>>>>>>>>>>>ON (Hotaru)
Order [Tyler (Caine), CB (Eriko)]
Caine was on his way out of Katsuko's office and heading down the lift to the concourse to head for his quarters on the Asuka; as they were still there currently and no changes had been mentioned to him as of yet. When Eriko's telepathic communication came through and sliced through his own thoughts with her sombre tone. “What's wrong?” He sent back, unaware of what had happened on E deck, just noticing all the security beginning to swarm in that direction. “ I suppose I can, What do you need?” He sent back through an encrypted channel.
Eriko’s face remained unemotional; not betraying her mental conversation with Caine to anyone around her. “Be careful what you agree to, Caine-san. Miho-Chujo is dead, and someone tried for Misato as well. I wish I could say more than that, but I don’t know what’s going on myself. What I’m about to ask you to do may involve going against the Star Army. At least a part of it…though whether that’s a good part or not, I couldn’t tell you. Knowing that, do you still want to hear me out?”
Caine leaned up against the wall of the lift, eyes closed to listen to what she was saying. ....I see. Going against the Star Army sounds a little too dangerous considering both of our positions within it. And you’re a Bakufu member, if it pans out that that you're wrong in what you're thinking you have a long way to fall. He thought to her, seeing fit to offer that at least. I'm not going to make a decision until I hear the options anyway. So I'm at least open to what you have to ask.
Eriko’s avatar nodded gravely. “Thank you for listening, Caine. I’m aware of my position; but someone used PANTHEON to cover up this attempt. Whether what I’m doing is wrong or not doesn’t matter at the moment – I need to know what’s going on. There’s one person who might have seen the whole incident, a drunk Nepleslian, and he’s on his way to medbay as we speak…or at least he thinks he is. Intercept him – his medical escort knows what’s going on – and take him to the Asuka. You need to return to your quarters anyway, don’t you?” She added the last bit with a thin smile.
Caine chuckled a bit, being alone in the lift. You're a clever one. Indeed I do anyway, I can cover it by saying I'm just keeping him out of trouble til this over and done with. He replied over the encrypted channel, sensing that secrecy might be important.I don't yet know where the medbay is on this massive ship and asking Hotaru might be risky, what level is it on? He sent.
A route flashed across Caine’s vision. “That should get you where you need to go. Not that you can take any other route – Hotaru won’t let you. It’s back to the Asuka or back to the Asuka via the medical level from here on out. If you want to skip out at any time, do so. I’m not ordering you to do this and I won’t fault you for refusing.
Caine thought for a moment. If you believe it's the right thing to do then I'll trust your judgment on it, Eriko. He said. After all, you said you'd help my sister find a good job, so consider this my way of repaying you for it. He said, his virtual avatar winking at her and giving her a thumbs up. I imagine you want to question the drunk for what he saw. I'll see what I can do, the Asuka should be safe enough for a time. Do you have any contingencies in case this goes sour though?
Eriko hesitated. “…thank you, Caine. Thanks for helping me.” Her serious tone returned again. “Yes, I’ll need to question him but, really, I just want to get to him first. Contingency-wise, I do have a couple things in mind, yes. Pick up the Nep first, and I’ll fill you in.”
In a few moments the lift would take him to the floor he needed to be on to get to the Asuka anyway and would get off. "Hmm now where..." he muttered to himself and followed the HUD display and would soon meet up with the greenshirt and the drunk. "Excuse me.." he said politely to the greenshirt, hoping Eriko informed her of the situation here. The Greenshirt bowed. “Here you go, Chui. Keep him safe.” Caine nodded to her and then to the "drunk" who seemed quite sober, at the moment at least. "You take care of yourself too." He smiled to the girl and put a hand on Kanon's shoulder. "Huh?" he slurred slightly and hiccupped, maintaining his "drunkenness" In short order the two of them would start heading toward the Asuka, Caine acting like he was guiding the Nepleslian as an escort.
Eriko’s voice cut in again. “Got him? Good. As for contingencies…well, I thought I’d have you shoot your way out. You know, mix things up a little. Your suit’s ready, Caine. I even had it painted in the 17th's colours. To be honest, I wanted to give it to you a bit more formally, but you might actually need to use it. Your Sarah is equipped with a teleport module; here’s the activation code. You should be able to call it remotely anytime. A word to the wise though: Caine, keep it disconnected from PANTHEON if you can. You don’t want your armour locking up in a fire fight. Really, I hope neither of us has to use our suits but you can have the present early just in case.”[/i]
Caine chuckled a bit as they headed for the Asuka at a brisk pace, both of them knowing what was going on, the Nepleslian somewhat afraid for his life and Caine knowing that as well. Well well, Why thank you Eriko. I hope we don't have to use them either, and I just got the request I made a while ago so if things go bad...let's just say the Reaper's back... He replied to her as they got to the ramp to the Asuka in short order. "Hurry. get inside." he said to the Nep, who wasted no time running up the ramp and into the ship with Caine in tow. "Asuka, this man is to be protected by any means until Eriko-sama gets there." He said. "I want you to 'forget' he was onboard, turn a blind eye to it if anyone outside of myself or Eriko asks." Caine said as he escorted the man.
Eriko opened a channel to the Asuka. “I’m afraid, Caine-chui is right, Asuka. My orders; keep that man secret, keep him safe. Don’t tell Hotaru and make sure you especially don’t tell Misato-ShoSho. But…but, if Yaichiro-Taii asks you, don’t keep it from him. Give him this message…” Eriko transferred a small file to the Asuka’s databanks. “…I don’t want to break his trust, so on this matter he has the authority to overrule me. Make sure he gets the message first though.”