Tondel let out a sigh of relief and relaxation. His work was done, the lightsaber he intended fully on bringing with him was now for all intents and purposes, a medical device which operated dually as a scanner and an injector. A device as convincing as could be which could even show his vital signs. Most importantly of course, heart rate. All for the singular purpose of avoiding having to rely fully on the force for a planet he'd never been to.
He could feel even with the training he had that was lackluster to say the least, the force was indeed strong on this planet. That much he knew, but this new world he'd have to go to with the JSDF? Their home world? He'd be... Hard pressed to have any reason to go in unarmed, understandably of course. However, with this development. Those worries were abated. And now he could finally get some sleep.
Getting up and leaving the makeshift workshop, he'd return to the scant quarters that were present at this depot. Of course he found, in these, his private quarters. Bozes who sat upon his bed. Tondel would raise an eyebrow at this of course. And when he went to approach, he realized... She fell asleep sitting up. Tondel wondered just what compelled her to do this, to come to his quarters...
But then he remembered. He remembered he reminded Pina that he would train her knights in the ways of the force... Perhaps, she had decided to attempt to ask Tondel what the training would be? He'd not know for now. Instead, gently, Tondel would lay Bozes on his bed and cover her up with his cape. Taking instead for himself, the blanket that he left at the foot of the bed. He'd sit against the side of the bed and covered himself before using the force to shut the door, gently and quietly.
Tondel slept easily, knowing that Pina, and Panache were safe on these grounds, especially with his droids keeping guard on the facility. Despite the sorrow that weighed on his heart for the revelations that were had. He... Couldn't help but try to dream of a better future, and perhaps start to slowly come to terms with the idea that maybe, just maybe..
He'd not return to his galaxy, he'd not perhaps cast down his own righteous vengeance on the Emperor, he'd not destroy the Empire. That perhaps was not his destiny. But then in his mind the question did arise... If that were not his destiny... Just what was? Just what destiny awaited Tondel. With General Secura running around somewhere, after the battle of Italica... Just what was he to do?
He'd try to meditate on the matter but, he was simply too tired for the matter to be of any true, real concern for the moment... He'd have to put it off for later, when the time allowed for it. Unknowingly however, he'd finally have a dream which brought him some... Odd comfort.
This dream, something so vivid, it was like he was truly there. It was a nice, bright sunny day. He stood on some battlement, high up on some wall... Looking out on grasslands and forests.
A figure in a dress with a thick veil covering her face approached his side and took his hand, joining him there. She'd take him down from the wall to see celebrations going on. He saw Pina ascending some steps, a red carpet before her with most of her knights following her...
He had a look around but the lucidity of the dream was very loose at best. But as his eyes searched he saw some of the people he's met so far, like those of Third Recon, and even some others he'd perhaps not met yet..
From there things became a hazy mess indiscernible and incomprehensible, but it was like a life played out right before him. There was no face to the woman he apparently had gone through a whole ceremony for. Never did he see her face. He did see her hands, she was human, no doubt.. But who..? He only saw things from there, from a distant perspective like an out of body experience.
He saw himself growing old, here, on this planet, making it better, more prosperous. Making it his home..
His new Alderaan. An echo of a world now gone, but a better world for it.
The next morning, Tondel awoke to the sound of a song he'd never heard before. One he'd come to know in the future as Reveille. With this... Unprompted wake up call, he'd find Bozes also awoke, sitting up and yawning in Tondel's bed, he stood up and smiled with the blanket he used to cover up, himself still wrapped around him.
"Good Morning. I'm glad you slept well despite the bed not being one made for comfort." Tondel would say as he'd take the blanket off and fold it up before setting it at the foot of the bed.
Bozes was... Surprised, and a red hue donned her cheeks as she realized something she'd have to... Well. She'd have much to explain about why she chose to wait there in his quarters.
"I expected you wouldn't have taken as long as you did, I wished to ask something of you-" Bozes attempted to say before she was interrupted by Tondel.
"Might I have my cape back?" Tondel would ask and Bozes would be dumbfounded until she realized... Yes she indeed had Tondel's cape. He covered her with it and let her have it all throughout the night. Words couldn't be uttered in any sensical, coherent way so where words failed her. Bozes simply turned over to the cape before getting up and adjusting her outfit so it still looked nice and orderly.
Tondel on the other hand put his cape back on and hooked the makeshift scanner and injector on his belt before he'd open the door to find Pina and Panache stood outside, eyebrows raised as they'd catch a glimpse of the two.
"Ah, good morning, your majesty. I assume we should perhaps get going." Tondel would say, giving a polite bow to Pina. Pina would stare for mere milliseconds at the sight of Bozes behind Tondel, a blush on the blonde's face... But still. She knew nothing happened. Not only was Bozes hair not a mess or did she look wholly disheveled in her outfit. Tondel's outfit simply looked as perfect as it did the previous day.
"Indeed. ...Thank you for making up last minute quarters for us, and thank you for having your droids as you call them, keep us safe." Pina said, giving a nod to Tondel.
"Of course. As far as I'm concerned, your staying here as well as your knights staying here made you an honorary guest of the Separatist Alliance. Unfortunately, as I said yesterday, my stocks of food are running low, so I plan to attempt to trade with the Japanese. Perhaps for their already prepared ready to eat meals their troops have spoken of previously on another occasion." Tondel would say, attempting to excuse his lack of... Well. Ability, to provide a proper breakfast for the group.
Anyway, with the four all ready they'd end up taking a landspeeder that Tondel's droids had fished out of storage and assembled, and made their way to where the JSDF had designated them to meet up with Itami and the others that were headed to Tokyo.
The ride would be a smooth and most certainly short, as they were stopped by Yanagida... Who insisted they not use such a craft on the JSDF's base. As such Tondel would find a place to park it out of the way and ask that one of his droids be allowed to retrieve it. This was... Granted, and an alternative means of getting to Itami and the rest were provided. Unknowingly to Tondel the permission for Pina, Bozes, and Panache to come along was already secured, though he did wonder, he just... Didn't bother saying anything.
It wasn't worth the time given nobody stopped them after that point. But it was a surprise to Tondel to see who was all going through. Naturally there was Itami, three of Itami's subordinates, Kuibayashi, Kurokawa, and Tomita, then even further surprising was Lelei, Tuka, and Rory. The latter of whom Tondel could feel drew the most concern of the three girls.
Though as Tondel, Princess Pina, Bozes, and Panache approached, it was clear that nobody told Itami they were coming along. At least the latter three anyway.
Further. Itami rose an eyebrow at the device on Tondel's belt, and the kyber crystal which hung around his neck. He had some... Suspicion, clearly for what was... Something he hadn't seen before but he'd have to address it at a later time as Yanagida came to break Itami's train of thought with a small envelope with yen in it.
