There's words going through his head - it sounds like a chant, in some old language. Keiko gets the feeling - no, she knows he's casting that spell, and it's to find something. >> * Herman 's gaze sweeps over the crew. As he looks over the crew, other thoughts focus, and emotions: he's glad to see Togo, in kind of a nostalgic sense, and a little worried. He sees the girls, and it suddenly gets more dubious and more worried. ~They're so young. The girls, as young as Christopher. What is Togo thinking?~ >> * Herman looks worried, but also impressed, and continues talking to Luana. "I can only do one of those, to an extent. You've learned a lot for someone so young." The 'one of those' is clearly pyrokinesis, and Herman keeps chanting in the back of his mind as he talks. ~Oh. So she's Togo's. Then those two...~ ~What is he *thinking*?~ ~This one... there's something...~ Herman really doesn't seem to feel there's anything wrong at all about swearing in front of kids, despite his concern for them. :) By the way, comparisons of the wards are bringing a couple of children to his mind: a girl, who looks a little older than you guys, and a boy, who's about the same age - that's probably Christopher. Keiko's actually tracking the magic words running through his head. That's probably the biggest reason she hasn't sprung the trap. >> * Keiko says, idly, "Makes you wonder what he's thinking." ~Thinking, that's funny. Bloody telepaths...~ And a different, short series of old words go through his head, which Keiko knows is another spell - but not one he's mentally chanting, just running over. ~I thought it was pretty funny. Sharp. Sumarian?~ >> * Herman starts. And looks at Keiko, eyes wide. ~The girl. Keiko. You?~ ~Yes.~ There's momentary confusion in his mind, but then he organizes it in an instant. The chanting, surprisingly, still doesn't stop, as he keeps a solid hold on it. ~A pleasure.~ He doesn't sound angry, just surprised. ~Maybe a little. Old words reminded me of an old man I knew.~ * Herman chuckles mentally. ~His last name wouldn't have been Jensen, would it?~ ~No. Rasputin. >> * Herman shrugs, and he turns his right hand, palm upwards, saying a quick word in Latin. A clear crystal flower blooms in his palm, and he hands it to Luana. "Anything you can dream of, with the right spell."~ ~Rasputin. You get around, Keiko.~ This is accompanied by another thought, about Luana: ~She's a sweet kid. Way too innocent for this.~ ~I think he just took the name. Yes, she is.~ ~What are you doing here? The three of you - I've dealt with some younger people, but not as young as you.~ ~You won't like knowing. Will you still be good to finish this I tell you?~ ~I should be. Any spell I don't have to vocalize doesn't take *that* much concentration... nearly done...~ ~We're gentech experiemnts. They have complete control over us.~ ~Fuck, you're joking, right? You're bloody joking. Togo wouldn't...~ There's flashes, now, of horrible things Herman's seen, involving labs and what's probably genetech. They're well documented in MC3! (And later stuff, probably.) ~I need to talk to him. Later. He can't be this bloody senile.~ ~He says he was infiltrating.~ ~But he is dumb.~ The spell falters for a moment, then Herman thinks to himself, ~FOCUS.~ And it steadies. ~I see. I see... I don't know how much I can trust you, Keiko, but you shouldn't be here... there's no time.~ >> * Herman looks at Togo quizzically, almost as though he's seeing him in a new light. "Let me know when you're done, Togo. I think I've got a lock." ~Cyra is mine. She killed my mother, but Mitsuji does not get to use another girl just because nobody wants her.~ ~... What?~ ~Blitzkreig Section 2. Unwanted children, fighting for the glory of Germany.~ ~Cyra was one of ours, and betrayed us. But nobody gets to use us anymore.~ ~Definitely going to ask him about this. Sounds like a pile of bloody bullshit to me.~ ~Claude said something about you breaking.~ ~Yes. We're not with them. But that's what we are.~ >> * Togo turns back to the team, and switches to German. <"Mitsuji's stupid and insane, but he's not evil at the core. And Xuan's his sister. Try for non-lethal if possible, but don't hold back if you deem in necessary."> It's clear Herman doesn't understand German. ~The guardians... are going to let us free.~ ~Good for you.~ And Keiko really feels that he means it. ~It seems so.~ >> * Herman opens his palm and another wisp appears in it, which he keeps floating above his hand. ~Got him. Can't believe some people never learn...~ ~People are good at it.~ ~People need to bloody well get over themselves and move the fuck on.~ It sounds like there's a lot there. ~Ain't easy.~ ~I know that. That doesn't mean they shouldn't do it.~ * Herman keeps holding on to the spell. ~Listen, Keiko, you're still young, but you sound so old. Angry, and bitter. Try not to let things stick to you, or you'll be old before you know it, and not just in body - you'll get trapped, like Mitsuji, with nowhere to go but down.~ ~What... who are you to--where do I get to put them, wizard?~ ~I don't know... I don't know you. But I know it's worked-~ And then Togo interrupts them! >> And we're going to have to talk after all of this. You know what Herman wants to talk to Togo about. :P Go figure! There's definitely some distrust concerning Keiko - he doesn't *know* Keiko - and worse, he doesn't want to believe Keiko. But he can't see why she'd be lying to him about something like this. ~You know he won't be able to lie to you. But so do I.~ ~Nobody can lie to me when I don't let them. But I'd rather trust Togo - and I'd like to trust his companions.~ (Man, that was just an extremely weird mental conversation.) (Herman has a headache.) (YESSSSS.) (Keiko doesn't get to do that nearly enough.) ~Then trust us. We've been tested by fire, ice, water, earth, and blood.~ (He's such a sweet guy, too.) ~We'll end this. Whether you think of us as children or adults.~ ~Keiko...~ There's a pause, then he continues, ~I nearly exploded the house at ten. I know how much power children can have. You'll forgive me if I'd rather you not have to do this.~ ~There's never anyone else.~ ~Well.~ Faint chuckle. ~Like Claude said, I'm going with you.~