Sark
Im-im-impossible!!
The scaffolding held strong, even with the tarp and the passengers.
Cole rolled his eyes at Thaal.
"Someone's got a complex," he muttered. "Cute."
"Oh, I do. A superiority complex and a well placed one at that. Faith in my strength has kept me alive this long, just as, I would presume, have yours"
Kokichi raised his hands in defeat. "I was just picked out by our dear Overseer for my specific abilities. As Ultimate Supreme Leader, I run a powerful network of spies all across the world! You could almost call me the Ultimate Spy... but I wouldn't go that far." He tilted his head a bit at Izuru and tapped his chin. "Hold on, you don't believe me? Why, that's a little rude. You don't even know me and you've accused me of so much...
"The Ultimate Spy..." Thaal turned back to Izuru, a confident spark in his eye "Believe me now? If coming here has reminded me of anything, it is of the fact that people don't change. We came here killers, we'll leave here killers. He can here a spy, he'll die a spy...unless..."
Sinestro returned his glance to Kokichi, a knuckle stroking his chin. Should the Ultimate Spy have told the truth, he could prove to be quite the ally... He clearly had no horse in the race; he was a survivor, just like the rest of them, taking on a contract simply to stay ahead. In some ways, he respected him for that. He respected him even more so for casting off his obligations in the name of safety. By revealing his true allegiances, he had left the Overseer behind... and now they were all in the same boat again.
"What were your instructions, Kokichi?" Sinestro asked in a far less accusatory manner as he had in the past "Did you come here to feed us lies, or report information back to the Overseer through some concealed device? Are just a simple saboteur? The way I see it, the Overseer won't want you scurrying back to her hut any time soon, so, in the name of keeping all your fingers, it would be beneficial for all parties for you to tell us where we can find her and what she wants? If you were to, say, 'Spill the beans', then we can guarantee your protection. We can protect you from the Overseer's wrath"
He outstretched a palm to shake, his inner officer of the law leaping forward and pushing him to play 'Good Cop' once again. An old role, of course, but an effective one
"I Thaal Sinestro, offer your forgiveness and redemption for your would-be betrayal and safe harbour among us in exchange for your full cooperation. Are we in agreement?"
Sinestro returned his glance to Kokichi, a knuckle stroking his chin. Should the Ultimate Spy have told the truth, he could prove to be quite the ally... He clearly had no horse in the race; he was a survivor, just like the rest of them, taking on a contract simply to stay ahead. In some ways, he respected him for that. He respected him even more so for casting off his obligations in the name of safety. By revealing his true allegiances, he had left the Overseer behind... and now they were all in the same boat again.
"What were your instructions, Kokichi?" Sinestro asked in a far less accusatory manner as he had in the past "Did you come here to feed us lies, or report information back to the Overseer through some concealed device? Are just a simple saboteur? The way I see it, the Overseer won't want you scurrying back to her hut any time soon, so, in the name of keeping all your fingers, it would be beneficial for all parties for you to tell us where we can find her and what she wants? If you were to, say, 'Spill the beans', then we can guarantee your protection. We can protect you from the Overseer's wrath"
He outstretched a palm to shake, his inner officer of the law leaping forward and pushing him to play 'Good Cop' once again. An old role, of course, but an effective one
"I Thaal Sinestro, offer your forgiveness and redemption for your would-be betrayal and safe harbour among us in exchange for your full cooperation. Are we in agreement?"
"Can we stop?" Isa said, breaking into the conversation. "He hasn't done anything, neither of them have." He gestured to both Kokichi and Cole. "We can all start working to get up to the top of the room."
As Candi and Sera continued on, they went up a staircase and through a door that brought them back out to the tall, cylindrical room. Now they were even higher up on a platform way above the group. The platform seemed to also be a track of some kind for something like a cart and it went in a circle around the room way up to the top. A large machine that couldn't have been identified from below appeared to be a giant drill from Sera and Candi's positions.
"Look, they made it even higher," Isa said, pointing up. "We can follow them up there."
"He hasn't done anything... yet" Thaal turned away from the newcomers, hushing his voice to hide his words from prying ears "With naivety like that, Isa, it's a miracle you've lasted as long as you have. You wouldn't have lasted a month in a traditional prison; you need to be critical of everything you see. Thorough. Practical, but not paranoid. I beleive Cole's testimony. I doubt he has the capacity to lie as well as the boy did. As for Kokichi, he had confessed to his crime. He withholds information, of course, but I now doubt he holds ill intent. I still do not trust him, but I can work with him. Understand this, young one; trust must be earned. You surrender it far too easily. Its a weakness many will exploit. Be thankful we're on the same side... Or else I might be calling your own loyalties into question..."
"But you're correct" He stepped away from her, gesturing for the rest of the stragglers to join him "We're wasting time on this witch hunt. The boy can tell us what he knows on the way... in the meantime, we must ask ourselves...: what is a mining drill doing in a prison? Perhaps this isn't a cell block at all..."
How insulting. So much for high security... perhaps the Overseer hadn't shown his talents the respect he had believed she had after all. Locking him away in a temporary cell alone was a strike to his pride, to say the least...
"But you're correct" He stepped away from her, gesturing for the rest of the stragglers to join him "We're wasting time on this witch hunt. The boy can tell us what he knows on the way... in the meantime, we must ask ourselves...: what is a mining drill doing in a prison? Perhaps this isn't a cell block at all..."
How insulting. So much for high security... perhaps the Overseer hadn't shown his talents the respect he had believed she had after all. Locking him away in a temporary cell alone was a strike to his pride, to say the least...
Izuru stared blankly between Sinestro's usual indignant babbling, Kokichi feigning innocence, and Isa attempting to break up the conflict. It seemed as if he had more to say to both Sinestro and Kokichi alike, but it could only manifest as a short, disengaging sigh from the red-eyed student as he began to step away from the group, aiming to reach Candi and Sera's position as Isa had gestured.
"...How boring."
To Thaal Sinestro, Izuru Kamukura was as predictable as he viewed everyone else - under any normal circumstance the boy's punishment would've come unhindered and probably unnoticed by the Ultimate Hope. Kokichi seemed to be as boring and dull as everyone else here, and Izuru had no motivation even to pay any mind to his lies. The Ultimate Supreme Leader may as well be no talent at all, making Kokichi among the untalented masses that Izuru held bitter contempt.
But that's a lie.
That word continued to float in Izuru's computer-like mind like a virus; 'Ultimate'. It carries with it a slew of memories and connotations, both positive and negative from an unknowing perspective. For Izuru, it was all a blur. He had no strong feelings for what had happened back then either way.
At least he thought he didn't. But that word, 'Ultimate,' no longer carried any positive connotations for him. It may as well be synonymous with...
'Despair.'
And where there is Despair, there is inevitably going to be that 'conflict' in its wake. A battle between two unpredictable forces, which logically ends in a conclusion that Izuru Kamukura, the Ultimate Hope, cannot currently predict an end. Seeking an end to that 'game' is what motivates Izuru to continue breathing. His existence seeking closure... and finding pieces that relate to that past is apart of that goal.
Someone like Kokichi is a negligible, circumstantial, barely relevant piece of the puzzle, but a part of it nonetheless.
It is at times like these when Izuru wonders if there's something within him - something he doesn't know is there - motivating him to pursue these things on a whim.
It would be more accurate to say 'someone'. But that is neither here nor there.
@Atomic Knight @Sark @Ottonomous Ghost @Takumi @Whoever
"And there I was thinking you didn't want to speak to me? You're too kind"