[Video]

[devil_within]

Player Name: Cody
Are you new?: Sort of (had a couple of pups back on LJ's Luceti, a LONG time ago)
Character Name: Kazuya Mishima
Character Fandom: Tekken

[The video opens with Kazuya staring intently at the camera, going over things in his head.]

So. This place gives people wings. Is there any reason for this, or do our captors simply think it amusing to alter our bodies to their specifications?

Comments

*Gasp* Do I know you???

[mountain_sage]

Hmm?

[Saleh studies the man in the camera carefully. Those eyes...this one is not to be messed with. They aren't evil eyes, and yet they have a certain bitterness to them.]

These wings are what allow us to survive in this world. Losing as much as a few of the feathers can cause great illness or discomfort. The loss of both wings will result in an instant death. So they are not to be toyed with. You must take good care of them.

Yes. Yes you do.

[devil_within]

[Kazuya arches an eyebrow. He'll never get used to the odd assortment of people gathered here. Still, he mulls over the information.]

But is there any explanation as to what causes them to function in such a way?

[After all, if he can understand them, they can be exploited. If they can be exploited, they can be overcome.]

[mountain_sage]

No...there hasn't been any sort of explanation on how these wings work.

[devil_within]

Then we will need to conduct tests.

[He leans back in his chair, propping his chin on a fist.]

Is there anyone here with sufficient training to conduct experiments?

[mountain_sage]

Experiments on what, exactly? Or whom?

[The man almost sounds like a Malnosso from the way he says that.]

I believe there are those with...scientific training here.

[devil_within]

Specifically? Me. For starters, I want to see just how much damage the wings can take before succumbing to illness or whatever. [And to see if it effects the demon in a similar way.]

Good. I will need their names, and any information on them you can give me.

[Even as he looks away for half a second, going over plans in his head, the demon seems to voice a protest, by way of his left eye glowing an ominous crimson.]

[mountain_sage]

Well...that's very brave of you to offer.

[But the request on these individuals throws him off.]

Oh...I haven't met any of them personally, so I don't know their names. However, I would recommend speaking with Albert Silverberg. He seems to be a leader figure among us residents. He keeps us updated regularly on the situation. He knows more about Luceti and the Malnosso than most of us.

[devil_within]

Brave? Make no mistake, I do this for my own benefit, not the benefit of others.

[Kazuya makes a note to contact this Silverberg off to the side.]

I see. And what do you know of the Malnosso?

[mountain_sage]

I see...

[Well, at least he's honest about it, so Saleh has to respect that much, at least.].

What I know of the Malnosso is...they appear to be an organization divided. Some try to help us, to protect us, to make us as comfortable as possible in this world, while there are others who gain pure sadistic pleasure from unleashing these experiments on us. For this reason, we cannot even put our trust in those who help us.

[devil_within]

Trusting any who would keep us captive is foolish. Whether they help us or not, they are the enemy. Trust only in yourself if you wish to survive this place.

[mountain_sage]

Indeed. However, one thing is certain: they do not wish to kill us. That is, rather, the goal of the Third Party. There are times when we must cooperate with the Malnosso to ensure our mutual survival.

[devil_within]

We are to be soldiers in someone else's war, then?

[He thinks for a minute before switching the hand his chin was resting on.]

This place needs organization. As it is now, there will never be change. The enemy of an enemy is not always an ally. We cannot trust or cooperate with our captors if we are to return to our homes.

[mountain_sage]

And yet we have little options available to us. Those who refuse to cooperate are dragged out into the draft location against their will. Even if we do not trust or cooperate with the Malnosso, we still must battle the Third Party for our own sakes, lest they make our deaths permanent here.

If you know of a way to return home, I would help you. I have my reasons for wanting to return, as do many others here.

[devil_within]

The only way to make these... things listen to us is by presenting a unified front. If they drag us all out to the battlefield, we can defend ourselves without advancing. In effect, we hold them hostage for a change.

They know how to send us back. All we have to do is beat it out of them.

