ShotJon
Well-Known Member
The Ketsurui Prison's harsh elements buffeted the walls outside of the sprawling facility, while inside the cells were kept at a considerable medium. Nomura Ishitake took a brief glance out the window into the snowy wastes beyond as he made his way to his first 'counseling session' of the day. He was an average-height Minkan with short, well-kept hair and a prepincicty to walk with his hands tucked behind his back.
As Namura turned the corner of the military cell-block, he spied a few YNP detectives booking a Nepleslian who'd aided the NMX. He acknowledged them briefly before moving past them and into the hall where the other NMX prisoners were kept. The cells were plain, as were the decorations on the walls. Nomura signaled calmly to one of the Nekos behind the watch desk as he reached the end of the hall and she rose to join him in front of the cell of his choice. Behind them, one of the prisoners was making faces and shoving her arms out the bars at them.
"Prisoner Number XK-3311, Rana." Nomura didn't have to clear his throat before he spoke despite his prolonged silence. He adressed the prisoner in the cell before them, ignoring her sister making faces behind them. "Move to the back of your cell."
Rana looked up. She was sitting on her bed not doin anything. Just thinking. She wished for something to do, something to keep her mind occupied. That was a good way. If she had something to do, she would not have to think about bad things. Now they came for her again. To ask questions and try to convince her to do things against her masters.
"Right, right." She said, stood up and moved to the back of her cell as told. Tall neko stopped there and looked at her captor. She smirked to show him she was not afraid. Well she was not afraid of physical punishments and torture at least.
Nomura made no visible reaction to her smile, instead waving his proximity card over the cell's door. It slid open noiselessy and the Neko accompanying him walked in and put a firm hand around Rana's right arm. Nomura turned briefly to glance at the prisoner in the cell behind him before continuing. "You'll have to come this way, Rana. Counciling session."
Rana tossed herself to shake the nekoe's arm off. Act of defiance if nothing else. "Oh you mean interrogation. Well let's go then. I hope there will be tea." She said and laughed again walking by the open doors, not looking at the Yamataian man. She considered punching him or kicking him, but decided not to. At least not right away. Although the Neko who'd grabbed her reached for a baton, Nomura waved her away and led the way to the end of the hall, where a simple door awaited them. The sterile surroundings seemed to become even more so here, where the grey walls gave way to a white, windowless door. Nomura swiped his card again and the door swung inward to reveal an equally white, windowless room which was furnished with a simple table and chairs on opposite sides. Nomura took the chair closest to the door and motioned for Rana to sit across from him.
Even without his gesture, Rana knew where her place was. She moved to another chair and sit, noticing that it was screwed to the floor. As she sat, a short blue flash indicated that a volumetric field activated to seal her in."Clever," she said and put her hands on the table. She looked the man straight in the eyes. He was not scary at all. Her late masters were scary, he was just a man. "Ask your questions if you must." Rana sad and waited.
Nomura sighed. "I must." His voice held little emotion. He turned to the Neko behind him, who'd followed the entire way with her hand on her baton. "Mira-san, bring us some tea. The prisoner has piqued my thirst."
Mira rolled her eyes and left the room, leaving Nomura to turn on a small device on the middle of the table. It looked like a recording device for a later review of the session via holoplayer. Nomura put it aside and opened up a folder that had been left on the table for him.
"Name?"
As Rana heard that she started laughing. She shook her head in disbelief and look at the magistrate interrogatin her. "You Yamatians are so funny you know. You lead me here, saying my name about three times and this is your first question? Do you also want me to tell you my rank? Or that I have genetic tattoo on my left buttocks? Any other questions about things you already know so we could get that aside?"
"This is for the record." Namura said. He blinked at her with a bit of frustration beginning to show. "State your name, Prisoner."
"Hokay," she repleied, still smiling. "My name is Rana. Happy now?" She asked and giggled. She hoped to get the man angry, if not for nothing else it would make his interrogation sloppy and he would be punished. Rana hoped so at least.
Nomura ignored the rest. "Rank, and prisoner number, now. Then we will begin the session."
Rana smirked. "I am Superior Elite of light infantry. I don't remember my prisoner tag really. Maybe you little whore Mira can remind me when she gets back with the tea." Upon her face a happy cheeful smile appeared to annoy him even more. Nomura sighed again.
