"Rokubungi!" the guard called, rapping the bars with his nightstick to punctuate his request. "Get up, you've got a visitor."
Gendo Rokubungi looked at the guard, contemplated the ceiling over his cot, then calmly shifted to a sitting position before swinging down from the top bunk to the floor. "I wasn't expecting anyone, who is it?"
"Ask em yourself, I could care less." The guard commented as he opened the cell door.
A few minutes later, Gendo was led into a plain room with a table and a large mirror on the wall.
Sitting at the table was a small nondescript man in a black suit, his hands resting on a black briefcase.
Gendo looked at the mans face, what wasn't hidden by the black framed sunglasses was totally average looking. "Who are you?"
The black clad figure looked at the guard who had led Gendo in. "I would appreciate some confidentiality."
Gendo watched the guard leave the room. His eyes turned back to the stranger. "Once again, Who are you?"
"I am a representative. The one I represent is prepared to offer much for your service. Freedom, Wealth, Power beyond anything you've ever dreamed."
"My dreams might surprise you." Gendo responded in a droll tone. "Besides, I'm awaiting trial, and have no reason to fear the outcome."
The figure smiled slightly, then raised one hand. A foot away from the mirror a shimmering curtain of light appeared. "On the other side, they are looking through the one way mirror and seeing our discussion continue. Likewise through the two hidden cameras. And the hidden microphones are feeding them a fabricated exchange between us. You know that you will be convicted, and that your. . . dalliance with the judges daughter will encourage him to be harsh in you sentencing. I am offering you a way to escape that."
Gendo sat in a chair and leaned forward, knitting his hands together, and looking at the man over his combined fingers. "Perhaps, but escape into what? Assuming I believe you at all."
"My master will require a few months of service. None of your assignments will be risk free, but you will be given freedom to accomplish them in your own manner. And the power to overcome most of the threats you might face." The black clad man took off his sunglasses, folded them and placed them on the table. "And you will not become a fugitive." His left hand reached to his wristwatch, then with a flicker his appearance shifted.
Gendo sat back, his eyes widening. The figure before him was now. . . him. He looked to the hair, his own shade, combed in his style, the lines of the face which matched what he saw in the mirror every morning, even the outfit had changed from a suit to a precise duplicate of his prison outfit.
Gendo's double calmly took off his watch and held it up. "Image inducer. I was designed to perfectly fill your role."
Gendo didn't reply. Forcing himself to push down his shock, he simply rested his elbows on the table, fingers knit together, and looked at his double over his hands. A moment later he calmly asked, "Designed?"
"I'm a robot. Or android to be precise. Built to perfectly imitate you, serving out you trial, conviction, and your entire sentence."
". . . I see. What else can you tell me about what you're trying to recruit me for."
"You will have to fight the Sailor Senshi, and send agents to fight them. And they are real." Opening his briefcase, the robot pulled out a picture. "This is Lord Victor Von Doom. It is his service you are on the verge of entering into."
". . . Anything else?"
"I'm afraid that additional details will have to wait until later." The robot responded, briefly rummaging inside the briefcase. "Now." He turned the case toward Gendo. "It's time to choose. If you want to remain here, there's a small blue pill that will wipe out your memory of the last half hour. If however you wish to accept Lord Doom's generosity, there is a flask of red liquid for you to drink."
"And what will that do?"
"Grant you power beyond your greatest dreams."
Gendo looked into the case a few moments. Then he picked up the flask, pulled off the rubber stopper, and gulped down the contents.
"Excelent." The robot said, sliding his watch and sunglasses to Gendo. "You'll need those. Press the top right and lower left buttons simultaneously after you put it on. Also, look take the earplug in the briefcase, and slip it into your right ear. It's a receiver so Lord Doom can direct you to your meeting place."
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(Posted Sat, 28 Jun 2003 07:42)
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