Session Start: Sat Jul 02 17:44:05 2005

<Ked> [Meanwhile...]
<Ked> [Friday, March 11, 2004 - 320 local time]
<Ked> Taki decided to ride along and supervise the handover of their prisoner to 
the Americans...
<Ked> The secretary has yet another black panel can and is driving it in her 
usual manner to the exchange site.
<Ked> [Session start]
* LadyNightshade sits in the back keeping a careful watch on the prisoner.
* LadyNightshade idly looks out the window trying to figure out how much longer.
<Secretary> Hey, Taki, you didn't have to come along.
<Secretary> I can push a limp body out of the van as well as you can...
<LadyNightshade> Yeah, but, well I wanted to. Who knows what might happen. Plus 
I think our side should be represented.
<Secretary> I'm here...?
<LadyNightshade> Well, yeah but you're not-- uh... You're just-- I really don't 
know what you are, honestly. I guess we're not supposed to know...
* Secretary speeds around a cloverleaf, and onto a darkened industrial lane in 
one of the western burbs.
<Secretary> ...yeah.
<Secretary> There's no helping that, I guess.
<LadyNightshade> And I kinda want to see what exactly they're going to do with 
him. You shouldn't have to watch anything like that.
<Secretary> Wait, wait, you're going WITH him?
<Secretary> Does Maya know?
<LadyNightshade> Um... Not exactly?
<LadyNightshade> I'll report to her after though.
* Secretary facepalms as the van careens onto a side street.
<Secretary> I don't suppose I could change your mind, Taki-sama...
<LadyNightshade> Why? What's the harm in watching?
<Secretary> Just... do you really trust them?  I mean REALLY trust them?
<LadyNightshade> Well, not entirely yet. But that's why I want to go. To know 
that the information we get from him is accurate.
<Secretary> And you don't think it's a risk?
<LadyNightshade> Of course it's a risk. But everything we do is. But if it helps 
to save lives in the future... then it's all worth it.
<Secretary> I could never do this job the way you do.
<Secretary> Pffffft.  Here we are.  Right on time.
<LadyNightshade> Well I suppose you don't have to.
* LadyNightshade looks around for who's there to meet them.
<Ked> There's another van coming towards you, slowing and stopping as it pulls 
alongside.
<Secretary> Well, I can't stop you, I guess.
<Ked> The van's side door rolls open.
<LadyNightshade> Don't worry, I can take care of myself.
* Guy is waiting in the other van.
* LadyNightshade opens the van side door, readying the body to be moved.
* LadyNightshade drags it out and over to the other van, climbing with it 
inside.
* Guy reaches across to help pull him in.
* Guy eyes Taki.
* LadyNightshade returns the look. She's not there to mess around.
* Secretary pulls away with only a slight squealing of tires.
<Guy> ^This wasn't part of the plan.^
<LadyNightshade> ^I'm just here to make sure our interests are represented.^
<Guy> ^Dammit, this wasn't the plan!^
<LadyNightshade> ^So do you want to contact your superiors about it or should 
I?^
* LadyNightshade reaches for her cellphone.
* Guy slams the door.
<Guy> ^I want to get the fuck out of here.^
<LadyNightshade> ^So drive.^
* Guy crawls up into the front seat, and puts the van in gear.  It starts 
rolling... and then there's a light *thump* on the roof.
<LadyNightshade> ^What was that?^
* LadyNightshade keeps her eyes alert.
* Guy has a gun out instantly.  ^What the fuck!^
<LadyNightshade> ^I'll look. Cover me.^
<Ked> A moment passes, then you can hear a frustrated growl through the roof 
panel.  Mitsuko sticks her head down in front of the windshield, her hair 
spilling out onto the hood.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> Goddamn it.
<Guy> ^Whoa.^
<LadyNightshade> ^Hold on.^
* Guy gets his gun up.  Mitsuko doesn't flinch.
* LadyNightshade opens the door and steps outside.
<LadyNightshade> What are you doing here?
<Mitsuko> What are YOU doing here?
<LadyNightshade> My job.