"This is Prisoner XK-3311, an NMX Nekovalkyrja named 'Rana'. She was captured by Nepleslian marines under order of their 4th fleet and transferred to this facility earlier this year." Nomura spoke with an official tone, "Under our care, she has posed little resistance to standard routine, except to make the occasional smart remark. I am Nomura Ishitake, a Star Army of Yamatai Secretary of Prisoner Processing, for Ketsurui Prison. This is her first counciling session. Now, let's get started, shall we? Rana, how do you feel today?"
"Oh just lovely!" Rana spoke out with played cheerfullness. "Just this morning I woke up in my nice little gray cell and had another time of not doing anything. TIme just flies by. How dou you feel today Ishitake-sama?" She asked back with smile on her face.
"This is not my counciling session." Nomura replied stiffly, "Moving on, let's discuss your role in the NMX army. What did you do as 'light infantry'?"
Rana looked at him and smile went away. That tactic did not work on the man apparently. He was a bore and Rana was getting bored. She might as well get on with this. "As member of light infantry I did my best to to fight against petty enemies who refused to join in reunification of the known universe. Aka you and other foolish races. As of my duties as Superior Elite of the light infantry and made sure everyone did their duty in way pleasing to our masters. Does that answer your question?"
Nomura didn't skip a beat before continuing, "You said 'reunification'. This is an interesting term to use. What gives you the idea that the universe was ever unified under your masters?"
Rana scowled and looked at the man. "Well the masters told us, they are unificating the universe. You people refused to join them. It is only rational you deserved death." She said plainly.
Nomura took a brief smirk to his lips at this notion. "Why?" Rana looked at the ceiling and leaned back in the chair, setting her hands on volumetrics holding her in place. "Well unification of the universe is good and noble cause. You oppose it for your petty needs." Green-haired neko explained to man in front of her.
"Unification certainly sounds like a just and orderly proposition." Nomura checked behind him for Mira, looking for his tea while he talked, "However; you must agree that unification shouldn't be under certain rulers. How would you feel if Nepleslians unified the universe and brought all the stars under their rule?"
"Checking for you lover?" Rana asked as the man turned around. "I am not even sure I need to think about such things. Nepleslians are weak and pitiful. It is not possible for them to unifiy even themselves." Neko simply stated with shrug of her shoulders.
Momentarily, Mira returned with a steaming kettle and a single teacup and placed them in frot of Nomura. He smiled briefly to her politely and ushered her out of the room again before pouring himself a cup and dipping the teabag.
"So you can smile!" Rana joked and smiled again. As Mira left the room she said more. "So a neko can give you a smile on your face. No surprise here. You all man are just lustful bastards after all."
"It is polite to smile at someone who brings you tea, regardless of your attraction to them." Nomura didn't wipe the smile off of his face completely to respond, as if the tea had actually lifted his spirits somewhat. Although the real reason for his smile was that Rana was wandering into his trap. "Now, let's get back to the discussion at hand. You agree that Nepleslians are unfit to unify the galaxy. What makes your former masters any more certified to do this?"
"Have you ever met one of my masters?" Rana asked the man back.
"Let us assume for the record that I have not." Namura said calmly. He'd just interviewed an NMX spy the day before, signing the execution papers before he'd left it there trapped in a Geshrin body that would soon be incinerated. It was not a pleasant interview. "Please, tell me how the NMX are qualified to rule the galaxy."
"If nothing else, they are more qualified then anyone else. But," Rana paused before continuing. "If you ever mean one, singe mention of them would cause your face to show fear. Apart from the fact that they are incredibly powerful in matter of physical, they also have great minds. The proper masters I mean, not the crabs and such. Those are just officers speaking in their names. Misshu commanders are the masters and if you ever met one, you would probably soil your pants and kneel before it. Asking for forgiveness."
"Did you enjoy the presence of these powerful beings, Prisoner?" Nakamura sipped at his tea after the question, eyeing the papers in front of him for clues.
Rana looked aside. She was thinking a little before answeing. No she did not enjoy it. No one could enjoy the masters or their attention. They are rulers. "I..." she said, but paused for a while a little put back by the question. "I could see their greatness," she said in the end.
"My yes," Namura nodded sagely, "I'm sure that was quite an experience. But it does not answer my question. Did you enjoy your servitude with them?"
Rana was quiet not answering. It easy to see the sudden flow of the conversation made her uncomfortable. She wondered if he was trying to break her resolve. "It.. does not matter if I enjoyed it. Masters gave me life and as a exchange served. I do my duty and in five years they will take care of me. That is how it works, masters are wise."
"Have you ever met anyone who'd served for five years and been released?" Nakamura pressed harder, his eyes now lighting up. He was on the trail to a revelation, he was sure of it.
