Twi634

Twila@M3 - Saturday, September 15, 2001, 1:03 PM

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Rolla, Missouri(#3681Oe)

A small town of a population of 12,000 found nestled within Missouri's Ozark Mountain Range. It's far larger than many of the smaller city within the area where, if you were to blink, they would have been missed completely. In some ways life is slow-paced here than it is within the metropliton areas. And that would appear no more true than some of the Mennonite settlements that can also be found here. Be that as it may, Rolla has not forgotten its place within this present day and age.

Twila Peterson is already at the teleporters for the small Midwestern town. Her lengthy chesnut brown locks remain within a french braid trailing behind her. She hated getting rid of her natural color. But since that happens to be a tell-tale sign of how she's usually spotted...it was best she change it for the time being. At the moment she's seated on a bench near one of the vending machines...talking into what appears to be a cell-phone.

Right about this time the towns teleporters do activate, and a Maverick Hunter wanders out of them. Or to be more precise a Hunteress, that looks weary enough that if she were human, people probably would assume she hasn't slept in well... Days. In fact, almost as if to add to this appearce, or at least it would to her fellow Hunters, there's the fact that she's just walking. Not flying. Not floating. Walking.

Of course after she gets a certain radio transmission she sighs, and then yawns, before heading for said beverage dispenser.

A baggy denim purse had been against Twila's side, something she's currently using as an armrest apparently. She glances up from the "phone" and idly scans the terminal for any sign of the Hunter. Soon enough, she indeed does spot her. She closes up the comm unit and slides it into her purse before offering Dischord a meek wave in greeting. "Hey."

Dischord just manages to nod once in greeting, before pausing and giving the area a quick glance. Then once the mercenary finishes looking around, she sighs. "Is it safe to talk here Doc?"

Twila Peterson shoulders her purse to her shoulder and smoothly stands. "Not really. There's a park nearby tho...that should be safe enough. Some sections are used alot less than others. Where Kyo is usually taken where she won't get into much mischief. We can go there."

Dischord pauses once more at that, before just nodding once. "Please, lead the way."

Twila Peterson nods quietly and starts walking towards the aforementioned southern exit of the terminal, silently taking into account that this time, Dischord is indeed walking and not using her usual mode of travel. She remains silent for the duration of the trip that takes them two blocks from the station itself. It's not as large as one found in the larger areas...but the traffic apparently isn't as great either. Soon enough they come to the park. Open in some areas, wooded in others, there's an average attendence. A few older folk spread here and there while children play on the playsets. "There's also same nature trails here soo. Usually not in use except for the morning or latter on in the day."

Just go where ever you feel will be the safest to talk." Dischord says in reply. Otherwise she doesn't really say or do anything to betray her reasons behind this visit. Instead she just looks ready to fall asleep standing up.

Twila muses on that as she leads the mercenary into one of the wooded areas with the aid of a dirt path...away from the playgrounds and the picnic tables. After walking a little bit so only the trees would be able to hear, the young woman finally stops and turns about to face the Hunter. "This should be good enough," she grunts.

Dischord takes a deep breath, and nods once at that, before moving over and sitting down. Or to be more precise she slumps. "Doc... *Sigh* I might as well bring you up to speed. To be blunt right now, things have goten better... If only slightly. But they're also teetering on the edge of a complete and total crash and burn."

The girl only nods towards that, not completely surprised. As she informed Azor last night, possibly things won't change until it complete hit's rock bottom. Question would be then, would the Hunters beable to avoid going beyond the point of no return or be able to reverse the course. Least...by her view anyway. And it's not a view she's willing to stray from. Too many things have happened for that. "What's been happening?"

Dischord says, "To be blunt, your report is what's happening. Or at least it will be soon if... *Sigh*" All right the demoness just stops at that, before shaking her head slightly. "Maybe I should start at the begining... Zero doesn't know yet. He's basically caught up enough with Iris and his 'Arm of Duo' plan that it hasn't exactly been dificult to keep it from him, but it keeps getting harder. Right now, the only people who know what's happened besides the two of us, are Rick, who acording to your report was there, Mike, Colonel, Signas, Jet Stingray, who I actually asked to check in on you after I found out, Adler, who you told, Alia, Feedback, and X, who I forwarded your report too, in adition to filling several of my own on this that I have yet to hear back about. Right now, Feedback is helping with the smokescreen to keep Zero from finding out untill after Rock has talked to him about it as per my sugestions, Colonel and Mike are planning how to take care of Kaust, Alia is double checking Labs Security, Signas is just keeping an eye out, and Adler... *Sigh* Adler's gone off on his own and is planning on hiring the Striders to kill Kaust..."

