The Miseducation of Tron Bonne

[Radio] You send Tron Bonne a direct message: "Oh, Tron..."

Tron Bonne sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "-pauses... then speaks- Hello, Gemini... ...I take it... your ready for the... little session of ours. -Tron sighs, then quickly states- You must know that I don't need all this anymore! I proved my loyalty last night! And helped you do something I'll likely not be forgiven for... ...I'm on your side, Gemini Man... you know I am!"

[Radio] You send Tron Bonne a direct message: "We know you are. Of course. But understand that if something isn't done, the wrath of people like Knight Man... Enker... well, you heard them last night." "Tell us now where we should go to find you."

Tron Bonne sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "...I can meet you wherever... the Gesellschaft is flying again. Would Cairo be good?"

[Radio] You send Tron Bonne a direct message: "(Taking a moment to respond) We'll need some place more private than the city. Land outside of Cairo, and we'll meet up with your ship."

Egypt
A blazing wind dances around this area as sand is blown in all directions... Once upon a time less than 14,000 square miles of the Egyptian land area was cultivated or settled on, but much has changed since then; Egypt, while not nearly as busy as some other areas, is still a bustling trade route and well established community. The ancient Egyptian structures such as the great pyramids and the Sphinx are still standing tall, unmarred by millennia of age. A few of the old culture's other constructions still stand tall as well, reminding many of the achievements of the ancient people that once lived here and standing out from most of the technological advanced buildings in the area. Aside from the few cities such as Cairo, vast deserts make up most of what is Egypt today, much like it was centuries ago. The large Nile River and all that surrounds the massive body of water is within view.

Sphere Outpost [Omega] [RM]
Ancient Pyramid
Cairo

Tron Bonne sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Gotcha. Co-ordonates of: -soandso- -Tron... sounds both resigned and perhaps a little fearful"

Bonne Airship [Gesellschaft] arrives from the Sky Above Nile Region.
Bonne Airship has arrived.

Gemini Man waits at the perscribed coordinates, outside of the boundaries of Cairo but still in what is now considered Robot Master territory. Standing and waiting as the ship descends, he drops the holographic disguise that he sometimes uses to traverse the city. Ignoring the Servbots that stand there, he walks up the rampway and into the ship. Bonne Airship [Gesellschaft]

The bridge of the Gesellschaft is a wide open command center with a sweeping view of the world outside. The central control area is a circular trench of stations where the Servbots man their positions, with piloting, engine, and weapons stations. Within this there is a raised platform with a walkway and another tier above that. Jutting from this tier is the captain's position, dominated by a great wooden wheel. The Bonne's smiling robotic skull set on the wheel housing to watch over the command center. To either side of the forward Servbot stations are a pair of hemispherical navigation displays.

Corridors lead back from the bridge, leading to many other parts of the massive craft. The main one of these being the Forward Hangar Bay. Situated in the 'mouth' area of the Gesellschaft, the 'teeth' slide open vertically to disgorge the flights of Drache that are situated in fighter bays across the backs and sides of the hangar bay. Several large, square hatches on the hangar bay's deck are clearly marked with red danger signs, the locations from which the Bonne Ride Armors are launched.

Contents:
Tron Bonne
Gesellschaft - Tron's Room
Gesellschaft - Teisel's Room
Gesellschaft - Bon's Room
Gesellschaft - Vehicle Bay/Lab

The Gesellschaft slowly sets down, it's massive landing struts extending... slipping onto the burning sands which crunch and flow around the struts a little, but then it settles. The maw of the Gesellschaft opens then... and a rampway extends... Servbots waiting at the top of it all ready.

Gemini Man waits at the perscribed coordinates, outside of the boundaries of Cairo but still in what is now considered Robot Master territory. Standing and waiting as the ship descends, he drops the holographic disguise that he sometimes uses to traverse the city. Ignoring the Servbots that stand there, he walks up the rampway and into the ship.

The Servbots pause, watching Gemini ascend... but none dare stop him, despite Tron's mood. One of the Servbots signals the closing of the hangar bay, and another calls into a radio... 'He's aboard!' ...and the sound of the rumbling of the Gesellschaft is heard, even as the ship rumbles once more to life.

