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Post by Vernita on Jan 23, 2006 5:50:33 GMT -5
Vernita's ears perked, reality still working it's way around to catching up with her.
"What... What do you mean?"
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 23, 2006 5:53:55 GMT -5
"I mean, Padd has been insisting that you be killed because you know that she and I are really toads," he explained, looking genuinely sad as he sat down on the couch beside her and handed her the glass of scotch.
"I can stop those others from harming you, but not Major Padd. Unless..." He trailed off into silence as he realized what he was saying, his mind a few steps behind his speech. He was unsure of how to proceed. He wanted to protect Vernita, but he also wanted to protect himself.
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Post by Vernita on Jan 23, 2006 6:00:16 GMT -5
Vernita shivered, realizing now what was going on. She was backed into a corner. If she told the UAC, she was as good as dead. If she did nothing, she was as good as dead. Tears began to well up inside as the hopelessness overcame her.
"I... I don't want to die, Ren! I... I just wanted to... To be a captain of... Of a ship and now... And... I don't know what to do..."
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 23, 2006 6:16:57 GMT -5
"Well," said Renfield finally, and he waited a few moments before finally continuing, "the offer I made back in the interrogation room still stands, just so you know."
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Post by Vernita on Jan 23, 2006 6:31:46 GMT -5
"Ren..." Vernita looked at Renfield, a hare... A toad who had captured her in so many ways. The universe seemed to expand with infinite dilemmas and solutions and then just as quickly narrow into a single point. Self preservation ruled... Coupled with the witchcraft of her emotions that seemed to dig into her heart.
She did, after all, wish to be a captain...
"Renfield... I don't want to die. If it will keep me safe... If it... Will keep me closer to you..."
She swallowed a hard lump in her throat. The psychosomatic obstruction being forced down by a force of sheer selfishness, cowardice, and self-deception. As the tightness faded, she began to feel a tingle run down her... From the tip of her ears to the pads of her hindpaws, as if being unzipped like a knapsack. The old remants of a life she once new peeled away like so much skin off a fruit when she uttered the four damning words:
"What shall I do?"
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Post by Norris on Jan 23, 2006 10:01:11 GMT -5
"Accept his offer," came a voice. "If it's the only way to keep you alive."
Major Padd stepped out of the shadows, not wearing her disguise. She looked over at Renfield and then to Vernita.
"Look, Vernita, not only is this an issue of life and death, but we're sick of this war as anyone else. If you agree to Renfields' proposal, then maybe this ridiculous war will come to an end much faster."
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 23, 2006 13:11:34 GMT -5
Hearing Padd's voice, Renfield immediately leapt to his feet, blinking in shock. He'd been so concerned about making Vernita comfortable he'd foolishly neglected to make sure there was no one else in the office. Not that it mattered anymore.
Nodding and crossing his arms, he turned to Vernita. "Yes," he said, "I'm sure you want the war to end as much as we do, and I don't know about you but I'd prefer the war concluded with you still breathing." He offered a small smile, although in the back of his mind he wondered what Padd thought of his infatuation with Vernita. No doubt, she strongly disapproved.
"We'll make you a frigate captain just as you originally wanted. All you have to do is report to Major Padd and I on a semi-regular basis and interfere with the mammals-- er, I mean your fellow mammals' efforts to undermine the Empire."
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Post by Vernita on Jan 23, 2006 18:00:27 GMT -5
Vernita stood weakly and nodded.
"I... I understand. I was... Unaware of your position... But..."
She nodded to Renfield, succumbing to her fate.
"I accept your offer. Just... Yes. Yes, I accept."
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 23, 2006 18:03:51 GMT -5
Renfield smiled and looked from Padd to Vernita, sighing with relief, glad that it did not have to come to violence.
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Post by Vernita on Jan 23, 2006 23:30:50 GMT -5
"So what do we... What do we do now?" Vernita said, running her hindpaws idly along the office carpeting.
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 23, 2006 23:50:21 GMT -5
"I do believe that's up to Major Padd, my dear," Renfield said, then remembered something. "Oh, speaking of which, I almost forgot," he said and fished into his pocket, removing a small diskette and holding it up for Padd to see. "I acquired the information on Rigel III you wanted."
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Post by Norris on Jan 24, 2006 12:44:42 GMT -5
Padd accepted the disc, snatching it from Renfield. She turned to look at Vernita.
"I have a few of my own ships currently based on Warren. If transport can be arranged via Renfield here, we can have you commanding the ship within a couple of days,"
She opened the door, where she had slain everyone in the office block, including Stephenson.
"Renfield, can we have a word?" she asked coldly, stepping out into the foyer.
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Post by Vernita on Jan 24, 2006 13:47:15 GMT -5
Vernita bit her lip, curling inside Renfield's coat on the sofa. She closed her eyes, exhausted from the rigors of the day... Something inside her telling her this was all a terrible dream.
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Post by Kooshmeister on Jan 24, 2006 17:29:29 GMT -5
Renfield blinked and then nodded. "Um, sure," he said, then to Vernita he said, "I'll be right back." He then followed Padd out the door.
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Post by Norris on Jan 25, 2006 1:31:09 GMT -5
Once Renfield stepped out, Padd closed the door so Vernita couldn't hear them.
"Renfield, I'm accepting the disc, and accepting her into my ranks," she snarled. "So why is it that when my back is turned, it's suddenly all 'Ren, Ren'? Didn't that peck on the cheek mean anything to you?!"
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