Fore a few moments, Twila just stands there, soaking in the information steadily. She doesn't give any sort of outward reaction at first. Although some traces on her features may suggest something akin to frustration. She's heard of talk of course. But personally she has yet to know of any action since before this whole mess began. And the "complication" of Kaust and his activities certainly hasn't help matters any. "Jet did check up and recently heard from Feedback via e-mail this morning," she muses...responding to at least two points of the "update". She waits to see if there's more before to responding to anything else.

The mercenary meanwhile pauses, if only to organize her thoughts, before taking a deep breath, nodding once as she hears what Twila says. "Good. Now unfortunately here's where the real kickers come in. As is I highly doubt I'll be able to keep what happened to you a secret for even another couple of days. And if Rock doesn't talk to Zero by then, all hell will break lose. I'm still looking for ideas, and I wnat ideas, but here's how things break down. I'm trying to get ahold of both Iris, and Dr. Light. Should I manage to get ahold of Dr. Light, he /might/ be able to talk some sense into Zero, or so I hope. Same thing with Iris, but I'm not fully sure if I should actually try to get her to help me. Either way though, if Zero still reacts badly... Well here's where the major problems start. I have the people in place that I can more or less kick him out of the Hunters... I can get all the pass codes and frequencies changed. But if I do that, Fugue's almost garunteed to reinstate Zero instantly, and dawn will back them up. And once that happens... Well I've seen coups, and civil wars that were bloodless compared to what will happen then. And to be blunt, I don't want to actually do that.

Twila responds by remaining riged. She doesn't like the idea of that sort of action being taken either. But a part of her is convinced that whatever is done, whatever happens, the Hunters brought it on themselves by continuing to ignore the problem. And those in charge have to be held accountable for allowing it to happen. "You're right. I doubt you would be able to have Iris' helping in this. She's often told me she 'can't say no' to Zero regardless what he does. I wonder if she's more in love with the concept of love rather than what it really means..." she muses in idle thought, still reeling from the possibility there may be a coup taking place if nothing is done. "I wish this hadn't been allowed to get this far."

Dischord says, "There is one other option...."

Twila Peterson picks her head up towards that. "What would that be?"

Dischord appears almost hesitant as she cautiously gets up, and takes a deep breath, before releasing it slowly. Part of her wishes that she didn't already know the answer that Twila will give to this, but still... The mercenary has to try. "You can come back. You /CAN/ still help me with this. Take a look at the reactions you've gotten so far from others because of this incident... Feedback was serious. So is Adler, and on top of it, he's ready to kill. You've seen Jet. You know what he's been like because of this. And they're just the tip of the iceberg. Quite possibly the /only/ Hunter who's been a pain has been Zero. So come on. Take the chance. Show him, and everyone else that you truely are better than him. Show us all that you aren't a quitter. Show us that you're willing to be part of the solution, instead of becoming a large part of the problem."

Twila's brows shoot skywards. Large part of the problem? Possibly, but it's not something she may be willing to accept right now. "And just what type of good can I do? Hardly anyone was willing to listen before. Most just stood by and allowed what happen to happen without much of a protest. I'm halfway tempted to just let the Hunters self-destruct since from what I've seen alot just don't seem to care. And if they can't help themselves...there's precious little else they can do to anyone else!"

Well, maybe not all. Discord did list some of those who did. But all Twila has to go by is the mercenary's word. And actions usually speak much louder than words.

Although, Dischord is here now isn't she?

The girl let's out a small sigh as some of her outburst fades. "You're asking alot."

Dischord calmly states as she crosses her arms across her chest, "I'm asking no more from you than I've asked from any other Hunter since this situation started. All I want to do, is get us all back on our feet, and we can't do that if everyone who can help is refusing to help, Doc."

Stubbornly, Twi turns away, again not saying much of anything for the longest time. Aside from everything else she's been personally hurt in all this. And she's not altogether certain she has the courage to be able to face that and the betrayal that she keenly feels.

There's also the fact that once the Beserker does find out what had occured due to the mindprobe...Twila's life may not be worth a flip. But then, somewhere, there's a tiny hope that the others wouldn't let that happen. It's not much...but it's a start.

