exsiliumlogs | [closed] I'm Luke Skywalker and I'm here to

Who: Luke and Chrono
What: Negarious kidnappings.
When: Afternoon of September 10
Where: Outside the Hold
Warnings: Violence! Kidnapping! Mind control!

Luke had been getting ready to leave the City; he knew that much. it seemed like a good idea, too - get out and see what was outside. Find some peace of mind, maybe meditate a little. Get a feel for what was going on. All of the supplies and conversation had brought him that far.

Of course, no amount of suggestion would make him think it was a good idea to attack an erstwhile ally, especially one he'd never met. So he'd gone about his business, right up until about an hour or two ago. Luke (the real Luke) simply blacked out. Luke's body on the other hand, had a job to do. He'd been waiting outside of the Hold's training facilities for a while now. He (or rather, the person pulling the strings inside of Luke's head) had seen his target go inside. Now he was just waiting for him to come out.

Once he did, the plan was simple - get him somewhere alone (or if there was no one around, just do it here), restrain him, and then get him to the drop-off point. Surely Luke could handle that. There - Luke moved with an odd sort of mechanical step as he spotted his target coming out of the building.

This was going to be the hard part.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[For Chrono's part, September 10th is a perfectly normal Tuesday. He gets up early so he can tend to whatever chores need doing—laundry, this time. Heads to the training center not long after 10am, prepared to train for at least several hours.

He's normally subtle about the way he trains; he doesn't want to draw too much attention to himself, and using too much power is out of the question, lest it threaten Rosette. But even then, some movements are a little too fast, some blows a little too strong. Anyone actually watching would see the abnormality, especially for a (purportedly) normal twelve year old.

That's likely what seals his fate.

It's not long after 2PM that he finally makes his way out of the Hold, intent on making his way back to the apartments for a late lunch with Rosette (and Flynn, if he's home). He's distracted enough that he doesn't notice Luke's approach until he's several steps away.

Turns, blinking in surprise. Strangers normally don't have much interest in him.]

Hello?

[Luke doesn't say anything in reply. He just nods once in a form of greeting as the rain sheets down around them and then draws his blaster in one smooth motion, leveling it at Chrono, thumb flicking the selector switch over to "stun".

For whatever it's worth, Luke will apologize later.]

[What the hell—

But Chrono is, if nothing else, fast. It's why he moves as soon as the gun comes out, even if it's one he's never seen before; he wouldn't mistake one anywhere. Dives to the side, cursing under his breath as the blaster clips his left shoulder. Still not fast enough.

He straightens up, holding his shoulder, and places the balls of his feet just so, poised to dodge once more. Is this a UE soldier? It can't be, can it? How would he have gotten here undetected, and why go after him of all people?]

Who are you?

[Luke's silence continues as he edges back a step and tries to keep the barrel of the weapon aimed solidly at Chrono. Closer examination will show him to be a bit glassy-eyed, a rather blank expression on his face.

He squeezes the trigger, sending another crackling bolt of blue energy at Chrono. He needs to finish this quickly, before anyone else shows up.]

[He's not fast enough to repeatedly dodge bullets and lasers, and he knows it. It's why the defensive barrier is off his fingertips before he even consciously registers it, adrenaline dragging him this way and that like a marionette.

It protects him from the blast. But only that one.]

[But as soon as he drops the barrier, he registers the energy required to produce it. He knows for a fact that, somewhere, Rosette felt the seal spark.

He really can't have her looking for him and walking into danger; irony has brought Luke and Chrono to quite the agreement on this. He lifts both hands in a surrender position, hoping there's something there to reason with. The glazed look isn't overly promising.]

Look- you don't have to fight me. I have no interest. What do you want?

[Luke pauses as Chrono raises his hands. That works just as well, really. There's a long moment where the instructions burned into his head process and the force driving Luke's body has to make to a decision.]

Come with me.

[Luke gestures with the blaster, even though his eyes never quite focus on Chrono correctly.]

[Is he possessed? He displays some of the classic signs, but Chrono can't sense a spirit or demon at all. Or perhaps this is just the most bizarre robbery he's ever been a part of. This guy is going to be sorely disappointed whenever they get to the pocket-turning part.]

... Okay. [He keeps his hands raised, eyes never leaving the gun. Wonders what his chances are of disabling Luke later; he has no idea how powerful he is.] Will you tell me where we're going?

[Luke motions for Chrono to move out ahead of him, pointing through the ever-present rain. On the plus side, it makes it harder for anyone to get a clear picture of what's going on.]

The edge of the City. That's all you really need to know.

[There's a brief moment where he wants to object; he can't afford to go missing for who-knows-how-long while a stranger leads him who-knows-where, and turning his back to a weapon is utter foolishness. But a wiser option doesn't seem immediately obvious, so he turns in the direction Luke indicates.

The faint ding! of a message on his tablet floats its way through the splattering of the raindrops, but he doesn't reach for it yet. His fingers twitch over his pocket, though.]

I never caught your name. [Light, conversational. Like he isn't being led away at gunpoint.]

It's not important.

[It really isn't, to the mental commands running Luke's head. His only purpose is to get Chorno to the pick-up point alive and in one piece. And then turn himself in, but that's unrelated. He follows in Chrono's footsteps, steady and untiring, with that same mechanical sense that's permeated him ever since the programming took over.]

Just keep moving.

[Sighs, tiredly. He figured that wouldn't work.

He walks in silence for a time, obediently, hoping his captor isn't paying too much attention... he slips his hand into his coat, trying to pull out his tablet as subtly as possible.

If he can just send one message...]

[Luke's grip tightens on the blaster, his voice coming out in a monotone.]

Don't.

[He'll shoot without compunction. Mainly because he's hypnotized, but still.]

[Swears under his breath, quietly, tablet still clutched in hand. He decides to test his luck once more, because he's never been one for good or safe decisions in the first place.]

She knows where I was, you know. She's going to come after us. [Pulls the still-ringing tablet out, uncowed.] I don't want that as much as you don't, so...

You can send the message, if you want.

I'm not.

[Luke's glassy-eyed gaze drops to the tablet, then rises back to Chrono.]

She doesn't need to know. Put the tablet away.

[He'll shoot if Chrono proves too stubborn. Although Chrono probably knows that by now.]

[closed] I'm Luke Skywalker and I'm here to - wait.

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