Blaze wrote:"Pay's pretty good. Employer's an heir of some big family in paranormal combat or something, that's where we got the special bullets." Davidson says. He glances at the anesthetic with a look of relief.
"Oh good, now I can drop the chipper snitch act. I'm dying here, maybe literally even."
The doctor nods at Davidson, before the techs proceed with the anaesthesia. "Very well... we'll begin treating his wounds," Doctor Ellison says to the assistants, before pausing to upload a copy of the discussion she had with Davidson to the CTC's databanks for analysis.
Blaze wrote:"Oh, sure they can be! But there are a lot of pretty ladies in Muffinville who aren't, so... I dunno." the boy says, deflating a little.
The tech chuckles at that, and tousles the boy's hair. "Well, that just goes to show you what's more important, doesn't it?" she tells him. "Being strong enough to protect things important to you... being intelligent enough to figure things out... being determined enough to stand up for what's right... that's more important than just being pretty or handsome. Right?"
Blaze wrote:The nun mulls over Morgiana's words for a moment.
"Well, proof undermines faith. Certainly fear generates faith when there is no proof of what you have faith in. But here in Muffinville, the existence of celestial and infernal realms are a fact. And considering that innocents have been caught up in our battles... well, they do not have much faith in us." the nun says with a slight sigh.
The lieutenant nods. "That does make sense. So... faith is based in optimism, or pessimism... rather than certainty, a certain trust that things will go one way or the other..." She gently pats the nun on the shoulder. "There, there. I'm sure you've been trying hard... but you may wish to evaluate your methods, since they don't seem to be working that well for you."
She pauses a moment, cybernetically transferring the recording she made of the interrogation to the CTC's databanks for back-up and analysis.
Mendi-chan wrote:*Mendo glances at Able and nods his head*
You do what you think you have too in order to insure the safety of those involved, I only ask that you save that strike team for a last resort. If we attract too much attention it'll quickly become a mission based around escape rather than intel.
That being said, let's try and find those two. It's our only lead at this point.
*Crouching down... he speeds off in the direction where the CTC had spotted Jean and Logos*
Blaze wrote:Alex beams and runs after her boss, leaping from trees to buildings with surprising agility.
Abel nods, and follows after both Mendo and Blaze, teleporting from point to point to keep up with their ninja agility.
Meanwhile, elsewhere...Deep within the CTC's Crisis Command Center, Commander Pleasance studies the displays. While some of them display the dispersion and status of the CTC's multitude of assets spread around Muffinville, the globe, and in orbit beyond, many of them currently focus on the issue of the disorder within Muffinville.
"This is... frustrating, to say the least," she murmurs.
"Sir?" her aide Alex asks.
With a sigh, the commander leans back in her seat. "Certainly, we
could just let Muffinville collapse into anarchy until the people cry out for our intervention... although it's just as likely they never would, and instead just criticize us for not intervening."
"Well, the current situation is strengthening the memes in place within Academy City," Alex points out.
Pleasance nods. "Still... we've run into trouble before, putting our own benefit ahead of that of the populace." She studies the displays again, glancing as new information pours into the databanks and is analyzed. "Hmm... so... it would seem the projected fifth column is actually a third faction agitating things behind the scenes."
"That would be consistent with some of the theories behind the original attacks, given that both parties accused the other of setting the explosives."
The commander nods again. "But... a big family in paranormal combat? Do we have any projections on who it could be?"
Alex frowns, and quickly skims through the results from various AI analyses. "So far... there are a few local families that could meet the rather vague standard of 'a family involved in paranormal combat', but... none seem to have a high correlation to the nature of the original attacks."
"Hmm... local families?"
"Well... ones within the Muffinville and Pastrylands areas. With the near-total loss of the Western Continent and the lack of significant communities outside the Pastrylands, well..."
Pleasance frowns. "... I wonder if someone outside this setting is involved."
"Sir?"
The commander glances at Alex. "Our own assets are spread over multiple dimensions. A large number of the local H- and D-class entities originated from other worlds. Perhaps someone else from outside has started interfering in local events..."
"Why?"
"To establish a foothold? To cause trouble and reduce the possibility of resistance? Who knows... but expand the search to all known extradimensional ties for local entities."
Alex nods. "It'll take a bit longer..."
"I suppose we'll just have to buy some time, then." Commander Pleasance studies the displays. "If they want to stir up increasing disorder... I guess we should try to do something to stall their plans." She taps her fingers on the desk. "We could mobilize an expeditionary force... give the gangs something
else to worry about, rather than threatening the community. On the other hand..."
"There's a sizable risk of collateral damage, and this third faction would likely eagerly take advantage of the chaos."
Commander Pleasance nods. "So... an alternative..." Her mind flickers over the reports stored in the databanks, pausing upon the interrogation of the nun. "... Hmm."
"Sir?"
"... Contact the Color Isolation and Containment Facility. Based on the most recent reports, it's been long enough. If faith is what is driving the gangs to this war, then I suppose it's time to reveal to them the SAVIOR..."