"And if I came back what is it you would want me to be doing?"

Dischord takes another deep breath, before releasing it slowly yet again, before she smiles. "For the most part... What you use to do. Med Stuff. Trying to cheer people up. Helping out in any way you can. I'm not asking for anything ultra impossible here. I'm not asking for you to get along with Zero. I'm not asking you to try and take care of all our problems by yourself. I'm asking you to rejoin the team, and to act like a member of a team. That's it."

"You're forgetting that officially I would have to be accepted in by Rock or Light even *if* I did happen to agree," Twila points out. There silence is something else she's seen as disturbing. "And what of Azor? He only left because he's adopted me as his 'mother' and he didn't want to stay if I wasn't there."

What is it with Twila that she's usually seen as a mother-like figure anyway?

Dischord shrugs, "No problem. I'll personally see to it that you're accepted back in as full members. All you have to do right now is give me a yes, or no."

The girl stares hard at the ground, trying to still the conflicting emotions within concerning the matter. Uncertain of really how to decide, she's tempted to pull out one of the ancient coins to merely flip "heads or tails". Might make the decision a heck of alot easier.

Although if she did say yes, and things went against her anyway, it would give Twila all the more incentive to abandon any thoughts of returning. But then, how will she know if she doesn't try?

Hardly believing that she's doing so, Twila finds herself nodding and adding voice to the previously muted answer too. "Yes."

Dischord just nods once, her smile growing from ear to ear. "Great. I've just got one... Maybe two little favors to ask you then..."

Twila Peterson remains turned away, remaining uncertain of her decision. "Yes?"

Dischord simply says, "Don't make any general reports about your coming back just yet. I want to try and talk to Zero first. *Sigh*"

A small dip of the chin is all Twila deems to offer the mercenary. Seems reasonable. "The second?"

With a slight chuckle Dischord just looks around, before starting to float a few inches off of the ground. "When you come back... If she wants to come back that is... Please bring Kyo along. The Labs have been way too peacefull without her."

Twila has to turn around at that...actually offering a wee smile as she does. "Kyo? Disch, she's missing those blasted air vents like crazy."

Dischord snickers and nods, "Well, it'll be good to have both of you back. Now I just hope my talk with Zero goes as well as this one."

Twila Peterson nods a little more slowly. "Think it best I remain around here until you are able to talk with him then?"

Dischord shrugs, "That's up to you. Odds are that talk won't be too long, so..."

Twila Peterson considers. "Alright. Lemme....get my stuff together and I'll be along within an hour or two..." she breaths, gathering up her courage.

Dischord says, "All right. See you back at the labs then."

The young woman bobs her head and blinks. "Alright. Take care, Disch."

Dischord simply says, "Same to you Doc." before she takes to the air, and is gone...

<Soon...back at Hunter base...>

Command Center <Hunter HQ>

Dischord. In a good mood. Frightening idea isn't it? Ah well. As she hears the doors to the Grav lift open and close, the mercenary just stops whatever she's typing up, and glances over in that direction. "Talk about timing Mike. I was looking to be able to talk to you about something..."

Michael Eildath blinks, walking over to Dischord. "Yeah? What about?"

Zero steps off the grav lift with his XO a few moments later, and grins at Dischord. "Ask, and you'll get me, Dischord." He winks, and finds a chair to drop into. "Hey, Mike. What's up?"

Dischord for a moment, it looks almost like Dischords smile falters and she winces as Zero enters as well, before she just goes back to appearing 'happy'. Sure she manages to snap off a radio tranmission then, but that's besides the point. "Wasn't expecting you to get doen with whatever this quickly Number Two. Ah well... At least you're here so we can get it over with."

Fugue steps off the lift behind Zero, "Hey, Mike. Hey, Dischord." She eyes Dischord for a moment. Lots of that smiling going around nowadays. Flopping down in another chair, she yawns and stretches.

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Michael Eildath: "Good news. Doc... Errr... Twila is willing to come back. bad news, She needs Rock or some other Commander to authorize both her own return to duty as well as Plasma Azors."

Zero kicks his feet up, and simply waits, since he has a pretty good idea what's up. He glances over at Dischord, and waits, in a rather pleasent mood, since he had his morning dose of driving someone to the brink of insanity earlier.

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "What?"

