I was worried I was going a bit too far with that section. ^^
But yeah. I'm not just trying to make the Numbers more human than they would otherwise be. I'm also trying to emphasize some aspects of them that don't really show up in StrikerS- or even aspects that can be inferred from their canon selves. Sein ends up being a generally good person, a bit of a pervert, and good at her job... just not always the best at thinking things through all the way. None of that really endears her to JS. Some of it is mitigated by her unique IS, the result of a mutation, but the rest? I figure there has to be something else there- so I have her giving 110% on everything.
Also, if the SI seems off in his time there? He's living that same game of Paranoia. His logs are censored, just for that reason.
**********
"Hi. Is this the Task Force 87 hotline? The anti-Syndicate one, that was on the news?"
I looked around the park, scanning the area through the Area Search globes I'd hidden up in a few strategically-placed trees. Good. Looks like full coverage. If they come for me, I'll see them coming.
"Yes, this is John Mustang. I'm calling to report an attack on a Syndicate compound? ...yes, I can hold."No hold music. That's a relief. Now to see if Uno's fake IDs hold up.
A few months ago, I'd had Uno set me up with a few aliases in the TSAB databases. This would be the first time I actually tried to use one of them. Oddly enough, bounty hunting doesn't
actually require proof of identity; who knew?
Anyway, I'd spent a few idle minutes, every so often, fleshing out the 'John Mustang' identity. Designed it a barrier jacket of its own... dropped by some stores on a couple of planets... and actually did a bit of surveying work, just so I could honestly say I had if asked. Made sure to leave documentation, too... and a couple of mistakes, just so I didn't look too good.
That night in jail was a real pain... though in my defense, he really shouldn't have slapped that woman, and I did avoid doing any permanent damage.
Three minutes on hold? They must be doing some checking. Hope it turns out okay- I really don't want to be burned so soon."Hello? Yes, this is John Mustang. I had some information on a crime scene-"
Don't you sound bored. Somebody wishes it was Friday.
"-yes, I know you must get a lot of calls like this, but this one's-"
Why do I get the feeling she's not listening to me?"-no, I didn't call the local constabulary first! Not city, not regional, not planetary! This is a Syndicate compound, I tell you, not some two-bit gang house!"
"-oh, yeah? How many 'non-organized crime networks' get their place burned down and blown up?"
That got her attention. FINALLY!
"I said the compound was burned. I saw the scorch marks, myself! Rubble went flying everywhere, too, so I'm pretty sure there was an explosion. Only thing is, none of the unconscious
goons there were hurt."
I should say not! I went to a lot of trouble to make sure of that!"Unconscious, as in stunned. I hunt bounties- I know how to tell when somebody's been knocked out by magic. They were all laid out, outside the compound. One of them-"
"Yes. Yes, exactly! Hands cupped around an unmarked data solid! Well, I think it was unmarked, anyway- didn't see a label, or anything."Okay, I think she believes me now.
"No, I didn't touch anything. Not even the ground! Minute I realized what I was looking at, I started flyin', just so I could get all the details without touchin' the crime scene. Did some scans, too, 'case you want them."
If they check, they'll find my magic signature all over the place. Now there's a reason for it."Even stunned the goons out front again, just to make sure they wouldn't escape."
And for it being on the goons, too."Nope. Once I did that, I transferred over here, just so's I could let you know what happened. Hasn't even been fifteen minutes."
[PROBABLE TRANSFER DETECTED]
[Sorry, Mal. Sort of busy here.]
Would've been ten, but you took FOREVER to actually start LISTENING TO ME.
"...can I hold for a minute or two? If that's what you want, sure."
"Oh, it won't be that long."Who- when did they- crap, Mal TOLD me somebody was coming! I turned around to look- and nearly freaked out then and there. Nearly. Still jumped a bit in shock.
There was a green-haired teenager in a white suit standing behind me, not ten feet away.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.