[mountain_sage]

[He stops to consider the plan for a moment. He would bring up the Malnosso's claim that they don't know how to send the captives home, but then again, that's only a claim. One can only guess whether there is any truth to that claim. But there is still a pressing problem.]

...If only they were that easy to reach. The Malnosso operate in their headquarters outside of the barrier that keeps us trapped here. The barrier also dampens our powers, reducing the potency of our abilities by about half.

[devil_within]

In my experience, barriers are only as strong as those maintaining them. I'm guessing that if we hit the barrier at once we can at least create a hole large enough to get a handful through to the other side, allowing them to hit the barrier with their full strength from the outside.

[If only he had access to his G Corp assets, this would be so much easier. He doesn't fancy the idea of giving everyone their full strength back, on the off chance that they would be stronger than him, but it was a gamble he'd have to take. Besides, he faced down Azazel and lived. His demon wouldn't let him die so easily.]

[mountain_sage]

Hmm. I know that attempts have been made to break the barrier...but I don't know if such an effort has been made where everyone in the enclosure was involved.

I can tell you that what you experience here will be far different from anything you've experienced in your own world.

[devil_within]

In my world, I have the greatest minds at work cloning an army of dinosaurs to act as foot soldiers in a war my son started. My bloodline is prophesied to be the end of humanity. My grandfather came close to being that harbinger of death, and my father covets my power and that of my son.

I'm not going to let a simple barrier stand in my way.

[mountain_sage]

"The end of humanity...?" Do you plan to fulfill that prophecy?

Would that it were just a "simple barrier." But this barrier is more than it seems. Tampering with it has caused some disastrous results.

If you would still attempt to break it, I would pray for your success.

[devil_within]

I have no interest in ancient prophecies. My only interest is tearing the corruption out of society.

[He doesn't mention that in his eyes, ALL of society is corrupt and he wants to burn it all to the ground...]

Once we hit it with a unified attack, we will see just how advanced it is.

[mountain_sage]

Fair enough. It is an admirable resolve.

That would be a matter to discuss with Albert Silverberg then. And then you can call the residents to act.

[devil_within]

Corruption runs rampant in my world. Only one person was able to walk untouched by it. And she suffered a terrible price for it.

[He pauses, only half-realizing what he said as he makes another note.]

Right. What else can you tell me about Silverberg?

[mountain_sage]

I see...I'm sorry to hear that.

[He can sense that he has a pretty good idea on what Kazuya is talking about here, but he won't press any further.]

Silverberg...I'm sorry, I don't really know him directly. He keeps us informed, roughly monthly, with updates on the overall situation regarding the Malnosso, the Third Party, the experiments, and other relevant information. But you can contact him easily with the journals.

[devil_within]

This is something I'd prefer to handle in person. If he's that well informed, there's a chance he's a spy.

[mountain_sage]

Hardly. He's just quite good at questioning the Malnosso during the rare moments when they speak to us. He is also one of those who has been here the longest. Almost four years, I believe.

[devil_within]

You are not helping his case. I employ a professional spy and assassin. One of the first things they do is work to gain the trust of those they're spying on. The longer they take, the closer they can get to their targets.

In situations like this, you cannot afford to trust anyone. He's sounding more and more like a plant than anything.

[mountain_sage]

Still, you are judging him far too quickly for a new arrival. Meet him yourself before you draw such conclusions.

[devil_within]

In my line of work, first impressions are made long before paths ever cross, and by that time, it's often too late.

[mountain_sage]

If you are so knowledgeable in this line of work, then you should be fine. You mustn't judge people based on the words of others. The truth can never be found in words.

[devil_within]

The truth is almost never so cut and dry. I will think of someone based on the evidence given until presented with other facts.

[mountain_sage]

Then you will find the best evidence by meeting him yourself.

For what reason do you trust my word?

[It's a genuine question, since this man seems so distrustful, and Saleh knows how easy it is to speak false words.]

[devil_within]

To be honest? I don't. However, your information is the only I've gotten so far. As such, I am forced to work with that information until other evidence is presented.