Namia and Miranda

[doctorzero]

The technician pressed a button, activating a screen dominating one wall (doing his best to resist saying 'main screen turn on', knowing that he would most likely get punched for doing so).

The screen's image fizzled out for a moment, then cleared, revealing a familiar visage.

To be honest, Miranda suspected that this was going to happen.

The yellow-eyed man was sitting at a desk, with an older woman standing beside him. His hands were folded in front of him.

"Good morning to you, members of Crystal Room Limited," the man said cheerfully. "I am Overlord Ralsis, and I am assuming direct control."

Oh, what fresh hell is this, Evan thought despairingly.

Miranda eyed Ralsis critically. For some reason, the woman seemed rather familiar...

Wait.

Oh, God dammit.

[ryocker]

The woman chuckled- if you'd seen them together, you would think they were relatives at first sight... Until the bangs on her face wiggled, there being only three. Namia gritted her teeth in anger. "She... She did it. Now she's even stronger than me..." That proved it- the hourglass woman standing next to Ralsis was none other than Aiman- and she was wearing a rather fitting outfit to boot. Fitting enough to raise a few eyebrows.

"It's nice to get to see you again, Namia dearest," she gloated, staring at the small girl from the other side of the screen. "And it seems you've allied yourself with the CRL to boot- I guess this means I'll get to wipe out two big thorns in my side, and dye their nasty red hair from existence."

"Quit acting so high and mighty, you silicon doll!" Namia hissed.

"Now Namia, how could you insult your own Double Ds like that? Aren't you the one who enjoys being a beauty queen?" When Namia's face lit up bright red, Aiman laughed. "No insults, brat- you and I are mirrors of eachother!"

"There's no way those things are actually real..." mumbled one of the workers. "But if what she's saying is true, then..." Before he could continue any further, he shut up at Namia's glare. The tot in question crossed her arms and stared back at the screen, waiting for the real conversation to start.

[doctorzero]

Already Miranda hated Aiman's guts. She was confused as to how she managed to grow into an adult, but that could wait until later.

She spared a glance at Evan. Neither of them recognized the name, but she could see that one of the technicians was already typing the name into one of the terminals. Hopefully someone at the archives would find some information.

Evan spoke first. "If you ladies are doing with your verbal catfight, then I suggest we get to the demands," he said bluntly.

Ralsis smirked. "Quick on the uptake, there."

"You're not the first person to try this, pal," Evan said bluntly. "You want us to give you something in exchange for Princess, all the while acting like a Bond villain. All you need is a cat on your lap. Now cut the garbage. Who are you?"

"I just told you my name, but I know that's not what you're asking for. I don't exist in your database, do I? I'm a complete enigma to you people. You don't know where I am, or where I've come from, or how I have my information, or what my motivations are. And you no doubt believe that I am a complete idiot for trying to blackmail an organization like yours."

"He's got one thing right," one of the technicians muttered.

"I heard that. Anyway, yes, this is blackmail. You have something I want. Several somethings, in fact. But I know that having Princess isn't nearly enough."

He snapped his fingers, and the monitor behind him turned on to show a large room filled with scientists. "I am currently onboard the Orbital Lab above this island, with all of the members of the Unity sealed in one of the rooms with no way in or out. I am willing to exchange these hostages for what I want."

"You took an entire LAB hostage?" Miranda asked in disbelief.

"You don't sound all that surprised. Then again, you are Crystal Room Limited." He shrugged. "Oh, and I don't recommend sending anyone up here." He held up a remote. "One press of a button and the charges I set up will detonate, killing everyone onboard and sending the lab crashing into the island, killing everyone on it, as my assistant and I teleport to another dimension."

One of the technicians cursed as she put down a phone, ready to call in a crack team.

"But that's not all I have, of course," said Ralsis. He stood up and pushed his chair aside, revealing Dark Pit chained at underneath the monitor.

Miranda's heart nearly stopped.

"I'm sure you remember Pit from the Subspace incident," said Ralsis.

