ext_18266 (![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png)
courtesanwrtngs.livejournal.com) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
31_days2005-12-07 11:13 pm
courtesanwrtngs.livejournal.com) wrote in 31_days2005-12-07 11:13 pm
[Dec. 7] [Appleseed-2004 movie] "You're the swingingest thing." Hangman's Dance
Title:Hangman’s Dance
Day/Theme: Dec. 7, "You're the Swingingest Thing"
Series: Appleseed (2004 movie-canon only)
Characters: Briareos, Athena (no pairing)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,129
Hangman's Dance
by Cerise Tennyo
The Prime Minister of Olympus had vivid green eyes, the same as hers. It shouldn’t have surprised him so much; all Bioroids carried at least a segment of Colonel Knute’s DNA. Just enough that he could see ghosts and echoes of her in every Bioroid.
Athena watched him over steepled fingers. He seldom saw a Bioroid who let Time put its stamp on his or her features so strongly. Doesn’t that make her more vulnerable, more reliant on life-extension? he wondered. If it did, she deemed it a worthwhile trade. Athena numbered among the first generation of Bioroids, and her survival was mute testimony to her skill at navigating the treacherous currents of Human thought. and expectation.
After a moment, she lowered her hands. “You’re certain you can find her.”
Briareos nodded, one of the few forms of Human body language he still had. “I’ve been tracking reports of the Second Platoon for some time now, Prime Minister.”
Months spent combing over traces, last-knowns, and every idle rumor. He’d lost more than pieces of his body on that battlefield. In the year of reconstruction, he’d lost track of her, of everything, including himself. Most of what he’d lost he could never get back. He accepted that, knew it for part and parcel of the soldier’s life. But Deunan... Deunan and her dreams of a future he’d lost sight of... he wasn’t ready to accept that loss. Would never accept it.
“With E.S.W.A.T.’s resources,” he continued, “I’m positive she can be secured.” I’ll never stop looking.
“The reports I’ve received,” Athena said, pausing just long enough to give emphasis, “lists Deunan Knute as K.I.A., during the war. While you were on the East African front, I believe.”
He didn’t need any reminders. His reconstructed body insured he would never, ever forget. “I do not believe that casualty report to be accurate, Prime Minister.”
By Gaia’s decree, Bioroid emotions were suppressed. Cyborgs lacked that mercy. He could feel everything, every nuance of despair and loss, every flicker of dying hope--but express even less than the most socially maladroit Bioroid. A new circle in Hell, one that hadn’t existed before the Global War.
And once in Hell, a devil’s bargain made for common currency. He had no face to betray his feelings, no eyes to flicker and give him away. He stood strong, at parade rest, a soldier putting forth a proposition, with no indication of the layers of politics behind it.
Athena arched a brow. “Oh?”
“Deunan took her training from Colonel Knute himself. Even before the War began, he taught her how to be the premier soldier, the ultimate survivor. Perhaps the Second Platoon is gone--but Deunan survived.”
The Prime Minister’s stony gaze never wavered. “Even if she is still alive and could be found, adding such an infamous figure to the ranks of E.S.W.A.T. could aggravate existing tensions between E.S.W.A.T. and the Olympus Regular Army.”
“I’m aware of that, ma’am. I’m confident the city’s leaders can reach a satisfactory conclusion. General Uranus knew Carl Knute as a friend. Knowing his daughter was safely recovered may even help ease tensions. And she has topped the recruitment list for some time. It can hardly come as a surprise to him.”
“Careful, Briareos,” she said. “He may be outside your direct chain of command, but he is still a superior officer.”
“Yes, ma’am, I stand corrected.” As if Athena gave a damn. “On the other hand, as Carl’s daughter, she has a connection on a genetic level to almost every Bioroid in Olympus. Such a powerful symbol may be what’s needed to insure peaceful coexistence.”
The Prime Minister tapped two fingers on her desk. “And how do you propose we find her, Briareos? As you’ve said, she’s been on the list for months, and we still haven’t been able to find her.”
Were he still a flesh-and-blood man, he’d need a deep breath to brace himself. Now, his cyborg systems just made the necessary adjustments to his body chemistry. The psychological need still pulled at him.
