Riftgate - Jefferson's America 5

Events at the football stadium have quietened down. Alex and Alex2 are talking together over on the sidelines. Jessie catches up with you and comes over to speak to Lorelei. "Hi. I've spoken to the CBPA head guys. They say you can talk to the captured terrorists whenever you want to. There's enough time to fit a visit to them in before lunch if you don't mind skipping the airport trip."

Lorelei nods. "I suppose I ought - it's more important, really."

A little off side, Nils2 and Narosia are in conversation, her earnest air compensating for the number of times the genius creator must stop and explain various terms.

Lorelei says, "I should have known better than to think there would be time to take in the sights. Oh well."

Vicky and Vivie, the two robot girls, stand close by Nils and Narosia. Now their secret is out they are getting curious looks from the other cheerleaders.

Lorelei wonders aloud, "How was it the new cheerleaders weren't noticed? Or did they just 'join' the school this year or something?"

Jennie doesn't know but one of the players is happy to tell you that Vicky and Vivie are not full members of the cheerleading team. They were introduced by Nils and accepted because Nils was a buddy of Matt (Iceman) Regent the QB.

Lorelei thanks the player who satisfied her curiosity.

Nils smiles at Narosia, his self esteem increased by having her seem interested in him. He summons up his courage and asks her if she would like to see him again tomorrow at the Tech-Expo?

Narosia tilts her head, even smiling at Nils2 after he finishes "Thank you for the clarification and... the invite."

Lorelei thinks. o O (I've really underestimated Nils. If the Nils on this world could invent those robots in a few months, without any prior supertech to draw on, he really is a super-genius, not just an annoyingly former classmate with delusions of grandeur....)

Narosia nods, "A festival to technical objects? I would enjoy viewing it with you tomorrow." Her spirits likewise have improved talking to Nils, finding him much more amiable than their last run in, and he seems ten times the person Matt2 is.

Nils can't help grinning when Narosia agrees. "It's being held in the Colonial Bay High School Main Hall. I'll be there all day from nine am."

Nodding, Narosia struggles not to mirror Nils grin while she turns with a farewell on where Lorelei waits.

Narosia thinks. o O (A chance to learn new things, all with a man who has such talent...this is almost-almost gleeful.)

Lorelei smiles. "Are we ready?"

Narosia says, "Y-yes. Pardon the delay."

Jennie says, "The limo is outside waiting for us."

Narosia bows her head to Jennie, following at their notice. On their walk she coughs softly, "Lorelei, do we have any free hours tomorrow?"

Lorelei says, "I'm not sure. Jennie, what's the schedule?"

Jennie tells you, "Tomorrow morning is free. The meetings are in the afternoons. There's a Technical Exhibition in the city. Jessie and I thought that Alex might be interested in that if you didn't mind."

Lorelei grins. "I'm sure Alex is."

Narosia flushes, shaking her head "I...do not mind." Slightly apprehensive, she cannot mention she has been invited and wished to go beforehand. Instead she murmurs agreement and directs the conversation to their current 'mission'. "These men, can you refresh us on them please?"

Jessie nods, "Of the five terrorists the probable leader is in fact the flutist. He's Sean O'Donnell. Irish American. Born in Boston. Suspected to be a cell leader. Two others in the fake band have been identified as Lincolnist members but low level. Two of the fake band don't appear in any records we have access to."

Lorelei says, "Is that unusual?"

Jennie shakes her head. "Not for out of city people. There's no central records like your police have. CBPA has our own records and we can get a look at some others from personal contacts but that's it."

"...Schroedinger's cat!" Alex says, with Alex2 arriving at the same punch line in unison. Both of them laugh Alex he pushes Alex2's wheelchair back towards the group. "Hey. What did we miss?"

Lorelei nods. "I thought that might be the case. Well... hi Alex. We're just about to go and talk to the prisoners, instead of the airport visit. And tomorrow morning there's a technical exhibition."

Narosia quietly says, "There's...greetings Alex and um, Alex." Spinning round, her pale face undergoes a rapid transformation from normal to bright red then settles for mid way blushing all in five second's worth. "Seems our relations in this universe keep i-improving. You only missed our decision to visit the terrorists."

Alex2 nods to Narosia from his wheelchair, a look of gratitude on his face. He remembers Narosia coming to help him.

Alex nods to Narosia. "We should do that." He looks over to his counterpart. "I guess I've been putting off the question a little bit... how are Scott and Caleb?"

Alex frowns. "Scott is great. He's such a happy kid. Bright as a button too. I wish I could afford to pay for a decent education package for him. But Caleb. Well I worry he's going to end up in trouble. He's really on the edge of being out of control."