Yanagida made it clear that the three, the Princess and her knights were to be treated as VIPs all the same as Tondel, Lelei, Tuka, and Rory, after making it explicitly clear that the three, the Princess and her knights were to "fly under the radar" so to speak, they'd be sent off on their way.
With this fantastical left field surprise having had miliseconds to set in, Itami would lead the group through the gate, into the darkness of the world that seemingly bridged the world of fantasy and apparently, science fiction perhaps, and the world of now, of modern society.
Tondel strode through this world seemingly unconcerned. He was amongst a good few who were as he quickly felt that Bozes took his hand, looking away of course as she did so. Whether this was for some other reason beyond fear of the unknown, Tondel wouldn't ever know. Regardless as the stroll rode on he also felt Pina grab onto his arm as Panache also grabbed onto Pina.
It was at this point he realized, not that he had three women essentially grabbing onto him, it was that his kyber crystal glowed red in the darkness, something which did draw second glances from Itami and the rest of the group but Tondel simply shrugged it off.
The stroll would soon come to a close as finally they reached the other side.
What Tondel saw was almost akin to a kick in the stomach for him. The land of skyscrapers, which didn't remind him of Coruscant, but of home, of Alderaan. Even if it wasn't so... High tech as Alderaan was, it had the same charm as he beloved homeworld. ...Now if there was indeed something beyond the Force, it was without question, having a laugh at his expense.
At least that's what Tondel thought as he looked up and around. He found of course, he wasn't the only one to do so, it was mostly just Pina, Bozes, Panache, Rory, Lelei, and Tuka who seemed to be absolutely gobsmacked at the sight around them. They had never seen something like this before.
Though for Tondel, he clenched his fists and took a deep breath. Kurokawa noticed this and the fact his demeanor changed for... A possibly worrying direction. She simply made her way over as Itami, Tomita, and Kuribayashi went to check in with the checkpoint placed in this... Odd little security area.
"Are you alright, Mister Ramarr?" Kurokawa asked with some concern, she hadn't had a full degree of what could be wrong, she just knew, he wasn't even from the same planet as the rest of the girls just came from.
"It reminds me, in a way. Of Alderaan. ...My home." Tondel said with some... Minute anger. But he was doing his best to subconsciously calm himself.
"That should theoretically be a good thing, yes?" Kurokawa asked, an eyebrow raised. She truly had no awareness of what happened or why he'd feel such a strong way about what he saw, but she did want to know. That much Tondel felt.
"Alderaan was destroyed by the successor to the Galactic Republic, the Empire. For what particular reason, I have no idea. ...But as far as I read, they did it because of the rebel alliance, a group which has apparently either taken up the mantle once held by the Separatist Alliance or, they want the old Republic back..." Tondel said as his anger slowly, and emphasis cannot be put enough on the word, slowly. Calmed down.
"So to be thrown a galaxy away by a problem with my ship's hyperdrive... And shown this... After everything... It reminds me of my failure to my cause, and to the people of my galaxy, to the people of my home world..." Tondel finished speaking as he took another deep breath.
"Mister Ramarr. Remind me, you said... You were put in stasis, right?" Kurokawa asked, Tondel looked her way as his eyebrow arched, as if asking in a non verbal way 'Just what that has to do with anything?'
"You are correct...?" Tondel affirmed.
"This happened under the Republic, near the end of the war you mentioned you fought in, right?" Kurokawa asked.
"Correct, again..?" Tondel once more affirmed.
"And you said this happened before you were awoken from stasis, yes?" Kurokawa asked, finishing her line of thinking.
"Yes?" Tondel again affirmed, as if he was trying to follow her line of thinking, now.
"I understand you think perhaps it's your fault. ...But it's not. And... You simply couldn't have done anything to change what happened. I think, if the empire, or republic as you've said are as bad as they've been stated to be... They either would've killed you or imprisoned you if you weren't in the position that brought you to this moment." Kurokawa stated, trying perhaps to get Tondel off the past, and in the here and now.
"So please, don't let the false belief that if one thing changed, the rest would follow. ...You don't know that. ...I'm not asking you to disown what you feel. You've lost so much more than anyone could ever imagine... Except for maybe Tuka. She might be able to sympathize with you... But you're here now. So live for them, your family and everyone you loved." Kurokawa said as she gave a reassuring smile and a gentle pat on the shoulder to Tondel..
Letting out a mere sigh, Tondel would stroke his beard as he closed his eyes, taking this into consideration. It was of course an objectively correct assessment. Yes, it was easy to dream of what might've been... But to know for certain was something that would never be.
"Perhaps... Perhaps it would indeed be best to focus on the future for now... If I am truly to never return, then I should get comfortable with what is to be, and what has been." Tondel admitted. With that he'd keep an eye on Bozes, Pina, and Panache, ensuring to keep them close by himself as Itami did... Whatever he was doing..
This would be before he noticed an odd looking man, one with quite... Messy hair, a long coat and sullen suit, followed by two much cleaner and tidier looking men behind him.
"Well, there he is.." The man spoke up towards Itami as Tondel watched with suspicion. Itami would turn to look over his shoulder in the direction the voice he heard came from, only to find the sight Tondel saw, himself, first.
"I'm Komakado, from the National Defense Intelligence Headquarters. I'm here to make sure you get to your destination in one piece." The scraggly looking man said as his eyes shifted and surveyed the already odd enough group. Itami, Kuribayashi, Kurokawa, Tomita, Lelei, Tuka, Rory, Bozes, Panache, Pina... And finally Tondel, himself.
"So... You're public security, then?" Itami responded, an eyebrow raised.
Komakado gave a bemused chuckle of sorts to Itami's response.
"You're quite perceptive. No wonder you're such a big hero." Komakado said, a smirk donned on his lips.
"It wasn't really anything..." Itami said, subtly deflecting from such a title being put on him. In reality, he really, really wasn't that much of a hero in his own perspective. He was a nerd. A neet, an otaku... Who just happened to have the necessary cool head, cqc training, and leadership skills which ensured on his part, the actions taken during the attack on Ginza, were indeed, the right ones.
"Well.. Not everyone agrees do they?" Komakado said as he'd reach into an internal pocket on his coat, producing a little black book which he'd immediately open and read off of.
"I did a little reading.. You were second to last in the course for basic officers. Luckily for you, one of your colleagues was injured and dropped out..." Komakado read, his eyes shifted fully to Itami, watching him closely...
"It also says here they wanted to keep you as a sub lieutenant for a while... However your commanding officer was frustrated with you so, they sent you to Ranger School but somehow you managed to pass. ...And here we go... Transferred to Narashino, where your superiors were content to leave you at Second Lieutenant... But, luckily for you there was the infamous Ginza incident, where you received a meritorious promotion... In spite of yourself." Komakado said, finally before closing the little black book with an audible snap of sorts heard from the pages coming together.
