The Guild Capitol: Chapter Two

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"Now we can find something for kids." Dawn said and moved to look around the place.

"Oh... S-Security..." For a Peacekeeper, this one seemed rather jittery. "I sh-should c-call them, then... H-Head into the Head of the Capitol -- that big Justice Building or w-whatnot -- and th-they will be there."

"Oh my gosh, that's amazing!" Ellie found one that looked like a star dragon flying, and admired it. "No babies, but I think I'll get this one anyway," she said.

~~
"Tell us clearly where to go," Tala said. She was having trouble with the Peacekeeper's stutter. It was hard to understand for her.

"What are you so nervous about?" Esk asked bluntly, staring at the guy critically.

"O-Oh, er... H-Here!" He squeaked, suddenly producing a small, brightly colored orb that floated from his hand. "F-Follow this th-thing, it'll sh-show you where to go."

Esk continued to watch the guy. "No really, why are you so scared?" He tilted his head. He wasn't going to let this drop.

"L-Look, man. Rumor has it one of the Peacekeepers got randomly attacked by a refugee or something, okay? A l-lot of us have b-been on edge and n-no one has been able to confirm it since it's s-still under investigation. I-I'm just here to d-do my job."

Tala's ears twitched. "That is displeasing. Do not fear, we shall not attack you." She looked at Esk, "We had best go to this Inquisitor, this peacekeeper knows nothing more it seems."

"Attacked? By what? " Esk asked. He looked to Tala. "go find the inquisitor. I want to know more, if there's a crazy refugee out there attacking peace keepers, we should know everything we can." He looked back to the peacekeeper. "I take it as you don't know for sure, you haven't caught the guy huh?"

Tala nodded and headed after the orb to find the Inquisitor.

The Peacekeeper shook his head. "N-No one knows. H-He didn't really know, either. Apparently he got ambushed from behind and knocked out rather quickly. They've been asking around but people say they didn't see anything or just being plain unresponsive. B-But the PET and CAT scans showed a lot of blunt force trauma in the back of his head before he was healed over. A l-lot of the Peacekeepers are speculating that a group of refugees are being... l-less than gracious in their refuge. I-I don't get that, though. If they don't like it here, c-can't they just leave?" Though still jittery, at least the Peacekeeper seemed to be slowly relaxing.

~~~~~~

The orb floated down the halls in front of Tala. It passed by the courtroom and down to the studies and still continued further past many paintings and scriptures along the wall.

Tala didn't look at the decorations. She was pretty single-minded in her desire to find this Inquisitor.

"You would think so, nothing's stopping people just leaving right?" Esk looked ponderous. "How do you screen the people who come through here looking for refuge? " He'd filled out a form, but what else had they taken without knowledge or consent? They MUST have some screening... right? surely?
"Don't suppose there's any reason your own peacekeepers might be attacking one another? Was the guy particularly unpopular or important? "

"W-Well, we take your information and input it through the system before running your name or alias through the 'net, and from there we determine any public information from you, such as if there was any news article or bounty on you, we would know about it and take necessary precautions."

He shook his head, glancing around nervously, "N-Not that I know of, but he was a supporter of the Old Doves. The Old Doves and New Doves have been politically fighting as of late... At l-least the Hawks have been staying out of it..."

~~~~~~

Eventually she was led to a large, almost lounge like room, where Animus and Spinner sat together. The two looked at Tala when she entered, with Spinner's bug like side wards mouth wrinkling into an odd smile, while Animus's grinning skull tried to give her a kindly look, but ended up looking just as odd.

"Greetings, Minotaur." Spinner said, "We heard you were seeking audience with us. Is something the matter?"

"doves? Hawks?" Esk asked. "Political groups?"

Tala stood at attention, clasped her hands behind her back, and stated, "Our former follower of Inari says that when separated from Inari, such as by the death of Inari, the followers go insane like him, or moreso, and would be a danger to us all. My companion Esk also concluded that this is a plot by the Family to sabotage the Guild from the inside, by allowing the followers to ravage this place for them before they arrive."
She looked at the Inquisitors steadily. "We cannot have this."