[ryocker]

Aiman's grin became unbearable. "My employer is just as torturous as I am," she beamed, giggling. "Poor little Pitty, he just couldn't handle Ralsis's power~ he should be lucky that he's still alive."

Namia tensed up. "So we're dealing with a hostage situation... and neither of you are brave enough to try something else?!"

"Bravery has naught to do with it, leaf eyes," she retorted. "Good strategy is the best form of fighting, after all. That's why I suggested getting my body in the right position for taking you on- magic power and ability grow with the user, after all." Namia visibly tensed up.

"...Looks like I predicted you'd do this then," Namia glared. She eyed Miranda and Evan. "Didn't her power give you trouble before? If it did, you won't be as much of a match- She has a devastating trump card up her sleeve now..." As tense as she was, she couldn't help but recognize pit's appearance...

And twitched at it.

[doctorzero]

Miranda was just about to answer when Ralsis interrupted. "Now that you understand what is at stake here, I would like to speak with your employer, Raleigh, to make a deal."

"Kavma currently is not on the island," said Evan. "And even so, he wouldn't want to come back here just to talk to you."

"Don't ask," Miranda muttered to Namia.

"I will only speak with Kavma on this," Ralsis insisted.

"What's wrong with me?" Evan demanded.

Ralsis leaned forward. "Well, it may have to do with the fact that the mere sight of you makes me sick to my stomach."

Miranda was surprised by the amount of venom in Ralsis's tone.
"I will give you ten minutes to summon Kavma. Make it quick."

The transmission ended.

Evan wasted no time. "Get Kavma on the phone."

[ryocker]

"Ta ta," Aiman waved as the transmission shut down.

Namia stood there, still glaring. "I get the feeling they think they have an edge over you... they might..." she huffed, almost sounding amused. "It would help if they had the ACTUAL Pit rather than someone else, however..." This most likely got everyone's attention.

When she saw the looks, she smiled. "What? His hair was too black and his wings were all wrong. Of course it wasn't him."

[doctorzero]

"I presume you've met or seen Pit, then," said Miranda. "That doesn't change the fact that this Ralsis has the wrong angel."

"Yes, but he doesn't know that," Evan pointed out.

They were interrupted by the technician saying, "Sir, we've contacted Lord Raleigh. He'd like to speak with you."

Evan gave Miranda a 'one second' look, then went over to pick up the phone.

"What do you think of this?" she asked Namia.

[ryocker]

"I think this makes things more favorable," she hummed. "If Ralsis and Aiman don't realize they have the wrong 'pit,'" she said, making the air quotes. "then it means we can be less cautious in our approach- and be able to counter their traps with more precision. In short..." Namia closed her eyes, her fingers glowing. She than begam to draw something with the light.

"Though he's still a hostage, he's not the right hostage," she reminded, doodling a picture of a black colored angel. "Since this means he's most likely not as important, we can be far more devious in our approach." As she said this, brown objects with yellow eyes, and a pair of red objects were drawn. The brown ones had thought bubbles, with a lock inside. The red objects, on the other hand, held unlocked locks in a speech bubble, the former meaning they think they had them beat, with the latter meaning they know otherwise. "Since we're not as limited as they think, we need to keep this information private, so they don't change their strategy."

Just as she finished drawing a dotted line between the two bubbles, she turned around, her fingers no longer glowing. "Any questions?" she hummed.

[doctorzero]

Miranda was impressed. "Good to see you're smarter than you look," she observed. "But the fact that he isn't the Pit we're familiar with does not mean he's any less important. Even so, you're right--we should try to avoid advertising that fact. I don't want to know how Ralsis would react."

---

"...I see."

"Kavma, I'm sure you can see what's at stake here," Evan said in exasperation. "Can't you just break your rule and come over here?"

There was no response on the other end. "Kavma--"

"I will speak with this Ralsis, then. But I will not go anywhere near that island. I'm sorry, Evan."

