* It's been about a week, since the incident with the Ad. No response has come yet, and rumors abound as to what it really was, the most popular being some inane test of a new hacking system. * There's been several vicious counter-attacks on the continued efforts to trace it, however, resulting in destroyed or damaged computer hardware on the tracers end. * And life goes on for Smith, currently without incident. [Start] * Smith sits on the bed, cleaning Pina-chan. "Who's mommy's favorite gun? Yes you are!" * There's a commotion heard through the wall. It quickly changes into several yells, then a door slamming, then people running, then silence. * This goes on several times in various rooms in the hallway your room is in. * Smith gets her laser pistol within reach and starts putting Pina-chan away, eyeing the door. * There's an eerie silence, the kind you associate with noone being there, having already fled. This silence is broken, when the television in your room starts acting 'funny', static-y sounds coming from it. * The signal enhances itself, and it's revealed as a giant-sized nose with whiskers. Who the hell are you and why are you on my TV? Ah? Is this the right one? Hello? Anyone there? Wait, the microphone reciever is off, this is an old model.... * The nose pulls back, revealing it to be a cat-like face, the rest of it's body not visible, but you'd guess it's messing with something. Okay! Try number two! Hello, is anyone out there? Wherever you are? Right. Once again, who the hell are you and why are you on my TV? Who's a banana and why are you a capitol V...? * The signal cuts out momentarilly, then restarts again. Okay! This should do it! I think! This is Smith, right? Yes. Who the hell are you and why are you on my TV. Please say it's Smith, this time, and not... good! Good good good. You mean you don't remember the email you sent about a week ago to the Big Ad? That you weren't pleading and praying every moment in wait? Well, if you were, your prayers have come true! ... okay... Right. Since Big Boss's speech that I was supposed to read was so cheesy, I'm gonna ignore that. First question. Are you still interested? Not like I have much else to do. Well, I think that's a yes. Okay. Next question! Well, not actually a question. More like a statement. * Smith waits. Me 'n Big Boss have picked you for our elite mercenary squad, based on you abilites, and lack of a background, and other stuff. Spelling and grammer in the response counted. Okay. Which is really odd, we had a hard time hunting you down for contact. Scared a bunch of people, I think. That would explain the funny noises. Right! So, you wanna meet us? I think we squashed that security leak, so it should be safe to lead you manually. Okay. Rei much? *deadpans* * Smith stares blankly at Monitor. Anyways! Take the nearest maglev station, to the Berva Nine area. Okay. * Smith puts her gun in her suit's jacket, picks up Pina-chan's case by one of the straps, and heads off to the nearest maglev station. Get off at the 120th floor exit, and I'll contact you again there! Right. * Smith locks the room on the way out. * The TV resumes its normal operation. All signs of the interference from before are gone. * Smith walks to the nearest maglev sation! * Smith takes the maglev to Berva Nine, floor 120. * The maglev is crowded, as usual. You barely make it to it in time, however, and have trouble getting in with all your stuff. * Getting off, if's noticeably less crowded. * Smith gets off and looks around. * One of the monitors around, the one thats -supposed- to display maglev arrival times and such, is acting 'funny'. Like your TV from before. * Smith wanders over to it. * The monitor clicks back on, and it's the same cat figure from before. In a different pose, you can see the entirety of it. About 3 feet tall, with the colorations of a black tabby with a white underbelly. And standing, humanoid-like. Hi! Glad you could make it! Did you trip go okay? I hope it did, but I heard maglev trips are awful boring. Never been on one myself. Well? Oh! Right! Directions! * Monitor lowers its voice, to a stage whisper. "There's a big white mansion on the 126 story! Go there!" ... right. * Smith wanders off to Floor 126 to find this mansion. * You're aware of of someone on the other side of the exit to the 126th story. * Smith looks at this person. * You can't see them, the door is closed. You think you hear the slight whine of a laser weapon, though. * Smith draws her laser pistol and opens the door from the side. ( By which I mean "so she isn't in the line of fire for somebody shooting through the door". ) * As you do so, the figure on the other side jumps into alertness. There's also someone else in the