"Give the man a gold star..." Itami would reply, it was unknown, at least to Tondel if this was meant in a sarcastic way or not.. But of course. Komakado went on, still.
"Underachiever, juvenile, and those are just the highlights... Oh my goodness, a Ranger, maybe I get.. But why the Special Forces Group?" Komakado asked, prodding a bit though now connecting Itami to the SFG was... Apparently too far for Kuribayashi, who subsequently had another apparent mental break of sorts...
Of course to keep her on her feet, Tondel was at the ready to use the force to keep her upright, which he did as he watched her tilt on her high heels.
From there, Tondel didn't bother keeping up with the conversation, just keeping focused on keeping Kuribayashi upright. Kurokawa herself has a brief chuckle as she noticed what Tondel was doing... Tomita was silent of course. He knew already and was essentially the fountain of information that originally clued Kuribayashi in on Itami having gone successfully, surprisingly enough. Through Ranger school. Which Tondel didn't personally view as... All that an achievement.
From the level of technological innovation that this world had, he mentally surmised and noted it was highly, if not entirely unlikely they had considered space oriented combat whether it be man to man or starship to starship.
Things quickly shifted as the whole group was loaded onto a bus. Kuribayashi still continued her mental break down as everything became quite... Awkward.
On one hand, Tondel was happy no one made any questions of the "medical scanner and injector" that he had. Nor his Kyber Crystal... On the other hand Kuribayashi still continued her quiet mental break down, which did partially annoy him. However..
Tondel simply drowned it out and attempted fully to ignore the blabbering. However what he didn't expect was for Rory to switch seats and sit next to him.
"You are... Unusual, to say the least." Rory would say to Tondel. Tondel opened his left eye and looked down on the young appearing apostle girl.
"How so...?" Tondel asked out of... Possibly regretful curiosity.
"You don't belong to any of the gods. None have claim to you. ...And I know you feel what I feel, sometimes. Don't you?" Rory asked, a smirk appearing on her lips.
"And what is it, I feel, apostle?" Tondel asked, fully turning his attention to Rory, annoyance perhaps was one of the things he felt. He found Rory to be much more unnatural than anything else. He couldn't feel her in the force. She was something else entirely.
"Conflict, war, battle. You feel it all, don't you? Like I do." Rory asked, driving to her point, perhaps that maybe, the two were the same in one way or another.
"I feel conflict, indeed. Through the force. I don't feel it however you may, apostle. The force is more than the concept of souls, if you are implying what I think you are. I am not alike you. You feel only the souls of those unfortunates. I feel the disturbances in the overall force, that which surrounds us, binds us, is us... I feel the conflicts all over this world and yours, the losses of life.. These planets are different, they are strong in the force, such strength which was only spoken of in the times of the old republic. Before the Clone Wars." Tondel said, his sight shifted to those three prospective pupils he sought to teach the ways of the force...
"So, are they like you then?" Rory asked as she looked to Tondel, following the line of sight to Pina, Panache, and Bozes.
"They are strong in the force, but untrained, unknowing of their potential." Tondel said as he'd stroke his beard.
"You'll teach them, won't you?" Rory asked as the bus came to a stop...
"That was and is my intention." Tondel affirmed as the group got off the bus, apparently this stop was for Tuka, for her to get some... Proper attire given she walked through the gate in naught but a sweater and tight fitting skinny jeans.
After everyone offloaded from the bus, Tondel waited, keeping with Tomita and Itami as Kuribayashi and Kurokawa took Pina, Panache, Bozes, Rory, Lelei and Tuka deeper into the store to help settle the issue of Tuka's... Attire.
Tondel silently thought to himself as things went on, eventually Tuka would come back in what loosely to Tondel's standards was bureaucrat or business attire.
It would be after the clothing situation was settled that Itami would take the whole group to what Itami said was a "Beef Bowl Restaurant" of sorts. Somewhere Tondel would learn later, business men stopping over in Tokyo either native or from abroad might come to this place to eat.
Certainly what was laid out before him, Pina, Panache, and Bozes was... Odd. What's more was he finally had the opportunity to see how the Japanese, and apparently the girls who stayed with them at Alnus, ate with peculiar wooden sticks. Of course, later he'd find they were called chopsticks.
He could overhear over at the bar Tomita ask why Itami chose this place... It was, granted, a cheap choice, given what they were to do there.
Tondel quickly caught on about what the raw egg was for and mixed it in with his meal before he ate. Bozes, Pina, and Panache followed his lead on the matter, hoping maybe with the fact that he came back into their lives with the Japanese, he might perhaps have more insight... But honestly, he was just as clueless as them, even if he was a big quicker on the uptake.
After the group finished with their meal, they all loaded back up onto the bus and went straight to the Diet, as it drove through the streets, Itami would get up and walk back to Tondel.
"So, let's talk." Itami said, his eyes motioning to the device Tondel had.
"Of course. I was wondering when you were going to ask. I could feel you began to hold suspicion for what I have." Tondel said as he looked up to Itami.
"You don't have your lightsaber... And that crystal.. I've never seen you with it." Itami said as he'd cross his arms, scratching the bit of scruff on his chin.
"Of course... Second Lieutenant allow me to alleviate your concerns. I have no intention of doing anything untoward. Besides. I have the force if necessary. Ask the princess to recall our first meeting. As for the device I have. It is but merely a medical device to keep an eye on my vitals on this planet. Know that above all else I'll never do anything without good reason. ...Now I'd like to meditate before we meet with your people." Tondel would as he'd turn forward and close his eyes.
Itami wasn't... Entirely satisfied with that answer. He was of course concerned that maybe Tondel was lying. ...In reality, yes. Tondel was lying. The device was in actuality something which contained the parts to his lightsaber, but it also had all the basic little components to make it look for all intents and purposes, legitimate.
Tondel silently meditated as he felt through the force as best he could... Much like the world he found himself sent to with his droid army, this one was... Quite strong in the force. A constant battle going on between the light and the dark. Though what he also felt was the strong intent towards this... Place. Japan. The most, the eyes of the world were upon this place.
This of course, fascinated Tondel to a degree. Japan was.. Hardly a special case for anything beyond the gate which it possessed. To his knowledge, the JSDF wasn't a strong military power. In fact the JSDF wasn't even supposed to be a military, but it operated as such...
Tondel focused on meditating until finally he felt the turn and the bus come to a stop. He'd open his eyes and have a look around, seeing the building which made the Japanese Diet and the grounds which surrounded it. He stood up and walked down the aisle, following behind Rory, Tuka, Lelei, and Itami. He'd stop at Bozes and gave her a smile.
