2010-05-01 - Interview with a Panda

TDD-1 TUATHA DE DANAAN

BRIEFING ROOM ONE

Soma Peries'...quarters? Prison? Is fairly sparse - it's not wholly uncommon for ships at sea to have no cells for prisoners, and the Danaan is no exception to this trend. It's a briefing room, cleared out of anything potentially dangerous, with Soma given nothing but a chair and a bed. (She is not deemed dangerous enough to just get chained to a chair). Her hands are ziptied together, and there is one guard in the room 24/7. They are sharp-eyed and alert - these are professionals. Probably, if Soma's sharp, she can assess that they may be better at the infantry thing than actual EFA and even A-LAWS soldiers. It makes sense, in a twisted way - the Earth government's military focus for a decade has been on mechanized combat. While mecha have largely obsoleted infantry, there /are/ certain things that only infantry can do...and a force dedicated to doing those things would be quite dangerous indeed.

Incidentally, that's how Mithril performed the extraction on that Newtype Labs branch they hit.

Either way: At the moment, Soma's guard is standing watch, with a sidearm at hand. Until a knock on the door comes, and a voice says via intercom, "Sergeant, is Miss Peries awake?"

It's Teletha Testarossa.

The guard ticks an eye over to Soma before answering.

Aside from a few idle attempts to free her hands from the ties around her wrists, Soma has been a model prisoner. She's been quiet, she hasn't fussed, she hasn't even done any pacing back and forth. The occasional glance at the guards almost immediately told her that she'd be better off not trying anything... not that she'd have anywhere to -go- if she did escape. Soma did see the Tuatha de Danaan as she was being flown in. There's nowhere to run from a submarine which no doubt is submerged by now.

Most of the time since having her room set up here, Soma has been lying on the cot and staring blankly at the ceiling. She should sleep. There isn't really anything else to do besides a few mental exercises to relieve the boredom, but sleep would be a good idea after such a long day. Sleep never comes, though... Soma is too busy worrying. Every time one of the guards shifts, every time someone walks down the corridor, her gaze shifts toward the door.

To tell the truth, she's scared half to death. She knows where she is, and she's afraid that any minute, a team will come in to begin interrogation, followed by wiping her mind. There's a slight flinch when she hears Tessa's voice, but Soma forces herself to close her eyes and not show too much of that fear she feels.

If Soma is very attentive, maybe she's noticed it - the one thing every submarine has, the one signal that it's present, is screw noise. The constant, subtle groan of the engine.

There is no such thing on the Tuatha de Danaan. It is eerily silent. No wonder the damn thing's unfindable.

The guard sees that look on her face and frowns, thoughtfully. "She's up, Captain," he says, and a moment later Tessa slides the door open. She looks the same as before - her ash-blonde braid sitting across her shoulder, pale hands at her side, dark eyes kind and curious. Her doubts of the other night are behind her, for now. She offers Soma that warm smile she has. She has no gear with her, if Soma tries to peer behind her. She tips her head, and says, "Miss Peries. I'm sorry for the conditions. Have you been treated well?"

Although Soma's experience with submarines has been almost nothing, she has been on plenty of ships, and many of the space-capable ships are also able to submerse underwater. There is always the sound of an engine, though. She's noticed the utter silence... or rather, not noticed the sound of the engine, and it does explain a lot. Either that or the de Danaan is just dead-floating somewhere, but she really doubts that.

For several seconds after the captain enters, Soma remains unmoving on the bed. She does open her eyes again, staring at the ceiling again. Finally, she speaks, softly and evenly, "My hands are tied." It's... sort of an answer to the question. Soma does wish that her arms were free for comfort, but she's not about to ask for such a thing. It's smart of them to keep her bound in some way.

Shifting on the cot, she slowly sits up and swings her legs over the side, but makes no move to stand. "I do not think you are sorry for my current state. What do you want from me?" It's straightforward and to the point, but the Super Soldier is operating off of no sleep and a good dose of fear for her existance, so she has no time to be polite toward an enemy.

Tessa laughs, quietly. "Yes, I suppose they are. I'm sorry we have to treat you this way. But..." A tip of her head to one side. "I'm sure you know why, as well."