The Peacekeeper nodded, explaining himself. "The Old Doves have a majority hold right now. They believe that the Guild should stay peaceful and not involve any war but still take in refugees and help the slaved races the best we can without getting directly involved. The New Doves believe the Guild should become more isolationist, and halt any interaction with the other empires at all and let them do whatever while simply observing. The Hawks are the least supported, but they believe we should reveal ourselves and go to necessary war and political standoff with pro-slave Empires and quit with the discreet and as they see it, not as effective Salvation Roads."

~~~~~~

Both of the Inquisitors seemed to freeze. The kind, casual glint in their eyes faded and was replaced with a concerned, almost angered one, as if they were a mother bear and someone had just touched her cub. They were deadly silent for a few moments as they ran her words through her head again.

"Call in Prisoner Ares, now." Animus growled solemnly, his voice sounding a little less than reasonable as a Peacekeeper that stood by the hallway nodded and headed off. Animus muttered something and within a few minutes, both Ragnarok and the last Inquisitor, the woman appeared, all looking concerned.

Spinner looked to Tala, producing a chair comfortable for her kin. "Sit. We have a bit to discuss. Do you want anything to eat or drink?"

Tala sat, because they told her to sit. "I need nothing. The matter at hand must be discussed," she said.

Esk nodded, his expression blank. "great. Political unrest, just perfect." He shook his head. "You think it's possible this attack was staged to provoke a reaction, or... inaction?" If the new lot resented the refugees they might want to make them seem ungrateful and violent to encourage the guild to close their borders. He smirked at the guy "You shouldn't worry about people standing in front of you, sounds like really, you should be watching your back."

"Maybe." The Peacekeeper shrugged, then suddenly looked terrified at Esk's smirk, quickly looking around.

~~~~~~

Within a few minutes, Ares was entered, this time in chains as before and being escorted by two Peacekeepers. He looked annoyed as everyone began to sit. He eyed Tala, wondering what was happening...

Tala watched the prisoner. "What information does he contribute?" She asked.

Esk snickered. "Man, jumpy for a trumped up cop aren't you?" He shook his head. "good luck figuring it out." He didn't sound very sincere.

"Perhaps because it's his first week on the job." Loyalty suddenly seemed to appear behind the two, giving Esk a rather bored but mildly disdainful look. Her books floated beside her as she did. "I don't think you're helping very much with that insincerity."

The Peacekeeper seemed to flush at the valedictorian, looking down to the floor.

~~~~~~

"Miss Minotaur, I introduce to you Ares, the Family's former military tactician." Spinner explained. Ares continued to suspiciously stare at Tala. "What's going on here?"

"The followers of Inari that arrived this week will all go insane if their link to Inari is severed, such as by her demise. The former follower on our ship informed me of this." Tala added, "My companion Esk concluded this must be a plot by the Family to destroy the Guild from the inside so it will be weakened for their attack."

"So they just promote anyone or did this guy pass a test?" Esk looked to Loyalty.

"They all go through tests and training, but not everyone is equal in that regards." Loyalty eyed the guard, who only sheepishly glanced down again. "At least he hasn't run off in terror yet. That's something. Still standing at his post, as always."

She turned back to Esk. She seemed to eye him critically, as if she were studying every hair on his body with some sort of measurement in quality. "You're not a pure blood. Your features are too jumbled to be a single species. A mixture of the Type A Incubi and Hexenfolke. Odd mix, but I won't pry. Your demeanor seems calculating and calm but alert. You're trained, most likely proper military service since Hexenfolke are under Satare rule. However by your somewhat... chaotic way of speaking to and about people," she glanced at the Peacekeeper again, "and the fact that you are not currently under Satare enterprises suggest you are either retired -- which is highly unlikely -- or were dismissed from your position. You Arcana footprint is equally chaotic, suggesting a great potential magic strength but it's untrained. That's potentially lethal. The fact you don't seem to be out here for pleasure experiences or with a group of friends suggest you don't tend to be one with the crowd, or like to be with a crowd to begin with. You're scent is mingled with the sterility of a ship, your own innate death-scent and a mixture of a few others that I recognize. That odd group, with many more half bloods and strangely quite a few Terran androids with no badges with many Outlier variants. Who are you?"

~~~~~~

Ares suddenly paled and laughed nervously, much to the annoyance of those in the room. "Well, speak on this!" The woman raised her voice at him, fire in her eyes.

"W-Well that was a speculation to ponder upon after s-suspicion was put on Inari for getting close with Merith again b-before she obviously turned." He grinned nervously, "Y-Yeah, I suggested that but, I didn't think anyone would remember that..."

"You suggested using Inari as a terrorist device," Tala said. "It is sensible, although I most certainly do not approve." She looked around at the room, "I suggest the followers be contained before the Family carry out their plan and slaughter Inari."

"Well, I can see why one wouldn't approve," Ares snickered deceptively, "It is a terror tactic."

The Inquisitors considered Tala's suggestion. "It is sensible, but... It's cold." Spinner said unhappily.