<Mitsuko> Same.
<LadyNightshade> You should be watching the Agency.
* Mitsuko flips down off the roof.  She's dressed in slightly disheveled ninja 
gear.
<Mitsuko> ...I'm supposed to watch you.  If you're with your friends, I can 
branch out a little.
<LadyNightshade> ... I can take care of myself.
<Mitsuko> Sure, Taki-sama, sure.
<Mitsuko> I'll just watch your back, all right?
<LadyNightshade> ... Look, you didn't want to involve yourself in our business. 
And this is very much our business. Do you expect to just ride along with us?
* Mitsuko taps Taki on the chest with a long, pointing finger.
<Mitsuko> If I let you go off by yourself on this stupid thing, and you get your 
ass kidnapped, you don't think your father isn't going to take it out of my 
hide?
<Guy> ^Girls... we need to get going...^
<Mitsuko> And this *is* foolish, Taki, to sneak off like this, telling no one.
<LadyNightshade> I'm not going to get kidnapped. There's no reason for them to-- 
^Just a second...^ Gah. Fine.
<Mitsuko> A good ninja is a team ninja.  Great!
* Mitsuko hops in the van.
<LadyNightshade> If you want to go, then go. But you're not going to stop me 
from going.
* LadyNightshade sighs, rather annoyed, then climbs in herself.
<Guy> ^What, now there's two of you?  This isn't a fucking taxi service.^
<LadyNightshade> ^Just drive.^
* LadyNightshade grumbles and rubs her temples.
* Guy drives.
<Ked> And drives, and drives, and drives, and drives... and it strikes Taki that 
she has no idea where they are going.
* LadyNightshade tries to keep track anyway.
<LadyNightshade> Two of us is going to be so much harder to explain...
<LadyNightshade> Especially someone they've never even seen before.
<Mitsuko> I'm sure your bullshitting skills are up to it.
<Mitsuko> If they'll let one in, two won't be a problem.
<Ked> Well, they've gone around the north end of the bay, and are heading 
through Chiba at the moment.  If Taki didn't know better, she'd say they were 
headed for the Palace.
<LadyNightshade> I hope so.
* Mitsuko rides unconcerned, eyes half-lidded.
* LadyNightshade kinda worries about that, but tries not to show her concern.
<Ked> The van rides on south... and eventually you *do* drive past the palace 
grounds.
* LadyNightshade purposefully ignores the place. Nope, she's never been there.
<Ked> The van finally slows soon after, and rolls through some checkpoints 
manned by American military types, though not in uniforms that she instantly 
recognizes.
* LadyNightshade looks like she's supposed to be there.
* LadyNightshade tries to get a count for the number of guards and the type of 
security they have around the place.
<Ked> A sign indicates that this is Kisarazu Air Base.  The van rolls back past 
a mixture of Japanese and US military aircraft and buildings, then into a 
hangar, up the rear ramp into an airplane... which closes behind them, and the 
airplane begins rolling.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<Mitsuko> Still wishing I wasn't here?
<Guy> ^I hope you weren't planning on doing anything tomorrow.^
<LadyNightshade> Um...
<Guy> ^Today, I mean.^
<LadyNightshade> ^So where we going?^
* LadyNightshade maintains her cool. Really. Shut up. Stop looking at her. -_-;
<Guy> ^Okinawa.  Nearest place we can process him with enough privacy.^
* LadyNightshade nods.
* LadyNightshade swallows and looks at Mitsuko. "Okinawa."
<Mitsuko> I can hear.
<LadyNightshade> Yeah.
* Guy climbs into the back, and looks more critically at the prisoner.
<Guy> ^You've got him wrapped up pretty good... and he's a bad mess.  Has he 
woken up at all?^
<LadyNightshade> ^No he hasn't that I'm aware of.^
<Guy> Mmmm.
* Guy goes through some first-aid motions, making sure that the guy isn't going 
to die on the way there.
<Guy> ^Okay, well, settle in.  This is going to be a few hours.^
* LadyNightshade nods.
