voidmissions | [M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Have an arched brow, Xehanort. Not of disapproval, but.

"They are hardly our friends in this position," he admits. "But outright antagonizing them before we know more is not necessarily the best choice, for now."

"I have yet to inflict any harm upon any of them," is the stiff, prompt response, expression going from neutral to guarded. "One may resist without violence."

"And one may antagonize without violence." But that's neither here nor there. He signs, reaching up to rub the bridge of his nose. "Nonetheless- until we know more, we certainly should be guarded in what we reveal. Though we have no idea how long or how closely we have been watched."

They most certainly are being monitored in here.

It's almost guaranteed they're being watched!

"Given our situation, doing anything but guilelessly telling them everything they want and letting them do what they want will likely be seen as antagonism." Sullenness creeps back in by degrees, gaze shifting from his King to the distant monitors. "If they're investigating the train, why are we being psychologically tortured? What need do they have of gagueing our strength and skills? Why didn't they simply ask for help instead of forcing us into their little game? They couldn't even ask questions without trying for emotional submission. And now we sit here, watching our fellows continue to be tortured for ... what?"

Beneath the shroud of his warm, comfy blanket, Xehanort's eyes narrow at those distant screens. "I think I spotted Even on one of those monitors. I don't know what I'm going to tell him later about us sitting here peacefully watching him suffer under someone else's forced tests, after all he's been through til now. But oh, we shouldn't antagonize the people responsible.."

There's a low disgusted noise. "I don't know about you, my Lord, but sitting here and 'not antagonizing them' feels very much like participating in the suffering going on right now in the name of 'simulated exercises'. It sounds like precisely the sort of thing I'd be doing in another few years."

Light willing, Xehanort would never. Will never. There is a long pause from Ansem as he studies the other man, before exhaling and moving to stand beside him.

"Xehanort."

He waits a moment to ensure he has the other's full attention.

"I am not suggesting we be tame and docile. It is becoming clear that they do not intend to stop any time soon; however. But if we can learn more about them by revealing some of our own history, I - and I only speak for myself, not for our fellows - am willing to tolerate certain indignities if it will lead to an alliance in the end."

There's another pause, and, somewhat quieter, he continues. "Radiant Garden has not seen war for generations. I am not a military strategist. However, I have studied our history, and in my own time between worlds, I sought knowledge in preparation for...confrontation. Many lessons led me to the same concept; know thy enemy."

What have you to fear from us? A question he had asked them. But now, he wonders; what do they fear, at all? And why is it leading them to use such methods?

"Tell me then, what have you learned from them so far to justify the continuation of our lack of antagonism in the face of what they are doing to us, and to those left behind?"

Not long ago he wouldn't have ever dared question Ansem. But things change. Time has been a harsh mistress, and the lessons it taught were cruel ones that left grievous wounds behind. It would be a long time before they healed. "Do you think they will do aught other than keep us here, watching these monitors? Do you believe they may enter and allow themselves to be questioned? There is nothing to be learned about one's enemies by sitting and staring at blank walls and torment-filled monitors and letting them do as they wish out of sight and out of reach."

There's a movement of blanket that suggests were he not burritoed, this would have come with gestures alongside it. "What are we to learn here in this closed off space? How are we to learn our enemy here? It is a wise sentiment, and one truly worth applying when it can be, but it seems wildly impractical given our situation."

"To justify?" He shakes his head. "I will not justify any of this, not at this point. But I did learn they claim to hold themselves to a law, sections of which dictate we will 'not be killed or deliberately injured'." He speaks as if quoting - which he is. "'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'. By this, we can learn they are answerable to a higher power - and that they have no fear in their current actions. And if they are answerable to a higher power, then this is far larger than it seems.

"Allow me to turn this around, and to explore your own thoughts. Assume we take a more defiant stance against those who have not only displayed the ability to limit our powers, but affect our very minds. I assume you felt them, during your interview." A slight tilt of the head. "What would you seek to accomplish?"

There's that disgusted noise again. "And yet here they are causing deliberate injury." Already breaking that law, aren't they! "Their laws clearly don't hold much weight." Theoretically being beholden to a higher power is no more comforting than being told they might, in theory, just be released in a few more days.

What WOULD he do?

The look turned on Ansem is outright shocked. "Master, did you not just caution against revealing too much?" He has plans, and he's not about to reveal them where anyone might have a microphone lurking! "Suffice it to say I have purposes and goals I would accomplish given the opportunity, and leave it at that until absolute privacy can be assured."

"So I did. Forgive me - I meant in the most general of terms." What amusement is displayed is mostly self-depreciating. "Though that tells me all I need to know."

Indeed. More than enough.

"...I trust your judgement in this matter. And I will say, it would do us no harm to have multiple purposes pursued at once. Be they diplomatic, or to be used if diplomacy fails."

For all that he wants to be optimistic about this...he is no fool.

[M15] ENEMY: UNKNOWN - THE INTERVIEW

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