The Lions Cub

~OLD SCRATCH~
*He'd spoken directly to the Highlord a few hours after Yvette has left the office... in fact, he'd been called in formally, and suffered under those hideous shields as his daughter had, as they all did. But the news was worse, tho he'd expected it, of course. Yvette was nothing if not stubborn and well, he couldn't blame her after her recent revelations about the mind-tamperings. Why /should/ she welcome more interference in her head? She wouldn't, and he wouldn't have either, despite the possible outcome. However, this time he was more than a little worried about the possible decision, only because of the end involved, Jayde. Were it just the threat of death, he'd have no problem with it... were it just a squad of cyhunters who'd go after her, fine. Quick, clean death most likely. The squad would have respect for her position, who she was. But Jayde? The thought of what she might do made Scratch scowl deeply, vastly displeased. That creature, far as he knew, held no honor, and even Scratch had been subjected to a few of the darkeling's teasings, as Yvette had experienced. Scratch had no illusions as to what might happen... and as a father, he couldn't just /let/ it happen... so, dressed in faded Levis, his boots, a sharp new flannel, he seeks out Yvette, and a private audience with her*

~VENIN~
*she sits in the library a huge stack of hardcopy files before her...one wide open before her.....her emerald eyes trace each and every line meticulously going over ever detail in every file in which she was ever involved....already she had covered those she had written while GUARD, now she was going over those that others had written while she was GUARD...she needed to know when she changed, when Aerik had gotten in her head....she needed to eliminate the weakness...occasionally she writes something in the notepad beside her, perhaps a word or two issuing from her throat....so intense is she upon the files, the same files she had read a dozen times in the last few days, that she is almost oblivious to everything around her..she had these files memorized, yet still she hoped to find something, anything....*

*Scratch can't /just/ find anyone, despite what people think of him. He has to ask a few people he finds in the halls, get general directions, who saw her, anyone know where Yvette is, etc... he's finally directed to the library by Bill the techie, the bent old man mopping the hallway. Scratch can find her from there, tho not immediately. When his eyes don't pick her up right away, he wanders about, senses open, finally catching her scent, eyes and the rest following. Soon enough, he's approaching her, noting she's engrossed in her reading; she won't hear him approach, he thinks, and most likely she's ignoring any other sensory input as well. He frowns slightly as he peers over her shoulder, notes the files, and pauses a moment before just walking around her to take a seat next to her, half hidden by the stacks of manila office files. He waits to be noticed*

*Vaguely a part of her mind registers that someone else entered the library, but several had come and gone in the hours she had been here, none had she acknowledged..she instead remained immersed in her studies, learning what she can....trying to find the one moment, the exact time..when her life had been taken from her......one file closes while she reaches to the top of the stack for another..she stiffens slightly as she senses someone behind her..but then just as she is about to turn they move on and she once mores shoves their presence to the back of her mind..this new file she pores through with the intensity of the last....even over the long hours her perseverance is unwavered...unfortunately it is also unrewarded..she sighs as she finishes off yet another file and places it upon the discard pile...her hand hovers over a new file as her gaze briefly stops briefly on Scratch* Hello *She pulls the new file towards her and begins reading, this one only holding part of her attention....her mind wandering, wondering why he was here...was it as Scratch? or as her father Ian? and why?*

*he half-breathes a laugh, smiling* Hello. *she keeps searching the files.. he watches as she pulls another off the stack and runs through it* What /are/ you doing? *he asks blankly, sizing up the impressive amounts of files she had out... not only that, but he's sure she's methodically gone over each one* Thought you had em memorized already. Catching up on new ones? *he knows the answer already, she would never have waited /this/ long to do such an important task*

*She can hear the laugh, but isn't quite sure why...or even that she cares..* Research and review *Key words in a paragraph catch her eye.......an unidentified person.....pale skin...unreadable powers... and her attention is instantly refocused.....a soft sigh of disappointment leaves her lips as it turns out to be other than Aerik* I do, a long time ago *Her finger tip lightly traces her place in the file while she allows part of her attention to focus on Scratch* No I did the new ones shortly after I came back *she finishes off the file and places it on the pile of discards, her hand reaching for another as she turns towards him* Can I help you?