"Well.." Rana could answer this question quite easily. "Since our masters uses as only since year 31 of your calendar, then none could be relased now, could it?" She said with a little smirk.
"Perhaps that is the point. How do you know you will be released? The war certainly isn't going well for your masters any longer." Nomura set down the cup and stood from his chair to close the door. "They can use all the manpower thay can get right now. We know how they can often change their minds. They like servants more than liabilities, I'm sure. We both know they will simply order something to happen if they need it to. What is to keep them from ordering a change in the conditions of service?"
"And what if suddenly all the suns in the universe have exploded?" Rana asked him back, smirking more. "If I asked what-if questions all the time I would not do anything else. Yes I see you point, you are trying to show me that my master are not that great. Nonetheless, they are the ones that gave me life."
"I gave life to my daughter, and yet she has decided to leave my house and seek education so that she can be a doctor." Nomura began his anecdote with a hint of wistful reserve, pacing around his chair all the while. "This is something I hoped for, and accepted. She will serve the greater good. I do not fight this. Why do you think I am this way, Prisoner?"
"Oh and how my years did she spent listening to you, before you set her free to do her own bidding?" She asked him, tilting her head to the side.
"She spent many years living in my house. I fed her and clothed her until she was old enough to begin her education. She stayed of her own volition for nearly a year before leaving. I've never asked her to 'serve' me. In fact, one could easily say that I served her, feeding her and tending to her as a child." Nomura seemed to take a great interest in the corner of the room, running a white-gloved finger over the wall and inspecting it for dust. He was just waiting now, waiting for the slip. 'One wrong move, Rana-san, and you are mine.', he thought.
Rana was driven back a little yet again. Her masters sure clother and fed her. Uniforms and the same rations every day. She was not sure how Yamatians feed their children or clothe them, but she was sure it was incomparable. But all that care was what make them weak. Yes her masters were cruel, but that was what was making them strong. Rana just looked to her side and stayed silent for now.
Nomura peeked over his shoulder at her. He turned back to the wall as if his script were printed there for him to read aloud, "You have a child, do you not, Rana?" He used her actual name this time.
Rana looked up to him again. Him facing away was annoying her. She bit her lips and looked around in the room for a while. "Child?" She then said bitterly. "I mothered a youngling. It was expected to me. Every Elite should do so."
"Oh?" Nomura turned on his heel and sank back towards his chair, and his tea, "Did you love your youngling, Rana?"
Rana looked at him, anger easy to see in her face. She scowled and her lips shook. "I simply carried it and gave born to it. That is all." She forced herself to say and looked away.
"I see." Nomura nodded again and sipped his tea. "So, then. If, say, our prisoner transfer included a youngling that supposedly belonged to you... There would be no issue with us giving the child to a Yamataian family who's interested in adopting an orphaned NMX refugee child?"
Rana forced herself from showing any reaction. She simply sighed and kept looking away. "How should I even know that you are not lying? Also that is impossible, my daughet is an NMX neko. She is as faithfull to our masters as I am." Rana said rather quietly. Her questioner could not be sure if she was really trying to persuade him or herself.
Nomura glanced over Rana's face, taking stock of her form and her features for a moment. Then he emptied his cup and poured more hot water over another teabag. "I imagine she would make for a beautiful Minkan woman, if she favors her mother. You know, a child doesn't know its loyalties. Surely you must remember your childhood? Oh, I'm sorry. You never were a youngling, were you? Born full-sized, yes?"
"Yes," Rana said. Her face was showing how unpleasant the disscussion was to her. "I was created in one of the mass cloning facilities." She simply stated not going too much into her origin.
Nomura already had that information, after all. He was just going over it for effect. "Let me put it to you this way; such a child, if we have one, will need to be taken care of. Even if she is at the same mental capacity as an eighteen year old Minkan, she will need to adjust to our ways. She will need to be cared for while she chooses her route in life." Nomura fanned at the steam rising from his new cup of tea. "Many parents like the idea of hosting a child who only wishes to better itself."
Rana turned back to face him. Her face was expression-less. "If such a thing should happen. What does it have to do with me." She said, but then she looked him straight in the eyes. "Or should I say, what exactly do you want from me?"