background, holding a laser rifle, trained on you. ( Bah. Trained on the open door. ) Who the hell are _you_? * The figure, a person in an all-revealing helmet, wearing a non-descript uniform, raises a laser pistol, only to be suprised by Smith. Uh... Smith? Possibly. Why? Uh... *fidgets, eyeing the case* We were assigned to watch for you. That is, if you're Smith. What, do you need to arrest her for something? Uh. No. Then what're the guns for? Cait said that there was a security leak earlier. Just making sure the right person goes. You -are- Smith, right? Yes. Would Cait be the funny cat-thing? * Guard grins. Yeah. A bit too flakey for my taste, but he seems to be the only one Big Boss trusts. * Smith puts her pistol away. By the way, I'm Biggs. My buddy over there is Wedge. *** Guard is now known as Biggs ( They are _so_ doomed. ) ( True, true. ) ( ... Oh god. We're going to go off on a mission to blow up something, aren't we. ) ( ...not yet. ^_^; ) * Smith nods. ( ... Yeah, point, if you were stealing that blatantly, we'd _Already_ be on the mission. ) Can I go through then? * Wedge waves, his aim still not wavering Yeah, sure. It's the big mansion right over there. * Smith nods and manuvers Pina-chan's case through the door, then heads over to the mansion. * The mansion mentioned is a big, old white mansion, with roman columns and all that stuff. Old-style architecture. And big, too. * Smith looks over the mansion, idly noting where the best places to put explosives to make it go boom are, then goes up and knocks on the front door. * There's no response, and it opens slightly at the knock. * Smith pushes it open and wanders in. * Inside, it's ...big. Like you'd always imagined a rich fabulous mansion would be. Chandeliers, expensive carpeting, wall drapes and old art, the whole bit, even the dual circular staircases leading up to the next floor. There's doors all over. * Smith looks around. Well, it'd be nice if I knew where to go _now_. * A mech exits from one of the doors, hurrying somewhere, carrying several platters of food. * The mech hurries up the left stairs, and vanishes, out of sight. * Smith shrugs and follows it. * You follow it! Up the stairs, there's several doors. One of them is still open, slowly closing on it's own, and you can hear clattering through it. * Smith goes and looks through it. * It's a dining hall. The long tables in the middle of the room look like they can seat about 200 or so, and it seems like it's up to the lone mech to fill it up with everything that's supposed to go there. ( Yes, but what about any people? ) * Nope. No people, yet. It's empty, save for you and the mech. Then just you, as the mech scurries by you, not taking any note of you, obviously in a hurry. Excuse me? * Mech stops in it's tracks, turning around. I was instructed to report to this building, but not to any specific location in it. Do you have any idea where I should be going? Huh? Yeah? What is it? I hope it's important, I'm supposed to have the banquet ready soon. Oh! * Mech 's electronic eyes light up. You want to talk to Cait, right? ... I suppose so. He deals with all that kinda stuff. Hold on. * Mech steps outside, and bellows out the top of her speakers, 'CAAAIIIITTT! COMPANY! GET YOUR FLAKEY ASS OVER HERE!' * Mech taptaps it's foot impatiently. Hurry up! I've got a job to do, It's not my job to deal with people! * Smith stands there, waiting. * Cait walks into view. A 3 foot tall, humanoid mechanical cat, with really big ears. It perches itself on the stair railing, and looks curiosuly at the service mech. Yesss? It would have been nice if you had, you know, told me where to go once I got here. * Mech grabs Cait by the back of the neck, and drops him in front of Smith. Uh. You are... Ah! Smith! Sorry I'm late! Damn flakey mech. *stalks off, to resume her business* * Smith looks down at Cait. * Cait bows apologetically. Sorry! Was busy giving directions! How can I help you? I'm here. Now what? Oh, right! That! We feed you! And then I'll introduce everyone over dinner! ... Okay? I'm sorry I didn't mention that. But there's a couple of other people who will be showing up. * Smith looks at the banquet table, then back at Cait. ... And I am supposed to do what at the moment? Well, I suppose you could help Emel with bringing all the food to the table. I don't know why Big Boss wanted to fill up the table, as we don't have so many people... But he's funny about stuff like that. * Cait shrugs. Or you could just make yourself comfortable, and wait for dinner. Everyone else should be here in a little bit. * Smith nods, then sits down, opens her case, pulls out some blueprints, and starts scribbling on them. Well, have fun! * Cait waltzes off. [end]