This brings a faint frown out in Narosia, "Meditation I would have suggested, but its effects work for those wanting control. You infer he will not leave this chaos created?"

Alex nods, listening. "I see..." he says flatly, and he seems to be thinking of something as look back to his counterpart. "Maybe we can drop you off at home... Caleb... if he's like the one from our world, he'll be getting powers too."

Alex2 sighs, "It's like he's rebelling against something. But I've no idea what. Any sort of authority just sets him off."

Lorelei says, "Sounds a lot like our Caleb. But he's turning out ok, last I saw."

Alex2 says, "It's not far. I can wheel myself. It will probably be easier than trying to fit me into a car anyway."

Narosia says, "We could accommodate."

Alex nods. "I don't think it would be that much trouble..." He glances over at the others, to make sure.

Alex2 shrugs embarrassed, "The truth is I didn't want you to see what kind of a dump we're living in, brother Alex. It's not something I'm proud of."

Lorelei says to Alex2, "Where I'm from, poverty is seen as indicative of society's failure, not the individual's. If you feel differently, I understand, but I certainly won't think the less of you, and I very much doubt Alex will."

Alex smiles warmly to Alex2. "We are brothers... there's nothing that you should feel ashamed to show me." He nods to Alex2, eyebrows raised as he hopefully tries to coax his double into feeling a bit better.

Narosia nods, adding her vocal agreement to Lorelei's sentiments. "Fear not, poverty is nothing you choose or punishment. I am certain the place is kept the best it can appear."

Lorelei thinks. o O (I'm not sure I'm being very diplomatic.... Nattering on about one's own social mores may not be the best....)

Alex2 nods reluctantly. "It's 417 Quatray St, Harrisburg. Yeah, Scott and I try to keep it tidy. But we look at things differently here. Failure or success is up to the individual. And I've failed Scott. I can’t give him what he needs to have the kind of chance he deserves."

Alex frowns slightly. o O ( I'd probably feel the same way... maybe there's something we can do... )

Lorelei smiles. "And you see, you don't really think it's up to the individual, or you'd be leaving Scott to fare for himself. The difference is really more one of scale...."

Alex2 says "Scott's my little brother! I'm supposed to be looking out for him."

Lorelei thinks. o O (I never really negotiated for payment for my services, but I wonder if I could ask them to set up a scholarship for them in lieu of payment....)

Narosia thinks. o O (I...this family concept is confusing...maybe it shares similarities with my Master and I. I know I could never leave if Master had troubles.)

Alex sighs, "I know, I know... Can we at least give you a lift?"

Alex2 nods. "Yes. And are you going to come in when we get there and meet Scott? He'd love to see you all. Especially you, Ms Lorelei. He's like every other kid in the city. He worships the Mediator and that means you too."

Lorelei smiles. "Of course, if there's time."

Lorelei looks questioningly at Jennie.

Jennie checks her watch and shrugs, "Going out to Harrisburg will cut into the time you'll have to talk to the terrorists if you're to make the start of the lunch being held before the meeting. But we ought to be able to squeeze the trip in and still have about an hour at the prison."

Lorelei says, "That should be fine."

Jessie says, "The car is waiting outside.

Lorelei says, "Well, let's get a move on then...."

Alex nods. "Alright then." He smiles and prepares to walk out beside Alex2.

Lorelei thinks. o O (I wonder what Harrisburg is like here. It could be worse than our Harrisburg from all I've heard...)

The wheelchair fits in the trunk. Alex2 rides with you. Harrisburg is not as bad here as it at home. It's worse. Even allowing for the aftermath of the Horde invasion. The buildings are falling apart, the squalor is appalling. 417 turns out to be an almost derelict five story brown house. Alex2 gets to the third floor by means of a improvised rope and pulley system up to a window.

Lorelei does her best to hide her horror. . o O ( It's Dickensian..... )

Going inside to use the stairs, the building stinks. There are drunks on the stairs. The walls are pitted with bullet pocks. Kids, dirty and in rags, run shouting and rushing around wildly. One door is open on the second floor and two men are seated at a table dealing drugs. No matter how poorly dressed, almost everyone has a cheap pistol of some kind.

Alex2 having gone up on the rope, is waiting in an open door on the third floor for you to make it up the stairs. "Come in."

Once Alex2 is busy with hoisting himself up to the apartment, Alex looks over to Lorelei and Narosia. As the group moves towards the apartment, Alex is quiet, deep in thought until they reach the front door.

