1293/Meeting One's Idol

Meeting One's Idol
Date of Scene:	30 March 2016
Location:	Plot Room #1
Synopsis:	Hannah Sharpe meets up with Professor Tomoe
Cast of Characters:	37, Hannah Sharpe

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Mint Chip has posed:
Most people don't even see the elusive Professor Tomoe. While, naturally, Eclipse is run by the Board of Directors, everyone knows a great degree of power rests with the Professor himself. However, he considers himself, generally, above the squabbles that make up Eclipse's usual business.

Between that and the fact that he rarely if ever leaves his labs, being summoned by Professor Souchi Tomoe is a momentous event, and an event that most members of Eclipse will never see. But today, for Hannah Sharpe... a small, wax-sealed envelope was deliviered, with a hand written request to meet him on the roof of Infinity Academy's West building. And it's there, surprisingly alone, with a briefcase sitting on a nearby bench, that he waits as he stands on the edge, looking out through the saftey fencing at the top of the building.

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
At least in her mind, Hannah Sharpe owed everything she's gained up until now to Professor Tomoe. Several times over, in fact: be it her Device, or capitol and a word of favor. So too is she well aware of the reclusive nature of the man, and just how much power he has.

Hannah had her Device read the note about three times, and then check it against Eclipse databases to make sure she wasn't being screwed with. She wouldn't put it past some of her 'co workers'.

It's an immense honor, and Hannah has treated it with gravity. She doesn't teleport, instead leaping up from the ground floor to get there. Best to not be presumptuous. Her barrier jacket is more ornate too: done with golden buttons, subtle, but it's the one she'd use when meeting anyone high up in Eclipse's ranks. So too is Gull's hairclip not worn.

Pausing, she smiles, before reigning herself in. No, she can't stay stiff around this man.

"Professor. I'm honestly surprised. You're a busy man, so I won't get all flustered on you."

She throws a one-handed, casual salute. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Professor?" Hannah can't help it. She /likes/ the man, even if she's half convinced he's crazy.

Mint Chip has posed:
Tomoe doesn't turn to her immediately, instead with his hands clasped behind his back, he talks to her as he stares out at the city. "You know, Sharpe-san, that I saw potential in you. And you know that I made sure that potential was given fertile ground to grow in, by protecting you from those that wished to see your sprout trampled."

"Still, there have been... concerns. And I wish to quash them. I wish to show the rest of Eclipse that the trust I placed in you was not in vain. I recongize you have had some recent... difficulties, but the most troubling incident - where you had to leave your division in the temporary care of someone not vetted by myself or the Board - someone with ties to the organization known as Virtue - has brought many of our conglomerate no small degree of concern."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
One eye closes. The Professor lays out the situation, and she actually smirks. Hannah knew that Eclipse would have doubts. But for Tomoe to continue to put faith in her? It's gratifying.

Her 'difficulties' have her rubbing the back of her head. "...I got reckless." Admits the young woman. She doesn't bother kissing butt. There's work to be done, it seems.

"Proof of loyalty then? Alright. Coming from you, I don't have the right to refuse anyway. What do you need me to do?" Her voice upticks in curiousity. An area search pops from her Device towards the briefcase. She gives it a swat. Frown.

"Hey. Stow it around the Professor, R.T." Leeeean. Yup, Hannah wants to know what's in the briefcase too, she's just more polite about it.

Mint Chip has posed:
Strangely enough, some sort of ward around the briefcase itself means that RT can't really get any sort of signal on it. It's like it jams the attempts to scan it - meaning whatever's hidden away in there must be really important.

"Well, as your device has apparently surmised, there's a peice of equipment in this briefcase. And I want you to test it." he says, calmly. "I want to see you in the field, putting it through its paces to its utmost. Without mercy or remorse." he adds, after a moment, alluding to the nature of the item. A hand comes from his back and gestures towards it. "Open it."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Hannah's spine goes chill at those words. 'Without mercy or remorse'. She's certainly shown plenty of both. She shrugs off the feeling.

When bidden, though, she picks up the case. Kneeling down, she opens it, feeling around for what might be inside. So too does her Device start scanning.

"So I'll be doing some field testing, huh? My kind of job!" She smiles a bit more, liking the sounds of things more already. She's always been one to prefer getting her hands dirty.

"And behind briefcase number one isss...." Flick flick. Open!

Mint Chip has posed:
The item inside is, in several peices, some sort of strange rifle. It's not a ballistic weapon, that much is immediately clear. It's a magitech weapon. It's a dark magitech weapon. As if any further evidence of this was needed, there's a number of crystals - ammunition - in the case as well.