Nomura sat silently for a moment and flipped through his papers. A picture of Rana slid out with some medical reports as he filtered through the information, looking for nothing in particular. Eventually, he spoke again, without looking up from his work. "Oh, nothing I suppose. It is as you said, you merely carried the child. If you care nothing for it, then I suppose this is as moot a conversation as any. I will not discuss it any further. We can leave the rest of the information behind... Let's talk about-"
"OKAY!" Rana shouted suddenly. She hit the table with he palms and leaned against the table as much as the table let her. "I do bloody care about the youngling. Happy now? I am a person and I care about a child that came from within me. If there is chance for her to lead more happy life then what do you want me to do?"
Nomura smiled back at Rana, a broad grin that concealed snake-like cunning. He took pride in having lead her right to him through the darkened mist of NMX thought-termination. The Minkan stood up as well, putting his palms flat on the table just as she had. He leaned forward until his hair was pushed back by the volumetric field. They were so close, eye-to-eye. "I want you to lead a happy and productive life as well, Rana-san." He said softly.
Rana smirked again, still looking in his eyes. The mand in front of her played her and she knew it. He knew about just the thing to get to her and he used it. Well played. She migh as well renounce any master by now. There was no chance of getting freedom anyway. Rana is just weak neko, her mind was not set to withstand this. "And how exactly would you like to do that?" She asked him with interest in her voice.
"We have facilities." Nomura backed away a little, "Places where you can learn about our way of life in relative security. After you've served you sentence for your crimes, of course. But with co-operation, we can give you a life of your own. In time, you would be able to see your daughter. Perhaps she will have grown into something, a lawyer or a police officer?"
Nomura depressed a button on the recording device, which caused a light near the console to flash. Stirring noises could be heard at the desk outside. Nomura continued appealing to her. "We want the same thing, I think. You and I both want the prisoners interned here to live healthy, normal lives. There don't have to be any masters any more. You can serve your time and integrate. Unify. All we ask is for your co-operation in helping us free more of your sisters, and brothers even, from your masters."
Mira entered the room again, holding a sheath of papers. She placed them in front of Nomura and started gathering the tea set. He waved her away again before she could take it, though. He pushed the papers in front of Rana, the volumetric field giving for just a second to let him in. "If you sign this, then next time we speak, you can talk to me about your unit movements and orders. After that, an introduction to a proper facility will be in order until you serve your sentence."
Rana smiled and looked at the papers, reading few first lines of kanji. She siged then and looked back at the man. "Oh I see a simple betrayal aways from happy life. Afre I serve my sentence of course. Well, Let's say I would be willing to tell you..... there is something I want first." She paused for a while, her face turned into stone. Rana was really serious right now. "Is my daughter here? I will know her when I see her. It was I who gave her the looks she has and the personality after all."
"Your daughter is not at this facility, nor was she ever." Nomura replied. "She was processed through a different department when we realized how young she was. I have not met her, though I know of her. I should say this, however; If you were to relocate to the facility in Kyoto... She would be permitted to visit you. If she chooses to do so. Remember, she serves no master, so she would have to want to see her mother. I imagine she must, though."
"I see," Rana said calmly and leaned back in her chair. "I simply have to trust you don't I? I give up the information and you will make my life better and let my daughter see me? How simply. I would like to believe you, I really would." She picked up the paper and looked at them again. "Pen." Her hand reached forward. A pen appeared shortly in Nomura's hand, again going through the volumetric field and into Rana's hand.
Rana simply took it without any act of agression. She took papers and signed them. She then sighed and handed them back to the side of the field. "Now hear me. I was part of Light infantry for 2 years. I know how to kill a man in various way and had extensive training in making people suffer for my last masters. Should you betray my trust, I will run away. Find you and make you suffer. Is that clear Nomura-sama?" She asked him, her voice again serious, her eyes piercing his.
Nomura had heard similar threats more times than he could count in the last week alone. He looked back at Rana with a stony face and slid the most recent cup of tea into her section of the volumetric display. He hadn't drank from it yet, so it seemed as if this one was intended for her.
"I have other duties to attend to, Rana." He said, waving his ID card over the door. "I will return to speak with you later. There is a magazine under the papers if you'd like to read, and Mira will escort you back to your cell if you call her. Of course, if you change your mind about our agreement, simply tell her and someone else will see to your care from that point."
"Thank you," she said and took the tea. Having something other then water would be nice. "Have a pleasant day Nomura-sama. I will see you later, when I will be busy with my betrayal. You will want your information after all. Thanks for the magazine though, I guess I should start with my induction into happy life you promised." She said, giving him a nod and smile. Then she picked up the cup and sipped of the black tea.