*Scratch sighs softly, once again making a small, painful internal observation. His daughter just wasn't.... the daughter he knew. What HAD happened? What DID Aerik do to her? Was it Aerik at all? Things just... weren't meshing here, weren't matching up, but he doesn't say anything. Far better at times to hold silent. His eyes rove over her face as she suddenly renews her interest in a passage of a file... sees her brief, pale look of disappointment. Obviously, she was hoping to find something* What kind of review and research? What are you looking for? *he leans back, folds his hands, clasping them together, and resting them on his flat, taught stomach as he regards her calmly, and for a long moment* I wanna talk to you. *simply, evenly... nothing more*

*Her hand rests lightly on the stack of files as she looks over at her father* I want to find anything that points to when 'He' got in my head..I need to find my weakness, discover what happened *she picks up the file under her hand and opens it, her eyes only briefly roaming it before she once more looks up at you* Talk? what about?

I think you'll be looking pretty hard and long. Our files, cept the most recent, ergo once we got Rikky, make no mention of him. *he pauses and twists his wrist in a small gesture* Wellll, that's not entirely true. We did find some files with hand-written pencil notes in em. Nothing that was entered into the systems. Just two or three scribbled notes. Dunno who wrote em, but they're in pencil and badly smeared now. Anything else you ain't got access for yet. And yer weakness coulda jes been... hell, you were knocked out. *her shields were collapsible. That always bothered Scratch... she could choose to have them up or not, unlike Ian, who could not lower his, though his weren't exactly /shields/ either* Yeah, talk. Bout... Jayde.

There has to be something, some mention or vague reference somewhere *she closes the file she was looking at and places it back on the new pile...obviously he wasn't leaving soon so she wasn't going to get too much work done...* Thats what I want to find, stuff like the pencil scribblings, little odd notes in vague areas something....*She sighs in frustration and leans backwards in the chair, the vertebrae in her back popping soflty* Hell, even something about me, a change somewhere..anything just so I can at least narrow it down *her shields may be collapsible but she has kept them up for ages...every moment, even during sleep...ever since she first encountered Aerik, only briefly has she ever dropped them for moments of necessary conversation, nothing more* Maybe it was when I was knocked out...but when *Her green eyes seem to burn with fire as she tries to recall every moment when there might have been a chance for him to get past her shields..anything to pinpoint a time...slowly the chair drops once more to the floor as she slowly sits back up...that name, another she didn't want to face, but she had to...she had no choice..she turns to face you* What about her?

*He nods slowly, listening, brown eyes glancing over the files. He knows he's interrupting her work, but hell, would she find anything? Probably not. Even the GUARD had thought Aerik dead for the three years he was in Lyeth, and that she was just a latent telepath. Imagine /their/ surprise* I'll see if I can get a hold of the scribblings, let you check em out. Not promising anything, mind you. *He can see a small change come over Yvette's features at the drop of the name... the straightening, the focus. She didn't want to speak of this. He didn't care* I want you to take the data bank.

*a smile of appreciation comes to her face* I would like that, thank you...there has to be something somewhere in all this...*She knows what he wants, but she doesn't want to hear it...not really...then he says it and she has no escape but to answer* no *she shakes her head*I already said I won't

*Scratch leans forward, voice tight and attention laser-focused. This isn't where he wanted to discuss this, but... his gaze he fixes solidly on her, brown to jade green. God, she looked so much like her mother... its makes matters worse* Look, Yvette, I don't give a flying rat's HINDER that it could mean yer death-- *he breaks off and shakes his head slightly, brows raising in slight surprise* Lemme rephrase that. What I mean is, I'm worried about the eventuality. I managed to get from the Highlord that Jayde took an... interest in you. That's not a good thing, Yvette. *he wants to say more, but he'll wait for now...*

*this somehow seemed strange, after all these years, sitting at a table talking with Scratch, her father, a man who not long ago she had hated and wanted to see dead...then things had changed, she had broken barriers, no longer was he the object of her hatred, in fact she felt almost guilty for it..not that she had had much choice, but still perhaps things could have been different.....*...and I'm NOT doing it *there is a slight tensing in her shoulders as he mentions Jaydes interest but thats it, no other sign of what might be running through her mind* I know...I suppose I'll deal with it *Her emerald gaze meets his for a few brief moments* what is she?