* LadyNightshade says to Mitsuko. "It'll be a few hours."
<LadyNightshade> ^He didn't exactly receive the best of care. He didn't try and 
kill us at the best of times after all...^
<Mitsuko> No shit.
<Guy> ^Hey, I'm just the delivery boy.  You don't need to explain yourself to 
me.^
<LadyNightshade> ^Heh. Alright.^
* Guy wiggles back up to the front seat, and reclines it.
* LadyNightshade stretches out in her own seat, looking up at nothing in 
particular.
* Mitsuko is simply sitting perfectly still.  No one can tell if she's sleeping 
or not - her breathing is too slow for normal sleep.
<Ked> And, indeed, it's about two and a half hours before the plane's engines 
change their tone, and everyone's' ears pop as it descends for a landing.
* LadyNightshade sleeps off and on during the flight, too worried to let herself 
sleep too deeply.
* Mitsuko opens her eyes, draws her blade, and begins sharpening it.
* Guy doesn't quite know what to make of that, so he tries (poorly) to ignore 
it.
* LadyNightshade is used to it and doesn't even pay attention to it.
<Ked> The wheels touch down, and the plane taxies for a couple of minutes before 
coming to rest.
* Mitsuko puts the sword away, though she does not fasten it to the sheath.
* LadyNightshade looks alert as the plane lands and comes to a stop.
<LadyNightshade> ^What's next?^
<Ked> The rear hatch of the plane opens, and the van rolls out the back, but 
stops immediately.
<Guy> ^Next, you get to explain to the boss why you're here.^
* Guy gets out of the van, and walks away.
* LadyNightshade swallows and looks around for who else is approaching the van.
<Ked> The side door slides open, revealing several American soldiers, nonplussed 
at the sudden excess of people in the van.
* Civilian pushes through, as he sees what is going on.
<Civilian> Oi, Nightshade, what is this?
<Ked> It's your old friend - well, not so old - the man with no name.
<LadyNightshade> Just came to make sure everything is in order.
<LadyNightshade> You don't mind if I watch, do you?
* Civilian sighs.  "Well, I suppose it's not a problem."
<LadyNightshade> Thanks. *smiles politely*
* Civilian gestures, and the soldiers carry the prisoner away.
* LadyNightshade climbs out of the van after the soldiers.
<Civilian> So... I don't believe I've met your friend, here?
<Civilian> Lady...?
<LadyNightshade> No, you haven't. It's best you don't know her name.
<Mitsuko> Not a Lady.  I'm a family retainer of her, uh, normal identity.  Call 
me Mits-chan.  ^^_v
<LadyNightshade> ...
* LadyNightshade sighs.
<Civilian> ...
<Civilian> I don't suppose you'd let us keep that sword while you're here?
<Civilian> No, what am I saying - that was rude of me.
<LadyNightshade> I wouldn't try and take it from her anyway.
<Mitsuko> You couldn't take it from me, Lady.
<LadyNightshade> Of course I couldn't. *smiles in an I'm not annoyed way*
<Civilian> Riiiiight.
<LadyNightshade> Anyway. Shall we go?
<Civilian> Yes.  Yes... they'll be processing him in the medical center.
<Civilian> You said they have some sort of suicide device?
<LadyNightshade> Something they swallow. Probably cyanide.
<Civilian> We'll find out pretty quickly.
<LadyNightshade> I hope so.
<Ked> It's a short walk out of the hangar and to a large building next door that 
looks like it used to be a hangar.  Inside, there are lots of semi-permanent 
walls dividing it into different sections for various activities.
* LadyNightshade casually looks around the base, trying to figure out where they 
are even though she's never even been to Okinawa before as they walk along.
<Ked> The base is spread wide around them - she can figure out where north is, 
but not a lot else in the dawn shadows.
* Civilian leads the small group into what seems to be a high-security surgery.  
The prisoner is strapped down, naked, to what might have been a dentist's chair 
in a previous life.
<Mitsuko> Oh, my!
<Ked> There's an actual dentist poking and prodding at the man's teeth, while 
several other orderlies work around him to treat the man's wounds and 
contusions.