"I'd like to entrust something to you." Tondel would say in her language as he'd take the device off his belt and set it in Bozes lap. Bozes of course was dumbfounded, she had no idea what Tondel had handed her, and he wasn't about to elaborate in full.
"W-what is this?" She'd ask as she looked up to Tondel.
"Merely something of importance to me. Keep it with you. ...And keep it safe. You are needed elsewhere, stay with the Princess, serve her well, Bozes." Tondel would say before he'd head down the steps, turning to give her another smile, and one for Princess Pina.
"May the force be with you three. You especially, Princess." Tondel would say before he'd follow along with Itami, Rory, Lelei, and Tuka.
Itami had stopped to wait for Tondel but he heard what he said, of course.
"May the force be with you, huh?" Itami said an eyebrow raised.
"An expression, mostly used by the Jedi... Like wishing good luck you may say, but there is no such thing. Just the Force... And your planet is strong in it, just the same as her's.. I'd remind you, I offered to train her and her knights but.." Tondel said with a shrug as he walked with Itami.
"Yeah... And I get giving your lightsaber to Bozes." Itami said, causing Tondel to stop right in his own steps and he'd merely chuckle.
"Oh Second Lieutenant... There truly isn't a lie I can tell, is there? ...Fine. However. ...Your world is at constant battle with itself in the Force, the eyes of the world are upon not just this country but this... Place. Your diet, your senate... I sense the bigger players of your world are going to be quite... Opportunistic, after whatever happens here." Tondel would say as he'd follow along.
"What do you mean?" Itami would ask, looking to Tondel as the two walked, entering the building.
"Keep in mind. Politics is dirty business.. If we have a moment of peace after this, I would indeed be surprised." Tondel said as he and everyone else would be given a once over with a metal detector wand.
"You may have a point.." Itami would sigh. He didn't want to think that way but... There was of course a chance that Tondel was right. Actually, it was more than a chance. Itami knew that something had to be up if guys like Komakado were hanging around.
Back on the bus, Bozes had a light sort of blush on her cheeks. She had very little idea of what "May the force be with you" meant, Pina also... Had admittedly a tint of red don on her cheeks as well but she had to brush it off. She knew she couldn't be distracted, even with Tondel's well wishes.
But for Bozes on the other hand, she was entrusted with... Something. What it was, she couldn't even remotely be certain of. It was just some fancy, advanced, metal doohickey. Did she have any remote idea of what it could be? Absolutely NOT. But, regardless. She'd keep it with her as she was asked, some part of her a bit bigger than a small part, happy, she was entrusted with this... Whatever it was.
Bozes would lose track of time but eventually come to as the bus came to it's second stop. Another Japanese government operated building. She, Pina, and Panache would be escorted to a meeting room by Kuribayashi, Kurokawa, and Tomita...
As for Tondel and the group he was with...
"So the Diet doesn't know much of anything beyond the fact you were at the incident area, and you're unaligned to either side in the current conflict." Itami would say as he gave Tondel the basics of what he was expected of...
"Hm... They do not know about my ties to the Separatist Alliance or...?" Tondel would ask, an eyebrow raised.
"They know you're, as you put it. The last living head of state, for your alliance." Itami would state as Tondel began to think.
"Hm... For all intents and purposes... This is true. They don't know I'm technically what one could say... A dictator of sorts, without territory, planets or otherwise?" Tondel would ask as he thought.
"No, for all they know, thanks to the creative liberties taken by General Hazama, they only think you're.." Itami would say as he rose his right hand, and a finger for each title he was about to list off.
"A politician/freedom fighter in exile.. A member of a persecuted religion. And a victim of genocide, given what you said about your station, your... Whole force thing, and the fact your.. Uh... Your homeworld was destroyed." Itami said, finishing off the list.
"Hm... All are.. Indeed true, even with a little bit of creative freedom for the first part, and perhaps work in my favour." Tondel said as he began to formulate in his head how he'd use this to his own advantage.
"Mhm. Well there are some in the JSDF who would like to get their hands on some of the tech you have so he figured it would be best to stack the deck in your favour so to speak." Itami said as he sat alongside Tondel.
"Of course... And hopefully all will work to create somewhat of a lobby of sympathy." Tondel muttered to himself as he thought of just how he was going to pull this all off...
He wouldn't have long to think as soon the group would be called in. He'd follow along behind Rory, the amount of cameras, the flashes from photographers only somewhat unnerved him. For what purpose he couldn't put together at the moment but.. He'd take a seat next to Itami and very quickly he'd learn to hate the game of politics.
What he saw as things began was a smug, uppity rich type which reminded him of another "don't know and don't care" core world type, he was all too familiar with those kinds of people on Alderaan and the parties he was paraded around at as a child and a teen, not just on Alderaan, but also on Coruscant... He certainly detested these types of people. Those who would sell their own mother if they thought perhaps it might advance them in their career.
What Tondel didn't know however was that he was just another in a list that was being compiled by the US, China, and Russia for possible... "Visiting purposes", as he sat next to Itami.
Tondel sat as everything went into motion with that smug uppity rich type woman standing up and holding some kind of board with a number of 100 on it, but everything else was written in Japanese, which he... Didn't know how to read, yet.
"I'm going to be as straight forward as possible." The woman said as she spoke for the microphones set at her table.
"The Self-Defense Force gave us reports regarding an incident with a dragon, a creature which attacked you, and caused the deaths of 100 civilians.." She would say as Itami's name and rank were called. Essentially signaling he was to go and speak, and that was... Unfortunately, what he did.
"Yeah well uh... It was a dragon, it was really big and scary." Itami said as the woman spoke up, somewhat obviously frustrated.
"And what do you mean by that Lieutenant?! People are dead, don't you think you and the Self-Defense Force could've done more to protect them?!" The woman yelled, almost trying to scald Itami.
"I certainly have regrets that so many people died that day, ma'am. However we didn't have anyway to stop it. The fact is... Without Mister Ramarr, who is also here, I don't know how many would've died if he weren't there to help, himself." Itami said, as some eyes shot towards who they could only assume to be the mentioned "Mister Ramarr" and they were absolutely correct to be staring at Tondel, but this of course didn't stop the woman from going on...
"So then, are you telling me and everyone else here, and across the world, the Self-Defense Force is incapable?" She'd say trying to perhaps urge Itami to respond with some measure of anger.
"No. I'm saying we didn't have the firepower." Itami said plainly, perhaps sensing the metaphorical minefield the woman was trying to lay out for him, of course she was... Taken aback by his dodging of said metaphorical landmine.
"I'm saying, the machine guns we had available to us didn't help much, senator. Neither the .30 calibre or the .50 calibres did any damage to it. We'd need stuff like rail guns, blasters, or graviton bombs.." Itami said before another individual took over for Itami in the moment, perhaps saving his hind as he brought up samples of dragon and wyvern scales, expressly emphasizing their toughness.