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Michael Eildath: "Twila /is/ willing to come back to the Hunters, but someone... I.E. a Squad Commander has to authorize her doing so."

Dischord takes a deep breath as she slowly gets up from her chair, only this time her smile doesn't falter. "Zero... I want your take on the current status of the Hunters as a whole..."

Fugue glances at Dischord again... and leans forward to nudge Zero. 'She's up to something.'.

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Michael Eildath: "I need you to simply say that she /can/ come back."

Zero says, "Last time I did that, I got stuck in the Labs for a week." comes the dry retort. "Honestly? One night, one picnic was just putting a band-aid on a gaping chest wound." Fugue gets a nod. Zero knows that all too well. "Magma ain't doing jack, need to get Silverstar back to being the proper security and defense, and well, as long as everyone else is doing their own thing, then we ain't really a group."

Michael Eildath sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I see. I don't see why not... I mean, we've let Zero and Protoman back in for worse."

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Michael Eildath: "Thanks."

Dischord nods once at that, before she clasps both of her hands behind her back. "Blunt, and to the point. To be equally frank, I agree. I mean for example, as of late I've been spending more time playing politics with various Hunters to keep some of us from going for each others throats.

Especially in nthe last few days, but that's besides the point." Theres a pause as Dischord takes a deep breath, before releasing it slowly. "I could give you a play by play for each one of our Squad Commanders, and their XOs on just what they have, and have not done, especially as of late, and how that's ticked people off. But I won't. Instead, what I will say is that as I see it, we've stopped working as a team."

Fugue leans back and comments, not exactly under her breath, but not too loudly, "Doesn't help much when certain rankers wander off and get the entire faction in trouble with one of the most powerful and influential political forces in the world either." Yes, she's still a wee bit sore over having to deal with Signas' problems, only to have him go back on his word.

Zero grunts. "Alright, we're on the same page at least, then." comes the affirmation. "But if the squad commanders ain't gonna do it, I'm going to push forward with the ambush plans with the Arm of Duo. I'm taking a small team to the Easter Islands tonight to plant that arm, and if command ain't going to support it, then the rank and file will." The comment from Fugue draws a smirk, since Signas did.. probably what Zero would do in the same situation, except he'd been more blunt in telling San Angeles to screw off sideways. "Anyway, what's your suggestions, Dischord?"

Michael Eildath leans back. He feels that Signas was perfectly justified in what he did, but says nothing.

Fugue smiles sweetly toward Zero. She happens to know he'd do the saem thing. "Who's on that team, by the way?"

Zero says, "So far.. myself, and Dawn. I'll probably grab whoever's about when I decide to head out. Why, you volunteering?"

"No. That doesn't help either Fugue, which is why Signas has been a member of the group that I've trying to train. Weather or not the stuff I've tried to pound in his head... Quite literally since he ended up going up against a holographic Stardroid alone in one exercise." Then Discchord pauses, as she lets her gaze drift back to Zero, that smile is still there strangely enough. "Two things really. The first thing I'm sugesting... Well it's a bit more than a sugestion, since Colonel and I have already started work on setting it up. Basically, the Hunters are going to be taking part in some war games with Repliforce."

Fugue grins at Zero, "Count me in." She nods toward Dischord, "I could get behind that idea."

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Twila Peterson: "Good news Doc."

Twila Peterson sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Hmmm?"

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Twila Peterson: "Mike said you can come back."

Zero nods. "Yeh, Annie hinted at it earlier. I do not have any problems with that.. actually, don't mind schooling the Repliforce as an Op-For.." Especially since he's trained with Templar's goons. Feel sorry for them. "So, you have approval from me on that, if X wants it to happen, that's great.. if not, we'll do it anyway. What's the second suggestion?"

Dischord takes a deep breath as she's asked that, her smile finally vanishing completely. "That some people learn to take a few moments, and just think, before they loose their tempers. Especially over things that might not be aimed at them. And even more importantly when dealing with a fellow Maverick Hunter."

Zero grunts. "Yeh. And?" He knows exactly what that was aimed at, and his own defenses kick in, as he folds his arms over his chest. He's dug into that particular position, hard and deep.

Twila Peterson sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "*quiet sigh* How'd the talk with Zero turn out?"

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Twila Peterson: "It's still going on actually."

Twila Peterson sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Oh..."

Fugue smirks, "Asking people to think before they act? That's a pretty tall order, Dischord." She leans back in her seat and adds, "Not that it's a bad suggestion, mind. But for this group?" She knows Zero's not the only one.