Lorelei enters, lost in her thoughts too: that this is a problem too big for her to fix. She thought the Horde problem was big, but this....

Lorelei thinks. o O (The Mediator could do something, though. But would she? Should she?)

Scott is hovering behind Alex2. He goes wide eyed when Lorelei comes into sight. "Wow. It is her!" He exclaims and grins delightedly. The inside of the apartment couldn't be more different than outside. It's worn and impoverished but clean and tidy. There's a smell of disinfectant in the air of the apartment masking some of the stench outside.

Alex puts on a smile. He hangs back a moment to let Lorelei sit in the limelight for now.

Scott goes even more wide eyed when he sees Alex. "That's you!"

Lorelei grins. "Hello, Scott."

Scott gets all tongue-tied when Lorelei speaks to him. Alex2 smiles and pushes Scott gently forward. Scott carries on moving and puts out a hand.

Lorelei shakes Scott's hand.

Alex smiles. "Hey." He nods his head in greeting.

Scott repeats, "Wow!" and then, "wow!" He shakes Lorelei's hand and quickly asks, "Can I get you a drink? We're still got some coffee I think."

Lorelei says, "Thanks, but we're on a pretty tight schedule...."

Alex2 nods. "Thank you for the lift. Scott, say goodbye to them."

Alex nods. "It'd be good to maybe catch up at some point, though. Maybe we can do dinner, when things have settled down a bit.

Alex2 nods, "I'd like that."

Lorelei says, "Caleb not about?"

Alex2 looks at Scott. Scott shakes his head. "He hasn't been back since yesterday morning."

Lorelei says, "Well, tell him I said hello."

Alex2 nods. Scott runs off and comes back in a few seconds with a dog-eared comic. The front cover has the Mediator on it. He holds it out with a pen. "Could you autograph this please?"

Alex steps aside to Alex2 to ask him a quiet question. "Mom and Dad?"

Lorelei says, "Oh, of course...." Lorelei has a quick look at the comic: she hadn't expected to see the Mediator on one. "If you're sure. I mean, it's not like I'm the real Mediator."

Alex2 shakes his head sadly. "Killed in a crash. The driver of the other car was killed too and didn't have any assets."

Scott nods. "You're her sister. I heard about you at school."

Alex2 looks over. "Scott, you mustn't show that comic to anyone if Ms Lorelei autographs it. It wouldn't be safe."

Lorelei frowns, "It's that dangerous? Should I not, then?"

Alex nods slowly, quietly thinking on something.

Alex2 explains, "Scott would get it taken away if he showed it to anyone. They would want it. But if he keeps it safe it will be fine. And he'll mope for weeks if I ask you not to."

Lorelei grins. "OK, I'll sign it then." And she does so.

Scott hugs it to his chest grinning hugely. "Thanks!"

Lorelei says, "My pleasure."

Alex looks to Lorelei. "Maybe it's time we ought to get going..."

Lorelei says, "Probably. Take care, you two."

Jennie nods, "Yes. While the limo still has some wheels." The young twins seem unfazed by the Harrisburg state of affairs. Clearing this is normal to them.

Alex says, "Take care, guys"

Narosia has remained quiet, invisible during the conversation until now, when she utters a 'goodbye' from the behind everyone else position.

Lorelei sighs heavily as she gets back into the limo.

Jessie stayed in the street guarding the limo. The driver is obviously relieved to be leaving the area. "Over to the prison." Jennie tells him.

Lorelei says, "All this and they brought me here for negotiations over an airport. I feel like I'm applying a stick plaster to a tiny scratch on someone dying of cancer...."

Alex says, "The questioning should be pretty straightforward." Alex comments, watching the scenery as the limo drives out of Harrisburg."

The twins look at Lorelei curiously, "What's wrong?" asks Jennie.

Lorelei says, "The poverty. The way these people are left to fend for themselves. The killing. I thought *our* Harrisburg was inexcusable....."

Jessie looks confused, "They have the same chances as anyone else. If they didn't want to live like this they could get a job and make something worthwhile of themselves."

Narosia quietly says, "Not every door can be opened. I know...finding employment, steady life on o-Earth was hard. This appears worse for opportunity."

Alex says, "Hmm. Maybe it would be worthwhile to bring your politicians to see our city. Or maybe it won't."

Lorelei says, "Oh come off it, they figured out *that* didn't work back in Elizabethan times, which is why they brought in the Poor Laws - don't that I'm saying they were ideal, but at least they recognised the problem...." She sighs. "I'm sorry. I know that's not the way you think about things here. But it's difficult for me."