You'll /deal/ with it?? Yvette, do you have any idea what yer saying? A cyhunter would kill you right off... any hunter would. *hell, he'd do it himself to keep her away from Jayde*... but that.../creature/... doesn't kill. She plays. And unless you've... switched sides, so to speak, in the last few years, I-- *he pauses and growls, audibly, lupine-like* She plays, Yvette. Possibly for years, yer stubborn enough to last that long. Deal with it? She'll break you before you can do that. *he shakes his head and sighs, eyes never leave his daughter's face* A monster. All I know. Close as I can figure? She's similar.. related to.. whatever Chalice is. But That's a hunch, no one knows.

YES! I'll deal with it...I don't want to, but I have to *Her emerald gaze holds yours with a fiery intensity* I won't let them in my head *she shakes her head slowly* If there was some way I could do this without having Jayde involved, I would....but I can't...*the briefest shiver runs through her as she recalls how Jayde 'plays' and that was just a sampling of what lay in store*... I've been broken before....in France....and I hope now I'm the stronger for it.....perhaps I'll be stronger for this

Listen to yerself... *his leans forward even more, voice a harsh growl, sandpaper against granite... intense and terribly quiet for all its rising passion* You know... you /know/ and you say you hope you can handle it? Did Aerik take yer common sense too? ///THINK/// about it, girl! You'll deal with it. I ain't never heard a stupider thing in my life! *that she confesses she broke in France makes him wince internally. He had been deeply displeased she'd been brought in... especially by a ROOKIE...* You'll deal with it... *he snorts and shakes his head vehemently* Yes, you will. You'll have no choice.

*her voice takes on a tone of quiet resignation* I am listening to myself ...but *a hand runs thorugh her short military crop* I don't like either option being presented to me *She shakes her head and leans forward* even if I wanted to I don't know if I could force myself to lower my shields....*she pushes the chair back and stands up...she has to move, to do something..she can't just sit her*It was hard enough for the Cybernarie *she leans over the back of the chair, her hands gripping tightly into the plastic* and that I almost couldn't do...that required every ounce of willpower I had...*her fingers score the plastic* I don't think I can do even that much again *she shakes her head and takes a few steps before turning back to you* I have thought about it, and I can't see any way *she snarls* FINE! maybe it is stupid, but what else can I do? give me an option I can live with *she takes a step towards him her words coming out a low lupine-like growl...remarkably similar to that he issued earlier* Is that an order?.....'Sir?' *the last word coming out hard and clipped, stressing that fact that he is her superior*

Willpower? You stand there and talk about /willpower/?? What about yer LIFE?! Yvette, /listen to me/ please. *he takes a deep breath, forces calm over himself, fingers gripping the edge of the table with horrendous force, enough to leave imprints, before that too, relaxes. He waits as she rides her wave of passion through, as she stands, rounds on him, snarls. He waits longer, her questions hanging in the air like some kind of odor... pungent, rotten questions. He ignores that she stresses his superior rank, because...* This isn't about me being yer superior in this damnable place, Yvette. This is about me being yer father. This is about... *he pauses, curls his fingers into themselves, into fists, then slowly stretches them again and braids them together, clasping his hands. Calmly, slowly, he looks up at her where he'd been staring at the tabletop and files earlier* Look. I would understand if it were a quick kill. If I were gonna do it, or another hunter, or Cyhunter. But Yvette.... Jayde ain't any of that. She's.... /wrong/. I've heard stories of her... appetites, if you will, and if even half are true, she is one SICK bitch. Is it worth it? What she might do, how long she could play with you? She's sadistic, and something of a healer. She could keep you around a long time after she broke yer spirit. Is it worth that? Years of torture, of suffering, of abuse? It is worth yer pride? Is it worth a few moments, /now/, of discomfort? I understand yer struggle and yer unwillingness, but you've always been intelligent. Don't change that now. I'm begging, Yvette. Take the damn memory-bank. *he holds her gaze, brown on green, keeps the link of eye contact, so there can be no misunderstanding*

