Tseko walked into Dirandau's temporary quarters. The place was surprisingly not in shambles. This room often housed him during his stays here, and thus the furniture had been bolted down. Tseko held a book in his hands, ready to write down anything that Dirandau might tell him.
"How was your evening?" Tseko asked, a pleasant tone in his voice.
Dirandau stared at the ceiling. He had been for about four hours now.
"I see. You must have enjoyed yourself so much that you are now worn out. Is that it?" Tseko's tone grew ever more cheeful. He knew that Dirandau hadn't slept at all. The last thing anyone wants when they are tired is to be confronted by someone who is unbearably cheerful.
His words yielded more silence. Tseko sat for a moment. He wondered what he ought to try next. His method didn't seem to be working.
"Perhaps I haven't been annoying enough?" he thought. He thought of what could possibly annoy the hell out of Dirandau...out of anyone in that state. He smiled and walked up to Dirandau.
"Good morning!!" he exclaimed as he bent down to give Dirandau a kiss. Dirandau recoiled in horror.
"Stay away from me, you freak!!!" he cried. Dirandau backed into the headboard as much as he could. He just wanted to get away from Tseko.
"Oh, how sad. There's only one thing I like to do when I'm not talking or studying," Tseko said, smiling devilishly. "Since you don't want to talk, I'm sure you'll be agreeable."
Tseko leaned in close to Dirandau, who was desparately wishing he had some means to defend himself. He slapped Tseko in the face.
"Is there no end to the disgusting way you people act?!"
Tseko shook his head 'no,' smiling.
Dirandau groaned with fatigue and annoyance. What choice did he have?
"What do you want to know?" he asked.
"I'm still waiting for you to tell me how many times you've been sick," Tseko said, taking a seat.
"Why is it so important?" asked Dirandau.
"Perhaps you'd like another kiss? You've been told to answer my questions before you get any answers back."
"I just want to know! It's not too much to ask."
"In your case, it is."
"Why do you always have to keep me in the dark about everything?"
Tseko sighed.
"To be honest, you do some fairly stupid things. Telling you the things we know will only cause you to do more."
"I am not stupid!"
"No you aren't. Which confuses me as to how you manage to do such stupid things."
"I never do anything stupid," Dirandau said, indignant.
"Yes you do. You've neglected to notice the fact that you are very ill."
"I am not!"
"How do you know? You have no idea how serious this is, Dirandau."
"Tell me."
"I'd be careful if I were you."
"And why is that?"
"Because you are at my mercy."
"As if a change in attitude will change your treatment of me."
"It might if the change were for the better."
"No it won't. I used to do everything I was told, and you'd still hurt me."
"Would you just answer my questions?"
"No!"
Tseko rose from his chair and sat on Dirandau's bed. He placed a hand on Dirandau's thigh. There was an uncomfortable awkwardness about this.
"I find silence exhillarating."
Dirandau glared at him.
"You're just trying to get me to talk."
"On the contrary. I want you to stay silent. I like your silent. You're so much more beautiful when you are quiet."
Tseko ran his fingers through Dirandau's wonderfully soft hair.
"Be my mockingbird. Don't sing."
"Get away!!"
Tseko tried to move closer to Dirandau. Dirandau put his foot out against Tseko's chest, trying to push him away.
"STOP IT!"
"Oh, how sad. You spoke."
"...just ask your stupid questions, bastard...."
Tseko ceased his advances and immediately returned to his business-like manner.
"How many times have you been ill?"
"I don't remember," Dirandau said, staring at the ceiling again.
"Quite a lot, then?"
"Yes."
"Do you always become ill with the same thing?"
"Yes."
"How do you feel when you get these illnesses?"
"Like killing someone."
"Yes, but what symptoms do you have?"
"I don't know. I can't think. My head hurts."
"I can't give you anything for that now. Just answer the question.
"I DID!" Dirandau spat the words at him as if they were metal shards.
"Calm down. You didn't make it clear that those weren't your present symptoms."
"You're an idiot....."
Tseko disregarded the insult.
"Do you feel anything else?"
"I feel a bit of pain in my chest."
Tseko stiffened at that. Korrade was probably right after all.
"Where do you feel it?"
Dirandau placed a hand on the middle of his chest.
"I see. And does it always stay there?"
"No. Sometimes it moves."
"How long does it last?"
"A few minutes. Then it goes away."
"How often does this occur?"
"Every so often."
"A few times a month?"
Dirandau nodded 'yes.'
Tseko smiled.
"Well, now, that wasn't so hard, was it?"
Dirandau glared at him.
"I hate you."
"That's fine. Just as long as you cooperate, you are allowed to hate anyone you choose to."
Tseko rose from his chair. Dirandau looked at him, confused.
"Aren't you going to tell me about my men?"
"Oh!" Tseko exclaimed. "I had forgotten. They are doing well."
"I want to see them."
"Perhaps if you behave, you will be allowed to do so."
Dirandau glared at him.
"A friend of mine will be by to give you lunch later," Tseko said.
Dirandau looked a bit upset at that.
"Is he the one that always hits me?" Dirandau asked.
".....I wouldn't know...."
Dirandau glared at the ceiling.
"He hits me and calls me names. He tells me how he wants me to die."
"I'll see if I can speak to him about that."
"I hate all of you....."
Tseko nodded, as if he were agreeing to something.
"Goodbye, Dirandau."
He left to meet with Korrade once more.
Korrade smiled at Torrea.
"I told you so," Korrade said. It is a generally accepted rule to never utter that phrase to another human being if one is civilized. However, Korrade found that he could be delightfully uncivil if it would amuse him. Torrea simply rolled his eyes. He tried not to be annoyed at being wrong. After all, they got their information and that was what mattered.
"Good job," Torrea told Tseko. Tseko was beaming with pride. He could actually do this job! He felt confidence surge in him, overflowing.
"Thank you, sir."
Korrade motioned for Tseko to take a seat at the table and offered a glass of wine.
"Well, then, it must be his heart, as you said," Said Torrea.
"I believe it is, but we should make certain. We don't want to do anything to him that isn't necessary. It would jeopardize his health."
"Of course we will do testing before any experiments."
"Did you check his pulse, Tseko?"
"No, sir," replied Tseko. "I tried but he wouldn't let me. I wanted to get the answers first."
"Very well. Our next step is a full-physical, then. We'll need to have him keep calm while he has his pulse read. I want you and Akio to work on it together."
Tseko looked a bit horrified. Work with Akio? The tactless brute?
"But, sir....Dirandau told me that he is abused by Akio when no one else is around."
"He needs work, I agree. However, I have kept him from any sort of real work for too long. He does need to start doing his job as well as start learning to control his temper. Do not worry. You can always report him to me, Tseko. I do my best to take care of his behavioral problems."
"Yes, sir," Tseko said. In the back of his mind, he wondered if Akio would end up like Folken. Akio seemed very highly irrational and emotionally volatile. Tseko didn't want to have to deal with his comrade becoming a danger. He prayed that Korrade's wisdom and guidance would be enough to change Akio. He prayed that Korrade would succeed this time.