“Hi... how are you...” *DELETE*
“Yui, I'm in town and.... “ *DELETE*
Wazu grumbled at his datapad... this was a lot harder than he remembered it being. When he could focus on writing, it always felt forced, or desperate, or just wrong. His mind would wander to why he was here on Yamatai... the state that the Gartagen Embassy was in... the Nepleslians near by who probably would not be too happy to know who he was... they were wearing green... one of them was armed, a pistol on his waist... zen arms... he used to design ammunition for that weapon, or at least he tried once...
Wazu shook his head, trying to focus his train of thought again, typing out another message onto the pad. He read it over once again... he had been trying to type this out for at least an hour, sure it was terrible but he was not going to be able to do much better anytime soon.
The bar itself was about as much of a dive as you could find on Yamatai. The walls were painted purple of all colors, and the entire place was someone's converted home. The front door was at least well kept and the backyard had been converted into more drinking area. There was a pool table setup in the living room area and beside it was an 'In case of Emergency' box filled with cigars for anyone foolish enough to take one... after all here they were more of a running joke than something you could actually use. Besides the Bartender, there really wasn't anyone else here at this hour, though that would probably change a little later in the day when the work shift at the Nepleslian Embassy came to an end.
~Maybe I should have suggested that Yamataian dance club down the street?~ He thought to himself, ~I always had such good luck with those...~
Yui entered the bar. The old Nekovalkyrja was dressed in a loose white kimono with a pattern of red shurikens on it and a shiny purple obi. Wazu could see at least one samurai guard outside through the bar window, but nobody else came in. She swung a leg over a stool and sat at an a battered, highly varnished wooden table. "You wanted to talk," she simply began.
~Well.... fuck~ Wazu thought, he was expecting to see Yui like he always remembered her, in uniform, gun at her side... ~At least the Shurikens are in character...~ He thought as he looked over at the bar window, ~There is probably another Samurai out back too... maybe another above us in a shuttle? No, another in the room with them, invisibility, snuck in through the door when Yui opened it...~He was letting his mind wander again, He had to remind himself where he was, and focus on what was infront of him.
"Yes..."
Wazu paused for a moment, trying to figure out where to go from there... Wazu did not have near the level of polish that Yui had. He was wearing a green tank top, some pants, a belt. His skin was a bit lacking in color, and infront of him was a glass of water, with a glass of something brown and alcoholic off to the side. For the time being at least he was staying away from the alcohol.
"There was a point where I realized my allies were busy trying to have me killed or black-bagged, my movements were being carefully watched by my gracious host... and the only person expending their political capital to protect me was someone I have been trying to bring down for years" Wazu thought about it for a moment, he couldn't remember exactly how long ago his spat with KFY was. "I am not going to win this and at this point trying to continue seems pointless."
"Have you come to ask for my help?" Yui asked her old crew member.
"I have lost track of who my friends and enemies are... so, yes, I need your help, or at least some perspective." Wazu took another drink of water, trying to think of what to say next. "I am lost, and honestly how much longer do I have before I can not pull a Mellson and pop back into a new body? I figure eventually SAINT, or the IPG, or the NMX are going to get lucky, find the last of my backups, and black-bag me for good."
"If it is any comfort, know that while SAINT has every reason to watch you, we have no reason to hurt you. Does this mean you lost confidence in the Gartagens?" Yui asked.
"Vishta is barely 17 now, and she has... plans... There are Gartagen security officers following me everywhere and I have already nearly destroyed her government once. I am so tired now, I feel like I have hit my limit as far as what I can do and without the stimulants, or the cybernetics, I can not contribute like I used to. Vishta has enough problems, before long she will tire of me, or come to her senses.
Besides... the dashing, green uniformed, Science officer that catches the eye of the glorious leader, rapidly ascends to command of the fourth fleet, and then has a fiery falling out...is kinda my thing.
...and as for SAINT. They tend to be pro-active in dealing with threats. The IPG too... I collect enemies like it is my hobby. I feel like if Wolf or Zero does not show up on my door it is going to be someone else."
"Is it possible that after all these years away from Yamatai, you have become ready to come home and return by seekign political asylum?" Yui half-asked, half-speculated.
"Maybe... I mean... What are you to me?" Wazu asked, sidestepping the question of asylum for the time being, "I have been spending years finding ways to hurt your empire. I cultured rebellion and opposition across dozens of worlds. I opened up a path for the NMX to get directly at Yamatai and when I find myself in jail it is YOU who gets me out." His tone was a bit mixed... certainly Wazu did not really know how to feel about all of this.
