IC Contact post for Mask or Menace

[dun_moch]

"You have reached Count Dooku. I regret that I am unavailable to answer your hail. Kindly leave a message, and I shall respond at the earliest opportunity."

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Comments

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki reaches for his cup to take a sip, while he hears the man in silent. ]

Besides the device found on the scene, was there any indication that the Russians were involved? [ kaneki knows about the german speaking perpetrators, and he also knows Liechtenstein uses german as their primary language, however he wants to focus on a known enemy for now. This was the first time German-speaking-people were involved, after all. ]

[dun_moch]

[Dooku does not order anything for the moment, preferring to steeple his fingers on the table while looking thoughtful.]

There was not. I also find myself wondering why the Russians would need a nullifier at a location with no imPorts, or how it could have been destroyed in this event.

It is possible someone is trying to frame our Soviet friends.

[It's just speculation at this point, but there is something about the nullifier's presence that doesn't sit entirely right with the Count's cunning, mistrustful mind. Every part of the blackout and breakout was precise and efficient, except for leaving behind that obvious clue. Rather suspicious, in Dooku's view.]

[ghoulking]

[ Leaving an evidence like that sure sounds idiotic for people who were able to hack and black-out the imPort network. That's the part that really bugs Kaneki because that network isn't that easy to poke.

So framing wouldn't be so weird. But why would they - assuming Liechtenstein is to blame. It's a Russia-ally, so if it was planned by this country, why would an ally risk getting Russia in more trouble than it is? Then again, Russia did a lot of things that would earn a much more violent response (like directly invading USA territory), but USA didn't directly attack them (instead they preferred to attack a russia-ally). If invasion didn't work, would releasing prisoners to attack imPorts be the stepping stone needed for actual retaliation? It sounds silly. ]

The person who posted to the network - they mentioned the prisoners were... strange. [ The whole hostility towards imPorts is understandable, but they still went after super-powered people which they couldn't be able to face so easily. Instead of escaping, they went after the people that could send them to jail with a snap of fingers. ] What did they mean by that?

[dun_moch]

[Dooku lifts a hand from the table to stroke his beard.]

A member of our team had the power to sense thoughts and feelings within an area. They were... unsettled by the intensity of the hatred that was linked to the inmates.

It is possible that the 417 had their hostility toward imPorts increased through some other means. Beyond their own rage and madness.

[ghoulking]

[ he nods softly ]

Did the government say anything about this? Or you didn't share your findings with them? [ Kaneki wouldn't blame them, honestly ]

voice;

[darkimitation]

Hello sir, it's Kagami. I need to discuss something with you privately. It's a bit urgent, so please call me back soon if possible.

[dun_moch]

[Dooku's lip curls.]

The government saw fit to obstruct our investigation in certain key areas. In return, it is possible that sharing our information may have... slipped my mind, let us say.

[Deny him access to surveillance videos, will you?]

In any event, I have heard nothing of the government's response to this attack. It would appear that once again, matters are being left in imPort hands to resolve.

[ghoulking]

As usual. [ nothing new there. imPorts had to save themselves, imPorts had to be the ones researching - just like the government likes, right? They don't have to do a thing, let the "heroes" do it for them. They are being used in the end, though the result certainly interests everyone.

kaneki sighs ]

Someone predicted this.

Well, not the prison break, but the blackout. [ and the network misfires and issues ]

voice;

[dun_moch]

[Dooku might be a bastard, but he does call back almost immediately.]

I am here, Kagami. What seems to be the matter?

voice;

[darkimitation]

[He takes a moment to calmly explain himself, but then finds a way to do so.]

I... I need to know if you can train me to cut off my emotions. The darkness inside of me, it's feeding off them and I might be losing control of myself and my powers. I don't want to be swallowed by it or else I won't be me anymore.

[dun_moch]

[That gets a raised eyebrow from the Count. He leans forward.]

Is that so. And do you know who made this prediction, and how?

[His mind immediately goes to a precognitive imPort, like Raina. Dooku didn't pay attention to the stories about Ludwig in the news, considering such fringe ravings to be unworthy of his attention. His elitism blinds him sometimes.]

voice;

[dun_moch]

[There's a pause before the Count responds. What in the stars has happened to his apprentice?]