* LadyNightshade watches calmly. She saw what the did to Goggles. Whatever the 
Americans do can't be any worse.
<Civilian> Sorry about the, uh, sight, Mits-chan, but this is business.
* Mitsuko is actually blushing.  She doesn't look away.
<LadyNightshade> How long do you think he'll be?
<Civilian> Well, that-
<Ked> There's a sudden stir as the dentist pries out a false tooth.  ^Wow, this 
is high-quality work!^
<Civilian> ...I guess it depends on how fast we can wake him.
* LadyNightshade nods.
<Ked> The tooth is sealed in a mil-spec plastic biohazard bag, and carted off 
carefully for testing.
* LadyNightshade moves to get a closer look at the tooth.
<Ked> She sees, briefly, that it looks entirely like a natural tooth.
<LadyNightshade> Where would he get something like that?
<Civilian> We'll have to get back to you on the poison analysis, of course.  Can 
I offer you breakfast?  It'll have to be American-style.
<LadyNightshade> Um... Yeah, I suppose it couldn't hurt while we wait. Are you 
hungry Mitsu-- ... chan?
* Civilian shrugs.  "You just have to own a good dentist.  We have several, of 
course, though they'll usually make their work more crude to match the 
deployment zone if there's any need for stealth."
<Mitsuko> I could eat!
* Mitsuko grins vacantly at their host.
<LadyNightshade> Well are those teeth anything we could trace? It seems like 
they would need an awful lot of them. An order like that would stand out...
<Civilian> Okay.  It'll take about a half hour to set up the next bit...  Maybe.  
That's something we can work at, but it wouldn't be too hard to cover.
* LadyNightshade nods. "I suppose it would be. ... That should be plenty of time 
to eat though."
* Civilian leads them five rooms down the hall to a small cafeteria.  There's 
eggs, and hash browns, and sausage, and fruit, and cereal, and orange juice.
* LadyNightshade looks sorta hesitant to let the man out of her sight.
* Civilian digs out a large helping of hash browns, and slathers them in ketchup 
before sitting down.
* Mitsuko fills a plate with fruit.
* LadyNightshade takes a small helping of eggs and fruit.
* LadyNightshade idly munches, "So you're not part of the Navy, are you?"
<Civilian> No.
<LadyNightshade> But you do work for the government?
<Civilian> My work is primarily out of the embassy.
<LadyNightshade> So you're an ambassador?
<Civilian> My title there is something to do with technical support direction.
* Civilian shrugs.  "I forget - it's a lousy cover, anyway."
* Civilian eyes Mitsuko, who is nibbling daintily on a banana.  "What is a 
retainer, anyway?"
* LadyNightshade nods and takes another bite.
<LadyNightshade> She works for my family.
<Mitsuko> I make sure she doesn't get herself in too much trouble.  Like when 
she runs off by herself to Okinawa without telling anyone.
* Mitsuko sighs.  "She drives me to distraction, I fear."
<LadyNightshade> Mitsuko!
<Mitsuko> Well, you *didn't*, did you?
<LadyNightshade> Why do I need to tell anyone if you follow me around anyway?
<Mitsuko> Did you know I was there?
<LadyNightshade> You're always there.
<Mitsuko> You shouldn't count on that.
* LadyNightshade sighs. "I don't."
<LadyNightshade> I told you I can take care of myself.
<Mitsuko> A good- um.  A good Lady is a team Lady.
<LadyNightshade> The team will know about this.
<LadyNightshade> Anyway, it's not like anything is going to happen to us, right 
Mr.--? Uh. Right. Mister.
<Mitsuko> Yes, and Mysteria will have a fit.  And the Princess... *shakes head*
<LadyNightshade> She'll deal.
<Civilian> Oh, well, I'll have to fly you back with me, I think.  Or the way you 
came, maybe.
<Civilian> I really hope you were not planning on doing anything today.
<LadyNightshade> There's nothing _to_ do, anyway. We're stuck waiting until we 
can find some answers.
