Log Title: Not A Social Call
Characters: Kamakura , Interrogator , Lifeline , Tomas
Location: Arashikage Dojo - San Francisco, CA
Date: July 10, 2023
TP: Kintsukuroi TP . From Russia with Love TP
Summary: Supposed to be a quiet night. Nope - interrogator at the dojo.
As logged by Storm Shadow
Arashikage Dojo - San Francisco, CA
The San Francisco Arashikage dojo is large and well-equipped. Weapons hang on every wall, as well as a small shrine with pictures of the Hard and Soft Master. Equipment both ancient and modern are arranged around the large facility. A section has been set aside to form a briefing area, and a locked steel door protects access to the rear portion of the building. Even though few students are seen entering or leaving the facility, the entire dojo has been swept, mopped, and buffed regularly and recently.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of High difficulty.
Tomas meanders into the main part of the dojo from the rear. He's wearing those well worn gi pants again, but this time a shirt from the cloths press that belonged to Tommy. Hair's mussed and he looks like he slept off and on overnight and during the day. Today's t-shirt is dark blue, 'I love Sarcasm. It's like punching people in the face but with words.' Shoeless, he heads for the kitchen looking for tea.
Edwin is wearing sweat pants, a T-shirt that says 'US Medicorps', and not much else as he sits in a chair having a conversation with someone on the radio. When he spots Tomas, he smiles and waves to him silently.
Kamakura is out in the main salle, practicing some kata. He wears only his gi pants today. He tries to be quiet, and give Tomas and Edwin some space.
Tomas meanders back out of the kitchen, having put the kettle on and looks around. "I'm making tea, any requests?" groggy voice. At least he didn't punch Edwin overnight in his sleep. He hopes. There's a furrowing of his brow and he looks at Edwin, "I didn't punch you did I?"
"No, you slept really well and there wasn't any punching," Edwin says. "I'd like some tea, please."
Kamakura stretches "Oh hello there. Yes, some tea would be nice, thanks." He says, still keeping his distance for the most part.
"Green, white, black, spiced?" Tomas asks, glancing at Edwin again. There's a faint smile, thoughtful. "Sean." tone barked, "Repeat that last one, you're dragging your foot too much."
"Surprise me," Edwin says with a smile. He takes his little paper notebook and begins writing memorandums down into it. "I'll really need to talk to Meggan when we return, she's...I don't know. Worrying me still."
Kamakura nods "Yes, Sensei." he comments. He tries again, trying to keep his feet aligned.
GAME: Kamakura PASSES a DEXTERITY roll of Average difficulty.
Interrogator approaches the Dojo, having changed into his AW uniform. He knocks and waits for a response.
Tomas hmms, pulling mugs out, rummaging through cabinets for a good, strong black tea to wake himself up with. Some rumamging about and he walks out, tea tray, 3 mugs of assorted degisns and a large teapot. Small sugar bowl and a tin of condensed milk. "Spiced black it is." He kneels, placing the tray on the table before looking up0 as someone knocks at the door. A time check, a frown. "Is Meggan coming to visit now? She should know she's welcomed. She is.. family."
Edwin gets up and approaches the table with the tea on it when there's a knock at the door. He frowns and glances over at Sean and Tomas as he fixes his tea.
Kamakura sees the others are busy. "I'll get the door." he answers the door. "Hello, Arashikage dojo how may I...oh hello, Lex." he's wearing nothing but a pair of green Gi pants and sweat. He appears to have been working out before answering the door.
Interrogator nods and says sadly, "Hello.. Sean is it?"
Kamakura nods and lets Interrogator in. "Sean Collins now." He says. "What brings you by?" he calls to the others. "It's Lex."
Edwin looks like he automatically has his hackles up when he hears Lex's voice. He tenses up, and shakes his head.
Tomas frowns, listening. A look over to Edwin, raising a brow, then back as he goes about pouring tea. there is minor tensing here and there, the coiling of a spring, but he goes about making himself tea so he can be more awake. tea, two cubes of sugar and a pouring of the condensed milk. "My ears aren't broken, I can hear who it is." slightly testy, "Just my mind."
Interrogator goes to enter and pauses to remove his boots before venturing further in, saying, "I'm not here to fight or anything weird, just want to check on everyone."
He doesn't say it, and his helmet is on, but thinks, 'Maybe for the last time as Me.'
GAME: Kamakura PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura blinks a bit. "We're doing as good as we ever are. Just a social call then?" he asks.