"It's a prototype for something else we're working on, but lab tests only go so far." he explains. "It condesnes a massive burst of negative energy into a sphere and fires it at nearly supersonic speeds. It's not a weapon, though. It's a tool."

Finally, he turns to look at Hannah, for the first time in this conversation. His glasses sheen as the sun sets. "At least, for this iteration, the preferred targets will be children in elementary school, maybe early middle. The energy it fires is attuned to" and he claps his hands "corrupt their dreams and knock the egg of their true dream right out of them." he says. "And you're going to collect those eggs, because it turns out one of our subsidiaries has found them incredibly useful as a power source and a basis for equipment."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
A brow twitches. Giving a gun to a blind girl. She's not certain if she's being mocked here or not. She gets over it quick enough, though, as she goes over the weapon. Part of her cringes, reminded of the sword she'd so recently been taken by. But pride gives her bravery.

She hefts it, fingers one of the crystals gently, then starts working the thing to get an idea of its operation. Thankfully, she worked with Homura. You can't /not/ learn a thing or two.

"...So it's like some insane combination of a laser and a rail gun. Guns really aren't my area of expertise, but that's pretty damn amazing. Hey, R.T.! See if you can link with this thing and get a targeting matrix going. We'll need to do some simulations so I can actually hit something." The Device hesitates.

"Don't be a pansy!" Chides Hannah before the device gets to work.

Then he mentions her target. Kids. She blinks, and her heart sinks a moment. She's never targeted kids before that didn't already get involved. Teeth set, and she stands up. Slowly, she tracks across the empty Tokyo sky trying to keep herself calm.

She'd be going after /kids/!

"...So that's it. Shoot a few kid's dreams out of them."

A deep breath. "No remorse. No hesitation." Repeats Hannah, and she hefts the gun over her shoulder.

Silence reigns for a minute as her mind works it out. She knows it's wrong to do. But she can't lose the backing of Eclipse. And more importantly?

The Professor is asking her. Risking his neck.

"I won't waste ammo, even if I have to do it point blank, Professor." It's not like she isn't going to hell already, anyway.

Mint Chip has posed:
"Frankly, what you want to look for are kids with big dreams - that's why the age group. While still have ridiculous dreams about going to space they'll never acheive, or world peace. Before the truth of the world beats them down." he says, coldly.

"The stronger the dream, the more value we can suck out of it's twisted mirror image. But you'll have to be quick, or they'll hatch into youma. And be careful with the weapon. Right now, it's one-of-a-kind. After a few tests we'll bring it back for calibration. And then send you back out."

He puts a hand on her shoulder as she takes that breath. "There was a lot of competiton for this role, because this weapon and equipment like it stand a chance of opening a lot of new doors. If you do this right, it'll squelch any concerns about your loyalty to Eclipse, and secure your control of WPS against factions who might wish to usurp it after your recent misadventures."

"And I have a special surprise for you, given what happened to you so recently, as a further reward from me personally for rewarding the faith in you. I've been working on a sort of prosthetic replacement for your missing... peices." he says, with a smile. "Another prototype, for another project. But I'm finding it's working well already. When you return the gun for its first calibration, it'll be yours, as long as the results are good."

Hannah Sharpe has posed:
Tomoe can be one creepy guy. She tries not to let her own feelings show on her face. Hannah, after all, has nothing if not big dreams.

Still, she at least knows you sometimes have to crush a dream or two to get your own.

"Luckily, fast is what I do. I can think of a few ways to contain something like that. Shouldn't be hard to modify that ward I use for Bob. Smaller and faster." Just to get her mind off of what she's about to do, she's already running it through her head.

And then a hand on her shoulder. She relaxes. The man is /good/ at his work. Hannah smiles, all of that guilt fading.

"This...that big, huh? This isn't any ordinary field test. Wow, I...Professor..." She swallows, and straightens her back.

"You can count on me! I won't let...anything get in the way!" Mentally, she batters down her concerns, her guilt, like she's gotten so good at doing. Already lying to herself and making excuses.

And then he sweetens the pot. "You'd do that for me? I can be whole again. Hah. Hah hah hahahhhh!" There's no stopping the joyous laugh.

"You have no idea how /weak/ and /useless/ I've felt! No, no, maybe you do. You always did. But that's not the point! I'm going to give you the best damn results you've ever gotten Tomoe-sensei!" Promises Hannah, excitement, relief, and burning ambition coming to the fore.

There's no hesitation in those eyes at all now.