Sime~Gen Roleplaying on IRC: Snake River Dam Scenario
Episode #12: Which Part of No (7/1/00)
Lorza peers cautiously around the corner of the train station in an otherwise forgettable town of no consequence whatsoever.
Lorza spots his quarry, alone at last. Well, almost alone.
Arat is standing on the platform, in the shelter of the building's (such as it is) overhang.
Lorza frowns at the sight of Arat's bodyguard, then decides to chance it.
Lorza is well used to hopeless causes and unrealistic risks, after all.
Lorza straightens his clothing to look as respectable as possible, and walks around the corner, trying to look casual and innocent.
Dezrin is the visible member of Arat's bodyguard. He is about twenty feet away from Arat, but looks alert and steps closer as Lorza approaches.
Dezrin can spot "casual and innocent" a mile away, of course.
Lorza isn't completely suicidal, at least when it comes to what should be "friendly fire".
Lorza is less particular about dying gloriously for the Cause, of course.
Lorza stops at what he hopes the bodyguard will consider a safe distance, and calls to Arat.
Lorza: Please, Arat Audnes, I must speak with you.
Lorza combines this appeal with a peculiar gesture involving three tentacles that Arat would not have seen since his childhood.
Lorza hopes that Arat's parents had taught him the recognition signals, at least.
Arat glances suspiciously at Lorza.
Arat does not like to be approached publicly without appointment, and when it comes to people who fancy themselves his parents' supporters he prefers more discreet communications.
Lorza is ~~ excited and honored ~~ to have been entrusted with this task.
Lorza hasn't yet considered that perhaps the reason that he was sent was his relative expendability.
Lorza is a good soldier, after all, and that includes the ability to overlook certain things.
Lorza gestures towards the bodyguard.
Lorza: May I approach?
Dezrin watches carefully. He will obey Arat's cues, up to a point. He is also aware that his instincts are better than Arat's, and he is prepared to act as bodyguard if necessary.
Arat looks as if he sincerely does not want to say yes.
Arat finally nods once, reluctantly.
Lorza's attitude is more hero-worshipping than threatening.
Lorza is too young to have lived through the glory days of the Audnes-led rebellion.
Lorza has, however, been filled with stories of them since earliest childhood.
Lorza: Thank you.
Lorza approaches to a distance which makes more confidential speech possible.
Arat has the physical looks, the carriage and the nager of the Audnes type, but is wearing a Tecton uniform and looks as though he has been living aboard a train for weeks.
Lorza: It is an honor to meet the heir to Audnes at last. Welcome home to NorWest!
Arat really hopes nobody heard that. He can't help that everybody can zlin Lorza's feelings, of course.
Lorza realizes that disguise is necessary to any clandestine guerrilla campaign.
Lorza at least can be sure that it's an Audnes wearing this particular disguise.
Lorza: You have been away much too long, Tuib, and much has happened.
Lorza: However, much has remained the same, as well.
Arat looks uneasy. He really shouldn't be having this conversation.
Arat: Who has sent you?
Lorza: I am instructed not to give that information at this time, for reasons that I am sure are known to you.
Arat's eyes narrow.
Lorza: However, we stand ready to support a return of its rightful autonomy to NorWest Territory.
Arat thinks this bunch sounds like they could be trouble - more for Arat than for the Tecton as a whole.
Lorza: We prospered under Audnes rule once before, and there are many who long for a return of those days.
Lorza: But give us the word, and we are yours to command!
Lorza draws himself up to "attention".
Lorza: ~~ soldierly readiness ~~
Arat zlins Lorza for signs of insanity.
Lorza is quite sane, if heavily brainwashed.
Arat: I do not share my parents' opinion of the Tecton.
Arat knows that everybody has known this for decades. Why, then, this approach offering support of a rebellion?
Arat fears that the intention may actually be to try to force Arat to play their figurehead. He's encountered that before, never with organizations powerful enough to enforce their wishes though.