"Please don't do what you did last time," Edwin asks. The last thing he needs is seizures, seizures everywhere and utter chaos.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of Very High difficulty.
GAME: Tomas FAILS a LEADERSHIP roll of Very High difficulty.
"Take that fucking thing off when you're in my home, Alexander. I don't need your psychotropic lightshow giving me fits." Tomas snaps, glaring at Interrogator. There's a hrmph. "And do you want sugar and milk in your spiced tea or just plain?" Tone milder, "Yes, no seizures please. They fucking suck then the next few days are disorientating."
Tomas's words, timbre of the younger man, cadence and patterns of Tommy.
Kamakura nods "I third that on the seizures. Would you like some tea or breakfast?" he asks, being as polite to Lex as he would be to any visitor to the dojo.
Interrogator chuckles and removes his helmet says sadly, "No, no weird shit. And there are no social visits, Sean, just a sliding scale of business. And how hard I am working."
His storm blue eyes meet Tomas' as he looks him over, assessing him, before saying, "Cobra Commander is back. I spoke with Inquisitor and she told me what Cobra is after with you and your Family. Choirboy is in Chicago telling them 'No Human Trafficking for Human Experimentation, because that's why people are getting killed' and I told those in Russia I met with too, so the Kirstov's know. It'll spread from there. There has to be rules, and consequences for breaking them."
"The Commander is back. I was prepared to die or worse. Here I am though."
He looks and says, "Tea? There's nothing in it is there? I'm trying to slow down on the drugs. Black will be fine."
Edwin takes a long, long drink of his tea, almost finishing it in one very long sip as Lex talks.
"Orange, cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, star anise, black tea" Tomas replies tone growing absent as he gets up, "Getting another mug." he states, heading into the kitchen.
GAME: Tomas FAILS an INTELLIGENCE roll of Immense difficulty.
GAME: Tomas FAILS an ENDURANCE roll of Immense difficulty.
Kamakura sighs "And there we are onto business." He shakes his head. "Has big snake been threatening anyone recently? He comes after us, I may have to kick someone's ass you know." He says. "Hey. Anyone want sesame balls? I can make some killer red bean balls." Kama trying to change the subject by being inane. That and the balls are tasty.
"Be.. just.. a minute." Clatter of cabinet doors as Tomas starts to get a mug out and has to stop, head bowed, hands gripping the counter. eyes screwed shut, unaware he's muttering fuck fuck fuck out loud like a personal mantra.
Interrogator sighs sadly and says, "I copied my Journal and cried as I did it. Gave him access to my Master Note file too. Dropped it off with his Imperial Guard Leader. Didn't say a word. Didn't need to." A tear falls as he says sadly, "How do I tell Veri? How do I tell Soundwave, if he's awake?" He murmurs, "I tried. I tried so hard!" He doesn't sit so much as collapse in a controlled fashion, saying, "I got to keep going though. I got to keep going. Only way the rest of you survive."
Edwin glances over at Lex and then at Sean. Then, he puts his tea down and heads into the kitchen, where he finds Tomas struggling. "Shit, I knew it," he exclaims, rushing over to catch him in the event he passes out or slumps.
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of High difficulty.
Kamakura nods "Edwin...go ..help Tommy with the tea." he says getting a bit more serious. He sits down with Interrogator. "So he knows.. um...what? What information did you tell him that he didn't already know?" He asks.
"Be.. alright.. Just.. " Tomas keeps his eyes shut but yells out from the kitchen, "Why th' fuck, Alex.." he mutters, nose starting to bleed as he fights the roll of memories with everything he's got, fighting the sea of true and false. "Sounds.. good Sean.. need. brea'fast." Knuckles white gripping the counter. "Why're you tellin' me.. us this, Alex? M.. not.. damnit my head. Why'd you do that.. Alex?"
Interrogator doesn't look at Sean, just says tearfully, "Who knows what he knows and doesn't? He could be reading it now with Kreiger and Iron Klaw and who knows who and laughing. He could be losing his shit because he knows none of it. Baroness failed. Bludd failed."
"Because Arasikage!!! I'm running out of what I can sell to buy you all time!! Me and the Wing hit Critical Overload buying time and trying to prepare!! And I'm crying on the floor of your Dojo and you're about to collapse too!!"