"It could be worse. You could be Uso," Yui said. "Besides, you got an Imperial pardon, remember?"
"I had a feeling you had a lot to do with that pardon," Wazu said, "Based on my reception last time, there are plenty of people itching for an excuse to off me... but seriously, why are you doing this? You of all people should be trying to get rid of me and somehow you have been my strongest ally. Even Uso tries to kill me on occation... and she is my oldest friend."
"An older friend than me?" Yui asked.
"Sorry, she beat you to me by maybe a month or so." Wazu said sheepishly... he closed his eyes for a moment, "What am I doing? Even now I feel like I am dissapointing you. I can not sort out if this is just some trick on your part to maintain control or not. Everyone loves their captain on a Star Army ship, there was even a time I killed for you without question..." Wazu then shut his mouth, looking a little bit grumpy and then looking down at his glass of water. He felt like he could not stop himself from giving away too much.
"It seems to me like you need a plan," the Taisho observed. "Some way to get back into people's good graces, if that is even possible. Either that or you could try to reinvent yourself."
"I am not going to get the answers I am looking for am I?" Wazu asked, still looking down at his cup. "I have been cutting down on using cybernetics and external memory banks. I work out more, I avoid the smarties, the uppers, and the combat stimulants. I am already a different person.
But without enhancements, are not as easy anymore. I can not just pick up a new language, or spend days working on something without sleep. Even ship design does not come as easily to me as it used to. Planning is no longer my strong suit, no more 10 year plans to put pressure on your empire, no more brinksmanship with the NMX..." Wazu realized he was getting a bit off topic... "I did come here for help... I can not just waltz back to Yamatai's good graces, and last time I offered my talents it came off more as insulting than anything... probably a record for the fastest I have turned a Princess into an enemy."
"So this time you've come to offer what talents you have left in return for...safety? Stability? Something to do with your life now that other options have failed? Don't get me wrong: I still think you would be useful. What sort of help would you like to ask me for?" Yui questioned. "What is the problem only I can solve?"
Wazu grimiced a bit, he wanted to tell her that she was wrong, that he had not failed... but he would not fool anyone with that. Sure, he had developed ways of damaging the empire that were creative, maybe even brilliant, but as he had said at the last IRC, there was no way that ends well for him... just thinking about it was all the consolation prize he would get. He was certainly wondering if she was trying to rub it in. He looked over at Yui again, his eyes slowly working their way up to her face. While he was a total mess, she was like stone. Mentally, emotionally, physically, he could not get past her defenses, much less glean any information from her.
He tried to start putting things together logically, she was wearing something a lot more feminine than normal... offset by having weapons as decorations. That certainly felt out of place, but he had never seen her like that before... he decided it was not providing any useful information.
He then thought about the guards, there did not seem to be many, she certainly was not afraid of him. She could have killed him on the spot easily enough... but she was not trying to hurt him. She did not want to give up any information either. She just pushed past the questions he wanted answered, blowing past them like they were not even there. Perhaps it was that relentless cold shoulder and laser like focus that made her seem so tough.
~I could do that too...~ Wazu thought, thinking about pressing back just as hard, ignoring her questions until he got the answer he wanted. He then thought better of it, he had already lost enough family trying to go head to head with Yui.
Right now he needed a plan, and he just did not have one. Yui was the last and possibly greatest asset he had left to back himself up. He knew if he failed here, then there would be little else left for him... he had burned more bridges than he could count in his quest to strike back at her so he resigned himself to telling the truth... no more grand plans, no more manipulations.
"I suppose I should be asking you who killed my mother... but I can not keep that grudge going. I have been angry about it so long without any progress that it sorta just burnt out. I can feel the anger still there, it just does not mean anything anymore..." He looked over at the small glass of whisky on the table... this would be so much easier with a few drinks in him. "I need friends again, normalcy,.. I am going to self-destruct if I keep up my old ways. I have obligations to keep some people safe and I can not do it like this... sneaking around through the hidden passages of these worlds, constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the people listening in, taking more and more absurd risks just to get my way.
I knew that someone was going to try and grab me at the last IRC. I had a great plan too, my ship was set to respawn me if it did not hear from me every 15 minutes. I figured if I got thrown in some deep, dark, hole I could just snap my own neck and POOF back to saftey.