Lorza: Your parents cared deeply for this land and its people.
Lorza realizes that they didn't necessarily include Gens in that category, but that doesn't tie any knots in his tentacles.
Lorza: Your record at New Othwol suggests that you share their dedication in that respect, at least.
Arat simply looks at Lorza, his expression wary and displeased.
Lorza: We do not seek to recreate the NorWest Territory of a hundred years ago--that is obviously impossible.
Lorza: But there was much that was great about our Territory, which has been repressed in the name of progress.
Lorza: We seek to revive that greatness, and create something that combines the best of past and present.
Lorza's compatriots are mostly concerned with regaining the lands and property they lost in the Tecton takeover, but "independence from foreign tyranny" plays so much better.
Lorza: Our leaders wish to meet with you, confidentially, to brief you on our resources and such intelligence as we have been able to gather.
Lorza: Together, we can forge a new, strong NorWest Territory, that rules itself and is not a poor relation to any other land.
Lorza: ~~ revolutionary fervor ~~
Arat internally recoils from Lorza's zeal.
Arat has enough disasters looming in his life without getting entangled in this as well.
Arat: Please tell them that I must respectfully decline.
Lorza jaw drops at this unanticipated refusal.
Lorza: ~~ dumbfounded ~~
Lorza: ...What? But you're the Audnes heir!
Arat: I am under close scrutiny at this time. Even if I supported your cause at heart, it would be unsafe to act.
Lorza: Ah.
Lorza: ~~ comprehension ~~
Arat's wording makes it clear he is not admitting to any such heartfelt support.
Arat has not found that the disinterest argument works well, though. It only makes them more persistent, believing he is playing hard to get.
Arat supposes he will be accosted with more messages of this type, and ultimately confronted by the leaders of the so-called "we".
Lorza thinks it's really a pity that the shining hope of the would-be rebellion has to dissemble about his wishes, just so he can truthfully say he refused their offer.
Lorza has never actually met an Audnes before, and is therefore unaware of just how much nageric control Arat has.
Lorza: I believe I understand, Tuib.
Lorza shoots a glance at the bodyguard, and lowers his voice.
Lorza: We will watch from the shadows, then, until the danger is past.
Lorza: Rest assured, we will be ready to act when the moment comes.
Lorza slaps a fist against his chest to indicate his steadfast nature.
Arat looks at Lorza a moment longer, and then turns his back on him, hoping that a snub will be a clearer message than a simple "no".
Lorza takes this to mean that Arat is under closer observation than his superiors thought, and is likely to be interrogated by hostile forces.
Dezrin watches Lorza.
Lorza thinks things are looking up: so far, his cell's "rebel" activities have consisted entirely of long gripe sessions about the good old days, a few long hikes, and watching his home town's two police officers tramp their beats.
Lorza knows the value of military intelligence, but the beat schedules haven't changed in years.
Lorza has a niggling suspicion that something more would be required to actually drive the Tecton from NorWest Territory.
Lorza is excited that the cause has actually advanced to the point where the authorities might bother to take actual action against it, rather than treating it as a big joke.
Lorza is excited enough that he forgets his "disguise" momentarily, comes to attention, and salutes Arat respectfully.
Lorza: Tuib!
Lorza turns crisply on one heel and marches away across the platform, hoping that Arat will take his school marching band parade-drill skills for the real thing.
Beni rejoins Arat, his business in the john concluded.
Beni looks after Lorza.
Arat, who has ignored Lorza's salute and colorful exit, relaxes just a touch upon Beni's return.
Arat: [relatively speaking, that is]
Beni: Was that part of the military unit that's supposed to be keeping order at the Dam site?
Arat is too well bred to snort.
Arat gives Beni a get-real look instead.
Beni shrugs.
Beni: They've finished hitching our car to the new train. Do you want to get settled?
Arat nods.
Arat goes to pick up his share of the luggage. Anybody who knew him well would recognize this as a sign of severe disquiet.