Defeated of course, the woman decided to go to the next witness on the docket. Tondel, himself, he... Of course wasn't thrilled having to stare down, as previously mentioned, a smug, uppity rich type who apparently, perhaps had some special kind of dislike for the SDF as he saw it but..
Regardless, he'd take the stand, and now he'd have to recall just how some politicians carried themselves and acted before the public...
"Mister Ramarr.. Do you understand or speak Japanese?" She'd ask in English, an eyebrow raised.
"Japanese is unfortunately not a language I am entirely familiar with. I am slowly learning it in the time I have to do such things.. In my galaxy, no such language to my knowledge, exists. And what you call English is what is more commonly referred to and used as, Galactic Basic." Tondel would say, doing his best to appear merely as a modest man, with a smile on his face.
"I see... Well, we'll have to get started, regardless. I'd like to take a moment to address the living conditions at the refugee camp, may I assume that-" The woman would start, however Tondel would interrupt.
"I would like to say that, I don't live at the refugee camp. I myself, have the resources necessary to establish my own housing and have been allowed to, with the permission of the JSDF." Tondel stated, that kind smile not leaving his face but only subsiding a bit.
"I see.. I assumed you would given to our awareness you are..." The woman would say before she checked her notes given to her about Tondel.
"You are a victim of genocide, religious persecution, and a freedom fighter in exile...?" She'd read off the list, her eyes shifting up to Tondel.
"You are correct. As far as I am aware, I am the last living citizen of the planet, Alderaan which is now rocks hurling through space, I am a Force user, which I will elaborate on in regards to my part for the incident with the flame dragon, and I am the last living member of the Separatist Alliance command structure. The Separatist Senate, and the Executive Council are and have been gone for years. I live in exile aboard my ship with a contingent of droids." Tondel stated, clarifying.
"I-I see.. Your ship, I assume it's crashed then, if you're living in the same area as the refugees of the flame dragon incident?" The woman would ask.
"No. Thankfully I am not so unfortunate. I would imagine such circumstances may draw harm by the populace of the other world you call the Special Region.." Tondel would say, seeming rather reluctant.
"I see... In regards to the flame dragon incident, Lieutenant Itami said if it weren't for you, there might have been more civilians dead, would you care to elaborate how you can do what the SDF apparently cannot?" The woman would say perhaps prodding.
"Yes... I will, however. I'd like to be clear. The SDF, and those in it, are mere people. Nothing more, and nothing less I do not speak with derision towards them. I have not encountered another force user amongst the SDF's ranks, and I unfortunately doubt that there are those who exist in it who would be able to pull of such a feat as I did in my use of the force. I was fortunate to be born with the ability to use the Force.." Tondel said letting those words sink in before he spoke again.
"However I was only trained later in life in it's use by my teacher, a former Jedi master, a man who was well versed in the use of the force. It is only through his teaching that I learned to use the force to do things such as.. Deflect the flames away from the people I could save... I certainly wish I was stronger in the force, more might've been saved... But the loss of life that was had, was certainly something the JSDF at the time couldn't have stopped on their own.." Tondel would say, putting on a face of sullen regret.
"But certainly without my presence, and my use of the force, more may have died. However such people who are so willing to put themselves in a position to be in harm's way is something that I personally find commendable. Even in my galaxy, such selfless people are rare. So much so, most of the combatants in the war I fought in, before my flight from my galaxy, were either Clones, or Droids." Tondel said, finishing his own spiel, a kind smile donning on his lips.
The woman was left... Well. Without words. What could she say? Earlier just moments ago she, herself, said he was a victim of genocide, religious persecution, and a freedom fighter in exile. Part of that was putting it lightly, his homeworld was destroyed entire, that alone was more than enough to get the public on his side, any kind of derision might just be career ending...
"Thank you Mister Ramarr, but I have one last question. The number of casualties as have been mentioned, were only low because of this supposed power you possess. I'd like you to demonstrate a measure of this supposed power." The woman said as she'd lay the sign she brought with her on the table in front of her.
So this was the game then. She wanted to perhaps disprove Tondel's own prowess, his abilities, or perhaps publicly shame him... Oh how he loathed politicians. He would've loved nothing more than to do as his own master had done to plenty of others before him, and choke her with the force... But, he certainly... Wasn't in any position to get away with such a thing for attempting to humiliate him.
So simply, he'd smile kindly and asked...
"I see... What is it you'd like me to do then?" Tondel asked, an eyebrow raised.
"Whatever you can." She'd respond.
"I see... If you'd be so kind as to step back from the table, I'll demonstrate." Tondel would say as he'd raise his right hand and outstretch it towards the table, the woman would.. Reluctantly oblige and Tondel with little effort would lift the table and it's contents off the ground, keeping it level as he'd close his eyes, focusing.
At first it was merely a foot off the ground but it soon lifted six feet off the ground, this caused much awe as the world was now focused without question on this... Force user and his ability. Cameras clicked and flashed, videos were taken, some dismissed it as the Japanese perhaps playing games, but most seemed very... Interested in just how this was even possible.
Another side to this was the worry of the Russians, Chinese, and the US. This was merely one demonstration of power that no one in the world was capable of. And there might be more than just mere tricks of levitation and apparent redirection of fire and flame, if there was so much more that they hadn't known, and couldn't know, then this man was both a threat and a prize to hold.
With that display over, Tondel would gently and carefully lower the table back into place where it first rested, nothing on it disturbed or moved.
And after the shock and surprise of this display was over, she'd call Lelei next to the stand. Tondel took his seat, enjoying having got everything over with, quickly.
"Certainly glad I didn't purposefully go into politics." Tondel whispered lowly so that Itami could hear.
"Yeah, though I think what more so helps you is the whole genocide thing." Itami whispered back.
"Mhm.." Tondel would say as he'd listen whilst the senator spoke to Lelei.
"Rory may present some problem." Tondel whispered to Itami.
"Yeah... I know. I'm hoping she won't." Itami whispered back.
"She's wearing what most would assume as a mourning veil..." Tondel whispered back to Itami.
"Yeah, I know, it worries me, we know she's a demigod but..." Itami would whisper as finally it came Tuka's turn for answering questions, it was quickly apparent for Tuka and Rory, Lelei was going to be a translator as things then switched to Japanese which Tondel had very loose of a grasp on.
Of course as things went on this further caused the public to go more and more the way of the JSDF. But of course as all good things are, they must end. ...Now came Rory's turn to speak and be questioned.
Now at this moment, Tondel sweated, and Itami sweated even harder. More so than Tondel, it was his own hind on the line here.
"Force willing... She'll not do anything..." Tondel said as Rory was questioned on her life in the refugee camp.
