hadriel | [VIDEO]

[The video opens with Sato's face mostly filling the screen, so it's hard to tell exactly where he is. For anyone who's seen him before, there's one major change; he does not look happy.]

Hello everyone. I'm Sato.

I've been here for many months now, and been watching the sad state of affairs we are living in. Our lives are nothing more than playthings for the so-called gods, revived again and again to serve as their sources of power. Yet even in this troubled situation, man always seems to find a way to oppress man.

I'm speaking, of course, about the City Guard.

These people have put themselves in a position of authority over all of us in this city, keeping the peace... their idea of the peace.

But I ask you, who are they to tell you or I what we should be doing, how we should be feeling, when we are already prisoners to begin with? We have to go with our emotions, speak.. and act... from the heart! [he clenches his hand and places it over his heart, speaking with renewed intensity] If you feel that the windows should go, if these buildings need to burn to the ground, then you should be free to do it! If god damn animals are infesting this city, then you should be free to take them out and throw their corpses in the river! Whatever aggravates you, there is always one of them in the way trying to calm things down and keep you from expressing how you truly feel! We have let these feelings simmer for far too long, let them keep us quiet for the gods to feed from for too long! And I know that I, at least, am not willing to let these jackbooted thugs tell me what I can and cannot do.

No, they will not have their peace. The first step to liberation is to depose these puppets, and show the gods our fury.

That's why I'm calling to all of those in the City Guard to disband their organization, abandon their posts. Of course, [...he shakes his head...] we all know that they won't give up the authority that they've been holding so easily, will they? That's why I am asking all whose hearts beat with mine and earn for true freedom to join me in front of their headquarters at dawn tomorrow... where we will deal with them and put an end to their injustices once and for all.

Let me remind you that extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice, and that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.

[There's a brief pause with him scowling into the camera before he adds:]

And in case the Guard thinks they can stop this resistance by blocking off the Armory [Sato adjusts the phone to angle over his shoulder, showing off a pile of assorted weapons that a medieval warlord would be proud of, largely collected over the last few months from the Armory, everything from crossbows and morning stars to pickaxes and... is that some C4 on the table???] Think again.

[That scowl twists a little at that point into a vicious smirk before the feed cuts off.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

For today, I'd like someone to go around and remove all the healing charms in the boxes that one young lady put up. Just the ones near the Guard's headquarters is fine. We can't have them cheating, after all.

After that... how good is your aim?

Healing charms, huh? I didn't even know those were there.

[He'd wanted to hang back and just watch, but... That's really kind of tempting. He knows it's rationalizing the issue to think that keeping people from healing isn't the same as killing them directly. He acknowledges that and doesn't care too much about it.]

Depends on what I'm trying to hit. What'd that be?

Me.

Just in case things get a little out of hand. I don't expect they will, but it's always good to have someone free to press the reset button in case they do manage to come up with some little tricks of their own.

Of course, I wouldn't compel you to help if you don't feel up to it.

[He thinks a moment.]

All right. So the charms first and then shooting you if you need it. You got a gun you can lend me?

[He'd forgotten that Sato's immortality worked so differently, but he supposes it works for him. He's not so fond of killing people if it's not necessary, but killing a guy who'll just come back anyway--and is okay with it--is totally different.

Besides, there might be a way to make this work for him and the little family he's cobbled together here.]

You know this'll mean that you owe me, right?

[The background moves along with Sato as he heads over to the pile of assorted weapons and pulls out a single rifle, showing it to the camera with a smile.]

I suppose so. After all, we immortals have to stick together.

I'll bring it over at the ruined temple near the river in... oh, a couple hours should do it. There's someone else I already agreed to meet first.

[When the Martillos turned to guns they tended to favor smaller ones, but Firo recalls that Szilard was pretty into the bigger firepower--all the better to disable immortals with. He won't really know until he has the thing in his hands, but he hopes that the inherited muscle memory will take over. He's sure he'll make it work, simply because he has to make it work.]

You're busy. All right, I'll meet you there.

[There's no reason for anyone to show up at the ruined temple on a normal day, and this isn't the first time Sato's used it for a meeting place. He's starting to get some fond memories of it. It'll be a shame when whichever god was in charge of it gets revived.

He's already geared up for battle when he does show up, but that's not much more than the usual machete and pistol combo; a few more sharp weapons, a couple magazines of ammo in the pocket of the vest he's now wearing. But you never kow when you're going to run into a do-gooder early... or a little pet nug that needs its head bashed in.

Rifle in hand, he seems in good spirits when he first spots Firo.]

Oh, there you are!

Hey.

[He waves as he draws closer, smiling in a motion that's more just pulling up the corners of his mouth than actually smiling. He kind of has mixed feelings about this, but he brushes them aside--no use thinking about it now.

He whistles when he takes in all the weaponry--he's used to people who're armed, but he doesn't normally see people who're this bristling with it.]

Wow. I figured you'd be prepared, but this is impressive. That one's for me?

[He reaches for the rifle.]

Of course. I said that we should find you a gun, didn't I? You should keep it, even after this is all over. It might come in handy again sometime.

[If he notices Firo's uncertainty, there's no sign of it, cheerfully upbeat.]

You understand what I'm asking you to do, right? After all, we both have our different little quirks of immortality.

[Just as he'd hoped, the gun does feel more familiar than it should once it's in his hands. It's not the same kind Szilard would've had, but it's close enough that he almost feels comfortable holding it. At least that old geezer's good for something.]

Yeah, but--no offense--I didn't really think you'd actually come through with it. Thanks.

[Guns are something of a hot commodity here. Like anything valuable, Firo wouldn't assume that anyone would give it away for free--though he realizes that this probably isn't all that free in the end.]

I think so. I just shoot you whenever you're too banged up and need to regenerate?

How long do you think this is gonna last, anyway?

That's right. Or unable handle it in general. I don't think anyone has tranquillizer guns here, but you never know what people will come up with.

How long it will last.. ah, well that'll depend on how many surprises they have in store. Hopefully it won't be long.

[He adds, a little more sympathetically. It's clear Firo doesn't like this kind of thing as much as he does. But really, he hopes it goes on for a good long time.]

[Firo runs a hand through his hair.]

I guess we gotta see. I haven't gotten a good read on any of those people, but I've heard from somebody else that some of 'em are the kind you should watch out for. Too sharp for their own good and all.

[He doesn't have the tactical brain to guess at any of their 'surprises', but it sounds likely enough that they'd have some.]

[Sato chuckles.]

Ah, well that's for me to worry about.

I'll send you a message tomorrow morning before I head out. Try to get a good night's sleep.

[Firo smiles a little at that. At least it sounds like Sato has no expectations of Firo's brain being any help, because it definitely won't.]

I'll be waiting for it. See you tomorrow.

[If there's nothing more, he'll turn to go with a final wave.]

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