<LadyNightshade> Which is why I did want to come today.
* Civilian shrugs.  "It's just jet fuel.  And we've got that."
* Mitsuko apples.
<LadyNightshade> Besides, it's a chance to get to know our new allies better.
<Ked> A young soldier trots up with a folder.  It's stamped with multiple 
classification warnings.
* Civilian accepts it.  ^Thank you, corporal.^
* LadyNightshade looks him over, before turning her attention to the folder.
<LadyNightshade> Oooh, what's that?
* Civilian spreads the contents across the table.
* LadyNightshade looks them all over.
<Civilian> Hmm.  Your guy is one Hiroyuki Watanabe, twenty-nine years old, last 
known to be a staff sergeant in the SDF.
<LadyNightshade> Is he still technically working for them?
<Civilian> Very good career history - these indicate classified decorations...
<Civilian> That's... strangely unclear.
<LadyNightshade> How did you ID him? Are his prints on file?
<Civilian> He seems to have just plain dropped out of the normal SDF personnel 
system.  This would seem to mean he's on some secret assignment, except real 
professionals would have covered that better.
<Civilian> Oh, well, we have this database.  ^^
<Civilian> Never mind where we got it.
<LadyNightshade> Well, if it's something we could gather easily from all our 
attackers... It'd be easier than lugging their corpses around.
<LadyNightshade> The police haven't seemed to be able to ID anyone.
<Civilian> I don't know how they made this ID, but you probably don't have the 
time to collect this stuff in the field.
<LadyNightshade> I suppose not.
<LadyNightshade> So what do you mean by "real professionals"?
* Civilian smiles serenely.  "People who know what they are doing, Miss 
Nightshade.  And do it well."
<LadyNightshade> So then these guys aren't working directly with the government?
<Civilian> Far better to have made a false assignment to a protected unit that 
can respond to queries about the man appropriately.  This was set up by someone 
who doesn't know how to use the system, or doesn't have full permission to.
* Civilian grimaces.
<Civilian> They're plugged into the SDF at least, but not very well.
<Mitsuko> So, it wouldn't be a high-ranking army official?
<Mitsuko> Since they would know how to do it right?
<LadyNightshade> So what then, like a politician?
<Civilian> Yeah.  Certainly not anyone above the rank of major.  And they would 
have a clue...
<Civilian> I'd guess someone in another agency with high security clearance.
<Mitsuko> So... presumably, the SDF's are not out to kill Ladies.  I guess 
that's a good thing.
* Civilian reads further into the man's dossier.
<LadyNightshade> But he did work for the SDF. I wonder how many other dossiers 
out there are like this. Maybe if we search the records we could get a count on 
how many people they have working for them.
<Civilian> Very strong military background in this guy's history.  All the male 
ancestors, for... seven generations?  Wow.  Lowish IQ on this boy, though, 
probably why he enlisted rather than tried to get in as an officer.
<Civilian> Mmm.  I suspect this would be difficult to search for, and it 
probably would pick up thousands of false hits.
<LadyNightshade> I suppose that makes him easier to convince to killing himself 
if he was ever caught.
<Mitsuko> That sort of fanaticism is remarkable... in this benighted age.
<LadyNightshade> How many people could just up and disappear from the SDF 
without them noticing?
<Civilian> Yeah, but also how many files have just been messed up by the 
bureaucracy?  And how many are inbetween assignments?
<LadyNightshade> ... Hmm. Good point.
<LadyNightshade> Does he have any living relatives?
* LadyNightshade flips through the papers, looking.
* Civilian shuffles paper.
<Civilian> An ex-wife.
<Civilian> And a grandfather.
<LadyNightshade> Hmm... how long have they been divorced?
<Civilian> Three years, it looks like.
<Civilian> She's not too far out of Tokyo... do you want to, or should we?
<LadyNightshade> You can. Just let us know if she knows anything.
<Civilian> Yeah.  *scribbles a note*
<LadyNightshade> Unless he's kept in contact, I doubt she'd know anything 
anyway...
<Civilian> Yeah, but depending how long ago he was contacted for this... with 
the transcript, it looks possible.
