Rikky finds a cold shoulder

*Sai picks up the links made from his staff, carefully working them together. The staff was too small…but another weapon made from the metal should suffice.....now if he can just avoid cutting his fingers up while working with these damned things...* dammit...*licks his finger yet again* and I thought handling paper marked them up bad...*at least then it was just burns.*

*Long fingers flex in some agitation. It'd been awhile since Rikky has been free from GUARD duties to claim time for himself... and he discovers that there is simply isn't much for him to do, not really. He has few friends, most still don't know about him, the cloning section of the compound highly guarded, and his own existence a secret, for the most part. He idly entertains the idea of going to see how Venin is doing in her cell... and quickly bats that aside. Not now. Rika? No... he wanted to stay away from her for the moment, she made him feel... strange. Like Yeeyan did, for a fleeting moment. No... no, Rikky wants... /something/. What, he isn't sure. Something is nagging him, tickling the back of his lovely skull. Amberblack eyes narrow and Eshvan lips purse prettily as his mind wanders through the few faces he knows. Or at least, knows -personally-. And the pictures land on one... one face. White. Blue marks. That meeting had gone badly, and still, he doesn't know if his work had taken. Perhaps it was time to see... see how the boy was doing. See if he'd kill Rikky on sight, or if... a small sigh, and the clone frowns, then sends out his thoughts, scanning... scanning... and he blinks in surprise. On /Earth/? How convenient... a short trip to the teleporters, and Rikky locks onto the mental coordinates. He's not exactly sure where he'll end up... the mind has... changed somehow. Curious and still with that strange wanting, he translocates to that signature... Sai*

*A quick frown. Sai's become more sensitive to certain things...but what exactly doesn't feel right he isn't certain. Then Rikky oh so kindly appears practically- at least to sai- right under his nose, making the syntant jump in startlement. Not a wise thing to do when perched on a fence post. He manages to land with some dignity- kneeling rather than on his rear- but the whip and the links are now in the thick grass* dammit! *eyes slide over to Rikky* now what? *irate tone- he HATES being startled*

*...Sai isn't the only one to jump. Rikky blinks two, three times at the new face the syntant sports. Less rounded, sharper, the body so tall. Rikky straightens, shoulders back, eyes wide in slight, but noticeable, surprise* Sai... *he says it even before he remembers that Sai /has/ heard Aerik's 'voice'. Safe there. The tone is slightly off, and by the next words, tho, he's fixed it, the pitches matching perfectly, Rikky sliding into his facade. But he doesn't really /want/ to do that, so it hangs somewhere in between... perhaps Aerik in a /good/ mood* You have... changed. *his head tips, and a small smile tugs on the corners of his lips* I /like/ it. *then he smirks slightly, almost apologetically* I did not mean to startle you. Pardon my abrupt appearance. *his tone holds laughter, drawing attention to Sai's tumble from the fence post, but Rikky makes no move to approach further*

*Sai stands to his full height, brushing his hair back over his shoulder and giving Rikky a flat look* Why the surprised look? You should know by now how much I can change in just a month, let alone several. *bitterness in his tone, yes, but not so much as there used to be. though it sharpens at his comment* well, good for you if you like it. I don't particularly care. *His voice is deeper, a smooth range between high baritone and low tenor. oddly fitting the tall, but slender form. Syntants would never be a breed to possess bulky forms...cuts down on combat effectiveness.* and you COULD try just doing something all us semi-normal types do and WALK some place for once. or would that crimp your style too much? *other changes to go with the physical...a more aggressive attitude. Syntants are hunters and killers...Sai couldn't stay meek forever. not once Ryan merged the two minds in that body to form one.*

Oh yes... *Rikky answers quietly, now moving to walk around Sai, as if appraising, ignoring the tone, the sharper words, brushing them aside, fixated on this new look Sai carries. He searches his own memories, the ones he took from Sai, sees what Sai talks about, the changes, and nods briefly* Yes, I know. *Then he pauses, after a few steps, and matches eyes with Sai, now so close to his own height, and still his smile is present* As I know you do not care. *But he senses the change, the dulling of the pain in the other's voice, and inwardly, he's pleased* It becomes you... *he murmurs, meaning the height, the beauty, even as his mind begins to work, testing Sai's for resistance, seeking to learn... and something else. But the boundaries, first. How /much/ has changed?*

*flat tone* I'm so fricken glad you approve...*eyes narrow, clearly not very trusting of Aerik as he never lets him pass out of his sight.* *and the mind...yes, there are boundaries now- but he's a low level novice telepath trying to teach himself how to do something quite complex...a double edged shield- to keep others out and his own mind within. He fights himself just to defend himself...a troublesome problem. chances are quite high that Sai gets terrible headaches frequently* is there a reason you're here, or are you just trying to make my lunch come up for a second visit?