Jessie says, "Maybe you can explain it sometime. But if you're to speak to the terrorists and get back for the start of lunch we need to press on."

Lorelei nods.

Narosia turns her face to the window, "Right, this quibble is none of our concern." She brings a hand to press on the glass, deeply disturbed by the transfiguration from the shabby houses of the poor to well-trimmed greenery and neat buildings.

The prison turns out to be the prison on Sandy Bottom Island. In this dimension it’s not abandoned. It's the HQ of the CBPA and holding facility for prisoners. There's no delays once you get there in taking you to a room. Jennie asks which terrorists you want to speak to.

Alex says, "The flute player, I'm thinking."

Lorelei nod agreement.

Sean O'Donnell is brought into the interview room. He sits in the chair on the other side of the bolted down desk and stares past you all at the far wall saying nothing.

Alex says, "Why did you do it. What did you hope to accomplish?"

Lorelei adjusts her position, and lets Alex do the talking for now.

The flutist sits silently on the chair not saying a word. He’s staring past the group as if they weren’t in the room with him.

Several minutes pass by. If Lorelei's ability was having any effect it ought to have been obvious before now.

Alex says, "We're giving you a chance to speak your mind..."

Narosia says, "Please explain why...you will betray no one in mere explanation."

Lorelei thinks. o O (That's odd. He wasn't immune to me before...)

Sean O'Donnell stares fixedly and silently at the far wall not acknowledging your existence.

Alex says, "Sean..?"

Lorelei says, "Can you even hear us?" Lorelei suddenly shouts, "SEAN!"

As she watches Narosia realizes the terrorist appears to be in something like a self-hypnotic state and not really aware of the presence of any of you.'

Sean flinches at the sudden shout. He can't prevent himself from glancing momentarily at Lorelei but immediately goes back to looking past her at the wall.

Narosia leans forward and brushes her thumb across Sean's cheek, ignoring strange looks, being childishly fascinated. "He...is in deep trance, like when...meditation. A strong mind." Almost admiring.

Sean twitches at the touch, fighting to regain his trance like previous state.

Narosia says, "Pardon I-I mean whenever I meditate...come on. Awaken."

Alex says, "Weird."

Lorelei says, "You're strong-willed, I give you that, Sean. But I really don't see how staying quiet helps you. I want to understand why you did what you did, and I'm not going to do that when you won't talk to me."

Narosia narrows her gaze in thought, staring at the motionless features of Sean. "Lorelei-what personal action might you term invasive?"

Jennie says, "They never talk, Lorelei. Somehow they've gotten hold of the same advice we get about resisting interrogation. It's easier to say nothing at all than to stop talking when you get to the point of giving away important information.

[To Narosia] Lorelei says, "I'm not sure what you mean."

Narosia gestures widely, "Physical action you would feign do to stranger."

[To Narosia] Lorelei says, "Um, that's a rather difficult question to answer - it depends so much on circumstances. What do you have in mind?"

Narosia says, "Action you cannot ignore?"

Lorelei says to Jennie, "It's more than that. I've never met anyone who could resist me so much - well, no one human. He's obviously got some trick.... Are they all like this? The same fixed look?"

Jennie looks hard at Sean. "No. That's pretty unusual. Most terrorists are squirming and sweating. He looks, well out of his head, if you know what I mean."

Narosia sighs, frustrated using her fragment knowledge and swiftly pulling up a chair, sitting down opposite the blanked terrorist she pauses, lips pressed thin.

"Excuse and forgive me. I am no expert on trances beyond lapsing into them...however, shock or surprise if sufficient may break the hold enough to impose reality? Surprise fills the mind with thought."

Narosia thinks. o O (Right. Keep talking-please let Lorelei's power work a little...otherwise I shall definitely be forced to make a fool of myself.)

Lorelei says, "It does.... And I did get his attention just then. I'm going to try something. No idea if it'll work. If this doesn't, maybe we'll have to try something physical like you suggest...."

Lorelei shouts "SEAN!" sharply again. Most people can't help but react to their own names.... This time she's ready to follow it up with her most eye-catching look, trying to keep his attention once she's got it.

More prepared for it this time Sean doesn't react to the shout.

Lorelei says, "I missed my chance. I'm not getting through to him." She asks Narosia, "What was your idea? If it doesn't work we may have to settle for interrogating someone else."

Narosia coughs, "Many times I observe h-people who communicate. Their reaction to pressures like mouth to mouth seems very effective."

Lorelei grins. "Amusing idea. I'm not sure if they'd allow it, though?" She looks questioningly at Jennie.

