* MayorOfTokyo clears his throat dramatically. "Well, I see the first two have arrived." * Karasu tilts it's head to look at the Mayor. "What is that -- bird?" * Keika grins from underneith her blindfold, "Seeing eye bird, he keeps me from walking into walls, much easier to use than a cane." * MayorOfTokyo shrugs his shoulders. "Looks like we have a colorful group." I woudn't know. * Kiku stands there, looking odd. with three official looking men with guns behind her. She is wearing a very nice long blue dress that goes well with her eyes, and holds a pink/purple butterfly-like plushie in her arms. You notice the Mayor is wearing a transparent covering on his head, sort of like a skullcap. It looks like clear plastic, only with circuitry burned into it. * MayorOfTokyo says "Just so nobody tries anything, I'm preotected against psionics." * Keika stands a little way away from everybody, looking just as odd if not odder than Kiku, she's rather tall, and wearing a formfitting black and white outfit. Can't forget the blue blindfold and the mechanical raven sitting on her shoulder, "I shall have to take your word for it." * Kiku smiles a little abssently and wraps her hands around the pluhie a little tighter. "You shouldn't worry, Mr. Mayor person. There are these nice guards here." * MayorOfTokyo sayd "Now then, shall we proceed or wait for the others?" * Keika shrugs, "I have nothing better to do anymore." * Kiku looks over at Keika and smiles and then twitches as she turns back to the Mayor. "Y... yes. Sure. Whatever you... say." * MayorOfTokyo says "The repairs to your captured mecha are coming along nicely. As for your acts of piracy..." I belive you said that would not be a problem if I did not continue them. That is what I am trying to ensure. As for your acts, Kiku, how would you like not to have to go back to that cell? * Karasu turns it's head so it can look at the other girl. * Kiku looks over at Keika with a little shock, then turns to the Mayor and says, "It... isn't a bad cell." Her head straightens up, as opposed to lolling a little. "But I... don't have to be there anymore?" Now all this is absolutely top secret. The public won;t mind the mecha being about but their knowing two notorious criminals will be piloting them may cause political problems for me. Nonetheless, I am willing to offer full pardon for alkl past offenses if you agree to defend this city. * MayorOfTokyo hands each of you a perfectly-calligraphed paper. Make Mind rolls. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Keika (2d6) and gets 5. * Kiku gapes. "You mean like Haguro, the super-moth?" She picks up her moth and shakes it at him, and then suddenly has to juggle the paper and the moth. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Kiku (2d6) and gets 6. (yes) (Yep.) * Karasu makes a chirping noise as Keika holds out her hand. What am I to do with this? You both see that the paper contains a full and complete pardon for all past offenses, as well as orders for a transsfer from polkcie custody to military outpost on the outskirts of Tokyo. * Keika holds it up for the bird to read, there's a faint buzzing noise which might or might not be the bird reading the paper. That's an impressive bird! * Kiku looks at the paper carefully and says, with a hint of lucidity. "Pardon? For my offenses? I thought I was gonna do something?" Yes, it's nearly worth all the trouble I went through to get it. * Karasu squacks indignantly. That's all in the past. The point is we need your unqiue talents now to save the city. Your tasks will be to rpotect this city by piloting your various mecha against the enemy. I will go into more detail when the rest of your group arrives. Of course. * Kiku 's hands ruffle the paper, as if she's stresed. "Need us... for the mecha. Right." She accidentally drops her plush, which causes her to squeak and pick it up and hold it tight. A doctor walks up and takesn out a needle. * Keika flinches slightly at the squeak, unsettling her bird. The docotr says "Do you need a tranquilizer, Kiku?" * Keika turns around slowly so she's facing Kiku and her doctor. I don't think that will be requied, doctor. Kiku should be able to calm down on her own. The doctor puts away the needle and retreats into the background. * Kiku twitches again with the paper, and turns towards the doctor, but he's gone before she can say anything. * Kiku whips her head back to the mayor, and almost seems to tears. "Why no tranquilizer, Mr. Mayor?" * Keika turns around again while her bird vainly tries to watch both Kiku and the Mayor at the same time. Because you;re coming off some pretty heavy drugs. A tranquilizier will only slow down the neccesary withdrawl process. I believe the term they used to use was "cold turkey"? * Keika shakes her head, "Children these days..." Yes, i've read both your files very throuroughly. And I am the last one who will read them, because theyv are about to be deleted. From now on the two of you will have new identities as members of the JSDF Special Forces. You'll draw nice salaries, have room and board provided, and have eveyr amenity. * Karasu gives up on watching the mayor and now has both eyes on Kiku and her doctors. * Kiku blinks a few more times, obviously slow on the uptake. "But..." she starts to look at him and it seems a little angry. "It makes me feel good. Can't I feel good anymore?" You'll find different ways to feel good, I'm sure, that will be far better than any drug can give you. * Keika grins, "And if that fails, I'm sure that we get paid more than enough to cover your habit." When is the last time you;ve enjoyed the taste of ice cream? * Kiku suddenly twitches again, sort-of a full body shiver. "But... I..." She suddenly looks over at Keika. "You can buy it? Really?" * MayorOfTokyo frowns. "That's not funny, keia. Kiku did not choose to be put on those drugs." No you can't. You were on a special compund only the government has access to, designed to supress psionic powers. * Keika shrugs, "If you know where to look and are willing to pay enough for it, there is little that cannot be bought. But it seems that would upset our new leader." * MayorOfTokyo pushes a button on his desk."Miss Suzuka, could you please bring in some straberry ice cream for our guests?" "Yes, sir." answers the speaker on the desk. A few moments later, a woman walks in, hands each of you a disk of strawberry ice cream, pinches the Mayor on the cheek, and leaves. * Kiku says nervously, "I can't buy it? Or can I?" She looks between the mayor and Keika. * Karasu has what might be a short one sided conversation with it's owner and then accepts the papers into it's beak so she can hold the icecream. Let's not talk about that right now. YOu have arare treat before you. Enjoy it. But if you mean ice cream, you'll be able to buy plenty of that. * Kiku walks towards the treat slowly, causing the paper to be dropped. She sits down and puts the plushie on the desk, before smiling over at Keika, and leaning over to whisper in her ear. (I'm probibly a good bit taller ^_^;) * Kiku , even if she can't get right up in her ear, say, "You're angry!" and giggles and leans back to her chair. * Keika crouches down a bit as Kiku approaches, her bird is just that good at pointing these things out. * Keika purses her lips. Isn't anybody going to eat their ice cream? * Kiku looks down at the ice cream, and takes a bite. "Oh! It's cold. I think Kei gave me some of this before." She beams and eats a little more. If I must. * Keika feels around for the spoon, and then proceeds to dig in with surprising ease. This is quite good. * Kiku nods. "It tastes like good cold things." She looks back towards the Mayor and says, leaning towards him and barely avoiding getting her dress in the ice-cream, "Can Haguro have some drugs? He really likes them." * MayorOfTokyo smiles. "I told you this was pleasurable, and now that the drugs are wearing off it must taste better than ever for you,Kiku. the drugs dulled your sense of taste." What lousy drugs you've been on. They'd only spoil the ice cream, and your dinner later when you get to the base. * Kiku frowns. "But...I." she drops the spoon she was holding as her right hand twitches andn doesn't stop. "You said that you wouldn't be mean to me anymore. That I can do things. So why can't I?" * MayorOfTokyo smiles. "Oh you'll od things., You'll do things you never imagined yourself doing."