*A brow arches elegantly as Rikky discovers a few things. Again, he seems to totally ignore Sai's venom, his words, the sharpness, and fixes his eyes directly on the boy's forehead, as if to see through it.. or accentuate his words* Interesting. Not bad, for one who knows nothing. But I am willing to bet you suffer for your ignorance. Headaches, Sai? Wicked ones, too... *he trails off and edges forward minutely, pose relaxed, unthreatening, absorbed in what he psychically sees in Sai* I could teach you. Few others would offer. *gentle words, soft, the velvet of his voice dark and warm. He likes Sai's new voice too. And its then that his mind begins to snake out, coil, prepare. Easy enough... Sai didn't have the training, or the power (at least yet) to keep Rikky out. And Rikky.. well, he's tired of playing Aerik. He hates Aerik. He wants, just once perhaps, for another to see /him/.... the coiled pocket of mind energy begins to form into something like a pouch, but it's not near Sai yet, as near is measured in such things. And he hides it adeptly, blinks at Sai, and matches gazes again*

*eyes narrow sharply, silver-blue irises nearly swallowing cat-shaped pupils* I want no help from /you/ Aerik...*Zakai knew how to make these kinds of shields...that's why Sai was here. and the two were alike enough their minds could safely work together. Sai's honestly afraid what would happen if his mind were to merge with a non-syntant's- at least the way he intends to do with Kai. Learn by exchanging places for a moment. Syntants were designed to interact in such a way. once they developed the capability.* My headaches are my problem. *He doesn't pull back from the forward step- a challenge if you will. Sai isn't as bitter as he used to be...but if Aerik pushes him, he has /no/ compunctions about trying his new venom out on him. the saying about love and hate is so true here...strong love can give rise to deep hatred…or show itself as such- even if it's just a ghost of itself*

...You hate me so... *its a small phrase, wistfully, almost sadly murmured as Rikky's eyes soften, as if in gentle pain. And, of course, Rikky wouldn't teach Sai the way Sai would learn from Zakai, not at all. No exchange of places. Rikky doesn't step closer again, not yet at any rate, but as Sai doesn't step back, answering whatever challenge he may perceive, Rikky's arm raises, slowly, as if to brush against Sai's cheek, or that being his aim. But he knows, yes, that a touch could hurt, if he allowed it to. There is no contact, and Rikky's look is still detached, far away, as if seeing something else, not Sai before him, but -inner-. He's about an arm's length away as he makes his gesture, and as he does, the mind-pouch completes itself, a sack if you will, to store things. He pushes it forward, carefully, using his considerable stealth and know-how. His objective... to place this pouch in Sai's mind, free-floating, so it touches nothing, and catches what Rikky wishes to put in there, allowing access to what it holds while it remains in Sai's mind, and removing the memories completely once out again...*

*Shields offer little resistance...only really good against telepaths of the same level right now. They'll get stronger in time, however. but where the mental can offer no fight- the physical is more than ready to. An internal wince at a sharp, brief pang of headache- damn those shields!- is masked by a slight bowing of the head and narrowing of eyes- almost /daring/ Rikky to touch him* is that so great a surprise, Aerik? *one clawed hand twitching, the gloves off from when he was working on his whip. Venom beads at the tips of those claws, almost unseen.*

*Pain. Rikky can feel it acutely. His brow furrows ever-so-slightly in sympathetic response, just a tiny shadow between his eyes, and it smoothes out again. He's close now, carefully pushing the pouch out to Sai, navigating around the shields -crude, really, but effective... to the untrained or weaker-powered, Rikky being the strongest telepath on the small planet at the moment... -he can smell the venom, but doesn't acknowledge it in any way save for his cryptic words, which could mean a number of things* Would you kill me, Sai? *soft, quiet. The pouch which should be bypassing the fringes of those double-edged shields, a temporary kind of memory bank, because Rikky needs to know, needs to /let/ know. And he's displeased with Aerik's treatment of the syntant in the past. Though none of that may matter in the next few minutes*

