Grief was currently sitting at his desk in his towering office level within the Central Administration building and signing legal forms that afternoon. As the Baron of Siag, he would have to pass or reject any form of legislation brought to his desk and attention. This task dulled and bored him, but due to him being the supreme executive power on Moebius it was one he must do. The Baron was trying to get through the grueling process of paperwork.
Standing next to him was his personal bodyguard and subordinate, Field Leader Sherly Periwinkle. She was a rather tiny Moebian feline with pink fur and in the standard dark green female standard issued Order dress. However, this rather petit cat was one of his most feared and trusted advisors as the commander of all Grey Party special forces within the Order of Moebius. Perwinkle would stand there with her arms behind her back and respond every so often to when Grief asked her a question while signing the forms.
"Hmm, oh yeah I like this idea. Increasing production of tomatoes as a next export would be beneficial to our economy, approved!" Grief would say as he would stamp his seal onto the paper before putting it in a bundle of documents.
"Let's see" Grief said as he would reach and begin to read yet another form of legislation put onto his desk.
"Ugh! These damn chain smokers always wanting imports of that toxic crap into my Order? Denied!" Grief said as he would take up the red stamp and press down hard on the form with so much ferocity it made his entire desk shake.
"Can you believe these clowns? Perwinkle?" Grief would say as he would take the form and place it in the pile.
"Not everyone shares our view of health and fitness, I'm afraid" the tiny pink fured cat woman in the dark green dress would say as she sighed.
"Yeah well, I'm doing Moebius a favor, keeping that cancer crap out!" Grief stated.
"Of course, Baron" Sherly replied.
Grief would suddenly look up to see a flashing red light on his desk. This indicated he was about to receive an holographic transmission. He moved his brown gloved hand over and pressed down on the console before a hologram would project onto the desk. It was of his police chief, Alicia. Upon seeing her he sort of frowned, Alicia was meant to handle the small crime and the commoner's issues in Siag, however he knew if she had the gal to report to him that it was rather serious.
"Sorry to interrupt, Baron. But there is a slight matter that is needing of your attention" Alicia stated.
"Right, what is it?" Grief asked with a slight hint of annoyance in his tone.
"It's your sister" Alicia simply replied.
"Dammit, is Scylla coming to pay us a visit again?!?" Grief blurted out.
"No, sir. Your older, other sister" Alicia stated.
"Adriana? What did that crazy loon do this time?" Grief responded with.
"She killed two people" Alicia stated.
"FUCK! What the hell sis?!?" Grief said, as quite frankly he didn't even believe she had it in her.
"That's not all...she seemed to be able to, miniaturize one victim" Alicia stated.
"How the fuck did she even do that?" Grief asked, now even more bewildered.
"You won't believe me if I told you" Alicia called.
"Well, you called me so tell me" Grief snidely responded.
"Okay...Adriana claims that she used magic" Alicia stated after taking a sigh.
"For the love of...not this crap again" Grief said as he put his hand to his face.
"She has requested a meeting with you, she says she has a book belonging to your family. Baron" Alicia stated.
"A book? Like, dad kept a secret book from me and gave it to her?" Grief said, now even more agitated.
"I don't know, Baron. However, Adriana states she is the only able to decipher said texts and that they would give the Order great power".
"What the hell have you gotten yourself into this time, Adriana?" Grief mumbled under his breath.
"What shall I do, sir?" Alicia asked.
"I want you to first lock her up, I'll get one of my officers to interrogate her. If she is telling the truth, and I highly doubt it, she must know something that dad didn't tell me. I'll give her the time of day if she is telling the truth" Grief stated
"Of course, Baron. Oh and she asked for her pet chao to be in good hands, your orders?" Alicia inquired.
"I felt like shit when Ozzy died, have one of your men take care of it for the time being" Grief stated.
"Very well, Baron" She said as Alicia cut the feed.
"If I may interrupt, Grief. Clearly your sister is delirious, why don't you simply have her executed?" Perwinkle asked.
"It's bad for publicity, that, and whatever weapon Adriana has is one that I want. She was around when Siag was being built, what if she knows something about the old part of the city? Let me deal with her lunacy before I decide her fate" Grief stated
"Of course. How should I deal with her?" Sherly asked as Periwinkle stood at attention.
"You two don't get along, so perhaps we send Herman. We need to fish information out of Adriana, she is very good at hiding things from us" Grief stated.
"I am certain the Captain would be delighted to assist us in this endeavor" Sherly stated.
"He better be, I've seen Egg Empire soldiers more friendly than my sister" Grief said as he chuckled.
Adriana was escorted from the landing pad atop the Central Administration Building to the holding cell block. Normally, this sort of location would be held as a sort of high maximum security brig where only the worst of the worst of the Order's offender or political opponents would be located. None of course were even guaranteed to see the light of day or the outside again. Security was at maximum and most of this section of the megalith was patrolled by Grey Party officers and soldiers.