Then I found myself stuck in that holding cell and I realized I did not feel like dieing... It was a bit scary to know what I needed to do and finding that my willpower to do so had run out...
... I did not even really mean to speak out of turn. I thought I was whispering at the time."
Wazu laughed a bit, turning his gaze back towards Yui. She was here after all... she came when he asked, and he could count the number of friends he had like that on one hand. There was something there, she had been looking out for him for a while. Misplaced loyalty maybe... either way, things did not seem so bad right now.
"I am in way over my head and you are the only person I know that can help. Working for you had a sense of pourpose behind it that got lost when I tried to do this all on my own..."
"Are you considering enlisting in the Star Army?" Yui asked Wazu. "Are you actually qualified for it? I mean, Yamatai doesn't allow dual citizenship."
"I feel like you are asking questions you already know the answers too." Wazu said, deciding he had been sober for long enough, he sat down his glass of water and moved over to the glass of whisky.
"I miss the days when I was on your ship and I am thinking about going back. I am certain the garts will be happy to extend or revoke my citizenship at my request... that will not be an issue." He would quickly down the glass, and signal the bartender for another.
It would not be long before the ID-Sol bartender would make his way by the table with another glass, whisky, neat, double, "Bout time you started actually drinkin'," The bartender said, "You gonna buy one for your lady friend too? She could use a few for having to deal with someone like you," He said jokingly. The large man looked much like the bar, a little bit run down, but in good spirits. Sure his shirt was torn a bit and his jeans had seen better days... but he remained upbeat.
"And what job would you be putting in your occupation for?" Yui asked. "You know you wouldn't be able to just stroll in and get your Taisho pin back."
"The thought of having to balance an inventory for an entire fleet makes me feel sick. I should have stuck with that heart shaped one... " Wazu said, he could not quite remember the name of that particular rank. At his peak, he would have his data pad acting as external memory, pulling up and serving the information right to his brain... but now it was more of a fuzzy blur as he tried to remember it all on his own. The bottom line was, "... responsibility is something I should be avoiding."
"The Star Army is looking for responsible soldiers," the Taisho countered. "Are you you you wouldn't be more suited to working for a corporation, helping with product design or something?"
"Small scale at first..." Wazu said, letting the bartender walk back without so much as a reply, he clearly was not needed here. "Going over sensor data, plotting courses... making things is not as easy for me as it used to be. I try and focus on something and it just comes out... muddled. Then again, I am here to ask for your help. My own path has left me isolated... " He would take a quick swig of the drink in front of him, perking up a bit now that more was running through his system, "The corporations always seemed so cut-throat... besides it is not like I could just sign up for Kessaku Electronics," he joked.
"Have you considered getting a new body or medical care for this mental condition?" Yui continued her stream of questions. "Also, if you were at SAINT, would you feel comfortable giving you a security clearance to a guy with your history?"
"Of course not, I know there is now there is noway someone like me would be let near anything critical... And there is not much I can do about the body, I have swapped plenty of times, even the leg pain is psychosomatic at this point... When I want to be productive I take the appropriate pills, when I want to be less anxious I drink, when it is time to sleep there are medications I take... Sure I have yet to try Yamatai doctors..." He grumbled a bit after that... After all he didn't have the medical tech she had access to.
"... I do not have the strength of an ID-Sol, the quick reaction times of a Yamataian, the capabilities of a NH-Series, the comradery of a Nepleslia, the processing powers of a spacer... I have a body that is inferior in every way. I can only make up for it with sheer force of will, the determination to do things that other people would not... then I hit the point where it switched from me wanting to use these tools to improve myself, to needing to use these tools."
"I don't think you're cut out to be a soldier anymore, Wazu," Yui said. "A scientist, yes, but not in the Star Army."
"Maybe I am just feeling nostalgic..." Wazu said, taking another drink... it felt terifyingly refreshing to have a little bit of alcohol running through his system to sooth away all the little extra thoughts in his head.
"Despite thinking the contrary, I do not really have friends on this side of the universe do I?"
"You have burned a lot of bridges, so to speak. Even after many years, there are still people with good memory and bad memories, who are unwilling to forgive you."
"Know a good PR firm?" Wazu joked, "There is always another day to change people's opinions. Getting back out there is part of that. " He would look Yui over again, still trying to glean something useful from her outward aperance. He knew he was a wreck, and had more nervious twitches and tells than should be mentioned.
