sdatislife
in
damned
Night 48: Main Hallway 1-West
[From here.]Shinji paused at the major hallway, playing the beam of his flashlight over the walls. This was familiar by now. He'd come through this hallway a couple times before and it was usually as far as he'd gotten into the institute at night. Usually he just stopped - he didn't particularly want to find out how far the corruption went or
( Read more... )
Once more, Xemnas wandered into what was part of familiar territory by now. His orange eyes gazed around the area, noting the small number of patients to be already present. The small beams of light provided by their flashlight pierced the darkness, but he disregarded them as he swept his own over the walls, determining whether a threat lay in wait.
It was remarkable how this facility changed when the light of day had been extinguished by the darkness of the night. It contained a form of decay, an unfamiliar darkness that was absent during the day, yet grew dominant after dusk. Worlds were usually favored by one force or the other, yet this institute was one that was completely different. Despite it's illusion during the day, the night was favored by the darkness. A darkness that did not seek to extinguish light and consume one's essence, giving birth to Heartless to repeat the cycle. No, this darkness was one holding a different meaning. It held a purpose, an essence that the Superior, despite his knowledge, couldn't yet grasp.
But he had been granted a chance to start anew, to regain the very completion that the Keyblade's Chosen had denied him. If he could unravel the secrets of this place, seek the answers to the questions Landels Institute had provided him with, he would be able to complete his Kingdom Hearts once more.
However, to accomplish this feat he needed more answers. Though the information he had thus far acquired was useful, it still was severely lacking. Venturing in the unknown was a possible way to gain more information, yet without his abilities so readily available, maintaining caution was of importance.
[Unknowingly waiting for von Karma to wander into his general direction.]
Reply
After a thankfully uneventful trip through the north-south hall, von Karma soon arrived at the intersection to the main hallway. Save for a lone woman emerging from the prosecutor's former patient block, he had seen no one en route.
By contrast, the main hallway was busy. Several patients were standing around, although they were engaged in their own matters and thus paid him no attention. He found the place near the stairwell where he had agreed to meet Mr. Scar, but there was no sign of the swarthy man yet. Hmph. What did he expect from the lazy lion who spent most of the afternoon shift lounging around in the Sun Room?
Very well. The prosecutor would wait a short period of time for Scar, but not for too long. He wanted to hurry to their destination before any of the monsters could present themselves. As he recalled the blade-wielding clockwork demon from two nights ago, his jaw clenched. That was an incident he didn't care to repeat.
Several minutes passed. Where in blazes was Scar?! This tardiness was unacceptable! His arms crossed and eyes narrowed in irritation, von Karma scanned the hall for signs of the primitive fool. As he continued to wait, he started clutching at his upper left arm, squeezing it back and forth, while his foot tapped incessantly.
One more minute would be all he would allow for Mr. Scar to arrive. After that, he would head back to his room to plan the trip for the next night... and perhaps to request Ms. Taura's assistance again. At least she was reliable!
Reply
Eventually, the Superior's gaze fell upon a lone man standing near the stairwell. It was a man older than most of the patient populace, his age seemingly near that of Ansem the Wise judging by mere appearances. His posture was one of annoyance, impatience, tapping his foot and clutching his own arm as if he was waiting. Narrowed eyes only seemed to emphasize the fact that this man was not in the greatest of moods. Obviously, this man was one that, as with many, still retained emotion, an existence.
The few others that teetered upon the edge of Nothing, were they confined within this facility at all?
Xemnas continued to observe the man for a brief moment before approaching him with a pace that held little rush. He stopped in front of the man, in plain sight which easily allowed the other to notice his presence. Those still in possession of their heart were relatively easy to startle, after all.
"Greetings," came the calm greeting, voice slow yet firm. "If you would pardon me, would you be able to provide a few of the answers I seek?" Despite his calm, or his relatively polite words being phrased as a question, there was the unmistakable authority in the manner the Nobody carried himself, the way he spoke. All the while his gaze lingered upon the other man as he patiently waited for an answer.
Whether Xemnas was unnerving the man with such a direct stare or possibly interfering with any plans, the Nobody did not bother with the illusion to care. Whoever it may be that the man appeared to be waiting for, they hadn't arrived yet. Therefore, the man was available for questioning.