<Civilian> He probably wouldn't tell her, but she might have noticed something.  
Spouses see a lot, even if they don't understand it.
* LadyNightshade nods.
<LadyNightshade> It's worth looking into in any case.
* Civilian frowns.  "Quite religious, our boy.  Brought up in the older 
traditions, it seems."
<LadyNightshade> I imagine all of them are like that.
<Mitsuko> If their stated purpose is serious... then that may be the case.
<Civilian> This might be very delicate stuff - my superiors are not going to be 
happy getting into something that close to your traditions.
<LadyNightshade> Even if they're killing people over it?
<Civilian> Well, it's terrorism.  But Japan is a close ally, and...
<Civilian> Gah.  We'll deal as we need to.
<LadyNightshade> And we're only trying to help people. To help the world. If we 
don't fight the Ningyo, then who will?
* Civilian glances at his watch.  "He should be about ready."
* Mitsuko smoothly comes to her feet.  "Goody!"
* LadyNightshade nods and stands up.
<Civilian> It's this way...
* LadyNightshade disposes of her plate, and helps him gather up the file.
* LadyNightshade let's him lead the way.
* Civilian leads down a different hallway, and the group arrives in what appears 
to be a Japanese hospital room, complete with authentic-looking Japanese nurses 
and a doctor.
<Ked> The man is in a hospital gown, with multiple IV lines and numerous sensors 
attached to him.
<Mitsuko> Oh, that gown is cute.
* Civilian eyes Mitsuko.
* LadyNightshade rolls her eyes at Mitsuko.
<Civilian> Um.  Anyway, let's call this a chemical interrogation.  We've pumped 
him full of lots of odd things that will... well, they won't make him tell the 
truth, but they will disorient him, and greatly lessen resistance.
<LadyNightshade> Well this is your show, where do you want us to be?
<Civilian> Just... stand off to one side.  His vision is going to be blurry, so 
he shouldn't be able to recognize you.
<Civilian> I'd recommend you don't ask him questions directly, but if there's 
something that pops out that you want to follow up on, let me know.
* LadyNightshade nods.
* LadyNightshade steps off to the side of the room, so she's out of the way.
* LadyNightshade makes sure Mitsuko follows her.
<Ked> A nurse - a cute one! - waves some smelling salts under the prisoner's 
nose, and he starts slightly.
<Prisoner> Mrrffle.
<Prisoner> Muggggchk!
<Ked> The nurse gives him a straw to sip on, and he is able to clear his throat.
* Civilian steps up to the bed, and when he speaks his accent has changed - it's 
sharper, and even a little old-fashioned.
<Civilian> Watanabe.
<Civilian> Watanabe-kun.
<Prisoner> ...sir...?
<Prisoner> What... happened?
<Civilian> The train crashed for some reason, and you were the only survivor.  
We got you out of the civvy hospital after they finished surgery.
<Prisoner> The... traitors, dead?
<Civilian> That's right, Sergeant.  You're a hero.
<Prisoner> Sh-shouldn't have helped me!  Wasn't the plan.
<Civilian> But you *are* a hero, Sergeant, and we need heroes.
<Prisoner> M-my life.  Gave it f-for the Tokko.  I swore!
* Prisoner is visibly upset, and beginning to thrash.   One of the nurses 
injects something into one of the IV's and he calms.
<Civilian> Even the Tokko can not afford to waste men, Sergeant.
<Prisoner> ...too... too many traitors.  Too many...
<Civilian> You got them, Sergeant.  Two of them.
<Prisoner> Th-three!  *cough*  But I thought they got me...
<Prisoner> Did the p-p-post report in?  ...s-sure there are more.  The school!
<Civilian> We're working on the school.  We'll figure it out, but they seem to 
have gotten the post.
* LadyNightshade idly notes to herself to check out the building they came out 
of.
<Prisoner> D-damn!
<Civilian> That's why it was even more important to get you out.  What did they 
find?
<Prisoner> C-counted eighteen in the evac.  The long m-mikes confirmed the Queen 
hypothesis, but she *cough* she wasn't there.