"So are you ever going to open up?" He asked suddenly,
"Yamatai's princesses all tend to an air about them, pride, ambition, that slight little sensation that they are somewhere else. Davis was stoic, but could pull one over on me from time to time. Even the spacers at their crazyest were readable... but you are still like some impenitrable wall."
"Introducing you to the equation adds complications," Yui told him, taking a moment to sip at her drink. "And I don't trust you. In fact, the only reason I have allowed this to continue is because I would rather have you on my side than working for an enemy. Speaking theoretically of course," Yui added.
"Well, 4th fleets have a proud tradition of being untrustworthy." Wazu joked, smiling a bit before bringing himself back to a more neutral expression... jokes were probably not in good taste at the moment.
"Maybe it is just nostalga, but I am ready for this to be over."
"One thing I have learned in this universe is that there are very few things that ever really end," Yui warned Wazu.
"I know there will be skeletons in my closet as long as I am alive. I am also aware that I do not deal with them so well.
I am not here to threaten you, As much as I have put my foot in my mouth today, this is still me asking how we can move forward without trying to hurt eachother. I understand that you do not, and probably should not, trust me, but I am being honest." Wazu said. He would then take another quick sip of his drink, feeling like he was putting his foot in his mouth yet again.
"Let me help with your science, call me in when you need a hand and I will be happy to help. Maybe a bit on down the line you will trust me with something more."
"There is a Star Army base on the ice planet Ether. I will give you permission to go there. It is just two Nekovalkyrja and some buildings, but we can get some research stuff brought in. You can also use it as a sort of safehouse if you need. You can be a civilian contractor." Yui finally made her offer. "A consultant."
"That sounds like a deal Mistress-Tasisho." Wazu replied, fully aware of just how little there was on Ether, an iceball of a world that he talked the Gartagens into trying to take just so Yamatai would be discouraged from moving to the galactic north.
"And I do apologize for making this conversation so, heavy."
"Everything starts somewhere," Yui nodded. "Get yourself in shape." She rose from her seat.
Wazu would nod, and stand as well, "Maybe next time we can do something fun..."
“Yui, I'm in town and.... “ *DELETE*
Wazu grumbled at his datapad... this was a lot harder than he remembered it being. When he could focus on writing, it always felt forced, or desperate, or just wrong. His mind would wander to why he was here on Yamatai... the state that the Gartagen Embassy was in... the Nepleslians near by who probably would not be too happy to know who he was... they were wearing green... one of them was armed, a pistol on his waist... zen arms... he used to design ammunition for that weapon, or at least he tried once...
Wazu shook his head, trying to focus his train of thought again, typing out another message onto the pad. He read it over once again... he had been trying to type this out for at least an hour, sure it was terrible but he was not going to be able to do much better anytime soon.
The bar itself was about as much of a dive as you could find on Yamatai. The walls were painted purple of all colors, and the entire place was someone's converted home. The front door was at least well kept and the backyard had been converted into more drinking area. There was a pool table setup in the living room area and beside it was an 'In case of Emergency' box filled with cigars for anyone foolish enough to take one... after all here they were more of a running joke than something you could actually use. Besides the Bartender, there really wasn't anyone else here at this hour, though that would probably change a little later in the day when the work shift at the Nepleslian Embassy came to an end.
~Maybe I should have suggested that Yamataian dance club down the street?~ He thought to himself, ~I always had such good luck with those...~
Yui entered the bar. The old Nekovalkyrja was dressed in a loose white kimono with a pattern of red shurikens on it and a shiny purple obi. Wazu could see at least one samurai guard outside through the bar window, but nobody else came in. She swung a leg over a stool and sat at an a battered, highly varnished wooden table. "You wanted to talk," she simply began.
~Well.... fuck~ Wazu thought, he was expecting to see Yui like he always remembered her, in uniform, gun at her side... ~At least the Shurikens are in character...~ He thought as he looked over at the bar window, ~There is probably another Samurai out back too... maybe another above us in a shuttle? No, another in the room with them, invisibility, snuck in through the door when Yui opened it...~He was letting his mind wander again, He had to remind himself where he was, and focus on what was infront of him.
"Yes..."