Nomura nodded briefly to Rana and flung the door open. Mira met him halfway down the hall. As the door swung shut, Rana would be able to see him standing in front of the cell where the other Neko had been making faces at him earlier.
"Prisoner Number XK-3315, Sato. Please move to the back of your cell."
As Namura turned the corner of the military cell-block, he spied a few YNP detectives booking a Nepleslian who'd aided the NMX. He acknowledged them briefly before moving past them and into the hall where the other NMX prisoners were kept. The cells were plain, as were the decorations on the walls. Nomura signaled calmly to one of the Nekos behind the watch desk as he reached the end of the hall and she rose to join him in front of the cell of his choice. Behind them, one of the prisoners was making faces and shoving her arms out the bars at them.
"Prisoner Number XK-3311, Rana." Nomura didn't have to clear his throat before he spoke despite his prolonged silence. He adressed the prisoner in the cell before them, ignoring her sister making faces behind them. "Move to the back of your cell."
Rana looked up. She was sitting on her bed not doin anything. Just thinking. She wished for something to do, something to keep her mind occupied. That was a good way. If she had something to do, she would not have to think about bad things. Now they came for her again. To ask questions and try to convince her to do things against her masters.
"Right, right." She said, stood up and moved to the back of her cell as told. Tall neko stopped there and looked at her captor. She smirked to show him she was not afraid. Well she was not afraid of physical punishments and torture at least.
Nomura made no visible reaction to her smile, instead waving his proximity card over the cell's door. It slid open noiselessy and the Neko accompanying him walked in and put a firm hand around Rana's right arm. Nomura turned briefly to glance at the prisoner in the cell behind him before continuing. "You'll have to come this way, Rana. Counciling session."
Rana tossed herself to shake the nekoe's arm off. Act of defiance if nothing else. "Oh you mean interrogation. Well let's go then. I hope there will be tea." She said and laughed again walking by the open doors, not looking at the Yamataian man. She considered punching him or kicking him, but decided not to. At least not right away. Although the Neko who'd grabbed her reached for a baton, Nomura waved her away and led the way to the end of the hall, where a simple door awaited them. The sterile surroundings seemed to become even more so here, where the grey walls gave way to a white, windowless door. Nomura swiped his card again and the door swung inward to reveal an equally white, windowless room which was furnished with a simple table and chairs on opposite sides. Nomura took the chair closest to the door and motioned for Rana to sit across from him.
Even without his gesture, Rana knew where her place was. She moved to another chair and sit, noticing that it was screwed to the floor. As she sat, a short blue flash indicated that a volumetric field activated to seal her in."Clever," she said and put her hands on the table. She looked the man straight in the eyes. He was not scary at all. Her late masters were scary, he was just a man. "Ask your questions if you must." Rana sad and waited.
Nomura sighed. "I must." His voice held little emotion. He turned to the Neko behind him, who'd followed the entire way with her hand on her baton. "Mira-san, bring us some tea. The prisoner has piqued my thirst."
Mira rolled her eyes and left the room, leaving Nomura to turn on a small device on the middle of the table. It looked like a recording device for a later review of the session via holoplayer. Nomura put it aside and opened up a folder that had been left on the table for him.
"Name?"
As Rana heard that she started laughing. She shook her head in disbelief and look at the magistrate interrogatin her. "You Yamatians are so funny you know. You lead me here, saying my name about three times and this is your first question? Do you also want me to tell you my rank? Or that I have genetic tattoo on my left buttocks? Any other questions about things you already know so we could get that aside?"
"This is for the record." Namura said. He blinked at her with a bit of frustration beginning to show. "State your name, Prisoner."
"Hokay," she repleied, still smiling. "My name is Rana. Happy now?" She asked and giggled. She hoped to get the man angry, if not for nothing else it would make his interrogation sloppy and he would be punished. Rana hoped so at least.
Nomura ignored the rest. "Rank, and prisoner number, now. Then we will begin the session."
Rana smirked. "I am Superior Elite of light infantry. I don't remember my prisoner tag really. Maybe you little whore Mira can remind me when she gets back with the tea." Upon her face a happy cheeful smile appeared to annoy him even more. Nomura sighed again.
"This is Prisoner XK-3311, an NMX Nekovalkyrja named 'Rana'. She was captured by Nepleslian marines under order of their 4th fleet and transferred to this facility earlier this year." Nomura spoke with an official tone, "Under our care, she has posed little resistance to standard routine, except to make the occasional smart remark. I am Nomura Ishitake, a Star Army of Yamatai Secretary of Prisoner Processing, for Ketsurui Prison. This is her first counciling session. Now, let's get started, shall we? Rana, how do you feel today?"