A Servbot at the door to deeper into the Gesellschaft looks to Gemini as he approaches. "Follow me..."

The Servbot then leads Gemini Man through the halls... ...leading Gemini deeper and deeper into the Gesellschaft, almost to the core... ...then stops by a door. The Servbot eyes the door nervously... ...and on it reads 'Servbot Torture Room'. "...She's in there." The Servbot then... fleeeeees!

Gemini Man gives the doorway a kind of odd look. "Torture room," he muses. Didn't know this was back here. "Well, this will make things easy." He raps on the entrance, but, without actually waiting for a response, simply walks inside.

The doors open on a small control room... ...and Tron stands by one of the consoles. Within is what appears to be a long track, with some odd things built into it... Tron standing before the controls of this ominous looking room. Filled with shadows that give the appearance of things hidden in them... ...As the door opens... Tron doesn't turn... she doesn't sob... she only stands there, silent.

The track is interesting enough, Servbot sized almost, though a Reploid /could/ run it, the series of holes in one section, the gigantic heavy weight suspended over another, and a vent with something flickering under it give a reason that doing so would be a bad thing. After a long moment, Tron then... speaks.

"Gemini Man. I figured in here would be best... seeing as that is what you've been ordered to do... ...Or want to do. So /this/ is the price of working with you... ...but know this... for the knowledge in Dr. Wily's head... I pay more then anything /you/ could ever do to me."

Gemini Man makes a mild, 'hm' sound at the sight of the room, as he crosses it. "Got a bit of the sadist in you after all," he says. He reaches his hand around toward her neck... Then, shakes his head, pauses, and shuts off his radio... and keeps moving that hand. He puts two fingers, gently, on Tron's neck, just feeling for a pulse. "You're calm. And...yet..." He puts just a little pressure there, and reaches his other hand over to the console in front of her. He pushes one of the big red buttons, and looks up as flame jets out from part of the arena. "Well, we won't be needing any of this. Why don't you just have a seat? If there's no chairs in here that don't electrocute you...the floor is fine."

The Pirate Princess pauses, turning her head to look sharply at Gemini man... feeling his hand moving to her neck... her pulse indeed calm... and yet even now it begins to race. Tron watches him depress the button, and what happens... a soft smirk spreading on her lips. "The Kobun are lazy if I do not keep them well discipled..." Tron then pauses, looking out, her eyes looking to the shadows, and a nod is given. Tron turns then, steping to the side and away from Gemini's fingers... walking out and into the Torture Room... and slowly walks over and sits on the edge of the raised track... well away from the other impliments along it... the spikes, the weight, or the flaming jets. Her eyes, emerald and peevish, snap to Gemini now... though she cannot conceal the fear behind her eyes...

"I'm allowing this because I must... ...and I feel... as if I owe it to you. Though... you were just as controled as I, Scion of War..." Tron sighs, using that old title. "Did you keep your Pendant? ...I think we're going to need them... one day..."

Gemini Man smiles slightly as he feels Tron's pulse quicken. He didn't want to have to work on this project...too long. "Yes, I kept the Pendant," he says, as Tron sits herself down. "I hope someday to be able to use it again," he adds. Apparently, unlike Tron, Gemini feels no remorse for his actions while possessed, or, at least, is not letting that remorse show. He starts to pace in front of her. "First of all, I want to give you a warning. The cute little girl stuff. The kiss on the cheek, the disarming grin, the batting lashes..." He glares at her. "It won't WORK."

"While PART of me DOES appriciate the attention..." he adds through his duplicate, materializing sitting next to Tron and muttering close to her ear...

"It won't dissuade me from my duty here." He smiles down at Tron, while the hologram simply stares at her, from his much closer position.

The Pirate Princess sighs, shaking her head, her eyes closing... anger and fear building in her. She /could/ signal the Servbots at any time... ...or call in Bon, but none of that will do. Tron simply sits there, silent. A frown forms on her lips, as silently she considers her cource... she /could/ have joined the good side... but she has errevicably chosen this. She knows how hard it will be, she's dealt with it with her brothers most of her life... ...and she knows how difficult it's going to be to actualy accomplish what she wants to accomplish. ...and just what is that? ...Peace. Wily sane. The Robot Masters normal and happy... ...and more.