"He's about to collapse because you keep triggering his seizures, like you were asked not to do," Edwin says, and the heat in his tone is apparent. "I know you try to help in your own way, I understand that, but you are a harbinger of /chaos/! A few minutes ago you said you were paying a social call. Ever wonder why all of your social calls end up in chaos?? Maybe you should ask yourself that! Just what are you trying to accomplish??"
Kamakura murmurs. "Just...lets all be calm okay? Hands busy. Hands busy." Sean goes to the kitchen to make some food and talks to Interrogator. "So you have a chance to run. You can always let people arrest you and you wont have to worry about him. But I don't think that's an option is it?" he nods. "Yeah, Arashikage." he says. "So why are we important to you?" he asks. "Lets get some tea and breakfast. And meditation. Then, then we will handle the day." he tries to keep his voice calm. He knows someone has to be the calm spot in the storm. When did he become the stoic one?
Interrogator growls, "I said I don't do social calls, Doctor Steen. It's always business on some level, to some degree. Because in my business, you let things slip and the world ends up like this. It's why I'll be able to wipe my face, stand up, put the helmet on, and get back out there to sell myself for time for the rest of you."
"Arashikage: Important because 30+ generations of highly specialized skills and abilities. The gene pool never stagnated. Lets see. Maths, Languages, Limited Flight. Some way to plant training in minds and then ways to build muscle memory. Need more? I can call up the file. Wrote it my head and shoved it in deep storage right after Inquisitor left."
GAME: Tomas PASSES an INTELLIGENCE roll of High difficulty.
GAME: Tomas PASSES a LEADERSHIP roll of Very High difficulty.
Tomas waves a hand around before getting a tea towel to staunch the blood from his nose. He's listening on many a level, fighting the waves that threaten to suck him down with every fiber of his being. It's evident in the tenseness of his entire body, the furrow of his brow, the dark of his eyes. "Didn't ask you to whore yourself out for me and mine, Alexander." he snaps. He looks at Edwin, mouths 'Sorry', and moves out of the kitchen, a stalking predator of a young man. He does stop just outside of it, tea towel to his face, leaning against a blank expanse of wall to maintain being on his feet.
"You chose to hand over everything to him. How is that going to help anyone? You, me, mine, yours, the -world-? I spent most of my life fighting to be free of him and his. And I -died- for it. You come here, and what? I can't help anyone. I can hardly help myself right now." He takes a deep breath, eyes flashing, breathing harder.
"I tried, I did what I could to protect my family, what is left, from him, as I could, when I could, sacrificing honor, dignity, sense of self, everything and anything that was -me- on the grand alter of Cobra to protect them. Don't come in here bleating about how much danger you are in. Don't come in here, to my -home-, preaching to -me- of the dangers and what sacrifices are being made. Or do you think all those decades of being his bodyguard and all of the rest was entirely willing? Of being -alone-, hated by kin and kith alike was a happy choice? You're just a few decades past me, Alex. Welcome to the party, leave your pity at the door. I tried to warn you. Several times."
Interrogator eyes Tomas and says coldly, "Bleep Cobra. I was born a Project and control just shifted. Currently, I think Cobra Commander thinks he has it. I'm still here, still Me. All survival. Mine, my Grandparents. Then it expanded. Now? Now I'm in the best position to get the time you need. Your people, and others, had Whole Medicine and Science before the Civilized Europeans divided everything. Now we're at the point where those Civilized Europeans are studying the Old Whole Medicine and Science and realizing that it is correct and valid and going back to Whole Way. I can back up Traditional with Science, Arashikage. Now we add Cybertronian and Off World. My Spies I had watching Sheppard saw him had so9mething to Jetfire. Humans and Cybertronians and BATs can form a Binary Bond. Mindlink. Thank God Veritas dropped it before her, Over Kill, and I were permanently bonded. But Spike is in one with two Autobots."
"It's all coming down to genetics and genetic memory. And the Autobots are screwing with Humanity again.
Edwin remains near Tomas, looking positively livid with anger. The only thing really stopping him from expressing very much of it is that this is not his house; he is only a guest here.
Kamakura texts something before looking up and shaking his head. "So you're giving up the cobra thing with your group it sounds like. What's the next stage? What's the plan, Lex?" he asks. "I know people like you plan things out."
