(no subject)

[tobeproud]

Who: Quatre, Edgeworth
What: A virus strikes! Quatre and Edgeworth are forced to stay within proximity of each other, lest they become terribly ill.
Where: The Maganac's village and base of operations.
When: Some random point in time.
Warnings: None!

The sun peaked through the curtains of the window, slowly bathing the small bedroom in light. It was a quiet morning; the only sounds that could be heard were those of men and women setting up shops at the market down the hill, and those were only faint echos at best.

It was a day to sleep in--not that Quatre normally did. There was something about this place, though, something peaceful and safe. Everyone knew who he was, just as they did nearly everywhere he went these days, but the Maganac Corps were like family, and so was everyone in the village by proxy. He could forget about politics and disarmament, at least for a moment, which was why--when a sliver of sunlight positioned itself directly over his face--the young man simply winced and rolled over with nothing more than a groan.

He could afford a moment more.

Comments

[samuraiprosecutor]

[The boy needn't have bothered. In such close quarters, Edgeworth wasn't planning to write anything he didn't want Winner to see. The post he makes is locked to his circle of friends. It consists of a request that Wright or anyone else who has access to his apartment should take care of Sigi's basic needs until he's home, and for someone to contact Gumshoe to handle things with his office if it becomes necessary.]

[He doesn't wait for a reply. As soon as the post goes through he turns to Winner and says a bit hurriedly] Things should be taken care of now. ...Thank you.

[tobeproud]

[Quatre stands and nods; his abilities aren't needed to sense the underlying gratitude in Edgeworth's words, though it goes unremarked.]

Sorry for the trouble. I suppose I should start keeping a laptop with me, in case something like this happens again. Here--

[He punches a code into the keys on the armrest closest to him; the screens in front slide up with the door as it opens, offering a view of the outside world again.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Winner's abilities likely aren't needed to sense the supreme relief that comes over Edgeworth at the sight of the door opening. His entire manner changes, tension falling away as he hurries to his feet and ducks out onto the platform. Once freed of the metal confines (how can anyone stand to spend any amount of time in what amounts to barely more than a metal coffin?) he's able to respond with something approaching normality. He turns back to peer inside the cockpit.]

[dryly] I could see that saving you a lot of trouble.

[tobeproud]

[Quatre follows him out with an apologetic smile.]

I've never had to deal with anything quite like the community before. Here there are multiple ways to contact people with relative ease, so I've never felt the need to bring my laptop when I'm not on certain business. That's easy enough to fix, though.

[samuraiprosecutor]

If you had dealt with anything like the community before, I would be extremely concerned. [He offers the boy a wry smirk, but it doesn't quite reach his eyes. The momentary relief he felt on escaping one harrowing situation is fading in the face of the last harrowing situation yet to come.]

[tobeproud]

It is its own entity, isn't it?

[The message gets across. Quatre hurries onto the catwalk and heads towards the elevator, attempting to make this as quick as humanly possible.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

Singularly so.

[Edgeworth guesses at Winner's intent and again can't quite quell the wave of gratitude. Steeling himself, he follows at a hurried pace, not eager to get into the elevator but desperate to get out of it.]

Even those members who live lives that would be considered bizarre and outlandish by average standards seem to be stumped by the community's workings.

[tobeproud]

[The elevator is still positioned at the second story platform. With a push of the call button, the doors open, and Quatre steps in.]

I wonder if it's even possible to get to the root of its origins...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth follows, his pace slowing a bit before he enters the elevator. Just as before, his emotions will reveal the mounting fear he struggles to keep off his face as the elevator moves.]

If there's one thing the community has taught me, it's that nothing is impossible. ...But so far it doesn't seem to be possible for anyone that's made the effort.

[tobeproud]

[The distinct waves of Edgeworth's emotions are coming together in Quatre's mind, like puzzle pieces. It isn't something he can help; much like it's impossible not to build an impression of someone based on what they show you, it's all but impossible for him not to build an impression of their motivations based on what they feel. Acrophobia, claustrophobia... These seem likely candidates for the man's distress, given the pattern.

Again, though, Quatre keeps his observations to himself.

He nods in response.]

I've heard. Do you know what methods have been used?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[He throws an apologetic look at the boy.] All I can tell you is that they were beyond my ken. I believe one of them was a hacker with skills worlds above anyone on my world. There may have been one or two others, and...one of my colleagues spent some time inside the community's...coding or something. I'm not at all clear on how that worked.

[As he's talking, one hand slowly creeps to the crook of his other arm and starts worrying the fabric of his shirt. He doesn't notice the gesture himself, but the rubbing beats in time with his singing nerves.]

[tobeproud]

[Fortunately for Edgeworth, the elevator has almost reached the end of its descent. Quatre keeps the conversation going, serving the dual purpose of satisfying his curiosity and trying to keep the man focused.]

Inside...? [Although tangentially related at best, the ZERO System springs to mind, and the gears immediately start turning.] Ah. I wonder...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[By this point he's practically counting down the seconds until the car comes to a stop and the doors open. Still, he's handling this ride better than the first, probably due to the worst experience now being behind him. He's aware enough to grab on to Winner's musing.]