Wazu paused for a moment, trying to figure out where to go from there... Wazu did not have near the level of polish that Yui had. He was wearing a green tank top, some pants, a belt. His skin was a bit lacking in color, and infront of him was a glass of water, with a glass of something brown and alcoholic off to the side. For the time being at least he was staying away from the alcohol.
"There was a point where I realized my allies were busy trying to have me killed or black-bagged, my movements were being carefully watched by my gracious host... and the only person expending their political capital to protect me was someone I have been trying to bring down for years" Wazu thought about it for a moment, he couldn't remember exactly how long ago his spat with KFY was. "I am not going to win this and at this point trying to continue seems pointless."
"Have you come to ask for my help?" Yui asked her old crew member.
"I have lost track of who my friends and enemies are... so, yes, I need your help, or at least some perspective." Wazu took another drink of water, trying to think of what to say next. "I am lost, and honestly how much longer do I have before I can not pull a Mellson and pop back into a new body? I figure eventually SAINT, or the IPG, or the NMX are going to get lucky, find the last of my backups, and black-bag me for good."
"If it is any comfort, know that while SAINT has every reason to watch you, we have no reason to hurt you. Does this mean you lost confidence in the Gartagens?" Yui asked.
"Vishta is barely 17 now, and she has... plans... There are Gartagen security officers following me everywhere and I have already nearly destroyed her government once. I am so tired now, I feel like I have hit my limit as far as what I can do and without the stimulants, or the cybernetics, I can not contribute like I used to. Vishta has enough problems, before long she will tire of me, or come to her senses.
Besides... the dashing, green uniformed, Science officer that catches the eye of the glorious leader, rapidly ascends to command of the fourth fleet, and then has a fiery falling out...is kinda my thing.
...and as for SAINT. They tend to be pro-active in dealing with threats. The IPG too... I collect enemies like it is my hobby. I feel like if Wolf or Zero does not show up on my door it is going to be someone else."
"Is it possible that after all these years away from Yamatai, you have become ready to come home and return by seekign political asylum?" Yui half-asked, half-speculated.
"Maybe... I mean... What are you to me?" Wazu asked, sidestepping the question of asylum for the time being, "I have been spending years finding ways to hurt your empire. I cultured rebellion and opposition across dozens of worlds. I opened up a path for the NMX to get directly at Yamatai and when I find myself in jail it is YOU who gets me out." His tone was a bit mixed... certainly Wazu did not really know how to feel about all of this.
"It could be worse. You could be Uso," Yui said. "Besides, you got an Imperial pardon, remember?"
"I had a feeling you had a lot to do with that pardon," Wazu said, "Based on my reception last time, there are plenty of people itching for an excuse to off me... but seriously, why are you doing this? You of all people should be trying to get rid of me and somehow you have been my strongest ally. Even Uso tries to kill me on occation... and she is my oldest friend."
"An older friend than me?" Yui asked.
"Sorry, she beat you to me by maybe a month or so." Wazu said sheepishly... he closed his eyes for a moment, "What am I doing? Even now I feel like I am dissapointing you. I can not sort out if this is just some trick on your part to maintain control or not. Everyone loves their captain on a Star Army ship, there was even a time I killed for you without question..." Wazu then shut his mouth, looking a little bit grumpy and then looking down at his glass of water. He felt like he could not stop himself from giving away too much.
"It seems to me like you need a plan," the Taisho observed. "Some way to get back into people's good graces, if that is even possible. Either that or you could try to reinvent yourself."
"I am not going to get the answers I am looking for am I?" Wazu asked, still looking down at his cup. "I have been cutting down on using cybernetics and external memory banks. I work out more, I avoid the smarties, the uppers, and the combat stimulants. I am already a different person.
But without enhancements, are not as easy anymore. I can not just pick up a new language, or spend days working on something without sleep. Even ship design does not come as easily to me as it used to. Planning is no longer my strong suit, no more 10 year plans to put pressure on your empire, no more brinksmanship with the NMX..." Wazu realized he was getting a bit off topic... "I did come here for help... I can not just waltz back to Yamatai's good graces, and last time I offered my talents it came off more as insulting than anything... probably a record for the fastest I have turned a Princess into an enemy."
"So this time you've come to offer what talents you have left in return for...safety? Stability? Something to do with your life now that other options have failed? Don't get me wrong: I still think you would be useful. What sort of help would you like to ask me for?" Yui questioned. "What is the problem only I can solve?"
