A Game of Gods: Taskforce Sifuri

"Well, think of it as a test of your arcane finesse. And if you do make a mistake, our Beastman friend can clean up the mess." Shantotto was fairly confident in the pony. As an arcane teacher, she had an eye for talent, and Twilight had plenty of that.

Urza gave Sec a sharp look.

"Redundancy is always to be preferred. I fear such confidence is gravely misplaced. However, I will not force one on you or anyone else. I simply think this group could use greater coordination and equipment and am doing my best to provide it. My proposition for elected leadership has failed, so I am trying to unite us in any way possible."

He turned next to Jack, with a shrug.

"The resemblance was not intentional, but as I said, I will not press the issue."

Well, this experiment was an abject failure. Even subtler machines will be required, it seems. I hate to resort to pure magic, but it may be necessary if all else fails.

Sky would feel nothing untoward intruding on his mind, but the device snapped neatly shut. A double row of buttons, each one clearly labelled and color-coded, was present on the top. The artificer quickly pointed out which ones activated which functions and suggested he remember it.

Kribnefka corrected Shanttoto.

"I'm a Dragonborn, doctor. You can tell I'm not a beastman by the fact I don't howl at the full moon or have fur."

Sky nodded at the things that the bracer can do before he decided to ask.

"Do you suggest that the device be used in future combat scenarios, seeing that it's seemingly on my right arm for a while?"

"Wait, there was voting involved with being leader of this group?" Jack asked Urza. "I thought Sec here was the leader," he said, pointing his thumb over to the former Dalek.

"It would be appreciated, but it is intended only as a supplement to your own capabilities," Urza answered Sky's question. "It seems it is the only copy that will be in use, at any rate."

Hearing Jack's comment, the artificer's face grew portentous as his brows drew together in a fearsome scowl.

"Yes, there was, but the election fell apart, so I attempted to assume direct control simply because any organization must have leadership of some kind if it is to succeed in anything, and preferably competent leadership. That too failed, hence my attempt to introduce at least some degree of organization with these devices. Since this too has failed, I shall have to think of something else entirely. At present, we have no clear leader. If you wish that made clear, consider it done. If you wish the issue re-opened, I welcome the opportunity to present my qualifications. If not, then there is much I could be accomplishing elsewhere."

"Actually, Urza, if I remember right, you were elected on a trial run, permanent leadership to be decided if you proved yourself to be a good leader. I find myself disappointed in your abilities. I would like to suggest, that I take the leadership role in this next mission, and a vote taken afterwards, to decide on who believes which would be the better leader. I have experience in leadership, being a rank similar to a General previously, and having excelled past that rank later."

The Princess grew silent, as if contemplating Ratheln's question - then she looked straight at him, eyes filled with thoughtful, sombre light.

"It is true that there is much that we do not know about our employer," she said gently. "But even so, I do not think killing him is the answer. Even if any of us could accomplish such a feat, Atrocitus, doing so would leave us unable to continue our mission to gather the ship pieces. What would happen to the multiverse then?"

"Are we going to destroy a deity on the basis of some unconfirmed mistrust, and in doing so condemn all the cosmos to its doom?"

"No. We must bide our time. It may indeed be that there are things that we do not know yet, things that would transform our views and shatter our perspectives irreparably if they were brought to light. It may be that they are lurking just beneath the surface of the dark, uncharted waters we are swimming through."

"But who knows which way the wind will blow? It goes as it will. So it is with the unknown." Her gaze grew distant and wistful, as if she were looking at something far off in the past, something remembered and regretted, something cherished and lost...

When she spoke again, her voice was slower. Softer. Sadder.

"...You should never make decisions ahead of time..."

"Not before you're ready..."

edited 25th Mar '12 6:14:35 AM by troydenite

"I will take your advice into consideration," Atrocitus said to Zelda. In truth he already thought of the possibly miniscule chance that Moja was in fact a benevolent who truly wished to merely contain Sifuri. However his personal experiences left him rather untrusting towards Gods and beings with God like power. To the Red Lantern, it was clear: As soon as Moja overtly begins to show signs that he would abuse the power of Sifuri, he would be the first to strike the man down.......

However, Zelda did bring up a good point about how events can drastically change. He would only admit this to himself, but Atrocitus knew he was never clever enough to improvise on the fly when outside forces wildly changed. He was good at creating stable long term plans, and his original profession as a psychiatrist allowed him to read people and instantly make plans on how to deal with them, but his usual tactic with dealing with the unexpected was either smashing it into oblivion or running away while smashing through everything in his path. Flight or fight in its basest personification. Not to mention recently learning deeper aspects of actual leadership, both here and back home when he allowed a few of his Red Lanterns to regain their sentience in order to become his lieutenants.

