soul_campaign | February 3, 2010 [Noon]

[Spirit appears, fixing the camera angle, zooming in and out of his somewhat dirty and dusty self. It's smudged brown in a corner and he scrapes it off with an equally dirty fingernail, whispering something to an unseen man next to him.]

You sure this is secure only to our agents? [There's a 'Yes, sir!' and Spirit nods, and clears his throat.]

Our scouts tracked down the witches to their new hide out, where they've taken our people. It's the... Grand Canyon, in one of the cave networks there. The scouts reported that the prisoners are alive for now, but they can't get into the caves to check what's going on in there.

[deep breath] We're launching a rescue mission on the fifth -- the day after tomorrow. That's the shortest time we can be underway, because our scouts have to set up our transportation mirror there and we need to recover here. Sign up with the guys if you want to come -- we'll take unpartnered fighters, too, as long as you promise not to take on kishin egg on your own in case there are any.

And... [hesitates for a moment, and then reluctantly:] The witches didn't just come here to pick up random people. They were specifically targeting the Meisters and Weapons among us, but we don't know why yet. Be triple careful in the mission, all right?

They were also after our witch prisoner, who's been giving us some tips on her sisters' activity. Cybele gave us the info on the transmitters in Europe that last time, among other things. Seems the witches weren't happy with how we ruined their big project and we barely managed to save her from, well, death. [shrugs, as if he deals with witch assassinations all the time. Actually, he does.] She's pretty much on our side now after what they tried to do, so don't be too surprised if a lion lady takes a walk around town once in a while. Don't worry, we're keeping a good lock down on her magic until we're sure she can be trusted. [tiredly] Not the first time we've had witches on our side, at least...

[clears his throat] A bunch of us guys are still trying to identify and bury the undead. We've dragged the whole lot of them to the southeast side of the city to keep the smell away, though. Uuh, just don't wander over there for a few days.

[Private to Clovis]

Our movie will have to wait a few more days. How are you... doing?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I have no doubt that we will. [Though maybe not the way Shibusen has it planned.] How is the progress of the securing of the base while we are out?

I borrowed some agents from Marie-- that is, from Australia. They'll keep the city on a lockdown until we come back.

Good. It wouldn't do to swarm out only to have no place to return to, but I figured you'd taken it into consideration already.

Are you going to try and capture the enemy again?

That's happened before... It was pretty awful. [nervous chuckle]

[but the nervousness disappears at the question.] If they ask to be captured, I'm generally a merciful man. Otherwise, I'll kill every witch, kishin egg and familiar that I come across.

[He raises an eyebrow but doesn't comment on the admitted stupidity. He has already noticed that humans can be shockingly weak at times.]

You're willing to trust their word?

No, of course not. I've been dealing with them since I was a teenager; I know how tricky they can be. [Unless they've somehow tricked him into believe they're just ordinary women, but even those days are over now, after Arisa and Risa tried to murder him.]

But it's good to get information where it's offered.

True. Letting such things go to waste would be stupid. If they prove to be trouble you can still take drastic measures later on.

[Spirit smiles grimly.] Right now, I'm all for drastic measures.

Then we agree on something. [He grins fiendishly.] Expect me to be there and take back what is mine.

[thumbs up] Great. See you there, bud.

If luck wants it.. Take care. [The call ends.]

February 3, 2010 [Noon]

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