Wazu grimiced a bit, he wanted to tell her that she was wrong, that he had not failed... but he would not fool anyone with that. Sure, he had developed ways of damaging the empire that were creative, maybe even brilliant, but as he had said at the last IRC, there was no way that ends well for him... just thinking about it was all the consolation prize he would get. He was certainly wondering if she was trying to rub it in. He looked over at Yui again, his eyes slowly working their way up to her face. While he was a total mess, she was like stone. Mentally, emotionally, physically, he could not get past her defenses, much less glean any information from her.
He tried to start putting things together logically, she was wearing something a lot more feminine than normal... offset by having weapons as decorations. That certainly felt out of place, but he had never seen her like that before... he decided it was not providing any useful information.
He then thought about the guards, there did not seem to be many, she certainly was not afraid of him. She could have killed him on the spot easily enough... but she was not trying to hurt him. She did not want to give up any information either. She just pushed past the questions he wanted answered, blowing past them like they were not even there. Perhaps it was that relentless cold shoulder and laser like focus that made her seem so tough.
~I could do that too...~ Wazu thought, thinking about pressing back just as hard, ignoring her questions until he got the answer he wanted. He then thought better of it, he had already lost enough family trying to go head to head with Yui.
Right now he needed a plan, and he just did not have one. Yui was the last and possibly greatest asset he had left to back himself up. He knew if he failed here, then there would be little else left for him... he had burned more bridges than he could count in his quest to strike back at her so he resigned himself to telling the truth... no more grand plans, no more manipulations.
"I suppose I should be asking you who killed my mother... but I can not keep that grudge going. I have been angry about it so long without any progress that it sorta just burnt out. I can feel the anger still there, it just does not mean anything anymore..." He looked over at the small glass of whisky on the table... this would be so much easier with a few drinks in him. "I need friends again, normalcy,.. I am going to self-destruct if I keep up my old ways. I have obligations to keep some people safe and I can not do it like this... sneaking around through the hidden passages of these worlds, constantly trying to stay one step ahead of the people listening in, taking more and more absurd risks just to get my way.
I knew that someone was going to try and grab me at the last IRC. I had a great plan too, my ship was set to respawn me if it did not hear from me every 15 minutes. I figured if I got thrown in some deep, dark, hole I could just snap my own neck and POOF back to saftey.
Then I found myself stuck in that holding cell and I realized I did not feel like dieing... It was a bit scary to know what I needed to do and finding that my willpower to do so had run out...
... I did not even really mean to speak out of turn. I thought I was whispering at the time."
Wazu laughed a bit, turning his gaze back towards Yui. She was here after all... she came when he asked, and he could count the number of friends he had like that on one hand. There was something there, she had been looking out for him for a while. Misplaced loyalty maybe... either way, things did not seem so bad right now.
"I am in way over my head and you are the only person I know that can help. Working for you had a sense of pourpose behind it that got lost when I tried to do this all on my own..."
"Are you considering enlisting in the Star Army?" Yui asked Wazu. "Are you actually qualified for it? I mean, Yamatai doesn't allow dual citizenship."
"I feel like you are asking questions you already know the answers too." Wazu said, deciding he had been sober for long enough, he sat down his glass of water and moved over to the glass of whisky.
"I miss the days when I was on your ship and I am thinking about going back. I am certain the garts will be happy to extend or revoke my citizenship at my request... that will not be an issue." He would quickly down the glass, and signal the bartender for another.
It would not be long before the ID-Sol bartender would make his way by the table with another glass, whisky, neat, double, "Bout time you started actually drinkin'," The bartender said, "You gonna buy one for your lady friend too? She could use a few for having to deal with someone like you," He said jokingly. The large man looked much like the bar, a little bit run down, but in good spirits. Sure his shirt was torn a bit and his jeans had seen better days... but he remained upbeat.
"And what job would you be putting in your occupation for?" Yui asked. "You know you wouldn't be able to just stroll in and get your Taisho pin back."
"The thought of having to balance an inventory for an entire fleet makes me feel sick. I should have stuck with that heart shaped one... " Wazu said, he could not quite remember the name of that particular rank. At his peak, he would have his data pad acting as external memory, pulling up and serving the information right to his brain... but now it was more of a fuzzy blur as he tried to remember it all on his own. The bottom line was, "... responsibility is something I should be avoiding."
"The Star Army is looking for responsible soldiers," the Taisho countered. "Are you you you wouldn't be more suited to working for a corporation, helping with product design or something?"