*the hand bearing the claws that contain the venom currently clutches- and a false, pleasant smile touches Sai's lips* whatever makes you feel the need to ask that question? We both know you'd never allow it...*beyond initial contact, the shields can currently offer little resistance. Carelessness can result in Sai being warned however...and his response is liable to be immediate and violent if he does know..*

*Rikky won't be careless, for him, this means too much. And while he's no Aerik, he's no slouch, either. Highly skilled, extremely powerful, though he has a weakness... he /cares/, whereas Aerik does not always. Oh no... Rikky is the epitome of caution at the moment, in all things. He blinks slowly, eyes focusing on Sai yet again, slowly, his hand still near the syntant's cheek, hovering there, close enough to feel the warmth of his skin, but not enough to make contact* Does this bother you, my closeness? Would you curse me where I to touch you? We both know I can... as you said, I will not allow you to kill me. *push... tiny, so-gentle pushes... cautious, cautious, slow... slower... tuck the pouch behind the shields, let it free-float, hang there, suspended, accessible but unstaining. No one will know, Rikky is sure, not even Aerik, whose signature he mimics right now. There would be nothing to know -- all knowledge contained in the pouch, having never touched Sai's mind, removed, would take away all traces. It was a clever and exceptional move, maybe even one Rikky designed, made-up, himself. A sack to hold thoughts in; removable, so it would not be remembered... replaceable, for memories on demand, as if they'd never been removed. Rikky's eyes are bright in their dark depths, scanning Sai's own, refusing to look away*

*Flat tone* I know you can move as fast as thought when you want to- can you outpace instincts? *lashing out at an unwanted touch...it doesn't require thought. only instinct. and those beautifully curved talons have a deadly gift for anyone attempting to out-pace a syntant's reactive time.* *He is unaware of what has been placed in his mind- simply intent on the telepath before him. it would be an interesting test…COULD Aerik stop him before his claws found his throat if there was no thought warning?*

*Rikky had, in all certainty, expected as such, this reaction. Or the possibility of this reaction, so as soon as the words spill from Sai's white lips, especially that one word... instinct (before that, Rikky fully aware of the consequences even as he'd raised his arm)... Rikky slips from the solid form. His body becomes intangible, or at least, the area Sai strikes for, maybe more, who knows? he doesn't become transparent, he's simply no longer solid. So he doesn't stop Sai, but only gives him no target to strike. Neither does he step back, move, or look surprised. He merely arches a brow faintly and murmurs, softly, his voice now his own and even though its as sweet as Aerik's, its certainly -not- Aerik's* Perhaps not outpace, but out think? Definitely. Forewarned -is- forearmed, and knowledge is power. Your aggression, your hate, makes you predictable, Sai. *the pouch in place, all this, from the point it was secured, will be stored here. Aerik's sudden switch in voice, and anything beyond, will never actually touch Sai's mind, never leave a residue, will be wholly separate from his memory, though for now, until removed, it shares his mind, /is/ his memory*

Y'know...Ghoul usta pull the same trick...*considers charging the air where Rikky is- it would be worth a try at least. and it always gave Ashly a HELL of a hard time- not to mention interesting hair styles.* *any thought of such an experiment is abandoned though, Sai stepping back slightly- not a retreat. simply a considering of the information being shown now...Aerik was weird- but Sai doesn't recall a multiple personality problem. and this guy suddenly does seem like Aerik so much...well, if you were struck blind too, maybe..* Predictability doesn't always mean you lose just because of it. *Predict Sai as much as you like. get used to it if you feel like it- because sooner or later he'll change tactics without warning. then where will your predictions be?* what the bloody hell's with you?

*...Sai's right, at least, he's on the track to giving Rikky a hard time in his current state. While charging the -air- might not do it, the truth was similar, along the same lines. Sai is one of the few who could give Rikky a run for his money, if he figured out -how-. And Rikky, tho young, would never continuously judge on predictability, but he -did- count on this reaction, and was not disappointed. As long as he got what he wanted here and now, he was pleased. And he did. So he was pleased. But he's not stupid. Rikky's arm finally lowers, his hands clasped behind his back, posture perfectly straight, chin up. While it seems like a typical Aerik pose, all self-assurance and arrogance, there's a definite difference now as Rikky slips the facade off, as he's himself.. if he can remember what that is anymore... if he ever really knew. Thrust into Aerik's role immediately, he didn't have much time to develop himself... but he knew one thing; he didn't like Aerik* Nothing is /with/ me, Sai. *clear, higher pitched voice, still satin and silk, smooth, but not so twisted, so dark* And I think I prefer it that way. Will you still kill me?