"Oh just lovely!" Rana spoke out with played cheerfullness. "Just this morning I woke up in my nice little gray cell and had another time of not doing anything. TIme just flies by. How dou you feel today Ishitake-sama?" She asked back with smile on her face.
"This is not my counciling session." Nomura replied stiffly, "Moving on, let's discuss your role in the NMX army. What did you do as 'light infantry'?"
Rana looked at him and smile went away. That tactic did not work on the man apparently. He was a bore and Rana was getting bored. She might as well get on with this. "As member of light infantry I did my best to to fight against petty enemies who refused to join in reunification of the known universe. Aka you and other foolish races. As of my duties as Superior Elite of the light infantry and made sure everyone did their duty in way pleasing to our masters. Does that answer your question?"
Nomura didn't skip a beat before continuing, "You said 'reunification'. This is an interesting term to use. What gives you the idea that the universe was ever unified under your masters?"
Rana scowled and looked at the man. "Well the masters told us, they are unificating the universe. You people refused to join them. It is only rational you deserved death." She said plainly.
Nomura took a brief smirk to his lips at this notion. "Why?" Rana looked at the ceiling and leaned back in the chair, setting her hands on volumetrics holding her in place. "Well unification of the universe is good and noble cause. You oppose it for your petty needs." Green-haired neko explained to man in front of her.
"Unification certainly sounds like a just and orderly proposition." Nomura checked behind him for Mira, looking for his tea while he talked, "However; you must agree that unification shouldn't be under certain rulers. How would you feel if Nepleslians unified the universe and brought all the stars under their rule?"
"Checking for you lover?" Rana asked as the man turned around. "I am not even sure I need to think about such things. Nepleslians are weak and pitiful. It is not possible for them to unifiy even themselves." Neko simply stated with shrug of her shoulders.
Momentarily, Mira returned with a steaming kettle and a single teacup and placed them in frot of Nomura. He smiled briefly to her politely and ushered her out of the room again before pouring himself a cup and dipping the teabag.
"So you can smile!" Rana joked and smiled again. As Mira left the room she said more. "So a neko can give you a smile on your face. No surprise here. You all man are just lustful bastards after all."
"It is polite to smile at someone who brings you tea, regardless of your attraction to them." Nomura didn't wipe the smile off of his face completely to respond, as if the tea had actually lifted his spirits somewhat. Although the real reason for his smile was that Rana was wandering into his trap. "Now, let's get back to the discussion at hand. You agree that Nepleslians are unfit to unify the galaxy. What makes your former masters any more certified to do this?"
"Have you ever met one of my masters?" Rana asked the man back.
"Let us assume for the record that I have not." Namura said calmly. He'd just interviewed an NMX spy the day before, signing the execution papers before he'd left it there trapped in a Geshrin body that would soon be incinerated. It was not a pleasant interview. "Please, tell me how the NMX are qualified to rule the galaxy."
"If nothing else, they are more qualified then anyone else. But," Rana paused before continuing. "If you ever mean one, singe mention of them would cause your face to show fear. Apart from the fact that they are incredibly powerful in matter of physical, they also have great minds. The proper masters I mean, not the crabs and such. Those are just officers speaking in their names. Misshu commanders are the masters and if you ever met one, you would probably soil your pants and kneel before it. Asking for forgiveness."
"Did you enjoy the presence of these powerful beings, Prisoner?" Nakamura sipped at his tea after the question, eyeing the papers in front of him for clues.
Rana looked aside. She was thinking a little before answeing. No she did not enjoy it. No one could enjoy the masters or their attention. They are rulers. "I..." she said, but paused for a while a little put back by the question. "I could see their greatness," she said in the end.
"My yes," Namura nodded sagely, "I'm sure that was quite an experience. But it does not answer my question. Did you enjoy your servitude with them?"
Rana was quiet not answering. It easy to see the sudden flow of the conversation made her uncomfortable. She wondered if he was trying to break her resolve. "It.. does not matter if I enjoyed it. Masters gave me life and as a exchange served. I do my duty and in five years they will take care of me. That is how it works, masters are wise."
"Have you ever met anyone who'd served for five years and been released?" Nakamura pressed harder, his eyes now lighting up. He was on the trail to a revelation, he was sure of it.
"Well.." Rana could answer this question quite easily. "Since our masters uses as only since year 31 of your calendar, then none could be relased now, could it?" She said with a little smirk.