Of course the first response, pray, was better than he thought she'd say. Oh how wrong he was as the second thing she listed was "Take lives". Tondel sat there stone faced as Itami started to almost visually sweat, staring ahead with Tondel.
"...She said take lives." Tondel whispered out of the corner of his mouth as he slightly leaned in Itami's direction.
"I know." He'd whisper back, as the two stared directly ahead.
'I don't know how this can get even worse... But please, force, gods, whatever above, please don't prove it can...' Tondel thought to himself as he started listening again.
Tondel listened as this woman, the senator seemed to lose her mind, demanding answers to questions she asked... Tondel quickly put together what was going on as he'd whisper to Itami.
"She thinks that Rory lost family... She really doesn't know." Tondel whispered.
"Yeeeep..." Itami whispered back.
Soon enough Rory would reply with in the loudest tone of voice possible into the microphones with caused essentially, universal recoil and many to cover their ears.
"Are you a goddamned idiot?!" Rory yelled into the microphones.
Tondel would've lost his hearing if he cover his ears and visualize in his mind, which helped immensely, using the force to protect his ear drums... Most others.. Well. They weren't so lucky.
"Uh.. Huh? ...What? ...Excuse me?" The woman asked as her hearing returned, dumbfounded by the... Necessity of the loudness by which Rory posed her question but also the shock of being asked such a question by a girl who appeared, essentially, no more than 13 years old.
"I believe, you heard my question. ...You're probably asked that a lot... Little miss thing..." Rory said as she lifted her veil, a smirk donning on her lips. Tondel of course felt the danger factor crank up to 10, the knob for said danger factor get ripped all the way back around again then ripped off.
"Y-You speak Japanese...?" The woman asked, caught off guard.
"Well look who just caught up.~" Rory said that smirk not leaving her lips.
"I suppose what you really want to know is how Tondel, Itami, and the rest of Itami's team fought the dragon, am I right?~" Rory asked before continuing.
"They did everything they could. Even more than I expected, especially for them. They didn't hide in any carriages or behind any civilians. Tondel, himself went out with his sword of light and attempted to fight the dragon.. With their and my help of course. But he truly was what separated many people from an unfortunate, firey death. The JSDF acted above what knights and mages could've done. They all acted to save as many as they could, whilst yes, also keeping themselves alive. You sit here, safe and sound whilst men like Tondel and Itami go out, themselves and put their lives on the line. You call others cowards, meanwhile you'd never do any of what I've described, yourself. You. You are a coward, little miss thing." Rory said, without skipping a beat.
Of course Tondel barely heard the senator mutter to herself as he noticed one of her eyes start to twitch out of anger.
"They all faced a flame dragon and lived to tell the tale. You demonstrate a rather creative way to manipulate numbers to make them both look a certain way, don't you? ...Your Self-Defense Force and Tondel saved 550 people. I can only imagine the problems the SDF face in this country if this is how they are treated. And don't think I didn't notice you attempt to humiliate Mister Ramarr, to sew doubt about his abilities. Tondel, Itami and his team have accomplished something no one else has ever done. And that is my answer to that stupid little question of yours, is that truth enough for you? ...Little miss thing?" Rory asked, that smirk still on her lips.
Tondel took a quiet deep breath as he looked to Itami, giving him a sort of 'You.. You might want to stop her while she's ahead...' sort of look.
Of course then began the expected exchange that Tondel dreaded, where the woman attempted to exert authority.. By age, over Rory. ...And of course he pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering. "And you worried about me being the one to do something..." Tondel muttered to himself as Rory reached to untie the bow covering the cloth which she put over her halberd.
Of course, thankfully, Itami sprung quickly into action to stop the situation from escalating. He'd quickly but gently push Rory away from the microphones and back towards her seat, much to her dismay, before he took to the stand again.
"There has been a major misunderstanding, I'd like to inform the Diet that miss Mercury is the eldest one in the room at the moment." Itami said somewhat in a panic.
Of course the woman, scorned by Rory shot back.
"Oh really? And how old is she supposed to be?" She'd ask, almost in a sarcastic "I wholly doubt that" sort of tone.
"961 of your years, honey." Rory said as one last sort of laugh in the situation. Much to the shock of the scorned woman.
"Huh?! 961?!" The scorned woman would yell in shock, as a collective dumbfounded surprise settled over the other politicians and much more over the wider audience.
"A-And just how old are you Miss Marceau?" She'd ask, looking towards Tuka.
"165." Tuka replied happily.
A look of disconcertion set over the scorned woman as she then looked to Lelei.
"I'm 16." Lelei said, plainly. A wash of relief came over the scorned woman... Until she looked to Tondel.
"Physically, I'm 25. Otherwise under normal circumstances I am 44 years old. Only thanks to being involuntarily interred in a Cryo-cycle Stasis by the order of the Head of State of the CIS, Count Dooku." Tondel said, himself plainly. That of course didn't garner as much shock... But it did raise some.. Particular questions of why that happened.
However thankfully, Lelei took the stand and began explaining everything about human lifespan in her world, what Tuka was, and what Rory was as well. From there Tondel would be called up to explain what he was, after Lelei sat back down.
"I am a human, from the planet Alderaan. Alderaanians are one of 25 human races in my galaxy. However, Alderaan itself was a world not unlike this one in it's geography. However it was a core world in my galaxy, alike that in a way to the capital world of the former Galactic Republic, Coruscant. It was a rich world with many who hadn't known poverty or strife. ...Of course, before the Republic was reformed into an Empire after the end of the Clone Wars. I don't know what happened to my world between when the war was going on, and after.. But I know when I woke up, I was given the news my planet was no more..." Tondel said, sullen regret once more settled on his face, with some sadness showing.
"And.. Why did these clone wars come about?" Surprisingly this question was asked by the chairman of the diet.
Tondel took a deep breath and began to explain clearly, everything that lead up to the clone wars, the corruption of the senate, the supreme chancellor, the jedi and their lack of care for the galaxy and the people of the republic, then the war and everything that happened, up to the point he was put in cryo stasis.
Of course he omitted the parts of Count Dooku being a sith, Tondel himself being at the time, a sith. This meant of course the time which they were originally supposed to finish things was.. Set back. By about an hour. Tondel would let out a sigh.
Tondel was just happy to finally be away from so many cameras. He was adverse to such things. Even during the clone wars, he hated being a poster boy for the Separatists, he just wanted to fight for the people of the galaxy who were trodden on by the Republic and the elites within it.
But to board such a... Primitive means of transportation as the subway under Tokyo. He'd be second to last on as Itami pulled Rory in before the doors closed. He disregarded the looks that were mainly garnered for Itami with his... Pal-ing around with girls like Lelei, Tuka, and Rory. Clearly some hadn't paid any attention to the media.
But quickly enough, a smile donned on his face as his eyes shifted and he saw Bozes, Panache, and Pina, along with Tomita, Kuribayashi, and Kurokawa. Bozes still held the device that she was given by Tondel.
