[M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN - THE INTERVIEW

[voidmissions]

---

On opening their eyes, Voidtreckers will feel a sense of disorientation, a dizziness to their vision and inside their head. Both clear quickly, letting them remember where they came from: in the midst of a mission, some unknown entity jumping them, and then —

They're here. Wherever here is.
They stand in an empty room. The lighting of the room stings their eyes after how dark the rest of the station has been. The walls, ceiling and floor are all bright white, tiles. There is no visible door, no windows.

After the disorientation comes fear. The hairs on the back of their neck stand up. For those with danger sense, these senses are going haywire, even though any other abilities are still not working. The feeling can be pushed down, it is similar to the air of expectation at the start of a horror film, the anticipation of fear rather than being in a truly dangerous situation. It might be that they have been on the train long enough to have felt it before.

Heavy footsteps sound, it is almost impossible to tell where they are coming from as the echo through the empty space. The feeling of dread grows until part of the far wall slides open with a mechanical hiss.

Filling the doorway are two huge figures, around seven foot tall and bulky. They are in large metal suits, almost like power armour, black with highlights of gold. They wear a mask that covers their whole face. It is impossible to see the figure inside at all. Their breathing comes through heavy and raspy and when they walk their footsteps are heavy. The door closes behind them and their presence makes the room feel smaller. One of them scans a green light over the voidtrecker.

"Do not be alarmed. Under sections ninety six of Inter-dimensional law and on behalf of the Void Ministry we have intercepted Voidcraft designation Voidtrecker Express as part of ongoing investigations. You have been taking part in a simulated excercise to gauge your skill and strength. No harm shall come to you or your crew, you are protected by inter dimensional law. You have been chosen for questioning and we ask that you comply. You have the right to refuse our interview but we have the right to hold you until our investigation is complete or one week in standard void time has passed, whichever is longest. Complying with us will ensure our investigation is more efficient."

The inspector talking pauses here, as if giving the voidtrecker time to take in that information.

"Do you accept our interview?"

---

ENEMY: UNKNOWN

---

Comments

DAY 3

[voidmissions]

Demyx

[voidmissions]

[melodiouspacifist]

The train, for what it was worth, told them the Void Ministry was an enemy. Demyx had heard that line before, of course, and it was hard to say offhand which team happened to be right in this case.

He wouldn't know until later.

He did not panic when he found himself in a white room, but did glance around briefly. There wasn't any obvious or visible escape, that was an easy assessment. While the person or entity was speaking to him, he had his hands behind his back as though relaxed. He pulled at the darkness he knew was just waiting for him.

Nothing.

The only indication he'd attempted an escape was the twitch of his fingers, no more no less. He looked rather neutral in expression. He could refuse to answer questions, of course, however, he wouldn't learn anything that way.

So, Demyx smiled.

"Yeah, sure, I'll answer your questions!"

[voidtreckernpcs]

The figures stand silently, no sign if they knew what Demyx was trying or thinking. They let the silence sit, until he answered. Once he did the dread in the room lessened, an air of calm filling it instead.

"Your compliance is appreciated." One of them spoke, steady and sure. "Please confirm your name, age and time spent in the void as well as the system number of your homeworld if you know it."

[melodiouspacifist]

He flicked his eyes at the ceiling for but a split second, as though he were trying to decide where that strange feeling came from. Naturally, he wasn't intending on letting onto anything if he could help it.

"Name's Demyx." He answered with a cheerful grin. "I'm twenty-one...I think..and I've been around for five months."

He chuckled and shrugged helplessly at the last question. "I don't even know the name of my homeworld."

Elidibus

[voidmissions]

Hello there. Nice to meet you.

[wewillwewill]

Mortality has its disadvantages. Waking from whatever method used to capture him, Elidibus centers on himself, waiting for the disorientation and dizziness to pass.

Having had suspicions from an early point in this 'rescue operation' of its true nature, one thing Elidibus couldn't decide was whether those that disappeared early were coming to any harm. The possibilities of being removed from the rat maze puzzle did not equal safety, if you have long watched the variety of fates rats have ended up having after reaching the cheese at the end.

New mazes. Trickier ones. Ones that might become a lot more fatal in nature. And then after all was done, what was in store for them when the tests were at an end?

There was not much that could make the Ascian fear. Even the suffocating dampening of his senses and birthright this station had subjected him to had some familiarity to it; countless vessels inhabited, and several missions as well as the captivity by the train itself giving him quite a perspective.

So when a dread welled up so seemingly natural following clarity of his senses and invokes in an empty room and approaching footsteps, his eyes narrow. This isn't right, his instincts scream. Other than caution and wariness because of his supressed powers, this situation should not be invoking such fear in him. And yet it continues to do so, beating down until it's painfuly obvious the influence is an outside source.