My life? *her tone is now quiet and almost calm as she slowly lowers her head shaking it in a wry amusement* what's that? how many years of it have I lost already? Things I could have done, had... been if all these years hadn't been taken from me....*She listens to his impassioned speech, no true emotion flickering in her eyes as he practically pleads with her...when his speech is done, she holds his gaze, she knows what he wants, but she also knows what she doesn't want...he can't know what its like to lose years of your life because someone managed to get in your head, to alter your perception of those you cared for..he can't know what its like to be terrified that you might wake up one morning to find your world flipped on end yet again with no way up....* I lost my life, my friends, my family...all because someone got inside my head, I won't risk that again.....if she gets a hold of me because for some obscure reason I broke from GUARD, then at least I will know that it was my own choice to leave and not someone in my mind, someone altering me yet again....*it seems almost with effort that she breaks eye contact as she turns away* would her years of torture and abuse be any worse than me being someone elses puppet?

*....No, he doesn`t understand, not exactly, and at the moment, he doesn`t /care/ about all that either. What he cares about stands before him, hurting and confused, and too damn stubborn for her own good...* Look. Yvette, I won`t pretend I know exactly what yer talking about, I can only guess what that feels like, though almost any other unnatural in or out of this organization could tell ya the same. I`m lucky I have my own version of shields, unnaturals can`t get in my head, but anyone else... they`re susceptible, as are you, though yer not as open as most. And they have to face the same fear, too. Its a part of life all of us have to face, though we push it back, try not to think about it. When ya know there /are/ telepaths in the world, and when ya find out what they can /do/, you naturally start to question things. I even do... I mean, do I really have my shields, or whatever they are? Or do I just /think/ I do? Am I any more above manipulation than anyone else? Is /all/ this a sham? A farce? No one can tell anymore, Yvette. Not even me. Maybe its /all/ a telepath`s sick game, or worse. Maybe this is just something in /my/ head, and you don`t exist at all... or maybe it all in yer head and I don`t exist. It goes on and on, endless, but in the end you just have to know when ta say "fuck it, whatever it is, I`ll deal with it and do with it as I see fit". You understand me? /None of that matters/. And fer all you know, it won`t be yer choice. There`s no way to know. But if it IS all real, if it IS all choice... Yvette... yes. All her torture and abuse would be worse than you being someone else`s puppet. I can`t tell ya half of what I know, but... *he stands, slowly, eyes still glued to her and his voice lowers, pleading* If you want me to beg, I will. If it would change yer mind, I`ll ask you on my knees, here, or in front of the entire GUARD, I don`t care. Just... take the memorybank.

just take the memory bank? *the words half question, half statement* You make it sound so easy...but its not...*she leans on the back of the chair, her hands coming to steeple on her forehead* its not that easy *the words soft, almost murmur, as if spoken to herself....for a long silent moment she merely leans there, thoughts running through her head, then suddenly her head snaps up and she meets his gaze, her own emerald gaze full of cynicism* maybe this is all a mind game we live in, maybe we are being manipulated right now...in that case how do I know that I'm not supposed to be out there, a RUNner.....or maybe this is all just a dream and none of us exist...in either case whats the use? the memory bank is useless...*she shakes her head slowly as he begins to plead...the proud Scratch, leader of the GUARD....reduced to pleading that one traitor take a memory bank..it was almost a pitiful sight...if she had pity*

*Scratch didn`t think it was pitiful... he meant it, he loved his daughter and would do anything to protect her. Maybe she thought it was pitiful, but any man who wasn't so bloody /strong/ would never have made the offer, it took a great deal of pride to say it, much less /do/ it. And he would have done it, though he didn't expect he'd need to. So he remains standing, tall, square-shouldered, chin lifted and browns eyes narrowed. He nods then, one simple incline of his head, his gaze remaining pinned, but his face mostly expressionless* Yes, both are possible, more than possible. Maybe you were meant to be a RUNner, maybe not. I can see you refuse to listen to reason... I suppose there`s nothing more I can say, is there? Would it help any if I ordered that you took the bank? *he doubts it... severely doubts it, but behind it all, through all of this, a question he hears in his thoughts often of late... where is my daughter? Who is this claiming to be her? What the hell did Aerik DO to her?? He was losing his humor, and the shock of return was fading and none of this was remotely funny anymore...*