I cannot do this for you, Kagami. I have told you before: your passion is your strength. To cut off your emotions would leave you weak, and that is unacceptable.

You must confront the source of your feelings, and gain control of the darkness within you. Don't let the darkness consume you- bend it to your will, and make it serve you. Do this, and you will be unstoppable.

[ghoulking]

A man who calls himself Ludwig da Vinci. He is a conspiracy theorist, who thinks the government is spying on him and everyone and sending chemtrails to the air- [ Kaneki's tone gives away he finds this person pretty crazy and that was in fact one of the things he found out about him. ]

But one of his theories were blackouts and network misfires- all of that happened. So, no matter how crazy he is, someone tipped him off. [ because no, Ludwig can't predict shit. ]

voice;

[darkimitation]

[Confronting the source of his feelings. Bending the darkness back to his will to serve him. Did he really want that? A part of him says no, he doesn't. He doesn't care about his emotions. He doesn't care about power right now. All he wants is for everything to stop. Yet he can't speak what he's thinking and instead acts like the obedient boy he's meant to.]

... I understand. I'll do as you say, sir.

[dun_moch]

Perhaps he is wiser than he first appears.

[Dooku's mistrust of government surveillance is both perpetual and, in his experience, entirely well-founded.]

Someone should speak to this 'da Vinci' and find out what he knows- and how. He could be the key to this mystery.

[ghoulking]

Already have.

[ that thing about Kaneki being a lot more pro-active now - yeah. It's showing again ]

I've met him, talked to him, and he isn't very wise, no. But he did get a tip from someone in Liechtenstein. [ OF ALL THE PLACES............. ] Which is a Russian ally, so we cannot go there.

voice;

[dun_moch]

Good.

[But Dooku won't leave it at that. He speaks in his kindliest voice.]

You must be in great stress to seek such a drastic option. Tell me what is the problem, Kagami. What has happened to make you desire an end to feeling?

[dun_moch]

Liechtenstein?

[It takes the Count a moment to recall the country. He has focused his research on learning about Earth's most powerful and important nations, and Liechtenstein is... well, itself.]

Perhaps a way can be found to enter their borders without Russian reprisal. This aggression against us cannot go unanswered.

voice;

[darkimitation]

... The best way I can explain is in my world, darkness feeds off negative emotions of the heart and using it too much or allowing too much negativity into the heart causes the wielder to be consumed by it and turned into a heartless.

[ghoulking]

It's in Europe, surrounded by Switzerland and Austria. And they speak German there. [ Dooku's friend did mention someone speaking that language, right? ]

But thanks to our nanites, we can not leave the country unnoticed, specially if we are travelling to a country allied to Russia. [ so yeah, they can't just do as they please ]

I was thinking of going to the government with this information. [ might as well, since there is nothing he can do with it. But the government might at least stop pretending to be completely oblivious ]

voice;

[dun_moch]

A 'heartless,' you say.

[That doesn't sound like such a bad thing to be at all, in Dooku's view.]

And I suppose that is some form of... creature?

[dun_moch]

German. That language was overheard at the prison in Maurtia Falls- shortly before the convicts rose up.

[And if the speakers were agents of a Russian-allied country, then maybe there is greater significance to that nullifier than deception or sloppiness.]

As long as the nanites control our movements, it would appear you have no other option. But I am concerned with what the government will do with the information. Perhaps they will do nothing. Or they may take revenge, as they did in Debrecen last year.

[ghoulking]

[ Kaneki nods softly. ]

If they do react right away, it means they have information on how and why it happened. After all, they wouldn't retaliate without having information first. [ even when the Russians took over American cities and invaded USA soil, they only retaliated after they have LACKEY and information on it. ]

I do not think they'll share anything with us, but at least they reaction can tell us more than what we know now. [ since there is no other way to gather more information. Darlene really tried but it was impossible to go any further ]

voice;

[darkimitation]

It's a black creature with no heart. I think they also consume hearts to feel whole again or something, but I only know what Riku knows and some memories are hazier than others.

[This is what happens when you're a clone after all.]

[dun_moch]

[The Count frowns thoughtfully. He does not like being bottlenecked.]

You are correct. There is little else we can do, as long as we cannot leave the United States unnoticed...

Tell me, though. What course of action would you choose, if the nanites were not within us?