This, along with the towering figures in their suits which come in and make the room seem all the smaller and oppressive, are met with a calm, polite facade and a faint smile. Picture perfect Emissary, waiting to be received by his hosts.

There is no surprise. He refuses to allow them to so easily have any more than they've already gleaned. Elidibus has been taking steps to insure there would be as little- at least by way of of the space station test- accurate data as possible. If not for others, then at least of himself.

"I see. Before I respond to your request," there is a subtle emphasis on the last word. "I would like to have you inform me of my full rights and protections under inter-dimensional law. If you are not able to list them by rote, I will accept a written copy to read ere we continue."

Elidibus studies the two 'suited' figures before him, looking for signs of whether it seems to be their nature or a type of armor meant for their protection. Or really, signs of anything which may be interesting to note, such as audio queues or body language, what is and isn't present.

"Please forgive my caution, but since our arrival at this station it appears our actual rights are distressingly few. As you've undertaken this investigation on behalf of the Void Ministry, may I inquire as to your affiliation? Whether it is the Ministry itself or another office, I would appreciate knowing the identities of those whom I am answering to and the nature of this investigation. Particularly if I and those you have detained are considered suspects in need of such extravagant precautions."

[voidtreckernpcs]

The oppressive feeling in the room only grows as Elidibus spoke and for a moment there was silence, the sort of silence that almost seemed loud in itself, filling the room. It seemed there was something more to it, though neither inspector moved.

"Section ninety six of International law gives the Inspection arm of the Void ministry the rights to conduct investigations on behalf of the void ministry and by their request. We are agents of the Inspection arm of the Void ministry, currently you and your crew are considered peoples of interest, if that changes will depend upon the investigation and the decision of a Void Committee." A pause.

"Under sections ninety seven through ninety nine your rights are thus. You will not be killed or deliberately injured during the investigation period. You have the right to the sustenance needed for your species. Your tethers will not be tampered with. Those chosen to be directly interviewed must consent to questioning. You have the right to silence and the right to terminate the interview at any time. Voidcrew can be held for one void week whilst investigations are underway though no individual should be held away from any other members of their crew for more than one void day. Do you understand these rights as spoken to you?"

[wewillwewill]

Elidibus muses over the increase of the oppressive atmosphere. Which he might feel but is perfectly capable of keeping himself calm through; his is the strength of will that survived far worse and restraining his power cannot take that away. On purpose the corners of his mouth turn upward as he watches the two politely in the silence. It's clear that he's sending a message of recognizing the effort.

Whether it was to attempt to cow him or to keep him from acting while they had a discussion are certainly two options to consider.

"I understand what you've told me," Elidibus agrees pleasantly. "And you are allowed to request consent and conduct these investigations while the one interviewed is compelled under duress?"

There is a pause as the Ascian politely gives a moment for a response to be made.

"I would be correct in assuming agreeing to the interview does not guarantee our immediate release following its conclusion, would I not?" He pauses and seems to reflect. "I believe you have also mentioned we may be held for one void week. Does this period begin with luring us to the space station and its exercise or only after we have been officially detained as I am now?"

He looks up again. "Is our voidcraft, the Voidtrecker Express, also being held? And are we in our rights to acquire it after the void week's period ends?" The smile grows ever so slightly wider.

"Presuming of course, you have not changed our status through your investigation's findings. Might I ask if we have the right of representation through your government's judicial process during this period of investigation?"

Freeza

[voidmissions]

[hoardsrealestate]

"Oh. This again."

Freeza gets to his feet, obviously more evolved for grasping and anchoring than standing on flat surfaces in normal gravity. He would rather float, but if enough of his ability is still missing, he will deal without.

"Point of inquiry: Is this some poorly concealed performance review for the ship and its assumed drivers? If it is, then I have no interest in taking part. If it is as you say, then I will hear your questions and consider answering them."

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Again?" A beat. "You speak as if you have been interviewed by us before. This is not a truth."

No answers to his enquiries. Just a question of their own.

[hoardsrealestate]

A sigh. "Forgive my being brusque but abduction does bring that out in a person. This is not the first time I have been pulled aside to answer questions by persons claiming to be directly involved with my... unconventional conveyance. Whatever it happens to be at the time."

Zelda

[voidmissions]

[wisdominshadows]

Well, Zelda notes as she looks her captors up and down, escape is right out. No tools, no magic, and if they're as formidable as they look she's as likely to take them down hand to hand as she would a pair of Iron Knuckles.

So for the moment her path is clear: watch, wait, see if she can get a grasp on the situation and her new friends, try not to add 'imprisonment' to her worryingly ever-growing list of involuntary relocations.

"Of course," she says, summoning her most winsome smile.

"I would be glad to be of service. But before I begin, might I request a chair? The past few days have been unpleasant and I'm feeling rather faint."