“Widen the search net. There are dozens of mercenary units, soldiers gone rogue. They know Badside in a way E.S.W.A.T. can’t match. Recruit them.”
The Prime Minister braced her hands against her desk. The moment she pushed back and stood up, the meeting was over, Briareos knew.
“I’m aware of the implications of my suggestion, Madam Prime Minister,” he said, going into his most formal mode. “We just need help flushing her out. Once we have her location, E.S.W.A.T. can handle the rest.”
“That can get out of control very quickly, Briareos. My duty is to safeguard humanity.”
“And the more proven warriors we have inside Olympus, the easier it will be to discharge that duty,” he argued. “Prime Minister, communications to the outside are down, possibly permanently. We can’t tell them the war is over. It’s only a matter of time before the survivors outside begin to gather around self-appointed warlords and become a legitimate threat. She’s too valuable to lose--to misinformation, or to them.”
Those eyes never looked away from him, and he had the unnerving sense that, cyborg shell or no, this Bioroid could see right through him. Those eyes, flinty-hard in a way hers should never be, might see straight down to the shriveled scrap he called a soul.
“This may involve the extreme sanction of human lives, Briareos. No Bioroid can give that order.”
“A cyborg can.”
Her chin lifted the slightest fraction, acknowledgment of the hit. “Your argument is... persuasive. A soldier of Deunan Knute’s caliber is better secured for Olympus. I’m going to raise the priority level for recovering Colonel Knute’s daughter. In order to prevent this information from falling into enemy hands, I am ordering you to conduct this mission personally, under strict secrecy. Your squad may know the target, but not the methods.”
Briareos snapped out a sharp salute. “At your order, Prime Minister.”
They held each other’s gazes for a long, long moment before Athena returned his salute, releasing him.
“For the good of Olympus. Step carefully, Briareos. Gaia sees more than you can imagine.”
He turned smartly, striding out of the Prime Minister’s office. He had the opening to secure the first piece in this mad dance, this chaotic web of alliances and counter-alliances. First the Prime Minister, then the General, then... Perhaps this all was the will of Gaia. Or perhaps he was just a man at the end of his rope, not caring what the knots were that held his grip, so long as they held.
So long as he got Deunan back.
-end-
Day/Theme: Dec. 7, "You're the Swingingest Thing"
Series: Appleseed (2004 movie-canon only)
Characters: Briareos, Athena (no pairing)
Rating: PG
Word Count: 1,129
Hangman's Dance
by Cerise Tennyo
The Prime Minister of Olympus had vivid green eyes, the same as hers. It shouldn’t have surprised him so much; all Bioroids carried at least a segment of Colonel Knute’s DNA. Just enough that he could see ghosts and echoes of her in every Bioroid.
Athena watched him over steepled fingers. He seldom saw a Bioroid who let Time put its stamp on his or her features so strongly. Doesn’t that make her more vulnerable, more reliant on life-extension? he wondered. If it did, she deemed it a worthwhile trade. Athena numbered among the first generation of Bioroids, and her survival was mute testimony to her skill at navigating the treacherous currents of Human thought. and expectation.
After a moment, she lowered her hands. “You’re certain you can find her.”
Briareos nodded, one of the few forms of Human body language he still had. “I’ve been tracking reports of the Second Platoon for some time now, Prime Minister.”
Months spent combing over traces, last-knowns, and every idle rumor. He’d lost more than pieces of his body on that battlefield. In the year of reconstruction, he’d lost track of her, of everything, including himself. Most of what he’d lost he could never get back. He accepted that, knew it for part and parcel of the soldier’s life. But Deunan... Deunan and her dreams of a future he’d lost sight of... he wasn’t ready to accept that loss. Would never accept it.
“With E.S.W.A.T.’s resources,” he continued, “I’m positive she can be secured.” I’ll never stop looking.
“The reports I’ve received,” Athena said, pausing just long enough to give emphasis, “lists Deunan Knute as K.I.A., during the war. While you were on the East African front, I believe.”
He didn’t need any reminders. His reconstructed body insured he would never, ever forget. “I do not believe that casualty report to be accurate, Prime Minister.”