But Soma makes a pointed reply, and Tessa says, "I'd prefer if we didn't have to have a guard on you at all times," with an acknowledging tip of the head. "Sadly we are not equipped to give you that courtesy." She steps over, and sits in Soma's chair - spinning it some to face the bed. She sits - legs straight, hands folded in her lap. "I want to talk," she says. "Do you know where you are?"

It wasn't meant to be a joke, and Soma just gazes levelly at Tessa as the girl laughs. "Yes. I know why." She tugs at the bonds on her wrists, but it's mostly for show. She knows she doesn't have enough leverage to try to break them. It's funny how a little strip of plastic can keep her totally at bay.

"You are smart to have me on guard." Soma glances toward said guards but doesn't say anything to them. She's been behaving, but if she -weren't- being watched, she may have found a way to cut that band off her wrists by now. And... probably just wait in here anyway, because she wouldn't know how to pick the lock of the room to open the door and they're on a submarine -anyway- and there's nowhere to run. But her wrists wouldn't be sore.

Amber eyes shift back to look directly at Tessa. "We are on the submarine designated Toy Box. Your vessel." She remembers from their last encounter that Tessa was in charge of her own ship, so it's a safe enough assumption.

She spots that wiggle of the wrists.

"I'm affraid I can't let you have the room to yourself," Tessa hums. "But would you like to have your hands freed? If you know that much, then I'm sure you understand how pointless an escape attempt would be." She smiles, just a little bit. "And I would prefer you to be comfortable. Even if you are a prisoner...that's no reason to be inhospitable, I feel."

It's not like there are clothes around here for Soma to change into, so she really has no need for privacy. The guards seem to be professional about the fact that they're overseeing a young woman.

That offer catches her by surprise, though, and it shows in her face. "You... really?" Soma blinks several times, searching tessa's face for any sign that this is some cruel joke. It doesn't -seem- to be, at least. Since Soma can really only easily read those she's had a lot of contact with, the captain isn't the easiest to search out mentally, but that doesn't stop her from extending a brief nudge with her mind to make sure there isn't some ulterior motive. "I... see. I would appreciate it."

Tessa has ordered that Soma is to be treated like a (dangerous) guest, rather than as a prisoner or a traitor - No beatings. No abuse. Admittedly, that's mostly standard procedure with Tessa; only those who have proven themselves to be truly dangerous enemies to the cause are treated with maximum caution and a malign will. Gauron. Ali Al-Saachez. Yazan Gable. Ribbons Almark. Leo Stenbuck. The really, /really/ crazy guys.

Tessa's face shows absolute honesty. Her face turns downward, slightly - she can...feel that, the little nudge from Soma, and she locks her mind down tight. Openness is good; resonance is bad. For Soma, perhaps it's an unusual thing, to find someone who actively repels her?

Tessa looks at the guard, who is frowning, but she's his superior officer and so all he can do is give her a 'I think this is a bad idea and also if she slits my throat with your knife I'm totally gonna be pissed at you from hell' frown.

Despite this, Tessa holds out her hand. "I'll do it. Sergeant, your knife," she says, and waits patiently for him to hand it over, which he does only slowly - stepping away from the center of the room and drawing a swiss army knife that he hands to her. Tessa stands up, stepping over, with the blade held with what Soma can easily tell is a complete amateur's grip. "I'm doing this to show you that I have no ill intention," Tessa says, while waiting for Soma to present her bound hands. "With your hands free, if I were to do something to you, you'd be able to fight back - correct?"

She slips the knife in behind the ziptie, trying to cut it without damaging Soma's wrists.

Yes, because Soma is absolutely nothing at all like a crazy person. She has nothing to do with someone like Hallelujah Haptism. At all. Ever. Really.

The Super Soldier blinks in surprise as she feels her mental nudge just completely shut down. Normally, she just doesn't get anything... but for there to be an active defense against her? Soma gives Tessa an odd look, but says nothing. It seems there's more to this captain than meets the eye.

Soma also knows that frown. She's given that frown before. She says nothing, though, as she presents her hands. Thoughts do go through her head... Tessa doesn't seem to be strong. It wouldn't take much force to grab the knife from the girl and hold her hostage and demand... demand what? That she be let go? Where would she go, in the middle of the ocean? Even if Tessa is important to them, there's bound to be someone stupid enough, or good enough, to shoot Soma. No, that wouldn't end well. If Tessa is looking at Soma's face, she might even see the tempetation as she watches the knife. In the end, though, Soma just rubs her wrists once they're free. "Thank you." it feels better to not have her hands tied together anymore. "Theoretically, I would."