But yeah. I'm not just trying to make the Numbers more human than they would otherwise be. I'm also trying to emphasize some aspects of them that don't really show up in StrikerS- or even aspects that can be inferred from their canon selves. Sein ends up being a generally good person, a bit of a pervert, and good at her job... just not always the best at thinking things through all the way. None of that really endears her to JS. Some of it is mitigated by her unique IS, the result of a mutation, but the rest? I figure there has to be something else there- so I have her giving 110% on everything.
Also, if the SI seems off in his time there? He's living that same game of Paranoia. His logs are censored, just for that reason.
**********
"Hi. Is this the Task Force 87 hotline? The anti-Syndicate one, that was on the news?"
I looked around the park, scanning the area through the Area Search globes I'd hidden up in a few strategically-placed trees. Good. Looks like full coverage. If they come for me, I'll see them coming.
"Yes, this is John Mustang. I'm calling to report an attack on a Syndicate compound? ...yes, I can hold."No hold music. That's a relief. Now to see if Uno's fake IDs hold up.
A few months ago, I'd had Uno set me up with a few aliases in the TSAB databases. This would be the first time I actually tried to use one of them. Oddly enough, bounty hunting doesn't
actually require proof of identity; who knew?
Anyway, I'd spent a few idle minutes, every so often, fleshing out the 'John Mustang' identity. Designed it a barrier jacket of its own... dropped by some stores on a couple of planets... and actually did a bit of surveying work, just so I could honestly say I had if asked. Made sure to leave documentation, too... and a couple of mistakes, just so I didn't look too good.
That night in jail was a real pain... though in my defense, he really shouldn't have slapped that woman, and I did avoid doing any permanent damage.
Three minutes on hold? They must be doing some checking. Hope it turns out okay- I really don't want to be burned so soon."Hello? Yes, this is John Mustang. I had some information on a crime scene-"
Don't you sound bored. Somebody wishes it was Friday.
"-yes, I know you must get a lot of calls like this, but this one's-"
Why do I get the feeling she's not listening to me?"-no, I didn't call the local constabulary first! Not city, not regional, not planetary! This is a Syndicate compound, I tell you, not some two-bit gang house!"
"-oh, yeah? How many 'non-organized crime networks' get their place burned down and blown up?"
That got her attention. FINALLY!
"I said the compound was burned. I saw the scorch marks, myself! Rubble went flying everywhere, too, so I'm pretty sure there was an explosion. Only thing is, none of the unconscious
goons there were hurt."
I should say not! I went to a lot of trouble to make sure of that!"Unconscious, as in stunned. I hunt bounties- I know how to tell when somebody's been knocked out by magic. They were all laid out, outside the compound. One of them-"
"Yes. Yes, exactly! Hands cupped around an unmarked data solid! Well, I think it was unmarked, anyway- didn't see a label, or anything."Okay, I think she believes me now.
"No, I didn't touch anything. Not even the ground! Minute I realized what I was looking at, I started flyin', just so I could get all the details without touchin' the crime scene. Did some scans, too, 'case you want them."
If they check, they'll find my magic signature all over the place. Now there's a reason for it."Even stunned the goons out front again, just to make sure they wouldn't escape."
And for it being on the goons, too."Nope. Once I did that, I transferred over here, just so's I could let you know what happened. Hasn't even been fifteen minutes."
[PROBABLE TRANSFER DETECTED]
[Sorry, Mal. Sort of busy here.]
Would've been ten, but you took FOREVER to actually start LISTENING TO ME.
"...can I hold for a minute or two? If that's what you want, sure."
"Oh, it won't be that long."Who- when did they- crap, Mal TOLD me somebody was coming! I turned around to look- and nearly freaked out then and there. Nearly. Still jumped a bit in shock.
There was a green-haired teenager in a white suit standing behind me, not ten feet away.
My Unitarian Jihad Name is: Brother Atom Bomb of Courteous Debate. Get yours.
I've been writing a bit.