*The fact that he was pleading with her, him the leader of GUARD, the one who was supposed to stand for everything that GUARD represented..the fact that he was pleading with her almost made her give in, for the sake of GUARD...for unity and pride, to protect the image of GUARD which he was supposed to represent...but he stops that line, as if he too cannot bear to see GUARD in such a position* I listened...I just don't agree *she shakes her head* You can say more, but I doubt it will change my mind....*her fingers once more clench into the back of the chair, scoring it deeply as he asks the question....an order, she shouldn't refuse, a direct order she couldn't...she could state her objections, but not refuse...at least not refuse and still stand for what she believes in..she remains silent on his last question, hoping against hope that he doesn't order it...earlier she had asked if it was an order, a bluff which now he may call*

*he doesn't /want/ to order her, and she doesn't answer... its all he needs to know. A last resort, would a command be, because he knows it could cause an already considerable rift, the one always between them, to expand beyond repairable. If it wasn't there already. But her silence makes him pause, try another route first... she'd been very GUARD oriented of late, maybe that fervor would be enough to...* Yvette, if not for me, then for the common good. If it gets out that you didn't take a bank, what would the other think? "Oh look, Venin escaped it because she's Scratch`s daughter and gets special treatment"? Or worse, "If she didn't have to take it, why do I?" You could cause a great deal of dissention in the ranks, Yvette, and it's hardly the model to display to the Rookies. Maybe if you were any less legendary around here, but yer not, you carved yer own niche, aside from being related to me. Yer a role model, always were, and you know it... yer who all the young girls wanna be like. Yer as associated with the GUARD name as I am. So if not fer me, fer something greater. The needs of the many, Yvette, outweigh the needs of the one, and you know it.

*she stands there, waiting, she can almost hear the order, the one she doesn't want to hear....but one she can't refuse....then he surprises her, taking an angle she hadn't thought of...one she hadn't expected and for a brief moment surprise can be seen clearly written on her face...* for GUARD? *the words almost a sigh of defeat...yes, it would cause a rift, if she, Scratches daughter, former enemy #1 were to avoid the memory bank....they wouldn't see the battle she had fought to avoid it, or the danger she faced for avoiding it..they would merely see the fact that she had somehow gotten out of it...and many would read it wrong....she shakes her head, as if trying to deny the facts...GUARD can't afford the division, especially now that things had begun to fall into place...she doubted that any looked up to her...that she was a legend, that she believed, rogue daughter of Scratch returned to GUARD she was like a leper, one to be avoided, yet gawked at from a distance...right now, neither her or GUARD could afford the division such an act might cause...she seems to almost sag as she acknowledges defeat, her voice, soft, full of resignation* Very well

*With some small, odd satisfaction, he notes the look of surprise on his daughters face, though Scratch holds back any smile or indication of that pride. /FINALLY/, he'd cast the right bait. Yes, he knew the problems she's had of late, and he can't blame the others, but still, in the background was her sterling record, her accomplishments and her status... and they were all wondering if she could achieve it again, if she could clear her name. Scared, maybe, if she did, if she was as good as they claimed... scared to allow her back in and be hurt again. Another myth crumbled. He'd expected the difficulties the moment he laid eyes on her again not so long ago, she at the front gate, all the GUARDians gathering around... he'd done it. He'd won this skirmish, he'd saved his daughter, that pig-headed, stubborn daughter of his, with whom he was extremely pleased, be she RUNner or GUARD. He doesn't nod, nor smile, nor make any other motion right now... he only whispers the words...* Thank you. *and holds his position and his silence*

*This was a battle she had fought....and lost...no shame in a battle well fought, but also no glory in a battle lost...especially one with such high stakes..stakes which she now must be forced to pay* you won * ..of course she had other ammunition she could have used, but this wasn't a personal fight, this was GUARD and they kept it as such....she could also have refused, but that would have been against her beliefs, her nature, it would have been a betrayal of herself and GUARD...a heavy sigh leaves her body as she straightens up, her gaze once more fastening on her father* when do I do it?