[voidtreckernpcs]

Standing in gear that obscures their figures, they stand motionless. But after a second from Zelda's request, a cube shape rises from the ground beside her, featureless as the room itself, to the level of her knees.

"Request granted," speaks one of the figures, and then the other- "Thank you for your cooperation. Please state your name, age, and your length of time within the void."

[wisdominshadows]

Interesting. Not magic, she thinks, but the cube emerged almost organically from the floor. The same way that the wall had opened, she remembers. These beings have a fine level of control over their environment.

And while you can normally get people to like you by having them do you favors, Zelda has the uneasy feeling that they're not going to fall for that little trick.

"Thank you," she says anyway, because there's no point in neglecting her manners, and sits down. One breath. Two.

And she begins.

"I am Zelda, Princess of Hyrule. I was brought aboard the train midway through the month of Domino and have remained aboard for the last ten months."

Ah. Well, isn't that interesting; she hadn't much thought of her birthday, but if the passage of time exactly corresponds between the train and Hyrule.... "I believe I turned eighteen about three months ago. It hasn't been a terribly relevant concern, so I've not kept a precise track."

Lan Jingyi

[voidmissions]

[jingyeets]

Jingyi, after days of this bullshit and his supreme unhappiness over having friends and Hanguang-jun end up out of contact and presumably abducted yet again, threw his hands up, staring at these two looming, strangely armoured individuals.

"You just said if I don't you're going to waste more of my time! What the hell are you even investigating about the Voidtrecker Express?" His hands fell back to his sides, barely redirected from crossing over his chest. "Yes, I agree to being interviewed. What's that code for anyway? Asking me for a report?"

Behind him, his tail lashed in agitation, irritation, and a slow coming down from the sheer adrenaline he'd felt when he first became aware of his shifted circumstances. He wasn't happy, and he wasn't shy about making that known, nor was he failing to pugnaciously stare down the two taller beings. Who cared if he'd been without access to his greater abilities for days? He sure as hell wasn't discounting himself.

(He sure as hell had no idea what personal armour like that and a serious case of heavy breathing amounted to either.)

[voidtreckernpcs]

Neither of the figures react to his irritation, standing motionless where they are, but presumably continuing to watch him themselves with their position. Finally, they move forward a few steps once he voices his agreement, to be in a conversational range.

"State your name, age, and your amount of time in the void," one speaks.

[jingyeets]

"What, you won't even pretend to ask politely?"

Now he crossed his arms over his chest. Did he have his sword with him? If he did, he held onto it while crossing his arms. He didn't so much as blink when they came into conversational range, but he also wasn't working with them on thin pretenses of this being a report (what the hell is an interview anyway) when they couldn't be bothered with courtesy themselves and had already relied on threatening bureaucracy.

So rude.

Zagreus

[voidmissions]

[dyingpro]

Honestly? This place feels more like home than anywhere else in his journey had. Windowless walls and a sense of danger around every corner, even the figures that tower over him authoritatively... it's familiar, and he's prepared for what's to come.

But when they do not, in fact, get ready to fight him, and instead scan him and speak to him with a moderate amount of respect, Zagreus tilts his head in confusion and slowly lowers Stygius from its ready position.

"... sure, I'll bite. But just to be clear, I'm not in trouble, and my friends aren't in danger?"

It's less a question of fact and more a request. If he complies with whatever they are searching for, then surely no harm will come to the others, right?

[voidtreckernpcs]

"Correct," speaks one of the cladded figures. They continue to stand at a distance, the air oppressive around the room. "No harm will intentionally come to those through the simulated exercise or during these interviews. We want to understand the situation of the voidcraft Voidtrecker Express, its passengers, and recent events that crew were present for."

"Everything in the simulated exercise is to ensure us time, and to deceive the voidcraft in bringing you here," explains the other.

[dyingpro]

Intentionally. That's telling right there. It doesn't mean no harm will come to the Voidtreckers at all. It means these mysterious Inspectors can hurt anyone and claim it was an accident. Zagreus narrows his multi-colored eyes a little, but keeps his tone friendly and jovial.

"Sounds fair enough. I'd be happy to share my experience with you." There's a pause as Zagreus looks between the two of them, trying to determine which one is supposed to be the Good Cop, and which one is supposed to be the Bad Cop. "So you mentioned interdimensional law, but I don't happen to have those in front of me, and I'm new to this whole 'traveling through the stars to other worlds' thing. Would you mind giving me a copy? Voidy doesn't seem to have treatises on interdimensional law on them anywhere, and we could really use that in the future to avoid any further incidents like this."

Yes, the prince just called the Voidtrecker Express 'Voidy' in front of the Investigators. No, he has no regrets.

"And what are your names, by the way? Or designations, if you're from a world that doesn't believe in the whole names thing. I'm Zagreus, son of Hades, if you've heard of him."