Reply
Even so, there was something distrustful about this stranger, about his expectant gaze upon the prosecutor and his demand for information. Thus, von Karma would maintain his stoic composure while assessing the man's true intentions.
For a moment, von Karma said no word but merely returned the stare, his own bearing authority. He then broke the silence with an order of his own. "That depends upon which answers you seek. Moreover, I don't give indiscriminate information to strangers. First, your name and occupation, please."
Reply
And when the answer came, his lips twisted into what was an echo of a smile. A convincing one, but one that lacked in essence. After all, any amusement a nonexistent man could hope to experience was but a mere distant illusion, a memory provided by the brain. There were many that required his name, it would seem.
"I see. So you wish for an identity," he spoke, his words containing little rush. He nodded. "Very well, I shall provide you with a name." After all, considering the circumstances the request was a reasonable one.
"I am Xemnas," he answered. "I am... but a hollow shell." Instead of an occupation, the response had been about his nature. The Nobody simply wasn't one for straight answers, though what of it had to do with his nature and what of it had to do with secrecy was something that remained shrouded in darkness.
Though as reasonable as the request had been, it was as equally reasonable to return the favor. Therefore, he asked: "Then, what about you? Would you, too, provide a name?"
Reply
Hn. An affected smile. Just like that of that other person, only this one was far more subtle, much less exaggerated. And far less childish.
von Karma didn't return the smile but nodded in respect after the man had introduced himself. Although, what in blazes did this Xemnas mean by "hollow shell?" That was no occupation; that was a distinction that implied despair... and ergo, possible weakness of mind. His eyes narrowed a little, his gaze somewhat more exacting as he peered at the man to try to draw out any hidden flaws.
Finding none right away, he started to reply to Xemnas's question in kind. Just before he did so, he noted a familiar face walking past and greeting him. In return, he nodded at Ms. Taura, the corners of his mouth quirking upwards. It appeared that the young woman was heading off alone; could she have finally realized the futility of the History Club's efforts, in spite of their heated discussion during lunch?
He used the brief diversion as a an excuse to look around for potential eavesdroppers. Satisfied that there were none, von Karma finally looked back at the stranger, the fleeting smile now long gone, and answered, "Mr. Xemnas. I am Manfred von Karma, prosecuting attorney. Now that we have been introduced, what are your questions?"
Reply
"I have awakened one night prior, therefore, I am seeking answers regarding this remarkable place," he spoke, just as calmly as he did before. There was little rush behind the way he spoke, no particular emotion seeping through his words. And if he cared that he admitted he was rather new, he certainly did not show it. "The illusion of normalcy during the day that the head doctor maintains, it's shift to darkness after the lights are extinguished and the creatures that roam the hallways...I am already aware of these. Yet, many things remain hidden within the unknown. Would you be able to tell me of matters that are, too, of importance?"
The information he had acquired thus far had been presented in bits and pieces, of his own conclusions and of the words spoken by other patients. It may have seemed odd to randomly pick someone in the hall and fire a number of questions, but it was currently the most efficient way to gain knowledge.
Xemnas paused for a moment. "And if you would allow me another question, do you know more of these trials the head doctors spoke of during the announcements?" Those words had certainly been of interest. Perhaps it would tell of the head doctor's purpose, as that piece of knowledge was currently shrouded in darkness.
Reply
Perhaps some other time, von Karma might have been more amenable to letting Xemnas copy the basic primer from his journal. After all, it would likely provide whatever answers the man was looking for without the risk of disclosing something potentially damning to the prosecutor. However...
"Mr. Xemnas," he said, a hint of impatience in his voice, "I have my own affairs to attend to before the night ends. I have no time to answer vague questions. You'll have to specify what 'matters of importance' you wish me to explain. Otherwise, I will take my leave."
He started to do just that, setting the tip of his cane to the floor again, when Xemnas did ask him something more specific: the nature of the experimental trials. A chill ran through him, as he remembered his own torture session from four nights ago, but no emotion registered on his face or in his voice as he responded. "I know only that on alternate nights, several patients are selected for the Head Lunatic's special brand of 'therapy.' It has been described as 'personalized torture' that usually grants a trifling ability to the victim. However, the session is just as likely to damage the patient in some way." Such as tampering with one's cognitive ability... damn you, Landel!
