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| Author |
Topic |
Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
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Posted - 2008.07.23 22:49:00 -
[1]
ôMiss Hakatain?ö
One glance was all Arianna needed to identify the man who was addressing her as a Provist. Average height and weight, but athletic and with well-groomed Deteis good looks, comfortably wearing a well-fitting dark grey half-trench over what looked like quite an expensive suit, he could have been mistaken for any reasonably successful executive. Arianna's eyes were drawn to the gleaming silver of the Providence Directorate badge on his lapel, however, and to the two rather uglier men who, while not being so obtrusive as to actually stand immediately behind him, were nevertheless very obviously there to escort and protect him.
She'd been told to expect this.
ôYes?ö she asked. Years of stage experience came to her aid, and neither her voice nor her face betrayed her apprehension.
ôCome with me, please.ö the man said, his own face equally unreadable. She obeyed û no sense in resisting needlessly, and it would just make life more difficult. The Provist led her to a dark-windowed ground car nearby. People were unobtrusively avoiding it, flowing past it with an air of such affected disinterest that they weren't even not looking at the car û they were willing it and its owners into the scenery.
She was very glad nobody she knew was here to see.
Inside the car was her sister, Niha. Her own face was in artistically-rehearsed lockdown as well, but Arianna didn't need to see her expression to fully understand the medley of relief and dismay that her twin was feeling upon seeing her û she felt it as well.
Opposite her was a young woman, about their age, also wearing the half-trench and suit that was almost a uniform for the Provists. Arianna's own escort settled into place beside his colleague, and the two bodyguards vanished into the front of the vehicle, no longer visible behind the dark glass. They pulled away from the theatre and were soon hissing comfortably and without purpose through the station's traffic system.
The female Provist had a dossier open.
ôI expect you're wondering why we've asked you to join us?ö she asked at length.
ôNot reallyö the twins responded at once, together. With the uncanny ability of twins to understand each other without communication, they assumed their roles in the conversation, determined to use that sibling empathy to derail and intimidate the Provists as far as possible. Niha was the one who spoke first.
ôWe're here because of our brother.ö she said. Neither Provist betrayed anything.
ôQuite right.ö the male said. ôThis is just a routine background check - nothing serious.ö he added.
ôWe have a few questions to ask.ö asserted the woman.
The twins glanced at each other. ôIn other words, you aren't happy about him and want to send a messageö they thought ôon the other hand, you aren't brave enough to actually hurt us.ö Still. Best not to be stupid.
ôSo ask.ö Arianna said. The female Provist's lips thinned. Clearly, she was used to commanding a little more fear than the two actresses were willing to show. She unclipped a thin holo-emitter drone from the front cover of the dossier and hung it in mid-air, where it wobbled uncertainly for a second as it matched the car's velocity, before playing its recorded display. The six-inch image of a scowling, cross-armed Civire man in early middle age shimmered into life above the drone, rotating slightly. He was engaged in animated discussion with some figure outside the holo-cam's capture field. Neither of the young ladies could resist cracking a grin - they were very familiar with the show of belligerence their elder brother liked to put on for the sake of any watchers.
(cont...)
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
|
Posted - 2008.07.23 22:50:00 -
[2]
ôYakil Verin Guuriolo Tarn-Hakatainö the male Provist announced ôFormerly a trauma surgeon with Ishukone Watch and, later, deputy leader of a surgical research team. Retired in year 105 standard to enter Capsuleer training, paid for by his Ishukone pension, and graduated with honours from the School of Applied Knowledge in year 107 standard.ö he flipped a pen-sized recording device from his pocket and held it loosely in his hand as he crossed his arms.
ôFor the record, Ms. Hakatains, do you confirm that I have just correctly identified the individual in this recording?ö The sisters agreed. ôAnd you confirm that you are related to Pilot Hakatain? Specifically, that you are his siblings?ö Again, the sisters affirmed that this was so.
The woman Provist clicked her own pen device, and the recording shifted focus, to display the sisters at work, both in the theatre they performed at, and at the children's creche that constituted their ôrealö jobs.
ôAnd you confirm that you are Arianna Kinima and Niha Kinima Hakatain, twin sisters, born April 23rd year 87 standard, currently employed by Ishukone Human Resources, Childcare department and also part-time by the Aishim Theatre co.?ö
More assent. Finally, the questions began in earnest.
ôCan you recall your brother ever expressing unpatriotic sentiments?ö
ôCan you name any of your brother's business associates?ö
ôDo you know the details of your brother's travel arrangements during the last twelve months?ö
ôAre you aware that your brother has been a member of multiple corporations founded and administrated by ship captains of Gallente birth?ö
ôAre you aware that Pilot Hakatain received academic sponsorship from an Intaki ship captain?ö
The questions were flung with rapidity and force that would have left a single subject reeling, but the sisters had planned for this. They depended on each other, starting and finishing each other's sentences, each allowing the other to take time to rest her thoughts ready for the next question. The interrogation soon became a competition of co-operation and stamina and that was a battle the twinned schoolteachers were never going to lose. Although they took care never to lie, and never to conceal the truth, it soon became obvious that their questioners were not receiving the answers they wanted, nor were they forcing the sisters to make the little errors that would have damned a lesser detainee.
(cont...)
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
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Posted - 2008.07.23 22:51:00 -
[3]
Then the vehicle stopped moving, causing the Provists both to trail off mid-query. They were on a side road, apparently blocked by a pair of light personnel carriers. A squad of corporate security stood at ease around the vehicle, waving most of the traffic past. For some reason, they had flagged the Directorate vehicle to the side of the road. An Achur man in a perfectly tailored suit strode up and, after a few seconds in conversation with the driver, rapped on the rear window. He bowed apologetically as the window was rolled down, though there was nothing apologetic in his expression. For an instant, the Provists seemed uncertain how to proceed and the man pounced on the opening.
