Catspaw Blackmarket [Open]

[zouichi]

Zouichi slipped past the human port workers, nodding politely in response to their apologies. A planet that forbade the Daligig from approaching it... how interesting. Clearly, their hosts' reach wasn't as all-encompassing as they liked to let on. There were things to do aboard the ship as well, but for now perhaps it was time to do some long-awaited searching for supplies.

Food, seeds, gadgets... and weapons. Afterward, perhaps he'd find a crew member or two to have a discreet chat with. It was now or never, now that they were finally (temporarily) out from under the ship's constant monitoring. He sent out a quick message on his Omnicomm, then made his way along a row of storefronts.

Weapons first, he decided. Then food.

Comments

[zouichi]

Zouichi shook his head. "I don't suppose you've had any bites from the Council or Command?"

When the waitress came by, Zouichi ordered a coffee, if only to avoid the inevitable glares. Unwanted attention, at this point.

"There are a few more things that turned up in that conversation. Kasna offered us his help, his support. I don't know the extent that offer would still stand if we were to shake off the Daligig, but it's something. And the fact that this planet even exists suggests people may be willing to help us under the table. Maybe we wouldn't be able to rely on that GIA High Command, but..."

He trailed off. "At any rate, he also mentioned that the GIA maintains a force of precognitives, who have had no success in predicting Ohm attacks. I'm not sure what that suggests at this point; it may be connected to the difficulties that psychics on the crew have experienced. But whatever the cause, the elders among the Rom are said to be able to see into the future. I can get you a recording of the conversation, if you'd like."

With the unspoken understanding, of course, that she be discreet in who she revealed the information to. After all, it would be a lot harder to pass her more details if people suspected he was the one feeding them to her.

[futureisclear]

"None. No responses. Nothing useful. Just silence, as always. It's maddening. Are they really incompetent or do they just act like it?" Ildraniath tapped a finger against the table in thought, lips turned down in a slight frown. After a moment, she glanced up at him.

"That sounds useful. I'd like to have that, if you don't mind."

She glanced around at the rest of the cafe. No one else from the crew was here. Or at least that she recognized.

"This whole war is one tangled mess and sorting it out is going to take quite a lot of work."

[zouichi]

Zouichi nodded. "I'll retrieve it once we get to the ship; I made a copy of it just in case."

He nursed the coffee, frowning a little as he looked into the dark liquid. "But at least now we have movement. Action. And if we do end up on the run from the Daligig, at least we have a lead or two to follow. I'd prefer if we had more of the crew to help out than less, but it's something."

[futureisclear]

"Good. I'll make one myself and hide it somewhere. Just in case."

Another thing she liked about Zouichi: he was prepared.

"Action is good. It's something. It's progress. If the rest of the crew wishes to wallow in inaction and apathy, then we are better off without them."

[zouichi]

Zouichi's smile was a little grim. "Less chance the ship will take it upon itself to rearrange our memories, I suppose. Or rather, less chance that it can rearrange them unnoticed."

In any case, talk of rebellion could wait till later, when all the would-be participants were gathered together. "You know, ever since I heard about that Kaya girl, I've been thinking on and off about that. Whether we truly are who we believe ourselves to be."

[futureisclear]

Ildraniath's lips twitched down into a severe-looking frown again.

"...that is... rather disturbing to think on. I might not even be an Eldar, if that were true. I could be anything. I could be anyone. I can only trust my own mind and believe that I am who I think I am."

She paused with a small sigh.

"...or else I might go mad."

[zouichi]

Zouichi nodded. "It is, isn't it? But I agree. We can only act to the best of our knowledge. I might not really be who I think I am, but I believe that I'm doing the right thing at this moment. Maybe that's all we can really hope for on a ship like that."

He hesitated for a moment, then added, "Also, I'd like you to know that... no matter what happens in the future, I don't regret anything."