<Prisoner> Some place... the... the... Palace...
<LadyNightshade> ...
<Civilian> Sounds like a good target, Watanabe-kun.
<Prisoner> Yesss... that would surely crush the t-tr-traitors.  And secure the 
holy family's future...
* LadyNightshade tries REALLY hard to not react to that.
<Civilian> *nods*  We must protect the Emperor.
* Prisoner gags and tries to turn to look at the man questioning him.
<Prisoner> W-WHAT?
<LadyNightshade> ...
<Prisoner> *gags*  *squints around the room* Who - who are you?
<Prisoner> Emp-emperor is weak - must... protect bloodline...
<Civilian> Yes, of course, I misspoke...
* LadyNightshade tries to stay away from his range of vision as best she can.
* Prisoner tenses up, and gnashes his teeth together.  You can hear several of 
them crack before he stops.
<Prisoner> ...bastards.  N-NO!
* Prisoner thrashes, trying to yank on the IV needles, somehow to damage 
himself...
* LadyNightshade curses under her breath, and looks at the Civilian with a look 
of 'What now?'
<Ked> This time, the nurse jams a BIG syringe into the IV line, and the man 
collapses.
<Civilian> Now... anything more, we'll have to sweat out of him.
* LadyNightshade nods.
<LadyNightshade> How long till whatever she gave him wears off?
<Civilian> Maybe half a day.
<Civilian> We're going to have to fly him out of here, anyway.  And you don't 
get to ride along for the next step.
<LadyNightshade> ...
<LadyNightshade> I want to know what you find out.
<Civilian> There are things we can't do on Japanese soil.  Even in the strictest 
privacy, and especially not to a Japanese citizen.  We will let you know... but 
it can take a long time.  And he seems quite... motivated.
<LadyNightshade> ... I suppose not.
<Mitsuko> The Tokko, huh.  I wonder if it's a real continuation of the 
historical group, or simply someone that's adopted the name?
* Civilian blinks.  "You know it?  It sounded sort of familiar, but I figured it 
was just some cult or something."
<Mitsuko> The, uh, thought police of the pre-occupation period.   The most 
elite, most violent enforcers of the old social order.
* Mitsuko shrugs.  "I wrote a paper about them in junior high."
<Civilian> ...ah.
<Civilian> Yes, one would think the occupation would have eliminated them.
<LadyNightshade> You'd think that...
* LadyNightshade looks over at Mitsuko.
<Mitsuko> What?
<LadyNightshade> Nothing.
<Civilian> It's a start.
<LadyNightshade> How would you even go about figuring out who was a member of 
such an organization?
<Civilian> Eh.
<Civilian> It doesn't really matter if we can sort out the ground soldiers - we 
need to figure out who's running it.
<Civilian> And that's going to be a real pain.
<Ked> The prisoner's bed is wheeled out of the room, and the three of you are 
left alone there.
<LadyNightshade> Unless we could figure out a way to force them to out 
themselves...
<Civilian> What can you offer?  Besides... "the Queen"?
<LadyNightshade> ... Well, we have some political contacts. I'm not sure what we 
could show them that wouldn't put us in danger.
<Civilian> I... well.  I'm not in your shoes, but I would recommend trying to 
play defense for a while.
<Civilian> We have strings to pull now - let us try that.
<LadyNightshade> We've _been_ playing defense.
* LadyNightshade sighs.
<Mitsuko> I think he means to hide, Lady.
<Civilian> I think I mean to not get yourself killed.
* Civilian half-grins.
<LadyNightshade> Yeah, that's pretty much always been the game plan.
<LadyNightshade> I don't like that they have us in hiding now.
<Civilian> Can I interest you girls in a tour of Okinawa while you're here?
<LadyNightshade> We're fighting a losing war, it seems.
<Civilian> See the sights, take your mind off - the war.
* LadyNightshade shakes her head. "Why not. Nothing to do back at home anyway."
<Mitsuko> Fun fun!
<Civilian> [end mini]