"Small scale at first..." Wazu said, letting the bartender walk back without so much as a reply, he clearly was not needed here. "Going over sensor data, plotting courses... making things is not as easy for me as it used to be. I try and focus on something and it just comes out... muddled. Then again, I am here to ask for your help. My own path has left me isolated... " He would take a quick swig of the drink in front of him, perking up a bit now that more was running through his system, "The corporations always seemed so cut-throat... besides it is not like I could just sign up for Kessaku Electronics," he joked.
"Have you considered getting a new body or medical care for this mental condition?" Yui continued her stream of questions. "Also, if you were at SAINT, would you feel comfortable giving you a security clearance to a guy with your history?"
"Of course not, I know there is now there is noway someone like me would be let near anything critical... And there is not much I can do about the body, I have swapped plenty of times, even the leg pain is psychosomatic at this point... When I want to be productive I take the appropriate pills, when I want to be less anxious I drink, when it is time to sleep there are medications I take... Sure I have yet to try Yamatai doctors..." He grumbled a bit after that... After all he didn't have the medical tech she had access to.
"... I do not have the strength of an ID-Sol, the quick reaction times of a Yamataian, the capabilities of a NH-Series, the comradery of a Nepleslia, the processing powers of a spacer... I have a body that is inferior in every way. I can only make up for it with sheer force of will, the determination to do things that other people would not... then I hit the point where it switched from me wanting to use these tools to improve myself, to needing to use these tools."
"I don't think you're cut out to be a soldier anymore, Wazu," Yui said. "A scientist, yes, but not in the Star Army."
"Maybe I am just feeling nostalgic..." Wazu said, taking another drink... it felt terifyingly refreshing to have a little bit of alcohol running through his system to sooth away all the little extra thoughts in his head.
"Despite thinking the contrary, I do not really have friends on this side of the universe do I?"
"You have burned a lot of bridges, so to speak. Even after many years, there are still people with good memory and bad memories, who are unwilling to forgive you."
"Know a good PR firm?" Wazu joked, "There is always another day to change people's opinions. Getting back out there is part of that. " He would look Yui over again, still trying to glean something useful from her outward aperance. He knew he was a wreck, and had more nervious twitches and tells than should be mentioned.
"So are you ever going to open up?" He asked suddenly,
"Yamatai's princesses all tend to an air about them, pride, ambition, that slight little sensation that they are somewhere else. Davis was stoic, but could pull one over on me from time to time. Even the spacers at their crazyest were readable... but you are still like some impenitrable wall."
"Introducing you to the equation adds complications," Yui told him, taking a moment to sip at her drink. "And I don't trust you. In fact, the only reason I have allowed this to continue is because I would rather have you on my side than working for an enemy. Speaking theoretically of course," Yui added.
"Well, 4th fleets have a proud tradition of being untrustworthy." Wazu joked, smiling a bit before bringing himself back to a more neutral expression... jokes were probably not in good taste at the moment.
"Maybe it is just nostalga, but I am ready for this to be over."
"One thing I have learned in this universe is that there are very few things that ever really end," Yui warned Wazu.
"I know there will be skeletons in my closet as long as I am alive. I am also aware that I do not deal with them so well.
I am not here to threaten you, As much as I have put my foot in my mouth today, this is still me asking how we can move forward without trying to hurt eachother. I understand that you do not, and probably should not, trust me, but I am being honest." Wazu said. He would then take another quick sip of his drink, feeling like he was putting his foot in his mouth yet again.
"Let me help with your science, call me in when you need a hand and I will be happy to help. Maybe a bit on down the line you will trust me with something more."
"There is a Star Army base on the ice planet Ether. I will give you permission to go there. It is just two Nekovalkyrja and some buildings, but we can get some research stuff brought in. You can also use it as a sort of safehouse if you need. You can be a civilian contractor." Yui finally made her offer. "A consultant."
"That sounds like a deal Mistress-Tasisho." Wazu replied, fully aware of just how little there was on Ether, an iceball of a world that he talked the Gartagens into trying to take just so Yamatai would be discouraged from moving to the galactic north.
"And I do apologize for making this conversation so, heavy."
"Everything starts somewhere," Yui nodded. "Get yourself in shape." She rose from her seat.
Wazu would nod, and stand as well, "Maybe next time we can do something fun..."