Back home would have been much, MUCH easier to deal with if that royal bitch Bleez did not turn out to be so Goddamn ambitious........but that was neither here or there at the moment. At least with Zelda he knew he would have a reliable partner who would not backstab him when he showed weakness. His Red Lanterns were tools for him to use. His team here, on the other hand, were actual subordinates. This would be a good learning experience indeed.

Jack smirked at Urza's scowl and response. It was clear the artificer had a problem with not being leader. That kind of reaction was also common with guys who wanted control over people even if those people were unwilling. Jack did not give a flying rat's ass of the reasoning. The Chaser never did have any sympathy upon those who wanted to rule others like a king, the fact Urza was complaining over just temporarily being in charge clinched it for him.

Wonder if how far he could push this button......?

"I like to turn in my vote right now," Jack said to Sec. "Two, actually. I vote for Sec to be leader, and a Vote of No Confidence in Urza's leadership abilities ever." All that was left was to see the reactions. Jack hoped he'd have to get the Gator Tooth out......

edited 25th Mar '12 11:18:45 AM by UdtheImp

Letting his staff lean on an adjacent book shelf, Ratheln quietly sat down. Zelda and Atrocious could see that he was a man in his fifties; his hair was beginning to grey, and when he sat down, he did so with the tiredness of an old man.
"This responsibility is a great one," he finally said. He sighed. "A weapon that can allegedly destroy entire universes... To think of a weapon that could destroy a kingdom is harrowing enough. A weapon that could destroy the entirety of Irdiya, perhaps even the Beyond... I find this hard to believe. Yet if this is the case, we must find it... And, if it is possible, destroy it. Things of such power should not exist."

"Jack, you have not seen me as a leader yet. Nor have you seen Urza for that matter. It's not smart to rely on gut feelings."

As Urza turned to reply to Sec, he did so via shifting his physical form so that he simply vanished for a fraction of a second and reappeared facing the other way. It was a sign that he was too distracted to maintain the human aspects of his being.

"And when I did take command in this trial basis, my commands were not obeyed, even though everyone has previously agreed to do so. I put forth that I could not then demonstrate any leadership abilities at all. That is why the election fell apart. As for your so-called qualifications, I have yet to see them, so it seems our situations are similar in that regard."

The planeswalker shifted to face Jack, and it was a measure of the artificer's control over his temper that he didn't attempt to incinerate the man on the spot.

"Since you are entirely ignorant about what you speak of, I will overlook that comment," he said. "However, since you appear willing to base you decisions on a single moment of conversation, I hardly think your idea and your vote counts for a great deal."

He nodded to Sec offhandedly.

"It is as you say."

Then, returning his attention to Jack, he continued,

"If you wish to start the whole election and review of qualifications process over again, I would be glad to reiterate my capabilities."

"Urza, you may be allowing your ego and pride to get the better of you here."

"Pride is unfounded and misplaced confidence in yourself. My confidence has basis in fact."

"Urza, you're being narcissistic."
Putting down the phone he had been tinkering with, Sec paused to give Jack, Horrible and Sam a phone each.
"We have a communication network. These will let keep in touch, in case of separation."

"Narcissism is excessive love of the self. And I can assure you, I have no cause to indulge in that manner of foolishness. I have made my share of mistakes. More than my share, perhaps."

"Thanks," Jack said to Sec, retrieving the phone. He then turned to Urza. "What sort of mistakes?" Jack asked.

Sky went to check the bracer to see if it was working, especially if Urza told him that he should use it to supplement his combat abilities and equipment.

"A complete list would take quite a while. I am older than I look." And most of it doesn't bear discussion. I've already been paying for my mistakes for thousands of years. I don't need this ignorant fool using them against me as well.

Sam stared curiously at the phone. "Anything special about this Sec? Or is it just a communicator? I wouldn't want to blow myself up again."

"At least your honest," Jack said to Urza.

"It is a phone. It has a game called "Snake" on it."
Sec turned to Urza.
"We have all made mistakes, all done things we are not proud of. My entire existence up until a few hours before arriving here falls under that category."

edited 26th Mar '12 3:45:32 AM by GeekCodeRed

"Well yeah, I have heard of phones. I was just wondering if it was modified." Sam looked at the small device in his armoured palm. "Uh, I don't think I'll be able to press these buttons properly, though."

"Communications network takes priority. Just speak into it. And apart from being able to call anyone, anywhere, anywhen as long as you have the number, it is a normal phone."

"Cool, alright then. Lemme just put it somewhere safe." Sam stored it in one of the numerous storage containers on his armour. "So, now what do we do? Something involving fighting I hope."