ôHideo Karimura.ö he said, presenting a badge. ôI represent the estate of the Tarn and Hakatain families. May I come in?ö
The Provists, entirely derailed by this deviation from their carefully-rehearsed routine, glanced dumbly at each other. The man finally broke the silence.
ôFor... what purpose?ö he asked, then seemingly recovered himself and adopted a more hostile demeanour. ôI want a damned explanation for this!ö
Karimura smiled the tight-lipped smile shared by triumphant lawyers since the dawn of the profession and pulled his own slim dossier from an internal jacket pocket.
ôCEP directive 1397-2 paragraph Bö he recited smoothly, before the dossier was even open ôentitles these ladies to legal representation in any and all circumstances where they are being questioned without formal charge, following a grace period of twenty minutes limited to verbal interrogation. Following that interval, then by State and Corporate law they cannot be legally questioned further until they have been granted representation by an attorney selected by an executor of the family estate.
ôAnd if they are being questioned WITH formal charge?ö the female provist snapped, irritated.
ôThen they cannot legally be questioned at all until they have been granted representation by an attorney selected either by themselves or an executor of the family estate.ö the lawyer explained, clearly enjoying himself. ôIncidentally Miss Huuren...ö - the Provist's eyes widened at the use of her name - ôit is also unlawful, per the terms of CEP directive 1412-1 Paragraph D, to employ the threat of arrest as a means of deterring my clients from requesting their entitled representation.ö he turned to the sisters ôIncidentally, I suggest you decline my offer of representation. They can't legally keep you in this car if you don't have a lawyer.ö
ôBut you just advised them!ö the male Provist objected, clearly out of his depth and grateful for something to latch on to.
ôNot formallyö Arianna said ôHe can't advise us if he isn't our lawyer.ö she flashed Karimura a bright smile. ôThank you very much for your offer of representation, Mister Karimura, but I'm afraid we must decline.ö
The lawyer nodded, smiling contendedly. ôIncidentally, Mister Laitevarrö - the male Provist twitched, clearly uncomfortable without his anonymity -ô the twenty minute period in which you can question these ladies without their attorney being present expired two minutes ago. Do you plan on pressing charges?ö
(cont...)
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Stitcher
Caldari
Duty.
|
Posted - 2008.07.23 22:51:00 -
[4]
Less than a minute later, the Provist car had swept away, bearing its disgruntled occupants off to their next assignment. The Hakatain sisters were left standing on the kerb. Both of them were significantly taller than the lawyer, who nevertheless radiated such a powerful sense of satisfaction that he carried himself like a man twice his actual height.
ôYou've probably guessed that I work for your brother.ö he said, as they returned to the vehicle. ôInicidentally, I have to say that I'm pleased and surprised you agreed to be surveilled by my business associates.ö
The sisters nodded ôWe trust himö Arianna told him. ôA lot.ö Niha added. ôBesides, we really didn't notice.ö ôYour associates are very discreetö Arianna agreed.
ôThe very best in their field.ö Karimura said. ôand funded very well. Your brother is paying us a lot to protect you. Incidentally, this is the first time I've worked for a capsuleer.ö he smiled. ôI expect I shall enjoy it.ö
ôDo you think we'll have any trouble with them again?ö Niha asked.
ôI doubt it. They've squandered the only free interrogation time they had available. Usually, the car trick allows them to extract more question time from their subjects than is strictly legal, hence our intervention. From now on, they'd have to arrest you û which they can't legally do without due cause. Due cause which, I can assure you, will never materialise so long as you keep your heads down.ö
ôThat can't be Verin's advice!ö Niha exploded. Karimura allowed a small, rueful nod.
ôYour brother advised me to advise you to do, quote: 'Whatever the hell you like, seeing as all the spirits of Space and Time wouldn't be able to stop you anyway.' He also asked me to deliver these.ö he pulled an envelope from his folder and handed it to them. ôVIP tickets for Donalokos versus Charn, August first, the Raatani arena in Perimeter, plus first-class InterBus tickets to get you there and back again.
Karimura paused as he made to enter his vehicle.
ôOff the record, ma'ams, I don't believe this will be the end. From what I gather Pilot Hakatain has made himself somewhat unpopular in high places, and I doubt that something as menial as the intervention of a top-flight legal team such as ours will truly stall the Directorate if they decide they really want to strike back at him. Your parents, I can assure you, will be secure indefinitely, as will your younger brother, but your own status will more vulnerable. Good day to you.ö he closed the door.
ôWhy are we more vulnerable?ö Arianna asked, before he could leave.
ôFor the time being, you are not.ö Karimura said, cryptically. ôThat may be subject to change, however. Enjoy the game, ladies. My associates will drive you home.ö
***
In the car on the way home, Niha opened the envelope. It contained the promised tickets, and a handwritten note in a careful, square hand.
ôI'll see you at the game. Hope you still enjoy getting into trouble. Love you both.
-Verin.ö
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Lt. Verin "Stitcher" Tarn-Hakatain. |
Zekarus
Caldari
MAIDS
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Posted - 2008.07.24 13:43:00 -
[5]
Ooh, ooh, so what could have the almost-legendary Stitcher gotten into with the State he so loves?
XD
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MAIDS. Now with black, frilly uniforms. |
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