She looked like a fish out of water, with her red heels and pink dress on, everyone else in dull military colors of dark green and grey. It was an odd sight to see several Order soldiers escorting this woman, even if she was slightly tall for a female. The walls in the interior were dull and grey, intentionally meant to resemble a maximum security prison from the inside. While in handcuffs, she was lead down to a holding cell room.
"Step in" one of the male soldiers stated.
"Okay" she simply then walked into the cell before it was closed.
At this point, Adriana was questioning her plan. Was this a smart move to let herself get intentionally apprehended? Perhaps not, but she wasn't lying when she said she was about the only one to be able to read the book. However, it then dawned on her. What if, Grief simply denied the meeting? She cursed under her breath of this revelation and began to wept. Had she traded her darling Sabrina, only to be left in this steel cage to rot?
Several hours would pass by, the annoying buzzing of the lights to keep prisoners awake and yet dulled out at all times. The boring walls to look at. Oh and worse, she was beginning to grow hungry. She had cried and cried so much until she simply ran out of energy to cry. She had failed, giving away her only bargaining chip and her chance at revenge.
Suddenly, the door would open to the room. Her foxy ears would twitch as she would see it open and in stepping in a pair of dark brown boots. She shook her head, whoever the Order sent. It wouldn't be good, however. As they entered the room she couldn't believe it.
It was him, the very man she locked eyes with at the parade. That tall and dashing form, the red vulpine fur. The glowing red bionic eye, and that weird claw. It was none other than the Captain of the Order, Herman Wolfgang himself!
(OOC: Jojo's Bizarre Adventures: Battle Tendency "Propaganda" theme plays here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi3lqLq2uCw )
"Guten Tag, Frau Bradanska. Was ist the trouble we have gotten ourselves into das ziet, hm?" the Captain asked as he stepped into the room.
"We meet again, Captain" she simply responded with.
"Ja, Ich am certain you realize just being in this facility means" Herman replied back to her.
The obvious was that Grief had sent Herman in order to fish out information from her, but this also meant that perhaps Alicia kept her word to get Adriana and audience with her younger brother. Still, Adriana would have to play it smooth because Herman reported directly to Grief. It would however, be a good moment to discuss other matters with the captain.
"I do, while you all live in luxury up here. I have been stuck for years on the streets. Tell me captain, is that fair?" Adriana asked.
"Mein Frau, life is not fair. Life is an experience to live, through better or worse. Ja? After all, if life was 'fair' I wouldn't have lost mein eye or hand" Herman replied rather snidely.
"Speaking of experiences, Ich heard you had a very. Interesting one as of late?"
"I have, that is why I am here" Adriana replied.
"Do tell, everything. Ich have to make mein case to Herr Baron. You asked to come here and be brought before Herr Baron himself. After ending two lives, Ich might add" Herman said rather snidely as he smirked.
She said nothing at first, knowing full well that Alicia must have reported what happened to Grief. This was a both a blessing, and a curse. It meant that there was still a chance to get close to Grief. However, it also meant that the book would be handed over to her brother.
"What to tell you? You're an atheist. I used my magic powers to shrink and kill those two? That this book was" she then paused and thought about her next word.
"The book belonged to our father, Ivan. Father kept many secrets from us you know, for our own good" Adriana stated.
"Ja, Herr Ivan had to do what he must for the betterment of Moebius. Still, why now? How did you get this book?" Herman asked.
"It came in the mail one day, don't ask me from who. I was asleep and then my pet chao Sabrina just pointed to it. She often would pick bills and such off the slot of my door and bring them over" Adriana stated.
"So das ist all? All your talk of magic, und yet this book just showed up?" Herman asked.
"Si, I don't know what else to tell you" Adriana replied.
"Then, if this book ist just some gift, do you know who brought it?" Herman asked.
"Would you believe me if I told you, a ghost?" Adriana replied
"Nein" Herman simply said as he narrowed his one good eye.
"Then I don't know. Tell me Captain, do you know the Bradanska families full history?" She asked.
"Perhaps, perhaps not. Do enlighten me" Herman asked as he would go and recline against the wall.
"We descend from powerful witches, from the great Aurelia Bradanska herself. Grief denies this, he denies our destiny" Adriana said.
"Dummkopf! Herr Baron Trauer has shown Moebius it's destiny within the Order!" Herman said, becoming a tad passionate in his words.
"I will not deny that Grief has brought. Prosperity to Moebius, but there's forces beyond his comprehension at play" Adriana stated.
"Here we go, talk of magic. Black cats, brooms, und talk of Hanzel und Grettel" Herman replied as he sighed.
"I thought you wanted to know how I shrunk those two people? Surely not with a laser gun or whatever you have in the army" Adriana said as she would stand up and now rest her back against the wall.
"Did you steal some sort of weapon? Please, be honest. Your bruder is, very impatient with your games" Herman asked.
"No, all I have is the book and I am telling the truth. Look, if you let me see my brother with the book, I'll tell him myself. This book contains a power, a sacred text that is our birthright. Grief needs to know the whole truth of our family. All I ask is but a simple meeting with my brother, that's it" Adriana said.