The guards are given another glance. "But if you were to attempt to do something to me, I do not think they would stand for me fighting back." She seems content enough to remain sitting on the cot, though.

She isn't watching Soma's face. The guard is, however, and his hand is on his sidearm. The only reason he did this was because the Captain ordered it. The Captain is so trusting. She's kind of stupid, really, in that way, but...

But she's the smartest girl he's ever met, too. He has to trust that.

Tessa hums - taking the tie with her once it's cut, and turning her back on Soma as she moves to return the knife to the guard. "If I were going to do something to you," Tessa replies easily, "I wouldn't have just given you the chance to hurt even one of my men." She hands the guard back, and spins on her heels. "I'm sure you have no reason to trust me, Miss Peries. So I just want to talk to you. If we could have some privacy...well, I can't offer you that." Her smile turns apologetic. And then she sits down, hands folding in her lap, and she says, "And I'd like to start with why you've been looking at me like I'm going to attack you with an axe at any moment."

If Soma was just a bit more foolish, there might have been more danger. Fortunately for all involved (including Soma herself) she's not stupid enough to try anything when she knows it will end very, very badly. Amber eyes stare intentl at the captain's back as it's presented. Another opportunity, perhaps another show of trust? Or confidence. "It would be very unwise of me to attempt to attack you or your men, given my current situation."

Tessa is right on that count, though. Soma doesn't trust her one bit. "I understand. Being alone with me in this room would not be a good choice on your part." She's only speaking the truth, but the clinical coldness at least doesn't make it sound like a threat. There is a pause, as Soma looks at Tessa. She glances down, then back up again. "I do not think you have the physical strength to properly wield an axe to any effect." If that was an attempt at a joke, Soma shows no signs.

She pauses again, staring directly at Tessa. "By your own admissions, you have altered the minds of the children you kidnapped from the Super Soldier facilities. I understand that, once I am of no more use to you, you will do the same to me."

Tessa laughs, a playful sort of giggle. "Yes, that's true. I'm sure you'd be better at it, Miss Peries." Not an off-handed comment or anything - Soma's arms are strong, quite visible through the jumpsuit she's been issued.

And then Soma makes her own statement, and Tessa's mirth evaporates. "Ah, is that it?" she says, her fingers curling together.

And then she looks up at Soma, and says, "What you have said is not wrong. Mithril liberated those children from the Super Soldier program and sent them to a rehabilitation facility. It would not be wrong to say that their minds were altered. But...you do realize, they were altered before we ever entered the picture."

While it's true that Soma looks stronger than Tessa, that doesn't really say much. She's more suited to just using the hand to hand combat techniques she was trained in, along with her square gun. That gun is the gun that shot Cagalli... and she'll probably never see it again. Sure, she can get another one issued to her, but it's not the same! ...not that she holds any sort of attachment to something silly like a gun or a pink Mobile Suit that is hers and hers alone.

When her suspicions are confirmed, Soma inclines her head slightly. "They may have been. Some may not have been." Golden eyes focus sharply on Tessa's face. "Regardless, you have killed who they were and replaced their minds with your own opinions of what should be. I do not know what you have done with Second Lieutenant Triald, but she is not the same person she was." To Soma, this is a negative, not a good thing.

Lowering her gaze slightly, her voice grows a bit softer. "Another thing you have taken away from me." Soma is not the best at emoting, but there is a hint of sadness in her voice.

"All we have done," Tessa supplies, patiently, fingers folded, looking Soma in the eye, "is liberate them from their programming. No child should be subjected to that. In this..." She unfurls her hand, fingers splaying outward. "Yes, I suppose you could say the thing they were dies. We do not force them. We employ no chemicals that are not necessary to put their brain chemistry at what is considered a healthy balance." She tips her chin up, just slightly. "We give them the ability to live. To choose. I suppose you would not find it such a valuable thing? The chance, just once, to say no." She smiles, thinly - trying to keep that kindness in her eyes. "Was she your friend?" she asks, suddenly. "Ralla Traln Triald."