"Perhaps that is the point. How do you know you will be released? The war certainly isn't going well for your masters any longer." Nomura set down the cup and stood from his chair to close the door. "They can use all the manpower thay can get right now. We know how they can often change their minds. They like servants more than liabilities, I'm sure. We both know they will simply order something to happen if they need it to. What is to keep them from ordering a change in the conditions of service?"
"And what if suddenly all the suns in the universe have exploded?" Rana asked him back, smirking more. "If I asked what-if questions all the time I would not do anything else. Yes I see you point, you are trying to show me that my master are not that great. Nonetheless, they are the ones that gave me life."
"I gave life to my daughter, and yet she has decided to leave my house and seek education so that she can be a doctor." Nomura began his anecdote with a hint of wistful reserve, pacing around his chair all the while. "This is something I hoped for, and accepted. She will serve the greater good. I do not fight this. Why do you think I am this way, Prisoner?"
"Oh and how my years did she spent listening to you, before you set her free to do her own bidding?" She asked him, tilting her head to the side.
"She spent many years living in my house. I fed her and clothed her until she was old enough to begin her education. She stayed of her own volition for nearly a year before leaving. I've never asked her to 'serve' me. In fact, one could easily say that I served her, feeding her and tending to her as a child." Nomura seemed to take a great interest in the corner of the room, running a white-gloved finger over the wall and inspecting it for dust. He was just waiting now, waiting for the slip. 'One wrong move, Rana-san, and you are mine.', he thought.
Rana was driven back a little yet again. Her masters sure clother and fed her. Uniforms and the same rations every day. She was not sure how Yamatians feed their children or clothe them, but she was sure it was incomparable. But all that care was what make them weak. Yes her masters were cruel, but that was what was making them strong. Rana just looked to her side and stayed silent for now.
Nomura peeked over his shoulder at her. He turned back to the wall as if his script were printed there for him to read aloud, "You have a child, do you not, Rana?" He used her actual name this time.
Rana looked up to him again. Him facing away was annoying her. She bit her lips and looked around in the room for a while. "Child?" She then said bitterly. "I mothered a youngling. It was expected to me. Every Elite should do so."
"Oh?" Nomura turned on his heel and sank back towards his chair, and his tea, "Did you love your youngling, Rana?"
Rana looked at him, anger easy to see in her face. She scowled and her lips shook. "I simply carried it and gave born to it. That is all." She forced herself to say and looked away.
"I see." Nomura nodded again and sipped his tea. "So, then. If, say, our prisoner transfer included a youngling that supposedly belonged to you... There would be no issue with us giving the child to a Yamataian family who's interested in adopting an orphaned NMX refugee child?"
Rana forced herself from showing any reaction. She simply sighed and kept looking away. "How should I even know that you are not lying? Also that is impossible, my daughet is an NMX neko. She is as faithfull to our masters as I am." Rana said rather quietly. Her questioner could not be sure if she was really trying to persuade him or herself.
Nomura glanced over Rana's face, taking stock of her form and her features for a moment. Then he emptied his cup and poured more hot water over another teabag. "I imagine she would make for a beautiful Minkan woman, if she favors her mother. You know, a child doesn't know its loyalties. Surely you must remember your childhood? Oh, I'm sorry. You never were a youngling, were you? Born full-sized, yes?"
"Yes," Rana said. Her face was showing how unpleasant the disscussion was to her. "I was created in one of the mass cloning facilities." She simply stated not going too much into her origin.
Nomura already had that information, after all. He was just going over it for effect. "Let me put it to you this way; such a child, if we have one, will need to be taken care of. Even if she is at the same mental capacity as an eighteen year old Minkan, she will need to adjust to our ways. She will need to be cared for while she chooses her route in life." Nomura fanned at the steam rising from his new cup of tea. "Many parents like the idea of hosting a child who only wishes to better itself."
Rana turned back to face him. Her face was expression-less. "If such a thing should happen. What does it have to do with me." She said, but then she looked him straight in the eyes. "Or should I say, what exactly do you want from me?"
Nomura sat silently for a moment and flipped through his papers. A picture of Rana slid out with some medical reports as he filtered through the information, looking for nothing in particular. Eventually, he spoke again, without looking up from his work. "Oh, nothing I suppose. It is as you said, you merely carried the child. If you care nothing for it, then I suppose this is as moot a conversation as any. I will not discuss it any further. We can leave the rest of the information behind... Let's talk about-"
"OKAY!" Rana shouted suddenly. She hit the table with he palms and leaned against the table as much as the table let her. "I do bloody care about the youngling. Happy now? I am a person and I care about a child that came from within me. If there is chance for her to lead more happy life then what do you want me to do?"
