Elias Orders, Everyone Follows

"Mercer!" Elias shouted out to the surprise of everyone present, "You're a decent shot, right? When you're not drunk off your ass, that is."

"Ah, yes sir…" Mercer answered back hesitantly as he gave a gentle nod.

"Good. No more drinking tonight, if I see you with a bottle I'll make you choke on it. You'll be a gunner." Mercer's brows raised in shock, but all he could do was simply nod. Turning to look toward one of the heavier men sitting at the table, Elias went on from one person to the next. "You, you're that man Rufus I've heard about, right?"

The man nodded his head.

Elias continued with a nod. "Good, from what I've been told you're quite the pilot? If that's the case, you can handle maneuvering the ship and keeping us from falling into the desert sea. I know why you're here, so we'll discuss things further once this job is done, alright?"

"Not a problem, mi-lord," Rufus grunted as his mustache covered his mouth.

"Good. Alright, Thaddeus…" Elias went on from one person to the next, giving each of them a specific task for the heist. Everyone gathered here had been selected for one reason or another. Either they were extraordinary pilots, amazing shots, or perhaps they had other more indirect uses, either way, they'd all serve a purpose by the time the job was done.

"Now you, Droh." Elias stared blankly at the young little Faun, "You'll do what you always do. Guide us. Any questions?"

Droh simply grunted out in response.

"Hmph, didn't think so. Now don't fail me, or you-know-who will find out everything." He said with a laugh, as if he were enjoying taunting and teasing the little Faun.

Mercer spoke up, "Mister Elias, perhaps allow me to interrupt… I could always use another hand up-top as a gunner."

"Gunner? Hey Deus, you know how to shoot?"

In response to suddenly being called out, Deus quickly shook his head and explained. "Afraid not… Well, I've never had much experience with the guns around here. I would probably be a quick study, though. How hard could it be to aim and shoot?"

"Oh, a quick study, yeah? No, you'll do something else… Something more… Fun." Elias paused for a moment as a smile seemed to form on his lips. "That's it! You look like you would enjoy moving around a bit, right? I think I'll keep you next to me as a member of the vanguard. Along with Thaddeus."

"Vanguard?" Deus questioned.

"Yeah, you know… The ones who'll go in first and make sure everything goes well? A gunner can only do so much, but a vanguard can be right in the heat of it." He chuckled and continued. "I know I should probably keep you aboard the ship and close by to me... But eh, screw it. I think this will be funnier. Now you behave yourself, since you won't be around to keep little Droh safe, you hear?"

'Funnier? The guy is playing with my life just for the fun of it... He's trying to separate Droh and I.' Deus picked up quickly on what Elias had planned. "What a great idea," Deus grumbled out in a thinly-veiled tone.

Ignoring his attitude, Elias simply chuckled in return and nodded, quite satisfied with his quick thinking. After all, he knew most of Droh's secrets... but Deus was a mystery still, so how could he simply let him do whatever he wanted. For all he knew, the two of them could simply abandon the mission halfway through once no one was looking.

No, Elias knew Droh better than anyone else here. He needed to keep Deus at a distance if he wanted to control the little Faun.

After finishing up their assigning, Elias ordered. "Alright everyone, you have your instructions. Gather back here early tomorrow, and take care of any of your bullshit, since you may or may not come back. Oh and I doubt I have to tell anyone this but don't go around blabbering about what you've heard here today or about this job with anyone outside this room. Hell, just don't talk about it at all, even if you meet each other somewhere in there. No good will come from it."

The group unanimously agreed without saying a word, as was expected of them.

Finishing, Elias explained. "Oh and lastly, don't bother with bringing anything tomorrow, unless you really want to risk losing it all. The clan will provide you with everything that you'll be using, but don't forget that it's merely being loaned. If you die, make sure you toss it back to the ship beforehand. Heh."

As Elias said that, everyone cleared out of the room, each of them showing a nervous and yet surprisingly eager aura. Deus and Droh left together as they headed back toward their room in order to make any final preparations before the operation tomorrow.

…

As morning arrived, in their newly acquired room, Deus and Droh both prepared their things separately as they sat in silence, both mentally preparing themselves for what was to come. If something went wrong, they could end up declaring themselves as enemies to Direfell and it's vast military force. Not only that, but the prospect of Roland finding out about Droh was also a very real concern.

'So the job is happening… whether I like it or not…' Deus hesitated for a moment, 'What can I possibly do to prepare for this? Or do I have to simply walk into the lion's den, without any reassurance? I'm not the only one in danger… one wrong move and Droh could get killed, too.'

A thought flashed through his mind as a hint of a smile appeared on his lips. He pulled out his Archive device and enabled it, "Archive, how are those scans progressing?"

The device replied back in it's usual monotone voice. "Requested scans have been completed. Would you like scan results? Warning, device battery charge currently at seventeen percent. One more major scan will drain the remaining battery."

"So you've still got some juice left in you... That's good." Deus seemed to relax a bit knowing his one last lifeline was still kicking, if only barely.

The Archive answered. "Battery usage varies from one request to another. Original request involved a full-body physical scan, which takes a heavy toll on battery life. Your requested scans were less extensive, and thus required less battery drain."

"Ah, I understand. Archive, show me results for the scans I requested, but don't do another full scan until I can replenish the charge." Deus ordered into the small device.

"Request approved. Three scans have been completed, which one would you prefer to know of first? The first scan labeled 'Local Atmosphere.' The second scan labeled 'Physical Body Modifications.' While the third scan labeled 'Battery Charge Solution.' All three scans have been concluded, more extensive information can be tracked with a more advanced scanner. Please consult a director level engineer to make the proper modifications."

"Right, got it." Deus paused. "How about the result for the local atmospheric scan?"

The Archive flashed as it drew up the data. "Log accessed. Data on local atmosphere opened upon user request, beginning to read off entry to scan. Scan level marked as basic, please upgrade when able." The Archive paused for a moment as several electronic sounds could be heard, "Atmosphere marked as 'desolate' based upon previous data provided by the director ranked developer in charge of database construction. Meaning; the terrain is dry and empty, very low chance of wildlife growth. Ecologically the local environment should not be capable of containing life. Exception determined, reasons unknown."

"Odd," Deus pondered on this. "So, it's all too dry and desolate, huh? Nothing I didn't already know. I guess I'll need to get my hands on a better scanner before I can learn anything new. I wonder what the scan means by an exception, though." Exhaling, he asked another question. "Archive, give me the results of the second scan… About my physical modifications. You've had enough time to figure some things out, right?"

Once more the device beeped out an answer. "Request approved. Log accessed. Data on physical modifications opened and ready to report. As previously reported, Experiment X-Z-001's body has undergone a transformation. The culprit of change; Transfer. Aftereffects of change; Unknown."

"So, nothing major has changed since the last report?"

"Negative. Experiment X-Z-001's previous inquiry has been scanned and evaluated, with an answer calculated. Warning, the answer may not be completely accurate, awaiting further data. Question; 'Is Experiment X-Z-001 the original owner of the modified body or has host genetically fused with Co-Transfer Experiment?'—Answer weighed; Subject is the primary controller of said body and has not been mentally modified beyond basic-level changes."

With a major sigh of relief, Deus relaxed a bit. "So you're telling me that I am still... 'Me'? How can you be so sure of that?"

"Evaluation comparing current hosts mentality has been weighed against original data from prior to Transfer. Major similarities have been found, while nearly zero similarities matching Co-Transfer have been found. The test is not completely conclusive."

"Well, that's some great news I think." He said with a smile, only lifting his head back up in a panic after a few moments. "Hold on! Did you say... Nearly zero?"