*crosses his arms* I only kill people I know. You smell like Aerik, you sure as hell act like him- till now- and there's no denying you look like the asshole…*spells out one thing to Sai: Clone, or something similar...after all, isn't that essentially what all syntants are? of his class anyway...clones of the original ""Alpha model"".* if you give me reason to, you can sure as hell count on the fact I won't hesitate. *eyes narrowing. Friend, foe, or just a pain in the ass? which of the three is this guy?*

My looks... *Rikky smiles slightly, just the tiny tug of lips* Are not by choice, as you would well understand. And while I like them... *here, he makes a face of distaste, shakes his head minutely, looks, finally, off to the side, gaze lowered* I do -not- like what i have learned of the one from whom they are borrowed. *little pause, and he glances back up* I do not like what he did to you, or anyone, really. Jesse seems the only one to actually.... enjoy his company. *small sigh, and Rikky nods* At the moment, I have no reason to give you a reason to kill me, other than whom I resemble. *he seems on the verge of saying more, but instead he goes quiet, silent, and waits*

heh...that's almost reason enough. But I'm not THAT impulsive-usually. catch me on a worse day, and then we'll see if I'd do that. *he seems more at ease- but relaxed? Hells no... the only people Sai relaxes around anymore are Lyeth and Zakai. that's it. Everyone else is a potential enemy and treated as such. as his home had demonstrated to him- being on the same side doesn't mean you're allies. And he doesn't even know what side this....reflection of Aerik is on* Well- everyone always thought she was a bit...odd. *putting it mildly. He'd heard mutters at the lair- no one was overly fond of Aerik but Jesse- and Jesse wasn't well loved either evidently.* -So why /are/ you here? No one who knows that face- and is in their right mind- will be happy ta see it. You gotta know that.

*Rikky sighs and nods slightly. He knows, yes, knows very well, that those who see him and know Aerik pretty much hate him on sight* I like Jesse, and she very much likes... /him/. *another small face, and Rikky meets Sai's gaze head-on, no flinching* I came to see you, truth be told. I am.. unsure why, exactly, but I wanted... *he trails off, searches Sai's face in some small frustration, and finally admits..* I do not know what I wanted. To be myself perhaps. Maybe to see if those who hated Him, would hate me, knowing I was not Him. Or something. *a small sound of agitation, and he waves his as-yet intangible hand in the air, as if swatting at a gnat* I do not know, Sai... I truly do not.

*cocks his head slightly, expression thoughtful for a moment* You're a clone, aren't you? *he's heard of "self quests" like this. Though any Syntant trying to establish themselves as different from the others usually vanished.* You want to be someone other than who you were "supposed" to be- or something like that anyway. I'm no psychiatrist. well- couldn't make a living off it anyway. And hating Aerik is as natural as rain falling if ya ask me. If you DON'T want people to hate you on sight, you'd best do something to make it obvious you ain't him- short haircuts aren't gonna make the cut- and you might wanna ditch that awful jewelry.

A clone, yes... *he says it softly, voice from his throat, not an illusion as Aerik's was. Rikky frowns gently and shifts position, folding his arms as well, staring down at the black fabric of his garments* I am not 'supposed' to be Him unless I need to be. *He stops there, looks up, and tilts his head, weighing something. For a long moment, he says nothing further, judging... finally, he nods to himself, secure in his memory pouch's abilities, and continues in a hushed voice* They did not know who he was, whom I was a clone of... and sent me out to discover it for them. I came across Jesse, knowing only my name, and she knew him, lowered her shields and... I did what I was told to do. I found information, freely displayed. I learned much. I learned how to act like him, walk like him, /be/ him as much as I could be, but only for the occasions when necessary. So you see, I must look like him. The haircut.. *small shrug of helplessness* was all I could do. I can make it grow again in an instant if I need to. *A mock huffing as he offers a tiny glare to Sai* I DID ditch the awful jewelry... but I could not fully. *true, he's not wearing the gaudy things Aerik wears, but smaller hoops, and more holes in his ears than Aerik displays*