*Ian doesn't comment on the /you won/ admission. He didn't CARE about that except in the capacity that she wouldn't have Jayde`s horrendous interest anymore. It was not past Jayde to manipulate things so Venin would have defected, for whatever reason, which would have allowed Jayde her hunt and capture. Jayde`s done similar things before. This way, there was no chance of such events happening. Scratch narrows his eyes, tipping his head, and finally lowering his gaze slightly in thought* I don't think it matters... but within the next week, definitely. *he lifts his vision again* If you want, I'll tell the Highlord, or you can. Whichever.

I'll tell him *...she hated going back there, hated the shields, the oppression, the vulnerability.. Jayde....but she had to do it* ..it was my decision to initially reject it, now its up to me to let him know I've reconsidered..*she licks her lips almost nervously* I want it over with as soon as possible

I don't blame you... *he nods, conceding to the fact she'll tell the Highlord and respects the decision. He takes in a deep breath, casts his glance at the files, and idly picks one up, thumbing through it* I hate those damnable shields of his, so I don't mind at all if YOU tell him. *he breathes a small laugh and tosses the file back down on the pile* Yeah, talk to Marcy about the memo scraps. After you get the bank. Yer clearance should go way up after that, back to yer previous level.

*her gaze flicks to the file in his hand, the one she had started on only a brief while ago, almost every word of it instantly coming to mind........a nod is her only reaction to his shield comment as she idly examines the indents she created in the chair, her gaze wanders back to him as he once more mentions the scraps...* Marcy..theres a name I haven't heard in a while, a long while........*she blinks * My previous level? already? *she had assumed that she had prove herself once more, earn her clearance and rank by working up with the second year rookies*

*His own eyes flicker towards the indentions she left in the chair, then back up to her face, and he smiles* Yeah... it's been years for you two. *Marcy had been GUARD-raised, only about 2 or 3 years younger than Venin, and they'd gone through training together. Marcy had been unable to continue in Hunting, however, after the deaths of the RUNners Flare and Corona... she'd been there for that one, seen the /mess/ left over when the girls had suicided (with Aerik`s help, but GUARD didn't know that)... Pole had been there as well, Venin had already defected. Still GUARD-loyal, Marcy had asked for a desk job instead, and received it. Now she was indispensable in the office rooms* You'll prolly have a lot to catch up on. She's as chatty as ever. *He offers a short nod, shifting his position to face her more fully* I would think so, tho I could be wrong. With the bank in place, they won't worry as much. Anything you learn can be removed, if you go rogue again. I think the Highlord wants you back up to where you were... Your own knowledge of the RUNners and their habits will come in handy. However, that's just an educated guess... I know what yer thinking, and you'll still have a lot to prove, mainly to the others. I`ll um... leave you to it. *he motions at the files* Back to yer studies or... whatever you decide to do. *he suspects she needs some `alone` time now, to get her stuff together, decide when she wants to meet the Highlord again. Scratch moves away from the table, pausing next to his daughter for a brief moment, his expression unreadable, for the most part* Good luck... *a soft murmur in his gravelly growl of a voice, and tiny look, eyes holding hers... and then he walks off*

*Marcy...they had been friends once, long ago... a lot had changed since then...none knew it more than she...* Yeah, I'll look her up, get the notes..*at least get the notes from her, maybe nothing else, but the notes, those could be valuable *she nods* I suppose so *no , they wouldn't have as much to fear, because she would be their puppet instead of Aeriks...but it was for GUARD so for them she would do it* thank you, she pulls the chair out sits once more in it, her hand reaching for a file even before he has finished good luck..she had much to study, much to learn..and now too she had to prepare to once more face Jayde...and the Highlords shields...what would happen this time?*