Allies?

[neverseenhimbefore]

Galran Emperor Lotor's sitting in a library. No, he still hasn't read everything Nexus has to offer, many very interesting and potentially beneficial to him, materials. His jaw set, he's looking at his PINPoint communicator intensely. A young man, whom some may recognise as Hiroki Shirogane, comes up to Lotor and makes to sit near him. Lotor gives Hiroki a scathing look.

"I've told you already," Lotor says. His hand goes to the hilt of his sword.

Heeding this lack of invitation, Shirogane doesn't sit down. Instead, he comes very close to Lotor, anyway, and whispers in his ear,

"You really don't want to? Think of it. All the secrets. All the knowledge. In your reach, right here. Or, are you, perhaps, afraid?"

Lotor smirks, and says, "You should be quiet now. What makes you think I need your help, in any way? And I won't be as merciful with you as I was with a friend of mine. Seeing as you are no friend of mine. Only a false ally, it's turned out."

"You mean Narti."

Lotor's eyes widen, and he asks, after almost gasping a little, "How do you know that name?"

"Lotor, please. I know everything. That's what I've been telling you all this morning."

"Fine. But you seem different."

"In what way?"

"Are you yourself?" Lotor asks.

"And would I be here, making this alliance, were I not?" the clone counters.

"Fair point. You may be right."

"I'm always right. So. You want it, don't you, Lotor?"

"Yes. Tell me everything. And we'll defeat the witch and get her Quintessence, together."

"Yeah! That's more like it. That's the Emperor Lotor I know," Hiroki says, smiling pleasantly.

Lotor smirks, and utters, "Indeed. And since you're my subject now, I'll show you mercy and, well, amnesty for your previous crimes as the witch's former puppet."

"Thank you," Shiro's clone replies, putting his hand on Lotor's shoulder, "I appreciate it."

"Who else is with us?" Lotor asks.

"Naturally," the clone answers, "Princess Allura and Antheans."

"Who are Antheans? I've never heard of them," Lotor says, puzzled. "And Allura's back in Nexus?" he asks, hopeful.

"Your new allies, Your Majesty. And indeed she is. She can't wait to see you again."

"Hm. I like the sound of it. However, those Antheans of yours, what are they good for?"

Lotor and the clone are in the library, still, and minding their manners, trying not to talk too loudly. However, as it is a library, feel free to scold them if they're disturbing you.

Or feel free to join the conversation if you get what they're talking about, or even if not.

Comments

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis doesn't often scour through the entirety of the library, but it's hard to miss Hiroki having an outing. The other man with him, though... It's nothing specific that he can put his finger on, but something feels ever so slightly off and he's never been led astray by such feelings. He struts over, minding to shield his thoughts just a little more than usual. The other man's mind is a mystery that he is not inclined to actually break through, but for Hiroki, he'll spare a casual glance at the surface thoughts to see what's happening.

"Forgive my interrupting." He stops just short of completely bursting their little social bubble. "I wanted to say hello to Hiroki."

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki glances at Mantis and smiles.

"Hey there, Mantis."

His voice sounds just slightly different.

His mind and presence are shielded. Actually, said mental shield feels strangely similar to Lotor's mind's protection. Of a same kind.

"You're always free to interrupt anything."

2/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

"I have no idea who you're supposed to be," Lotor utters, sounding slightly confused and almost irritated, "but unless you share our goal of getting rid of the witch, Haggar, I shall ask you to leave immediately."

"He does share it," Hiroki, nearby, says matter of factly at that.

[ginger_firebird]

"I am someone who found Hiroki when he was a confused man wandering through the Nexus. He had a designation name he called himself at the time."

Mantis flicks a hand and pulls a chair closer to him. He sits down, minding his distance still, and keeping both men in his field of vision. This is an old game, but he's long considered himself an expert in it.

"Hiroki has told me of the witch. I had a few general ideas of how to handle her." His gaze flickers between the two men and he goes for reading both of their surface thoughts. Even if he's walked headlong into danger, there will be a tell when things might go awry. You just have to wait for that right moment. His head turns slightly to the new man. "Strange, though. I don't think I've met you before. How do you know Hiroki?"

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Both of them have mental shields. The shielding seems very similar. There's something dark, hostile, and ancient about it, if Mantis can feel such things.

Unless one breaks through barriers, no thoughts can be read.

Hiroki looks nostalgic and grateful as Mantis recounts their meeting.

He turns to Lotor and says,
"It was long ago, before I thought I was Shiro. So I was just one of countless clones. Subject Y0XT39. Mantis was able to chase Haggar away from my mind for a time."

He turns back to Mantis.

"Lotor has his own reasons to wish to get rid of the witch, and he's a skilled warrior. Also, Haggar really wants to have him on her side. We could use that. Lure her. Trap her, as you've said, Mantis. And then dispose of her."

2/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor nods at what the clone says.

"Hiroki? I suppose you don't go by Shiro anymore," he says, to Shiro's clone.

Then, to Mantis,

"I know the clone - Hiroki - because we're from the same reality. Let's just say we became allies. Worked together for some time. However, knowing now that he used to be the witch's puppet, I'm still deciding on whether to trust him."