"You did not force them..." Soma wants to act. She wants to do -something-. Her muscles tense slightly, but she decides against doing anything. She can't let her temper take control. "Did any of them decline this treatment of yours? Or are they all really gone?" While there is a hint of anger in her voice, there is most definitely a whole lot of sadness. Loss. If they were all changed, then... she was alone.

Amber eyes focus on Tessa once more. "I have all the free will necessary to perform my duties. I do not do anything because I am forced." She's lied before...badly. She's even resisted orders before. Not completely successfully, but she never really tried to outright shut down a direct order. She's never been given one that she disagreed with enough to do so.

Another surprised look comes to Soma's face at that question. "Was she..." Was she? Soma wasn't sure if she even had the capability of having friends. But she thinks to the interactions she's had with her teammates. Louise Halevy was definitely trusted, and Soma had a certain personal investment in her well-being. When Ralla was reported missing, Soma felt a sense of deep loss... and when she was discovered to be 'dead,' Soma felt even worse. "She was... is... important to me. If that makes her a friend, then yes."

Tessa admits, quietly, "I do not know. As a precaution, once they were delivered to the rehabilitation program I was not told their fate." She smiles at Soma, sadly. She's not sure what else to add. She suspects clarifying that they wouldn't be given any choices until /after/ they were deemed capable of making a reasoned one would not help Soma's mood.

Nor the fact that Mithril Intelligence isn't actually as nice as Tessa is.

"The fact that you consider there to be an acceptable minimum troubles me," Tessa says, plainly, of Soma's answer to the question of free will.

And then...hmm. An interesting answer. "I'm glad," she says, smiling, "that you got to see her again, then. She was very worried about you. Do you have any other friends? Anyone you consider close?"

"Without any proof to the contrary, I can only assume the worst. That you handed them over to be killed." Her gaze hardens. "Even if you had good intentions in mind, you had a hand in the murder of those children." The look she gives Tessa is pure hatred at this point. "You can speak against the mental condition of those children all you like, but they were -people-, and you gave them over to be -destroyed-." Her hands clench down, grabbing the edges of the cot.

She's silent for a moment, forcing herself to calm down. "And you wonder why I am afraid that you will kill who I am as well?" Her voice grows quiet again. "I am a soldier. I understood that one day I would die. II just expected to die doing something important, not having my very being ripped away from me." Soma doesn't look up, not wanting to show her fear any more than her words already do. She's pretty certain that it's evident in her face. "I.. I do. Someone who needs me."

Tessa's eyes don't even falter. "If that is your stance, then they were murdered before I ever got there. Transformed into monsters who kill because they are told." She tips her head to one side...but she doesn't give Soma any particularly telling looks. Nothing implying ill thoughts - nothing saying what's going to happen to /her/.

She settles back in her chair, hands still in her lap, still watching Soma thoughtfully. "Who is it?" she asks, thoughtfully. "A commanding officer? Just someone you know?" Her handler?

Muscles tense once more, but not to move... Soma is just tightening her grip on the edge of the cot. Her fingers will hurt later, but she doesn't care right now. "Is that how you see me, then? A monster that must be killed to free her?" She bites her lower lip, a physical sign of weakness... but she can't help it.

"Neither. A comrade. Someone I care about." She keeps her head down, her voice remaining soft. "I was once orderd to ensure her safety. I am no longer under special orders." She honestly doesn't understand -why- she has this affinity for Louise, but she's come to care about the Warrant Officer's well-being.

"You have made an assumption about me. You think that I am a thing. You think I can only do what I was told." Soma lifts her head now, and she can't hide the pain in her face. "You may be right, but I am -me-. If you're going to kill me, then -do- it. I'm sure I can't do anything to stop you or change your mind, since you think I am a monster."

Tessa watches Soma...lose control. Just a little. Just a touch. But maybe not a lot at all. Her eyes lose some of that kindness, but it's not anger that replaces it - it's more like, a kind of deep sadness. Perhaps regret. Perhaps doubt, even.

Like Soma hurt her very badly.

She falls quiet, her eyes finally breaking contact and staring at the ground. Her fingers curl around themselves, awkwardly. The guard...stands, watches. Does what he can to not quite be in the room, at the same time as his eyes lock on Soma's fingers, making sure she's not going to just suddenly pick up the cot and hurl it.