Jennie is looking puzzled. "I don't understand what you're suggesting."

Narosia says, "Hardly understand m-myself..."

Lorelei says, "I *think* the suggestion is t try to get his attention by kissing him."

Narosia says, "Shall I...start the mouthing requirements Lorelei...or like you put it, the 'kiss'."

Jennie pulls a face, "Ugh. I'd rather kiss a rat."

Narosia takes Jennie's answer in stride and breathing shallowly, leans forward, face to face with Sean O'Donnell. "It will shock him, truly."

Lorelei says, "I didn't say it was my exactly my first choice. But it might work - would it be allowed?"

Lorelei had been about to volunteer, but given Narosia's started she gets ready to give her eye-catching pose, in case Narosia jumps the gun.

Narosia bites her lower lip, "Depends...unless you prefer pinching the man. I felt-seeing how h-others react, this might be a little less...hurtful?"

Jessie says, "Sure. They're terrorists. They don't have a lot of rights, Lorelei. Nobody is going to complain provided he can walk back to his cell."

Lorelei nods, though she'd rather have heard they had more rights than that. "The kiss might be better, yes, Narosia. Would you prefer I did it?" She still hasn't figured Narosia out. Her initial impression was that she'd be too shy for this sort of thing....

Words done with, tis the reckoning - Narosia tips in a fraction, millimetres from the glazed expression, mentally recalling her sole outsider's view of the kissing ritual. In she closes, lightly pressing shrinking lips on the corner of the terrorists, waiting with bated breath for their reaction.

Sean doesn't react to the tentative kiss.

Narosia thinks. o O (Pretend it is him. Press harder.)

This is one hard case!

Lorelei says, "Narosia - perhaps this is, um, more my forte?"

Narosia deepens this freakish lip lock, square centre this round. Hands reach and pull him forward. Sweat forms on her brow in rivlets.

Lorelei says softly, "Perhaps I should try?"

Lorelei won't butt in if Narosia wants to keep trying, though.

Narosia says "No" if language was best given through this kind of...thing.

Lorelei says, "Narosia?"

Narosia shakes her head, closing her eyes. Having no sight allows the red faced girl to kiss less mechanically to unresponsive Sean.

Sean twitches at the intensity of the final kiss. Then his eyes become fixated on Lorelei as she draws his attention.

Lorelei, now she has his attention, smiles as she tries to wear down his willpower. "I trust I have your attention at last?"

Sean is now staring into Lorelei's eyes like a rabbit under the gaze of a fox.

Lorelei says, "That's better.... Now, what I'm really hoping you can tell me is why you did what you did last night."

Sean says with loose lips and glazed eyes, "For the Union of the States."

Lorelei says, "But how does that help? Killing two people - one a German - in negotiations over an airport? One not all Americans are in favour of anyway? How is that going to help the States unify?"

Narosia is mute, sitting back and watching the whole affair unfold, uneased with Sean's traverse from one boiling pan to another, like they phrase here.

Sean informs Lorelei, “The cause needs people, funds and weapons. Killing the targets will bring funds and weapons to the movement.”

Lorelei says, "So it's not direct? The movement was paid to kill people? Which people were you supposed to kill?"

Sean says, "The head of the ESC, the Mayor, all the Germans, and the Mediator."

Lorelei says, "Do you know who it was who wanted them dead?"

Sean nods slackly, "Someone in Seattle. We were to contact one of the ESC delegation when we got here."

Lorelei says, "Who has your contact?"

Sean tells you, "Wilson Smythe."

Lorelei says, "Were you the only people sent to do this, or are there others?"

Sean says, "Ours was the only cell of the movement sent by the Union Council."

Lorelei on a sudden alarming thought asks, "Did you know it wasn't going to be the real Mediator there?"

Sean looks even more confused, "Wasn't it? None of us had seen the Mediator before."

Lorelei thinks. o O (Well, at least that means there probably isn't an assassin going after the Mediator this very minute...)

Lorelei says, "Do you know why it was those people in particular that were wanted dead?"

Sean shakes his head, "That was the target list we were given."

Narosia frowns, features drawn in strain meantime Lorelei interrogates. After several minutes she turns her head away, wishing to forget his gormless visage.

Lorelei asks the others in the room, "Anything else I should ask?"

Jennie and Jessie think for a few seconds and then shake heads.

Lorelei looks at Narosia and Alex before saying, "Thank you," to the prisoner.

Sean is lead away. Jennie looks at the time. "We have to hurry. You'll want to change before Lunch starts."

Lorelei nods. "That took longer than I thought it would!"