Old Fashion Policing: Roun, Hyaku, Zadavia and Ayane talk to Alexander Drago (03-02-2403)

The team of four channelers would arrive punctually at the main branch of Drago Enterprises where they would eventually be allowed to meet with the company’s CEO, the infamous Alexander Drago.  As the four proceeded into the room, Alexander made his way towards Hyaku, greeting the channeler with whom he was obviously familiar with a firm hand-shake before turning his attention to the other channelers in the room and awaiting an introduction.  Hyaku noted this, scoffing lightly before he turned to oblige him.

“Drago...”  Hyaku started with a hint of frustration in his voice.  “This is Special Officer Roun Itami of the Rogue Special Forces and his associates Zadavia Moreno and Ayane...”  Hyaku paused before Ayane finished for him.

“Ayane Myria.” She concluded causing Drago to nod.

“A pleasure to meet you all.” He sounded, bowing only slightly to acknowledge them before returning to his desk and taking a seat.  His gaze instantly shifted to Roun now.  “Roun Itami you say?”  He inquired now with a devious smirk.  “Is this the man or the legend?”  He inquired once again, causing Roun to raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about...”  Roun replied with the sound of scepticism strongly in his voice, causing Alexander to laugh lightly.

“Of course you don’t... why would you after all?”  He inquired rhetorically.  “But I must say that the Obelisk surely keeps strange company these days.”  He laughed lightly as he looked back towards Hyaku, drawing both Roun’s and Hyaku’s attentions to his obvious insinuations.  “But I’m sure that this isn’t what you came here for, so you should really start your interrogation... I am a busy man after all.”  He prompted, causing Roun some slight annoyance.

“Oh we can see that...”  The Itami replied, looking around the luxurious office, which did not show any signs of unfinished work.  His action just caused Alexander to smirk once more.

“I’m sure you can...”  Alexander replied with an equal level of sarcasm before cutting to the point.  “But seriously... you should really try to at least be courteous... I mean, this isn’t Terra anymore... you Rogues have considerably less power in these times.”  He explained.

“We may no longer have the backing of the U.N. but don’t let that fool you, our power is as strong as it has always been.”  Roun retorted before adding.  “Justice is a universal concept; it exists here as it did in Terra.”  He finished smugly.

“Alas, but it is only a concept... it holds no tangible power over those that do not acknowledge it.”  Alexander retorted snidely, causing Hyaku to interject now in an attempt to stop the pointless confrontation between the two.

“Drago... just tell us what you know about these anti-channeler terrorists.”  He cut in now, stopping Roun before he could come back with another clever reply.

“Oh, is that what this is about?”  Alexander inquired with a light smirk.  “There isn’t much to tell really.  From what my sources tell me, that was just the first in a series of anti-channeler actions... apparently these terrorists are rather serious about their ideals.”  Alexander explained.  “You see, you channelers have always been hated, even back on Terra when you were a minority.  People tended to see you as these arrogant gods that flaunted your power in front of them and used it for the good of no one but yourselves.

“But you were outnumbered and heavily regulated, so their hatred was kept in check by this false sense of comfort that their control over you brought.  Unfortunately, with the fusion of the worlds and the non-channeler population having been reduced to a mere fraction of what it used to be, those feelings of hatred have been reawakened and made stronger than they had ever been.

“These ‘reciprocations’ have been underway since the advent of the fusion, but your enemies have only now amassed the power to truly launch a full out assault which they can bring directly to your door steps.  You see, unlike you meta-humans that build your powers through training and experience... these super-humans can be engineered so that they start at the top... the pinnacle of their body’s full capabilities, allowing armies of super-human soldiers to be produced once adequate numbers of willing volunteers can be found.”  Alexander continued to explain, causing Roun to raise an eyebrow.

“So the past year was them what... just recruiting?”  Roun inquired now, causing Alexander to shake his head lightly.

“Not just that... you see, in an event to assist its non-channeler populace, a number of nations have undertaken what you channelers like to call ‘user enhancement’ projects.”  Alexander explained.   “These programs have provided the basic research and the facilities necessary to allow your enemies to amass the power which they need to confront you one on one.”  He continued.  “One previous major downside to their plan was the singular approach to non-channeler enchancement which Terran technology provided.  The replication of a single model would only make it easier for you channelers to develop anti-user weaponary to despatch your force... however with Glyphs, Runes, Zeta gear and biological manipulation being used to enhance non-channeler’s world-wide, you fools have only been diversifying your enemies.”  He laughed now, much to the annoyance of his audience.

“Cut to the chase Drago, how do we find who is behind the incident in Dubai?”  Hyaku inquired now, interrupting his story.

“I’m sorry my boy, but I don’t think you do.”  Alexander replied with a smirk.  “You see, no one really knows how deep this rabbit hole goes... no one even knows where the orders come from.  They just know that they arrive and they are to be carried out.”  Alexander explained, much to Roun’s disdain.

“So then you’ve wasted our time then?”  He inquired, causing Alexander to laugh.

“Not at all.”  He countered.  “You may not know it yet, but you’re at war, and in times of war, the best weapon tends to be intelligence... now you know your enemy.”  Alexander explained with a sly grin.

Roun just growled inaudibly.  “Do you have any information that is immediately useful to us?”  He inquired now, causing Alexander to pause slightly and think before shaking his head.

“I don’t believe that I do; I am a business man after all, not a terrorist.”  He smirked.  “But I may know where you need to go next.”  He explained.  “You see, as organised as your enemy is... it’s nothing more than a cult right now; just a mindless, angry mob being manipulated by a single superior force... if you want to know who you’re fighting... you’re going to need to find that force.”  He explained.  “My company still retains its reputation from Terra, and as such our weaponised technology tends to be favoured over a number of these newly emerging companies.  Just days before the incident in Dubai, a rather peculiar order was placed, and the requested cargo was transported to Morroco.  I have a hunch that if you find the recipients of that cargo, you may be on your way to uncovering what happened in Dubai.”

“Fine then, thank you for your assistance Mr. Drago.” Roun replied, before the group of four turned to leave.

“Glad I could be of assistance.”  Alexander smirked as they left his office, giving them some time to clear the area before he picked up his comm. link and opened a secure connection.