Wonder what?

[tobeproud]

If any of our technology could do it...

[The elevator shudders as it reaches its destination, at last coming to a full stop on the ground.]

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Taut as his nerves are, the shuddering has Edgeworth grabbing for purchase on the safety rail, his eyes squeezed shut tightly. When he opens his eyes again, they're filled with embarrassment. It takes him a few moments to respond.]

Ah... Well, if you're planning to try, the only advice I can give is proceed with extreme caution. Previous attempts did not end well for the orchestrators...or the rest of us, for that matter.

[tobeproud]

[The action almost prompted Quatre to ask Edgeworth if he was all right again, but he thought better of it; after all, he knew the answer.

Instead, he cast the man a curious look as he stepped out of the elevator.]

What do you mean?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Hurries from the elevator cage as soon as the door opens, for the moment beyond caring about saving face. Once safe on the ground, he has to pause to calm his breathing before turning his attention back on Winner.]

If I recall correctly, every attempt has been met with retaliation by the community or something working on its behalf. At least one hacker ended up in a coma for a short time, while the rest of us--including those of us who had no idea the attempt was being made--were treated to a computer virus. I don't know the details of the other attempts, but I gather they ended similarly, with punishment doled out.

[tobeproud]

A coma?

[Quatre's brow raises, although he shouldn't be surprised; when an entity like the community is powerful enough to alter a person's mind or body seemingly on a whim, it's only logical that it would have equally powerful defenses in place. The ZERO System would likely be no match for it--not that Quatre was giving the idea serious consideration. Even after mastering the system, he had no desire utilize it again, and using it to explore something as dangerous and unpredictable as the community...

Even thinking about it was asking for trouble.]

I see. In that case, I suppose it's best that it remains a mystery... At least for now.

[samuraiprosecutor]

A wise choice.

[Now that his nerves are on the way to being calmed down, Edgeworth looks around the hangar curiously. Now what? There's no telling how much time they have to kill. He turns back to the boy.]

[politely (if a bit awkwardly)] Thank you for allowing me to use your computer. Is there anything I'm keeping you from?

[tobeproud]

[The thanks are unexpected but certainly not unwelcome. Setting thoughts of ZERO and the community aside, Quatre bows his head in acknowledgement and is about to say no to the question, when it suddenly seems as if he's remembered something.]

--Ah, well... No, you aren't keeping me from anything, but now that you mention it, I'm due back to L4 for a board meeting. [He furrows his brow, thoughtful. How are they going to work this out?] The shuttle leaves tomorrow morning...

[samuraiprosecutor]

[Edgeworth immediately comes to the same question. Either the two of them would be spending an extremely uncomfortable (or flat out painful) few hours apart or Winner was going to have to convince some presumably powerful people that his unknown companion has every right to intrude on their private meeting.]

[The second question, which should probably have been the first, is what board is the teenager on? A company's? Edgeworth only recalls his father being a politician and the boy having spent almost a year as a soldier. Capable as he seems to be and even considering all that he's done, it's still jarring to be reminded that someone so young could have already progressed so far.]

[...Of course, Edgeworth's progress was remarkably accelerated as well. Undoubtedly he inspired some of the same shock back in his day. He could think of a number of people whose reactions to him seemed to prove that out.]

[Realizing he's been musing on this subject for far too long, he drags himself back to the conversation at hand.]

Ah... That could prove problematic. Where is L4? [Or is that something like 'Ellefor'? Is it a country? Hell, for all he knows it could be the name of the company headquarters.]

[tobeproud]

[distracted] In space. That is, it's a colony cluster in space.

[His mind goes through different scenarios; this is one of several important meetings the company has had since the war ended, and he can't afford to miss it. Not now, while the executive branch is in chaos.]

I'm not sure I'll be able to call it off...

It's totally reasonable to pick a thread up again eight years later, right?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[After 'space', Edgeworth's brain temporarily fails to process anything further. In all his community-induced, outlandish travels, he had never imagined the final frontier may someday be within reach. He stares at Winner for a long beat while his mind catches up to the prospect. When he finally finds his voice, it's a bit breathy, almost awed. It's the only outward sign of the barely suppressed excitement and trepidation flaring in his chest.] There's a chance this virus won't last that long.

TOTALLY reasonable

[tobeproud]

It's possible. But, ah... on the off chance we aren't so lucky... [He offers Edgeworth a small, uncertain smile. Already anticipating the answer, he asks:] Have you ever been to space, Mr. Edgeworth?

[samuraiprosecutor]

[He's doing a serviceable job of keeping his excitement and nervousness at the prospect off of his face and down to a dull roar in his chest. Not that his efforts will be very effective, given Winner's unique talent for reading people.]

I can't say that I've had the pleasure. Space travel is still something chiefly reserved for scientists and a few, exceptionally wealthy private individuals. We've barely made it off the planet, let alone established colonies off world. And as for my travels through the community... [He shrugs.] I suppose the opportunity simply never came up.