He glances at, hm, so that's the name now, Hiroki and says,

"If you're lying and she still has you in her thrall, you'll regret it."

Hiroki nods at that, with a very well, duh look.

Lotor smiles.

"I'm beginning to like the sound of this alliance," Lotor says. "Mantis, was it?" He asks, now looking at Mantis again. "You've faced Haggar? Join us."

[ginger_firebird]

Oh ho. Now he's starting to really get an idea of what this Haggar woman is like. She's clever, he'll give her that much, but surely she would have known from when he spent time around Hiroki that she's not the only one who can control people at a distance. Her game is impressive, but it's so paper-thin to the point of being kind of insulting. She's not even trying to hide her tracks.

"Psycho Mantis. I used to work as a consultant of sorts in psychological warfare. My specialty involved the use of certain abilities of mine and they should at least be effective enough to throw off the foothold Haggar might find over people here."

[neverseenhimbefore]

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Mantis. I'm Emperor Lotor."

A bit of curiosity and formal nicety leaks through the mental shield seamlessly. The emotion isn't Honerva's, doesn't feel like Honerva at all. It's all Lotor.

Hiroki looks subdued. And as if he might be wondering on a propoer course of action. However, nothing leaks through.

Looks a bit subdued. Anybody might notice that, really.

Lotor turns to him, with a slight surprise. Isn't he friends with this man? Right now, the man, no, not man, clone, reminds him of Acxa when something's weighing heavily on her.

"Black Paladin," Lotor asks, "are you ill?"

At that, Hiroki Shirogane smiles pleasantly, and replies, "No, just making a plan."

[ginger_firebird]

Emperor. Mantis nods in honest respect for the title. Everyone has their own way of getting through life, and what a cushioned ride that must be.

"A pleasure, Emperor Lotor." The only comfort Mantis has is seeing that Lotor's mental state doesn't feel the same as Hiroki's. Or rather, the witch's. "Fortunately, I've now realized I'm familiar with the markers of Haggar's presence. She's subtle, but not a particularly great actor, and even she cannot hide her presence in someone else's mind."

He pulls away from Hiroki briefly to send a simple message directly at Lotor using his psychic link: She has telepathy. She's here right now.

"It's interesting meeting someone who's telepathy is so strong. I can respect the skills she has in using those abilities, but in this place, her preferred method speaks more to her arrogance than anything. She's not the best actor I've personally met, and her technique for keeping her hold on someone is as callous as mine."

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor winces, but only barely.

He thinks, as loud as one can think,

Is she, now? I should've known. Once a puppet, always a puppet. There's but one way, then. The clone needs to die. I can distract it, if you want to do it.

He then turns to Hiroki,

"So, what about that plan?" he asks.

[ginger_firebird]

Mantis goes stiff and slowly takes in a deep breath. The next string of thought he can muster to share with Lotor starts with a very solid air of confusion followed by a vague string of Russian swears. He shakes his head and goes harder into talking through the telepathy.

Even if you could kill someone here, why the hell is that your first solution? You can shield your mind and yet you can’t eject a telepath? She can’t hurt us here either.

He pulls back with a bit more finality that time and fixes his gaze on Hiroki. “Do you really think I can’t hear you in his head? Get. Out.”

Unlike with Lotor, Mantis is borders on vicious in how he attacks the mental shield the witch put up. There is no patience, no warning, just pure telepathic force.

[neverseenhimbefore]

The witch's haunted me my whole life, Lotor replies, in mind. She's used even a friend of mine for a puppet. Why'd I show mercy to somebody like Shiro's clone, who's only pretended to be Shiro, that is, a paladin who'd be my ally against the witch?

The clone, mewanwhile, turns to look at Mantis.

"What's wrong, Mantis?" he asks.

Inside his mind, there's radio silence, one could say.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy had gone to look for Hiroki when he had been gone longer than expected. Call it paranoia or one too many mishaps, but he was looking for his partner actively. It didn't take long to get directed to the library. After all, they were a striking couple and Ziggy was obnoxiously gregarious.

His suspicion becomes even worse when he sees his man with the person he was directed to stay far away from. His hearing is far past a human or most other species. He doesn't approach but stops out of the way to listen. His eyes glaze over after hearing the comment about allies. He's projecting his mind to his mother and it panics him when she says neither of them had talked to his species about being allies.

Ziggy comes back, calming himself to placid when he approaches. He doesn't announce himself, just wraps his arms around Hiroki's shoulders from behind, kissing his cheek. "It depends on who you are, Lotor."

He glances from Hiroki to the other man that was to be avoided. His mind is on everything, feeling out both of them. His first mental item of business is to make sure this is actually Hiroki and not some other clone. While his mind is checking his lover, he smiles. "I'd talk to one of our diplomats before calling us allies. My people are friendly enough to agree but proud enough to be unhappy about not being asked."

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Hiroki giggles lightly when Ziggy kisses him, and leans into his embrace, then smiles softly.

He sounds just a tiny bit different.

"Hello, Ziggy. I was gonna tell you later today. I just thought there was no need to bore you with long and frustrating preliminary negotiations. Forgive me, Love."