"Why do you do this? Adriana? You cling onto this family heirloom for dear life, yet you are so quick to denounce your own bruder's good deeds? Does Herr Baron not feed you? Does he not keep Siag safe with security? Ich know about the incident at the park, with the statue as well" Herman asked.
"How would you feel? You served under my father, Captain! I was promised the same things by my father as you were. But no, just because I'm not some big war hero. Look, I have nothing to lie about. If you brought me the book now, I'd perform a spell for you if you want. I just, feel that Grief would want to know of it's power directly, he is my older brother. He should know our family legacy" Adriana stated.
"You sound deranged, surely. However, I will report to Herr Baron on mein findings" Herman stated.
"You made me deranged. I wanted to call you often Herman, but no I only live alone in my apartment while you're in full uniform marching in parades! I wanted to serve Moebius like you, but no! Anyways, I thank you for your report to my brother. I am not afraid of Grief, he abandoned me once already. I'll stand before the Baron as the eldest daughter of Ivan Bradanska!" Adriana stated.
"Very well, at this point ist not up to me" Herman said as he sighed.
"Ich will take my leave now, auf weidersein mein frau" Herman said as he would begin to walk towards the door.
"Wait, before you go Herman. I must say, you look very handsome today" Adriana said to him as she winked.
He just gave her stare before opening the door. He would turn around and give her a simple tip of his hat before grabbing the door and opening it up with his good hand and walking out. After he closed it, he would simply shake his head. She was just too much for him, clearly she sounded maddened.
Yet, if what Adriana said was true, if it was all a lie then how did she do what she was able to do? Why is she so confident about a simple old book? Still, Herman was a man of duty. He would carry out his duty and report what she told to him.
"Verdammt" Herman simply said to himself as he would head towards Grief's office.
Adriana had fallen asleep, even on that cold floor and with the light shining eventually her mortal body would give out to exhaustion. As she laid there, she would have yet another vision. It showed two forces, two shadows.
In her vison, one she could make out. It was her brother, it was the normal silhouette of a Moebian. Yet, there was an oddity. There was a monstrous one, one with green glowing eyes. These two figures would soon begin to touch, as if holding hands. As this happened though she suddenly would begin to wake up.
"Get up! I said get up!" she could hear as the swift kick of a boot would hit her side
"Ouch! Merda!" she let out as she would begin to swiftly awake.
"Up you lazy bum! You asked to speak to the Baron, well now get yer arse up!" a feminine voice would come from above.
As she would try to stand up and rub her eyes, her vision would dilate revealing it to be none other than Sherly Periwinkle. The leader of the Grey Party. Sherly would begin to stomp on Adriana's chest several times, each causing Adriana to cough. While Sherly was clearly smaller than her, her kicks were none the less more forceful in getting Adriana to get up.
"Get up you lazy cunt!" Sherly demanded until Adriana would tri to stand right
"Okay! I'm getting up!" Adriana stated.
"You have the audacity to interrupt the Baron and then fall asleep? Not on my watch, mate" Sherly said as she stood back.
"Pick her up and drag her sorry arse out of this fucking cell, on the double!" Sherly demanded as she would step back and her soldiers would lift up Adriana off the floor.
Two soldiers rushed into the cage and in no time flat had Adriana lifted up due to her light weight and had their arms cuffed with hers. They would shove her out of the cage as Sherly would point to the door. They would open it and begin to escort her down the hallway.
"Now listen here you sleezy bitch, you best be on your good behavior or I'll have you executed on the spot! I don't care if you're Grief's sister or me own mum. Were it up to me you'd not see the light of day, got it?" Sherly asked her from behind.
"Got it, Sherly" Adriana simply sighed as she was shoved.
Adriana would be escorted down the hallway and didn't try to resist. While this was exactly what she wanted, there was one x-factor. Where was the book? She would hope someone in Grief's office would have it, but if not perhaps she could convince her brother to find it. Of course, this would make her blood boil asking for his help, but for her master plan to succeed she'd have to put on a performance that would fool even her own flesh and blood.
She was carried up the elevator and escorted through the main hallway leading to Grief's office chamber. Next to it were two guards, both canine and both large and mean looking. They would open the door for her and then the two guards who grabbed onto her would shove her into the room. Adriana let out an "oof!' before she stumbled over a bit and had regained her balance.
As she would look in front of her, she'd see none other than Grief himself sitting at his desk. His blank expression would say everything as they looked eyes. While a fire was raging inside of her to give him a piece of her mind, she kept calm and simply stood upright as she would gaze at her brother.
"Hey sis" Grief replied nonchalantly.
"Hello, Grief" Adriana simply replied.
"What's up? Have any fun lately, kill anyone perhaps?" Grief asked.
"I don't know, have you?" Adriana replied.
"Watch it Adriana, I have many ways of dealing with you. Now, about this book. This one right here?" Grief said as he would reach under his desk and take the very book out from under it.
This was not good. Not only did Grief have the book and she was unable to read it, but what if Grief was able to read it all along? No, it couldn't be. If he had, would he already? Why not just use a spell on the spot right there on her? Adriana had to keep calm, it was all or nothing now. Everything lead up to this moment.