Tessa swallows. "I'm not going to kill you," she says, and her voice is less certain, but not like she's /lying/. More like she's just...less at ease. She tries to unpack the truth, evenly, and hopes to God it is the right thing. "What I want is for you to be able to see. For yourself. Not for the EFA. Not for A-LAWS. Not for Ribbons Almark, or Paptimus Scirocco, or Revive Revival, or Leo Stenbuck or Louise Halevy." Well, apparently she came in better informed than she acted. "I want you to see what we see, so that you can make a choice. And..."

Now she looks up, and her gray eyes are very sincere. "I want to know who Soma Peries is. I guess, that's what I want the most."

It was not Soma's intent to hurt Tessa. It wasn't her intent to -not- hurt Tessa, either. She's jsut very scared right now, and grasping at straws for some reason to be allowed to live. When you're panicked, sometimes you do whatever you can. If she were her usual calm self, she might notice how hurt Tessa is.

As is, the statement that she's not going to be killed is met with... doubt. "You will not kill me?" She pauses, turning that over in her head. "Or turn me over to someone who will?" Why is she so desperate? Soma doesn't remember ever feeling this -weak-. She's pretty sure that she doesn't like it. "If... if that is all, then I will attempt to see." She still looks scared, sounds scared... especially when those particular names are given. She doesn't even know Ribbons Almark, and she's never met Paptimus Scirocco, but she knows she's vaguely under his command. The other three names... well, it wouldn't take much digging to find them. Soma did say her callsign was Jinx-3, after all.

Slowly, Soma's grip on the edge of the cot loosens. If Tessa is to be trusted--and she isn't completely sure this is the case yet--then she at least doesn't have to worry about her life... for now. Amber eyes meet the Whispered's gray ones, and Soma tries to drive herself back to her usual calmness. "...what do you want to know?"

Tessa is almost, almost damaged enough to persuade Soma with her resonance. It would not be a difficult thing - open up the line. Push a few choice memories through. But what would it be? No, more to the point - just the thought is a sign of how much she should /not/ be having this conversation. She continues on, even though she knows she shouldn't.

"I will not," Tessa says, making promises she shouldn't. "You..." ... ...She's a hypocrite, isn't she, she thinks with a certain morbid realization. She makes the promise because someone's in front of her. Those children...now Soma's got Tessa doubting herself. She looks Soma in the eye. "I'll protect you," she says, with a real smile. She can't offer anything more.

They both share a slightly awkward moment of reclaiming their centers. The guard studiously ignores the whole situation.

"I want to know about you, Miss Peries," Tessa says, as plainly as she can given how awkward the conversation became. "Who you are. What you can be." A little smile. "It's easy enough to get your dossier, but that hardly tells me anything about you, does it?"

Pushing into Soma's mind is a dangerous game. It's probably for the best that Tessa doesn't try it. Things could get very out of hand rather quickly.

The promise is made. To be honest, Soma isn't sure if she can trust Tessa. However, it's better than nothing... until the end. Soma stiffens up at the offer of protection. "So you do not know. If your superiors ask for me, you will have to obey them and send me to my fate. I see." She's assuming, but that's what it -sounds- like. "If this is the case, we may not be as different as you say." There's a certain sadness in her words, as if she's accepted that. "I suppose there's nothing more you can do."

Soma takes a deep breath. "That is a very broad topic." She flexes her hands a few times to relieve some of the pain from gripping the cot too hard earlier, then folds them on her lap. "And you should know that much of my life is classified, and I can not tell you about it." Besides which, Soma isn't sure how much she wants to open up.

"I can fight them," Tessa says, with a little awkwardness in her tone. "It's not as simple as you say." They CAN overrule her. If they really want. But...

"They won't risk my cooperation over you. Certainly not if I dig my heels in." She smiles, though it's kind of dark, and unhappy. "Please don't worry. I've promised you. I'll follow through on that."

And then, she watches Soma grapple with her questions. "You don't have to answer all at once. I have hours." She nods her head forward, crossing her legs comfortably. Unfortunately, then she realizes that literally none of the questions on her mind aren't slightly loaded. Hmm. "Do you like your squad? Have you had any problems with anyone? I noticed Michael Trinity and Louise Halevy are both on the roster; that seems like a shooting waiting to happen..."

TO BE CONTINUED WHEN I GET THE REST FROM HOME

WHAT DO I LOOK LIKE, THE MAID, GOD