Nomura smiled back at Rana, a broad grin that concealed snake-like cunning. He took pride in having lead her right to him through the darkened mist of NMX thought-termination. The Minkan stood up as well, putting his palms flat on the table just as she had. He leaned forward until his hair was pushed back by the volumetric field. They were so close, eye-to-eye. "I want you to lead a happy and productive life as well, Rana-san." He said softly.
Rana smirked again, still looking in his eyes. The mand in front of her played her and she knew it. He knew about just the thing to get to her and he used it. Well played. She migh as well renounce any master by now. There was no chance of getting freedom anyway. Rana is just weak neko, her mind was not set to withstand this. "And how exactly would you like to do that?" She asked him with interest in her voice.
"We have facilities." Nomura backed away a little, "Places where you can learn about our way of life in relative security. After you've served you sentence for your crimes, of course. But with co-operation, we can give you a life of your own. In time, you would be able to see your daughter. Perhaps she will have grown into something, a lawyer or a police officer?"
Nomura depressed a button on the recording device, which caused a light near the console to flash. Stirring noises could be heard at the desk outside. Nomura continued appealing to her. "We want the same thing, I think. You and I both want the prisoners interned here to live healthy, normal lives. There don't have to be any masters any more. You can serve your time and integrate. Unify. All we ask is for your co-operation in helping us free more of your sisters, and brothers even, from your masters."
Mira entered the room again, holding a sheath of papers. She placed them in front of Nomura and started gathering the tea set. He waved her away again before she could take it, though. He pushed the papers in front of Rana, the volumetric field giving for just a second to let him in. "If you sign this, then next time we speak, you can talk to me about your unit movements and orders. After that, an introduction to a proper facility will be in order until you serve your sentence."
Rana smiled and looked at the papers, reading few first lines of kanji. She siged then and looked back at the man. "Oh I see a simple betrayal aways from happy life. Afre I serve my sentence of course. Well, Let's say I would be willing to tell you..... there is something I want first." She paused for a while, her face turned into stone. Rana was really serious right now. "Is my daughter here? I will know her when I see her. It was I who gave her the looks she has and the personality after all."
"Your daughter is not at this facility, nor was she ever." Nomura replied. "She was processed through a different department when we realized how young she was. I have not met her, though I know of her. I should say this, however; If you were to relocate to the facility in Kyoto... She would be permitted to visit you. If she chooses to do so. Remember, she serves no master, so she would have to want to see her mother. I imagine she must, though."
"I see," Rana said calmly and leaned back in her chair. "I simply have to trust you don't I? I give up the information and you will make my life better and let my daughter see me? How simply. I would like to believe you, I really would." She picked up the paper and looked at them again. "Pen." Her hand reached forward. A pen appeared shortly in Nomura's hand, again going through the volumetric field and into Rana's hand.
Rana simply took it without any act of agression. She took papers and signed them. She then sighed and handed them back to the side of the field. "Now hear me. I was part of Light infantry for 2 years. I know how to kill a man in various way and had extensive training in making people suffer for my last masters. Should you betray my trust, I will run away. Find you and make you suffer. Is that clear Nomura-sama?" She asked him, her voice again serious, her eyes piercing his.
Nomura had heard similar threats more times than he could count in the last week alone. He looked back at Rana with a stony face and slid the most recent cup of tea into her section of the volumetric display. He hadn't drank from it yet, so it seemed as if this one was intended for her.
"I have other duties to attend to, Rana." He said, waving his ID card over the door. "I will return to speak with you later. There is a magazine under the papers if you'd like to read, and Mira will escort you back to your cell if you call her. Of course, if you change your mind about our agreement, simply tell her and someone else will see to your care from that point."
"Thank you," she said and took the tea. Having something other then water would be nice. "Have a pleasant day Nomura-sama. I will see you later, when I will be busy with my betrayal. You will want your information after all. Thanks for the magazine though, I guess I should start with my induction into happy life you promised." She said, giving him a nod and smile. Then she picked up the cup and sipped of the black tea.
Nomura nodded briefly to Rana and flung the door open. Mira met him halfway down the hall. As the door swung shut, Rana would be able to see him standing in front of the cell where the other Neko had been making faces at him earlier.
"Prisoner Number XK-3315, Sato. Please move to the back of your cell."