"Thank you for keeping this safe for me, Bozes." Tondel said, switching to her, Pina, and Panache's language as he held his hand out to retake custody of what was in actuality, his lightsaber.
Bozes approached and held it out for Tondel to take, but a rough bit of track caused Bozes to lose balance and she fell forward. She and the device would be caught by Tondel. Pina and Panache ended up grabbing onto Kuribayashi and Kurokawa respectively.
Tondel frowned as Bozes seemed terrified, as did Pina, Panache, and more clearly, Rory, who he caught out of the corner of his eye standing against the wall of sorts holding onto her halberd tightly. Another rough bit of track caused her to fling and cling on tightly to Itami, Halberd still in her arms.
This of all things caused Tondel to raise an eyebrow at the sight of what to him and everyone else was a demigod with the body of a child, holding onto an older man like a scared daughter might her father. He'd hear her start to speak of some god named Hardy, and how underground or the underworld was her domain...
Tondel tuned it out and closed his eyes as he stood, holding onto one of the nylon strap handles which hung down from on high, he'd try some standing meditation as Bozes, Pina, and Panache shifted to stand closer to him, all of them, too held onto the nylon strap handles.
Of course he felt their presences and internally sighed. Realizing yeah at this point he was going to have to play protector as he was in all technicality the only one with a prospective weapon... Aside from Rory. Though she was more focused on apparently being scared of a god that probably could not touch her here in this world.
His meditation would be cut short as the subway car came to a stop at the next station. He'd open his eyes and there.. There was that scraggly looking agent that was seen before.
"Hey, stranger." Komakado would say as he entered and after the passengers that were slated to get off at the stop got on, and new ones boarded, the subway would go on it's way.
Of course as he started to spout his plan, Tondel had... Absolutely no faith. Especially when he heard something about moving up the time table, he'd go back to meditating, trying to feel through the force, to seek guidance in whatever way he could.
His meditation was once more interrupted by Rory, whether she was now seeking some kind of attention or what have you, he didn't know. She was just begging to leave and get out of... Here.
Tondel shook his head of course, for him, the illusion of some deadly murder goblin of a girl that Rory had become in his mind was essentially shattered... Another part of this was a mental note that if he did somehow anger Rory. Perhaps hiding in a cave for a few days might be the best escape for him.
"Look, just... Hold on until the next stop." Itami would say as he looked down on Rory, yes, he was concerned. ...Well, concerned was putting it mildly. In a way, Rory certainly wasn't someone he felt he could say no to.
He also sensed Komakado's dismay at Rory's... Act. If it was that.
The next stop would come and Itami herded everyone off the train, leaving Komakado in the dust. Tondel followed and made sure to keep Bozes, Panache, and Pina close by as they all ascended up some stairs to leave the station. The group eventually came to the turnstiles, Komakado would grab Itami's shoulder, firmly. Enough so that Tondel took notice.
"Look, you can't just change your stop, stick to the plan.. Stick. To. The. Plan." Komakado said as all heard an announcement come over the PA system, which caused everyone to stop and listen.
Of course it was in Japanese so Tondel looked to Kurokawa, hoping she might translate for him. Thankfully, she'd pick up quickly that need.
"The line between Ginza and Tokyo is out of service... Hm.." Kurokawa translated for Tondel.
He'd run his hand through his short beard as he let out a sigh.
"Allow me to guess..." Tondel would say as he looked to Itami and Komakado.
"More than likely.." Kurokawa said, unfortunately it seemed he was involved...
The group would then move on up to the street with Itami and Komakado keeping close. Rory seemed to be the only one not picking up on the potential danger of the situation, enjoying the fresh, wintery air, now that she was from her own perspective, out of danger from Hardy.
Bozes, Panache, and Pina kept close to Tondel as they watched the snow fall. Kurokawa, Kuribayashi, and Tomita all kept close by as well with Tuka and Lelei.
Though Tondel focused on listening to Itami and Komakado's conversation as he pretended to be in contemplation, as if he wasn't paying attention to them speaking to each other.
"Stopping the subway... So what are they after anyway?" Itami would ask, genuinely just trying to piece together what is going on.
"To simply show us, they can do it. They want let us know we're not safe anywhere. But... They also have shown they don't know where we really are, either. Next time they won't be able to do something that will just be passed off as an accident.." Komakado said, lowly.. But not lowly enough for Tondel to not be able to hear him.
"I can think of four reasons that would give them enough cause as to why they're doing all of this. Lelei outed Rory as a demigod, I'm outed as a force user... If I ever come back to this world, I suppose I'll be adding the rightful stipulation of having my Magnaguards come along if I cannot have a weapon." Tondel said, loud enough for Komakado and Itami to hear, much to Komakado's own dismay.
But before he could even rebut Tondel's own statement, out of left field entirely unprompted someone would attempt to thieve off with Rory's halberd.
Attempt was the keyword here, because as soon as it left her grasp, the man fell over with it ontop of himself... And likely a broken back.
"Well certainly not intelligent but I'll take someone stupid enough to go the impulsively direct approach over anything else, anytime of day." Komakado would go to try and pick up the Halberd to return it to Rory and...
"Uh wait a minute I don't think-" Itami would say before as if this world was governed by a god with a peculiar sense of humour, a loud crack would be heard from Komakado's back.
Of course an ambulance would be quick on the scene to take both the would be thief and Komakado to the hospital.
Rory made an offhanded comment about Komakado stating that "Creepy pants should've known better than to try it." As she'd without any effort at all, twirl her halberd in one hand.
"Keep going until you reach Ichigaya alright?!" Komakado yelled to Itami, obviously disregarding entirely, Rory's offhanded comment as he was loaded into the back of an ambulance and taken off to the hospital.
The ambulance would speed off with it's beacons on and the sirens blaring. Itami, Kurokawa, Kuribayashi, and Tomita would give a bow in the direction of the ambulance as it sped off with Komakado inside.
Itami let out a sigh as he was trying to piece together a plan in his head. He had a loose idea of what he was going to do next and it certainly wasn't going to involve following the supposed "plan" for now.
"Are you about ready to get moving, sir?" Tomita asked as Itami started to look around the streets, getting his bearings as to where he was in town.
"No, hang on a sec." Itami said as he looked down one way...
"We're not going to a nerd convention, okay?" Kuribayashi said, giving a disapproving look to Itami.
"That's... Not at all what I was thinking." Itami said, shifting his focus down the other way.
They would indeed get moving. But they'd not be following the plan. Itami would sidetrack to get some take home food. For what reason? No one knew. That was until they went to a particular area where there was mostly houses.
