Optimus and the Pentagon have it all planned out. I take on the identity of a captured M.E.C.H. agent - he's a deep-cover operative, and they don't know he's been sprung. I'll study his profile and mannerisms until I get it perfect, then I'll infiltrate the rest of them. I'll communicate with the Autobots and relay anything I learn to them. Movements, tech capabilities, evil, government-toppling schemes, the works.
There's safeguards to get me out of there if it all goes wrong, but... extraction is always a gamble.
But this is something I can do to help that nobody else can. All they need me to do is say yes.
What if there’s no better word than just not saying anything?...
-Stands up and stretches, removing his jacket (which he's since cleaned Gracia's vomit off of)-
Well, you should probably do it. After all, you've got insight into the workings of terrorist fringe groups, two years of military training under your belt, experience in infiltration missions, detailed knowledge in the operation of various firearms, and the willingness to hide a body if need be.
I'll make sure to tell Tifa all about it. I haven't been home for a while, and I should probably stop by and make sure she's okay.
edited 5th Jun '16 12:04:24 AM by WonderSquid
(looks away from Julie and down at the floor when she sits by her)
It... there was a Dead Apostle. A- a vampire. One who killed our guardian and took her place. We didn't know, and I called her on the phone and told her I loved her and she sounded just like her and...
...I wasn't there. I was enjoying myself in Berlin. But Shirou was there. And - and when he found out he didn't take it well, and he - he really wanted to just... just...
Cloud, what do y—
No. No, you can't be the one to do this.
What if there’s no better word than just not saying anything?Give me a single reason why I shouldn't.
Hell, maybe more than two years. How many times do you think I wound up re-joining the military when I ripped through all those timelines? -Tosses him his jacket and peels off his gloves as well- Does the government know they're tossing a greenhorn in the middle of a warzone, or do they just not care?
edited 5th Jun '16 12:19:04 AM by WonderSquid
It's— on official documents I'm a piece of alien machinery, so...
It doesn't matter, anyway. For once, I have a way I can help. For once, I can do something to pull my weight and prove to them I have a stake in this.
I can do this.
What if there’s no better word than just not saying anything?If it's what you really want to do, I won't stop you. But we both know you don't want to kill anyone. Not everyone's cut out for that. And besides, you'll tell yourself it's just this one job, and then they send you on the next one, and the next one, and eventually you lose count of the amount of lives you've taken and you're just another attack dog at their disposal. You shoot the people they tell you to shoot, burn the houses they tell you to burn... you won't question it. It's all politics, right? I'm a good soldier and I always stick to the mission. They have reasons I wouldn't understand. I'm doing good work, helping out my squad. Just following orders.
You don't think I rationalised it all away when I was fourteen and just as stupid as you are?
Besides, maybe you can help me out too.
edited 5th Jun '16 12:34:21 AM by WonderSquid

...
(releases Julie from her end of the hug, her breathing still uneven)