He nuzzles him.

His feelings, thoughts, and presence are completely shielded. In a very similar way to Lotor's.

2/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor doesn't deign to reply to the interrupting stranger. He turns to Shirogane.

"If you may, tell your boyfriend-" he starts to say, before Hiroki interrupts him.

"Actually, Ziggy's my wife."

"If you may," Lotor continues, brows raising slightly, "Black Paladin, tell your wife we're somewhat busy right now."

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy is instantly on high alert and the suspicion starts bleeding off of his presence. Hiroki sounds wrong, the block... and the word choice. It's very wrong. In his paranoia he reaches out, not to his mother, but to Tommy. If he needs help in a hurry, Tommy is better at astral projection.

Then the word wife comes out and Ziggy freezes. That is not at all right.

His eyes turn to Lotor, proud and arrogant. "It is my species you two are talking about. I am not going anywhere."

Ziggy's mind has turned on the block on Hiroki's mind. He doesn't like it. His powers coming online so swiftly that even Lotor will see the faint glow on his forehead and in his eyes.

"What is wrong?" the message comes directly in Hiroki's mind.

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

The mental shield thickens. There's something dark and ancient about it. If Ziggy wants to talk to Hiroki, inside, behind the shield, he'll have to break through.

Meanwhile, outside, Hiroki frowns and takes Ziggy's hand in his.

"Of course you're not going anywhere. You'll help us, won't you? We're all going to defeat Haggar together, Princess. And I, I need you."

He kisses Ziggy's forehead.

2/2

[neverseenhimbefore]

"Ah, so you're an Anthean, Ziggy," Lotor says.

Things were beginning to make sense, now, as far as he was concerned.

He turned away from the apparent, hmm, newlyweds? As was only polite.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy pushes harder and his forehead brightens. His usual smile fades to a sterner look as he concentrates

"Why are you keeping me out?" Ziggy asks with growing concern.

Lotor distracts him slightly and he nods. "Yes. My mother's Anthean."

[somekindofspaceuncle]

"What do you mean? Oh, I see, you're surely just tired. Shsh. It's alright, Ziggy. I'm here."

It's all said almost tenderly. Then, he kisses the palm of Ziggy's hand.

But the barrier's not opening up, at all, inside.

Lotor nods at Ziggy's statement.

"I see. Should I leave the two of you for a private discussion for a moment? I'll come back later, to talk about the witch," Lotor says.

"No!!" the clone shouts suddenly, panic and rising impatience in his voice. "We'll talk now, Lotor!"

He now, suddenly ignoring Ziggy utterly, makes a step in the direction of the prince, who's making to leave the library.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

"I'm not tired." Ziggy's getting irritated. He can't help the slight purr from the kiss to his palm but he's too stressed to get aroused.

Everything changes when Hiroki pulls away. Sheer fright explodes in Ziggy's presence. Something is desperately wrong. He mentally screams for Tommy's help.

"Hiroki!" Even if Lotor can ignore the emotions the fear is in Ziggy's voice. He latches his mind on the boundary and just starts tearing at it. His entire being is bent on opening it.

[neverseenhimbefore]

Lotor stops in his tracks, his eyes widening slightly, mild confusion from him now out in the open, in front of his mental shield, just seamlessly leaking through.

Meanwhile, Ziggy can break through that Dark barrier surrounding Hiroki's very being. Behind it, the Anthean will feel Hiroki's and Honerva's minds. The barrier meanwhile, now broken, doesn't reform, but coalescences, inside Hiroki's and Honerva's minds, into Dark Entities, which Ziggy'll also now feel. Foreign beings. Alive. Sentient. Vibrating with energy.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy freezes in place as he prepares for the illness that will come with what he is about to do. The cry brings Tommy, not in physical form but just an apparition beside Hiroki. Lotor will feel the much stronger and organized Anthean press against his barriers as he tries to assess the situation. Hiroki and Honerva will feel the same.

"You fucking witch!" Ziggy snarls and the usual kind demeanor turns dark. He coughs like he might retch but his mind stays focused. His instantly tries to shove his presence between Hiroki's mind and the rest. He's stronger than the first time Honerva bumped into him, strengthen by the continued use of his mind to heal Hiroki.

"Leave or die." Ziggy is serious.

It's enough to pull a worried look from Tommy. He knows what he's seeing, a violent Anthean. Something not seen since thier wars thousands of years ago.

1/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Honerva hesitates.

So this is an Anthean's magic. And he's brought back-up - she remembers that one, Thomas, too.

Might be best to do a strategical retreat. And so, her mind instantly leaves Shiro's clone's.

2/2

[somekindofspaceuncle]

Physically, meanwhile...

Hiroki Shirogane sways on his legs. Lotor, unsure what's going on, catches Shiro's Clone before he falls.

Hiroki heaves a shuddering sigh, then coughs, and coughs, as if he wanted to get rid of something, and didn't know how to.

"Are you sick, Shiro?" Lotor asks, honestly not understanding anything happening right now.

Inside Hiroki's mind, a Dark Entity still remains.