*flat tone* Just as bad as /him/. If you aren’t already you /will/ be. *Sai's hatred of telepaths is as strong as ever- which certainly /isn't/ helping his case...mastery of his own developing skills there will be slow if not impossible...* *a slight twitch of his ear as he looks Rikky over- making a small feh-ing sound* It's /still/ awful. Your ears look like Swiss cheese. *Sai liked simple jewelry. Silver hoops- one per ear- for him when he wears ANY thank you oh so much...*

So you are saying that you do not like me already because my /dress-code/ does not meet your approval?? *Rikky blinks at the youth, but one hand unconsciously flutters up to an ear, where he touches the jewelry gingerly* I like the way it looks… and I like the shorter hair. *he frowns softly, then folds his arms, scowling slightly at Sai* Besides, you have little room to talk. *Then, it hits him, what Sai was saying beforehand* I have my /orders/… *and more, he has compulsions. Rikky can’t choose to follow orders or not on this subject, though he doesn’t know that… there’s quite a bit he doesn’t know, actually, especially when it comes to himself*

I have PLENTY of room to talk. *simply* and robots follow orders- fools follow orders- slaves follow orders - then there are those intelligent ones that receive them and CONSIDER following them. I should know- I used to be the second to last variety. *Zandreer enjoyed his work- no doubt about it- but he didn't really have a choice either....*

I am not a robot. *Rikky’s arms tighten about his chest minutely, small, defensive posture, but he continues smoothly, no display of heat in his voice* I am not a slave. I --- I simply owe them, do I not? They made me, gave me birth, as it were, and… *he stalls there, he’s never considered not following an order, never attempted it, /could/ not attempt it. But something raises in his mind and he struggles with it for a moment. Then the moment is resolved and it lays flat again, his tone calm* There is nothing wrong with following orders. Besides, I would like to know of myself as well. Would you not?

Feh-both the homosapien government back home and Mystic 'made' me- you don't see /me/ jumping at every order they give, do you? and trust me- they do /try/. *he's just kept it to himself...* hmph- you're a copy of Aerik- NOT Aerik. why not try to FIND yourself before you try to know of yourself, eh? stealing peoples thoughts- that'll let you get to know Eclipse. *he fastens the bag of metal links to his belt, turning to walk off- still having to get used to not having to look UP to talk to someone* think about it.

*Rikky /tries/ to think about it, and frowns deeply as horrible contradictions work themselves in his head. His speech is staggered as he tries to reply* No, I am not Aerik, and I do even like Aerik. I would rather not steal thoughts, and pry, and --- *again, he struggles* I do not… --- *Finally he sighs, frustrated he can’t say what he wants to say, or think what he wants to think, and ends it lamely with…* I do not agree with you, Sai.

Is that the /best/ you can do? *he shakes his head, turning away* think what you like- I've got personal matters to attend to. We're gonna be arguing this point for days if onna us don't back down- or at least leave. see ya. *silently walking away after that. He wants nothing to do with Aerik...either of them. His life's been tangled up with one of him long enough. no point in letting another in, even at the fringes*

*Rikky frowns again, deeply this time as Sai starts to walk away. He was hoping for something that perhaps he could never have, not in this circle, anyways --- friendship. A simple little notion, but one he’d desperately like to have realized. Sensitive as he is, he can feel the reasons for Sai’s dismissal, or perhaps he can guess at them from what he’s gleaned before… Aerik ruined Sai. Rikky looks away. Even tho Rikky is not Aerik and isn’t really even close to being Aerik -Rikky had morals, scruples, compunctions, /sanity/-- Aerik ruined Sai to him. Ruined everyone to him, it would seem. Its with a small, soft voice that he bids adieu to Sai then, because there’s nothing left to say. Sai doesn’t want to talk him, wants nothing to do with him, and Rikky, not here on business, is not going to force the issue. He seals off the memory pouch… Sai never talked to Rikky, knows nothing about Rikky and what he just told him, this never happened* Fare well, Sai. *and then he vanishes, recalled to GUARD HQ*

*Sai mutters under his breath- another damned headache...oh, well...* *shrugging it off, he continues on his way- he needed to have a little talk with Zak...*