Evan was about to argue, then he sighed. "Okay, fine. Have it your way. I'll have one of the guys set up a link so you can get it in your office."

Already one of the technicians started typing away at her terminal at his words.

"I have to admit, though," said Kavma, "This Ralsis has guts trying to blackmail us."

"You're telling me," grunted Evan.

[ryocker]

Namia smiled at her. "I'm over 300 years old- what's the point of starting life over if you're not smart?" When it came to the point she mentioned the game plan, she nodded.

"Any strength can easily become a weakness if handled incorrectly," she sighed.

[doctorzero]

Evan put down the phone. "All right...let's continue with this thing."

---

The screen reactivated, showing Ralsis still sitting in his chair. This time, however, Aiman wasn't present.

While they couldn't see what was going on on Kavma's end, they knew that he was also viewing them from the connection in his office.

"You're much younger than I thought you would be," said his voice.

Ralsis nodded. "Kavma Raleigh, I presume."

"Yes. And you are...?"

Ralsis stood up from his chair and took a bow. "Ralsis, Overlord of St. Angelo and son of Queen Staccato."

If Evan had been holding anything at that moment, it would've been obliterated in his hand. The entire room fell silent. Miranda's heart nearly stopped.

They couldn't see how Kavma reacted, but it was a full minute before he spoke. "Are you referring to the woman who used to hold the position of Superior?"

Ralsis nodded.

"I don't believe she ever had any children."

"She did her best to keep my existence a secret from you," said Ralsis smugly. "No small feat, but she was a powerful woman."

"Along with a traitor and psychopath!" Evan interrupted. His shock had given away to outrage and panic. A hand on his shoulder caused him to turn to see Miranda, who was shaking her head. He deflated.

"Says the one who brutally murdered her," countered Ralsis. "Oh, I'm well aware of what you did. My mother was the greatest woman who ever lived--all she wanted was to bring order to a universe filled with anarchy and chaos--and you slaughtered her like cattle. What, did you think you wouldn't pay for it? Any of you? Raleigh, she could have made you a--"

"Say what you are about to say and I will detonate you like a bomb," Kavma interrupted. His voice was still calm, but Miranda could tell that he was upset.

[ryocker]

Namia was most likely the only one who had no clue what was going on. "...I take it this is serious business, then..." she asked. "Wait- Where did Aiman dissapear to?"

[doctorzero]

As if on cue, there was a loud shriek. "Ah, and that would be our guest," said Ralsis.

Princess was dragged into view looking rather disheveled. Aiman was restraining her, her dress covered in blood.

Kavma did not seem perturbed. "...hello, Princess."

Princess just stared at the monitor on their end for a minute. "...I don't remember you looking that sexy."

Cue massive sweatdrops. Did Princess actually hit on him? was the thought going on in everyone's heads.

[ryocker]

Namia just smiled. "I knew it wouldn't be long before your clothing was blood stattered," she said, amused by Aiman's little hobby. "Did Jack really give you that much trouble?"

"As if," she answered back. "If she didn't have a penchant for disbehaving I wouldn't have gotten to have any fun with h-" Then it hit her. "So you DO recognize her as jack. I was wondering that on the way up here..."

[doctorzero]

Kavma ignored Namia and Aiman's exchange. "So you indeed have Princess. I'm surprised that you are aware of her identity as Jack--no one from that period is alive today, seeing how long ago it was."

"History lessons aside," interrupted Ralsis, "Would you like to hear my demands?"

There was a brief moment of silence. "Very well. I'd at least like to hear what you want before thinking of what to do next."

Ralsis smiled. "Smart choice, Raleigh. I require three things from this exchange. For each item I will exchange one hostage--Princess, Pit, and the Unity scientists. The first thing I want..."

He gave a brief glance in Aiman's direction. "In exchange for Princess, I desire the custody of Namia Frederick."

That surprised everyone. "And may I ask why?" Miranda asked coolly, stepping in front of Namia as if to protect her from Ralsis. "Let me guess--your floozy asked for her."