a 'god,' she wanted to ensure she was as prepared as could be.

The was a low chuckle through the link. It's very rarely I've been contracted to take out a child. They very rarely have anything anyone else wants or needs. Sometimes though, it's a necessity in order to get to a mark. I don't care about power, or those who wield it. Doesn't matter to me. Trading one dictator for another, calling one an emperor and the other a president. It's all bullshit. The only thing that's real is what's between your gunsights.

She got a shrug at that. For the moment I'm protecting my own interests. That is, my own survival. So I'll do what I need to in order to ensure that. I doubt any member of this crew would engage my services, and I doubt that if they did, they would have the resources to pay me. So for the moment, the only interests I'm looking out for are my own. Selfish? Maybe. But it kept her alive.

Alessa closed her eyes., It would be long to get into why she couldn't probe another person's mind: she knew better. The human mind, while barely used at its full potential, was still a very tricky place, and a demon like her simply did not have the patience for something like that. She went more by emotions in the air, body language: they were a lot easier albeit less accurate.

He is creeping, that's for certain. I have felt his presence only a little while ago. He wasn't serious, but it was enough to cause some of them discomfort, and some of those dreams got more serious than he expected. They know he is moving though: they have the Magical Department on this ship up in arms about it. But as I said, I don't put all of my eggs in one basket. Whether he is or is not a god is unimportant: any creature that calls itself that in my presence is my enemy, and if he intends to harm the crew, he is also flaunting himself in my territory. That will not stand.

She paused. I respect that, and the fact that you wish to keep yourself alive. That's the name of the game, isn't it? You can live, or eventually die. Me, I have plans for this ship.

Michael was being surprised day by day, either he was losing his touch, or people on this ship were just more perceptive then everyone else was back on earth. He usually didn't get noticed, which is what made him such a good spy. But then again, MOST of the people on this ship had some sort of super human power or another, so that would explain how so many of them could notice him.

"Well guess I've been caught," He said with a smile, "Might as well introduce myself. My name is Michael Westen. I haven't seen you around before, but then again I haven't been here that long so it's not surprising."

Flickering then gone, half-formed and garbled, more than half numbers as her thoughts and emotional patterns arced through the electronic components mazed through and around and into the portion of brain that still remained of the cyborg calling herself Motoko Kusanagi. A full-conversion cyborg was an illusive thing, even her thoughts were half machine, like hearing only one end of a phone conversation.

But she doesn't speak, and she's not looking at you, Nova. She's watching the stars and crunching reams of worthless, useless ballistics data, trying to see what you see, what her mind won't let her. Beauty.

(http://img42.imageshack.us/i/whatfh.png/)

To be quite honest, Nova had never encountered thoughts like those before. Even the minds of the Protoss were nowhere near as...staticky. She could baely get a handle on those thoughts without actively pushing inward, that intrigued her. Somehow, this person wasn't blocking her out, at least not actively, it was as if she only had... half her brain?

She turned to examine the woman. The Major looked just like anyone else. But somehow, Nova simply knew the half-thoughts were hers. She was curious.

Scientific testing had never found an adequate explanation for the feeling of being watched. There was no sensory input that defined the sensation, merely an intuitive guess, a 'gut feeling' based on half-subconscious clues manifest in vague emotive response.

That, and Nova's face was easily within the Major's peripheral vision.

"Yes?" She asked, low and seemingly unperturbed, without looking at her.

Nova knew the feeling all to well herself. Even without her telepathy, her sense had been honed through her extensive practice. So she wasn't surprised when Motoko turned to catch her gaze. The woman looked like she knew a thing or two.

At the question, she tilted her head, before shaking it slightly from side to side with a smile. "Nothing. Just trying to place you."

"We haven't met," the veneer of disdain was palpable. The Cyborg doesn't believe in psychic powers, per sé. Next thing you'll be hearing that the Loch Ness monster doesn't believe in ghosts.

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Watching The World Go By [Open]

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