By Gaia’s decree, Bioroid emotions were suppressed. Cyborgs lacked that mercy. He could feel everything, every nuance of despair and loss, every flicker of dying hope--but express even less than the most socially maladroit Bioroid. A new circle in Hell, one that hadn’t existed before the Global War.
And once in Hell, a devil’s bargain made for common currency. He had no face to betray his feelings, no eyes to flicker and give him away. He stood strong, at parade rest, a soldier putting forth a proposition, with no indication of the layers of politics behind it.
Athena arched a brow. “Oh?”
“Deunan took her training from Colonel Knute himself. Even before the War began, he taught her how to be the premier soldier, the ultimate survivor. Perhaps the Second Platoon is gone--but Deunan survived.”
The Prime Minister’s stony gaze never wavered. “Even if she is still alive and could be found, adding such an infamous figure to the ranks of E.S.W.A.T. could aggravate existing tensions between E.S.W.A.T. and the Olympus Regular Army.”
“I’m aware of that, ma’am. I’m confident the city’s leaders can reach a satisfactory conclusion. General Uranus knew Carl Knute as a friend. Knowing his daughter was safely recovered may even help ease tensions. And she has topped the recruitment list for some time. It can hardly come as a surprise to him.”
“Careful, Briareos,” she said. “He may be outside your direct chain of command, but he is still a superior officer.”
“Yes, ma’am, I stand corrected.” As if Athena gave a damn. “On the other hand, as Carl’s daughter, she has a connection on a genetic level to almost every Bioroid in Olympus. Such a powerful symbol may be what’s needed to insure peaceful coexistence.”
The Prime Minister tapped two fingers on her desk. “And how do you propose we find her, Briareos? As you’ve said, she’s been on the list for months, and we still haven’t been able to find her.”
Were he still a flesh-and-blood man, he’d need a deep breath to brace himself. Now, his cyborg systems just made the necessary adjustments to his body chemistry. The psychological need still pulled at him.
“Widen the search net. There are dozens of mercenary units, soldiers gone rogue. They know Badside in a way E.S.W.A.T. can’t match. Recruit them.”
The Prime Minister braced her hands against her desk. The moment she pushed back and stood up, the meeting was over, Briareos knew.
“I’m aware of the implications of my suggestion, Madam Prime Minister,” he said, going into his most formal mode. “We just need help flushing her out. Once we have her location, E.S.W.A.T. can handle the rest.”
“That can get out of control very quickly, Briareos. My duty is to safeguard humanity.”
“And the more proven warriors we have inside Olympus, the easier it will be to discharge that duty,” he argued. “Prime Minister, communications to the outside are down, possibly permanently. We can’t tell them the war is over. It’s only a matter of time before the survivors outside begin to gather around self-appointed warlords and become a legitimate threat. She’s too valuable to lose--to misinformation, or to them.”
Those eyes never looked away from him, and he had the unnerving sense that, cyborg shell or no, this Bioroid could see right through him. Those eyes, flinty-hard in a way hers should never be, might see straight down to the shriveled scrap he called a soul.
“This may involve the extreme sanction of human lives, Briareos. No Bioroid can give that order.”
“A cyborg can.”
Her chin lifted the slightest fraction, acknowledgment of the hit. “Your argument is... persuasive. A soldier of Deunan Knute’s caliber is better secured for Olympus. I’m going to raise the priority level for recovering Colonel Knute’s daughter. In order to prevent this information from falling into enemy hands, I am ordering you to conduct this mission personally, under strict secrecy. Your squad may know the target, but not the methods.”
Briareos snapped out a sharp salute. “At your order, Prime Minister.”
They held each other’s gazes for a long, long moment before Athena returned his salute, releasing him.
“For the good of Olympus. Step carefully, Briareos. Gaia sees more than you can imagine.”
He turned smartly, striding out of the Prime Minister’s office. He had the opening to secure the first piece in this mad dance, this chaotic web of alliances and counter-alliances. First the Prime Minister, then the General, then... Perhaps this all was the will of Gaia. Or perhaps he was just a man at the end of his rope, not caring what the knots were that held his grip, so long as they held.
So long as he got Deunan back.
-end-