Iona
HP:1
Cnd: Normal
PP:0
Iona unplugs herself from the internal power-grid and walks around the controls of the main computer-console. She passes Colonel Costa’s chamber and checks the vitals before programming it to alert her should the Colonel’s status suddenly change.
As she heads towards the doors, Reaper stands vigilantly eyeing every move she makes. “
I shall speak briefly with Diego and then we’ll both return here to revive the Colonel. It should not be long.”’
The doors open and the young cyborg levitates herself magnetically a few inches off the floor. She glides effortlessly down the hall and gently comes to rest outside the door of the storage-room. Only a few seconds later, the elevator door opens to reveal Diego’s shadowy form seated in one of the waiting room chairs.
Iona’s delicate hands move from her side and open slightly in Diego’s direction. Diego’s chair gently rises from the floor and brings him into the hallway. As his chair slowly moves toward the fair young female standing in the center of the hall, he notices something odd about the floor, walls, and ceiling. They glisten with an abnormal sheen like a car that has been newly waxed. Eventually, the seat comes to rest beside the door that Iona stands beside. Up close, she finds his form disturbing. Perhaps not quite as “off-putting” as Hitori, but unnerving nonetheless. “
Be careful, the floor is extremely slippery. I would step immediately into the storage room, if I were you.” As if to model that exact behavior, she commands the door to open and takes a single step into the room.
OOC: Assuming Diego follows, he sees the following
The storage-room is packed with strange equipment of all types. Just inside the door standing next to a spare examination table is an armed, security droid. Upon the examination table lie sample-containers of various sizes. Diego notices immediately that they are in pairs: two for each Ascendant except Colonel Costa. Some of the containers are refrigerated and some of them have nanite-samples bathed in a chemical preservative.
Iona turns and looks into the face of Diego’s dark visage. “
For what it’s worth, I thank you for complying. Ultimately, you did not have to do so, but I am grateful. I shall not take long as the Colonel is ready to receive the Eye; she should not be kept waiting long. I have read Dr. Sokolov’s files on you over and over. The information is limited, but I have gleaned some insights into who you are….or at least who you were at one time. You seem to be a man dedicated to the cause of restoring Hadron City to its rightful glory for the good of all mankind. You also appear to me an imminently reasonable and practical man. It is my belief that Praetor’s Null and Sokolov share authority as the leaders of our movement. I know that you are dedicated to Praetor Null, but I hope you see the wisdom of such checks and balances on our movement.”
Iona pauses and looks to the floor before anxiously lifting her eyes back to Diego’s face. “
To cut to the chase, I feel that Praetor Null wields vastly disproportionate power in our movement. That balance might be restored slightly if Dr. Sokolov and myself were allowed to retain some or all of the samples. If you wish to take all the samples, then that is your right. I promised such when you agreed to come alone, but what if I returned all of your own samples and one of each of the remaining Ascendants, keeping one set for Peter, Reaper, and Mr. Chen? Praetor Null would not know, and we would gain no research-knowledge on you in particular. That would strengthen Dr. Sokolov’s leadership position somewhat. Would that be such a horrible thing?”