And Tommy is who glares right back at Alexander, out of that young mans face. "And what do you think yelling at me is gonna do? Half the damn time I'm not sure who I am right now. The other half of the time I'm happy I can tie my shoelaces and remember how to make tea. Jesus Christ, Alexander. You have people." He pulls the towel away, checking to see if his nose is still gushing. it is. So he puts it back. "Coming in here. I get you don't -do social-, are you trying to -kill me- again? Fuck me, this is a nightmare."
Edwin decides it's probably a good idea to prep a few things for the post-headache recovery period, so he begins busying himself with these tasks.
Something snaps. The tears stop. The face goes blank. He gets up and eyes everyone saying stoically, "Survival. That is the goal. The plan? You want a concrete plan? There isn't one. There are if/then trees. Here is what you need to do. Get your head straight. Either I do it, or you do it. We all know what happens if Inquisitor does it. Sefu stays on Vilnacron because nobody is messing with a Neutral Space Station lightly. If things stabilize where it is safe to do so, I go to Emperor Deathsaurus and Captain Empress Esmeral and offer to school their Son and Heir along Ascension Wing's own, either in LA or on Vilnacron. In exchange they will give me a ship they blew the crud out of. It will be repaired and converted at Vilnacron. Then Humanity has a Colony Ship."
Kamakura murmurs "My head is straight." He says softly. "As straight as its going to be." He tenses. "And we're working on Tomas. So far, all this is doing is de-stabilizing things. I know you think bigger then I can imagine or whatnot but..." He holds his own temple. "Right now, we have to worry about putting things back together. THen, when things are whole. Then we can talk about the safety of the world and known universe, okay?"
Tomas slides down his wall, paling rapidly, the tea cloth soaked. "Alexander, I don't know why you came here, to me of all people." tone lowering. He watches Edwin move off into the back. "We were not friends. We were hardly allies of convenience. Why.. come here? I've only been.. 'awake' for a few weeks. And i still can't tell when things are real of if it's another fucked up test of Mindbenders screwing with my reality." taking a shaking deep breath, "Coulda been a fuckin' email." he laughs, but the sound seems broken. "I might not even be th' real one, Alex. The young one might be th' real one and then what?"
Interrogator processes what Kamakura says and replies, "Time is short. I have Russia to repair. I have Cobra to watch. Barghest is worrisome, but a good distractor and material gatherer. Cobra Commander will be Cobra Commander. A Dictatorship needs a Dictator. When the Dictator disappears and hides, there is Danger and Collapse is Imminent."
He processes what Tomas says and replies, "You know Survival. Get it together. I will buy time. That is all I am good for at this point. Buying time and saving as many as possible who can rebuild in the future."
Kamakura nods "You do this. As far as the family is concerned..." he says. "I got this." He says. He looks at Tomas. "Lex, we'll have to talk about this another time. Really not a good time or place, okay?" He goes to get a washcloth and cold water and heads back to Tomas's side. "If you're only here to talk politics, I think it would be best. If you come another night. As you can see its not a good time." He looks to Tomas "You alright? Let me get you to a futon. You need rest."
Interrogator silently gathers his boots, puts them on, and exits.
"Get it together he says." Tomas snorts, sitting on the floor. "Sure, I'll just whip out a magic fix it up fairy from my ass." He glares over, "You.. are an irritating man." A shake of his head, "You've people, allies, hell, family of a sort. Don't solo th' dragon, Alexander. You don't have the people skills for it." Taking the cloth to wipe his face off. "Working on getting it together, waiting on a few things before my next move myself. Like.. determining reality is a major one.Cleaning house was part of the decades long plan. And sending a message. You've got your plans, I've got mine." Watching, looking almost as bad as he did the night he nightmare walked in the pit medical.
Kamakura pauses. "None of us can handle any of this alone. We're like some sort of mind-screwed club.' He says. "Hell, if you want to take a rest here its good too." He says. "I think Tomas...I think its time we let your mind rest. We'll process this when he can." He looks to Interrogator. "You're like a psychologist or something? You get that these things can't be rushed. Even if the world is waiting on it. It will just have to wait a while longer."
Interrogator eyes and says, "You have people too. Clean that house. Reality is subjective. How many can you save? Who can rebuild? The only things that matter: Who can survive? Who can rebuild?"
Interrogator has left.
Tomas takes a shaky breath, "I'm.. gonna have t' pass out here. I can't see, hearing's going too. Waves are rushing in and I can't swim any longer. " Eyes close, there's a twitch, and the young master passes out.
Kamakura nods "I know. It's alright. I'll guard you." He says, as he moves to set up the futon and get Tomas to it.