Tondel thought it was... Quaint. Of course half of the entourage, or a little over half of it was bewildered as to why this detour was made. Until finally... They came to an apartment complex, climbing a set of stairs. Itami came to a stop at one of the doors, letting himself in. Tondel assumed of course, as most others did this might be his own home...
But as they heard a woman demanding food, the whole group would peak in to see Itami crouched in front of a woman, holding the bag with the hot take home food held closely to her face...
Of course Tondel just... Deadpanned at the sight of this... Finally, so Tondel might not have to ask the question, Tomita spoke up.
"Uh... Lieutenant... Who is this?" Tomita asked as he and the others were quite comically gathered around the doorway into the apartment, just looking at this disheveled, sorry looking woman.
"Oh uh.. This is Risa. She's my ex-wife." Itami admitted, as if it were an awkward affair of sorts.
And to be fair, to most everyone involved in the current situation, not only was it awkward to even see physical proof that Itami was ever married. To see that it may have even been willing was shocking. At least it was for Kuribayashi. Amongst all the other things that had been exposed about Itami over the past couple of days, surprisingly she took it better that he was even married.
But a collective "What?" was given by the group as they watched this woman just keep her face buried in the heat of the take home containers... She eventually caught on that there were more people with Itami and Risa herself, asked... "What..?"
Kuribayashi couldn't restrain herself of course and asked the question that was... In more polite terms of course, on most everyone else' minds.
"Oh come what kinda weirdo would ever marry a creep like him?!" Kuribayashi yelled in disbelief.
Risa was, naturally as one from her own perspective would be, offended.
"Who are you calling weird?!" Risa yelled back at Kuribayashi who was quick to respond with...
"You! You little wackjob! ...But then again you guys do seem like you belong together..." Kuribayashi admitted as Itami and Risa then looked to each other, disconcerted and unsure if they should be flattered, or offended...
"...Weequay pirates narrowly avoiding the blade of General Grevious' lightsabers, living to commit piracy once more, another day is honestly more believable... My apologies." Tondel would say as the group slowly filed in whilst Itami turned on the lights.
"I only understood maybe a quarter of that." Itami said as he reached to shut the front door, Tondel gave a flick of his wrist and the door shut on it's own, surprising and partially scaring Itami.
"Can I ask you to not use your magic powers in here?!" Itami yelled.
"You can however, given the fact we're being hunted by who knows what agencies of your world. I'll be using the force more, as long as I don't have permission to reconstruct my lightsaber, here." Tondel said as he'd file in with the others. Of course Kuribayashi was somewhat furious.
"He brought what?!" Kuribayashi yelled, of course Kurokawa was also angry but she only let it show subtly. More than anything, perhaps she was just disappointed that Tondel felt the need to deceive as he didn't trust them to ensure his security.
Not that it wasn't at this point unwarranted given the circumstances. She'd have to admit to herself, perhaps security might've been better if he was allowed to bring his previously mentioned Magnaguards.
Somehow Tomita was the only one of the group that wasn't surprised in anyway, and he seemed to take the development well.
"I knew that crystal he wore had to be part of his lightsaber and I knew that device had to be something more but..." Tomita said as he scratched his chin.
Bozes, Panache, and Pina were all more focused on the wall of books that were in the apartment, they'd grab one and the three of them started looking through them... And thus started their introduction into doujinshi. ...BL Doujinshi...
"Look just... Calm down. I trust him, as he said, he'd only use it if necessary and... It's looking like it's getting pretty necessary." Itami said with a sigh as Tondel took his own seat, watching Bozes, Panache and Pina...
"I still don't like it." Kuribayashi said with a sigh of her own.. But there was nothing to be done about it. She and Kurokawa would also have a look around the apartment.
Rory was.. Of course not having a fun time with the dolls around, he'd connect in his head after she said "I'm not safe from her here, either?!" in reaction to the dolls present.
Tomita closed all the curtains he could and peered out of one of them as he kept near Itami.
Tondel took the opportunity given the... Relative calm, to try and meditate again as he'd listen to the conversations going on around him. He'd hear Itami explaining things to Risa...
"And that's why I'm here.." Itami said, finishing his explanation.
"Coming here is a awful idea. Okay?" Risa said, Itami of course didn't for some reason expect that response.
"There's nothing about this to justify getting me mixed up in something so dangerous." Risa said as she'd look back to Itami.
"That's right, sir. She might be your ex but she's still a civilian." Tomita said, taking Risa's side in the issue, much to Itami's dismay.
"On top of that, it probably wasn't a good idea to lose the Bureau guy." Tomita continued, furthering the idea that this... Wasn't a good idea.
"Yeah well we keep running into problems whenever that creepy dude is around." Itami said, somewhat defending his decision to bring everyone to Risa's.
"So you think that he might be the leak?" Tomita asked, hoping Itami might just say yes.
"Ehh... I dunno about that... But maybe one of the guys with him." Itami said..
"Maybe he was just followed." Tondel said as he meditated... Sitting a foot off the floor as he did so. Risa was understandably left with her mouth agape as she saw this.
"Wait a minute, his powers were real?!" Risa yelled, shocked, naturally, that... It wasn't all just television theatrics she saw earlier in the day.
"Y-yeah... They're real.. But uh.. Anyway, back to the subject at hand. If we don't run into any further issues whilst he's gone. Then we can assume it was either him or someone with him. If something happens then.. Well. We have Rory and Tondel." Itami said, giving a shrug.
"Am I to assume this is permission to...?" Tondel would interrupt as he'd shift his left hand, giving a motion to the machine he disguised his lightsaber to be, it would levitate off the ground and into his hand.
"No, it's not. ...Not yet anyway." Itami responded, giving a sigh.
"Unfortunate." Tondel responded as he let the device come to rest on the ground once more.
"Excuse me.~" Risa would say loudly, raising her hand, giving a faux smile before continuing. "I'd like it if nothing kooky happens here at my house... I have got a deadline to meet!" Risa would yell... Much to Tondel's own dismay.
It would be after this, things would start to calm down and everyone would get settled in to sleep. Tondel took his cape off and decided to use it as a makeshift blanket as he'd sleep against the wall under the window.
He'd get nearly asleep before he felt some gentle hands shift his head and put a pillow behind his head, between it and the wall... He didn't have to open his eyes, he just guessed it was either of three people... But he was soon joined under the makeshift blanket by someone.
He'd open one of his eyes to see Kurokawa there... It didn't take long for Bozes to also join as Pina and Panache would be fully enthralled in one of Risa's doujins... Tondel merely mentally sighed.
Tondel didn't know what a BL doujin was... But now was absolutely certain in the future he'd find out. For now he didn't have to worry about that. He'd instead focus on relaxing as he felt the two women lean on him as they went to sleep, themselves...
Thinking back... Tondel had to admit to himself, well. At least the list of who was in his dream with him was narrowed down, immensely...