Although the prosecutor strove to conceal his thoughts, his tone bore a touch of crankiness as he added, "Was that all you needed to know, Mr. Xemnas?"
Reply
The impatience still defined the other man, and though the Nobody had an idea of the reason behind such, he didn't quite leave. Instead, his gaze lingered upon the other man as he spoke. It may have been curious how calm his voice continued to be, even despite the other man's disapproval or crankiness. One that no longer existed...he could not quite care, after all.
"I see," he responded to the brief explanation of these 'trials'. "They certainly sound like experiments. Then, could that be the very reason why we are here?" The last words were not spoken to anyone in particular, however. They were only a hypothesis, one that just so happened to be voiced out loud.
Reply
The man's interest in these experimental trials was suspicious... but it did bring one possibility to mind as to Scar's whereabouts this evening: perhaps he had been abducted for one of those miserable torture sessions. Were that the case, then perhaps his failure to appear tonight could be pardoned -- only because von Karma had undergone one of those himself. Had that not been the case, then he would have found it a pathetic excuse.
A twinge of pain shot from his right shoulder. At the same moment, a flashback from his own M-U trial coursed through his mind. He wondered exactly what the blasted doctors would do to Mr. Scar were he taken for an experiment. Subject him to a bath? Run a vacuum cleaner through the room? Hah! However, the prosecutor was appalled to realize that he had, for just one second, actually cared what happened to that useless former lion. Once again, he silently cursed Martin Landel and that battleaxe doctor who were responsible for this chilling train of thought.
Without a trace of his inner reflection manifesting in his tone, von Karma replied, "Bah. What does it matter why we're here? What's important is that the administrator is guilty of a number of crimes, regardless of his motivation." His eyes narrowed, the gleam in them cold and exacting. "What's also important is that he pays for his crimes. Every single one of them. Especially these illegal experiments."
Reply
He shook his head. "Yet, I am afraid a motivation is of utmost importance. It tells of many things one wouldn't otherwise realize," he spoke. "When it is ignorance that defines you, you cannot claim to know everything. And when you do not know, all that you hope to accomplish is but a distant echo, an illusion you are unable to grasp because you cannot understand it's meaning."
Knowledge was, after all, power. And without power, one was helpless and had no choice but to yield to those who wielded it.
Speaking of motivation; how curious it was that von Karma would emphasize the 'illegal experiments' among the number of crimes. Why that in particular? Had he, perhaps, been subjected to one of them? Hmm...perhaps this man could be given a purpose. Though with how tight-lipped the man proved to be, it would most likely require a certain effort to gain answers.
Very well.
"However, as you claimed to have a purpose to leave your room, I would not mind to continue our conversation along the way," he said. There was a moment of silence, his orange eyes lingering upon von Karma. It was a gaze that almost seemed to go straight through the other man, that almost seemed to pierce. "Unless, of course, you would rather roam these monster-infested corridors by yourself?"
Reply
Instead of saying anything on this, he just stared as he listened to Mr. Xemnas prattle on about the importance of knowing another person's motivation. When the man paused, von Karma flashed a cold smirk back at him and responded, his voice dripping a hint of sarcasm. "Thank you so much for your insight on such irrelevant matters, Mr. Xemnas. I always find it quite amazing how fools manage to twist simple observations into philosophical discourse. Now that you have finished your enlightening rambling, I will state once more that in Landel's case, it doesn't matter why he has falsely imprisoned us since it won't change his outcome."
That gaze was disquieting... for a moment, von Karma perceived it as bright green rather than orange. Blast it! This man was making a tacit demand to follow him -- to harass him -- but he did make a point about heading out alone. Very well. Though von Karma distrusted this Xemnas, his original destination was unlikely to expose the stranger to any information damning to the prosecutor. The man also looked stronger -- and more useful -- than that cowardly lion did. Besides, the prospect of making this night productive instead of spending it in his room yet again was desirable to von Karma.
"As it so happens, I had been heading upstairs to gather evidence to build my case against the Head Lunatic of his crimes. You may accompany me, under one condition." He narrowed his eyes at Xemnas, his gaze cool and firm. "You will not disturb my work once we arrive there. Understood?"
Without awaiting an answer, he set his cane to the floor and proceeded down the hall, taking care to keep his pace slow enough for Xemnas to follow.
[To here]
Reply
Leave a comment