Dischord snerks slightly, before starting to pace. "Maybe Fugue. But all I'm asking for is that to happen with other Maverick Hunters. I don't care if people ignore other Hunters, pretend they don't even exist, or things like that. But flat out purposely trying to slam others to a point where they feel the only choice they have left is to leave is something that shouldn't happen under any circumstances. Especially now."

Zero grunts, saying nothing. Twila was trying her best to do it herself, in his opinion. So, he remains quiet on the subject. "You want to ask Twila to come back, that's your business with X. Not mine." is all he finally offers.

Michael Eildath looks up, as though waiting to get in a few words, but says nothign.

Fugue doesn't add any comments to that. She has her opinions, but she's not about to share them right now.

"Actually I have asked her to come back. She's agreed to it as well. And Mike here just approved her coming back. Basically the moment she enters this building, she's officially back. But that's besides the point." Gee, Disch while not exactly angry, aparently isn't exactly happy happy anymore either. "The point is, that right now, we need every person we can get, and we need those people acting like a team. As is we've had people who've basically decided to sudenly take extended leaves of absence not because of this incident between you and Twila, but because of everything else, like the things you mentioned earlier. Both of you can help get this unit off the ground, and fully working again, but not if you're trying to eliminate each other. Does this mean you have to get along? Hell no. What it does mean... And what I'm asking you is to at least for now, shove any major overt actions, or statements you might want to make to twila on a shelf for now. Just put them on hold. At least untill the entire /group/ is back on its feet. Personally, I don't think that is impossible."

Zero shrugs, and stands up. "Well, that's nice. If you need me, I'm going to grab some supplies for tonight. Be sure to tell Twila, hello, or whatever inspirational thing you feel like telling her."

Dischord sighs once more as Zero stands up then, "Fine. At least look at it this way Zero. We'll know where she is most of the time, and she's less likely to be captured and spill any info."

Zero shrugs. "She's your pet. Take care of her." with that, he leaves.

Signas walks in, brushing past Zero as his neck turns to follow him out. "...."

Michael Eildath scowls. "Baby."

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Twila Peterson: "He isn't happy, but I /think/ I've managed to talk him into keeping any overt actions towards you in check, if only for the Hunters as a whole."

Dischord just slumps into the nearest chair as soon as Zero leaves, "Did I do something wrong? Did I?"

Michael Eildath says, "No, Zero's just being an as***le."

Dischord nods slightly as she takes a deep breath. "Thanks Mike. I'm just begining to wonder if I'm not rock with the way I keep having to deal with the situations lately."

Signas slowly approaches Dischord, the woman who has made a hobby of antagonizing him for..oh...since the date of his birth, more or less, a soft frown on his face. Quietly, he pulls a chair up from across the room, plopping down beside her. "No...You're doing fine."

Michael Eildath laughs. "Unless you suddenly become a fourteen year old boy robot, I think that's unlikely."

"Thanks Siggy." The merc manages to let out at the same time as a sigh. "And Mike, if you knew half of the brush fires that I've had to take care of lately inside of the Hunters, you wouldn't be laughing."

Michael Eildath shakes his head. "Hey, I was in charge of the Hunters for almost two weeks... I know all about the hell of having to deal with everything."

You send a tightbeam radio transmission to Twila Peterson: "Listen, Doc. You don't have anything to worry about here. If I read Zero right, he'd sooner mouth off to me over you, than do anything to you right now. Indirectly he called you my resposibility..."

Dischord coughs slightly, "Only two weeks? How did you ever manage? I've been at this for close to a month, only lately it's grown worse. Besides, you had official rank at the time. I don't exactly have anything, especially if you ask certain people around here. I'm not even a squad XO.

Michael Eildath nods. "I know..." .oO(And that might change...)Oo. He sighs. "We're just not used to this kind of strife, and Rock not being around much doesn't help."

Signas nods. "But we'll work through it. We - The Maverick Hunters - are a family, aren't we? We'll behave as such. We may squabble...But what more do you expect? We aren't the military. We're a ragged band of the world's elite. We'll work through it...Just like even the most dysfunctional families do."

Dischord can't help but snicker at Signas as she nods, before shrugging. "Maybe. But I hope something is done, and soon to help with this. I'm not sure how long I can keep ducking the bullet on some things, and dancing around others like this."