Tron's eyes open then, the anger pulsing visibly in them, as she /snaps/ them up on Gemini... and to the second Gemini... her eyes narrowing even more. Then she speaks in her iciest tone. "I'll. not. try."

Gemini Man nods once. "Very good."

The hologram at Tron's side puts his finger up to the side of her head, touching it right to her temple. In that same muttering voice, he calmly explains, even as that finger starts to slowly morph, becoming the point of a blade that rests at the side of Tron's head. "There are plenty of Robot Masters that would like to see you dead, and Wily's orders don't always hold the weight over some of us than you think they might. In fact, there's a possibility, however remote, that my orders are different, and I'm here to take this ship from you, and not allow you to survive."

Gemini Man himself seems to simply be watching this as it progresses. "Are you willing to take that risk? Do you imagine we might try to kill you?"

The Pirate Princess keeps her emerald eyes upon the Hologram Gemini for long moments... a shiver passing through her as the blade forms. Her eyes flash to the real Gemini, and back to the Holographic one... and goes absolutely still. She doesn't nod, as that would prove fatal... ...and just gazes on Gemini for long moments, intent upon him and him alone.

Then she speaks softly. "Yes." Her emerald eyes burn on Gemini's eyes... intent and glaring on Gemini.

The hologram nods, and moves his hand away from her head. As a final gesture, just to startle Tron, he drives that blade-tipped finger toward one of her hands, piercing CLEAN through it, but continuing to pass through, his form now as insubstantial as air. Then, the hologram disperses and vainishes.

Gemini Man smiles. "All right. So now, the part where I change your mind. I'm going to save your life, Tron. Just let me get a good...long look at you." Gemini's eyes linger on Tron's body, almost as if to take her entire form in at once. "From now on, he says, with a concenrated mutter... anyone that tries to hurt you.... Punk, or Knight Man, or anyone... will be going through me. Does that seem fair?"

The Pirate Princes does indeed jump, giving a small gasp and snapping her hand and body back in her startlement, her eyes going wide in shock and horror, expecting biting pain and perhaps perminant damage to her body for the rest of her life... ...but no... as the Hologram disperses, Tron blinks and almost faints in relief. Oh she is tense, scared, and more then a little bit angry.

Tron then looks to Gemini, her face becoming a sudden mask of worry... untill he finishes... ...and then it is replaced by deep and sudden confusion. She had expected more. She had expected to be beaten, scared... or maybe even forced to use a cane for the rest of her life like Wily... ...but no... her eyes go wide. Relief, confusion, distrust... her emotions are clear on her face... but she can only not force out a stammered... "...W...what? ...W...hy? ...I thought..."

You take a holographic scan of Tron Bonne.

Gemini Man cracks and pops the knuckles of his left hand, then reaches over to his right, pushing a few buttons on his weapon arm. "Well, I get a few things out of the deal." One more button pushed, and a perfect resemblance of Tron appears, standing beside him...not like the fuzzy and inconsistent soft hologram he created before, but a perfect copy, indisinguishable in every way from reality, save the eerie, 'Gemini Man' smile 'she' currently wears. "The chance for a little mischief..." he says, returning the false Tron's grin, "And you're going to do me another favor."

You project a holographic image of Tron Bonne.
Tron Bonne has arrived.

The Pirate Princess only blinkes, staring at Gemini for long moments... then /gapes/ at her Hologram. She looks at the False Her... and rises slowly to her feet in both shock and confusion, the confusion painted clearly on her features... ...Tron then looks to Gemini, her eyes wide. Then a nod is slowly given... untill a glare is sent the way of the False Tron. "...I'll want you to not give me a bad name with her, Gemini... ...I've got a status to keep, you know... ...but..." Tron pauses, the confusion still evident in her face and eyes as she looks to Gemini now. "...what else, Gemini? What can I do?"

"Tron Bonne" laughs. "Ruin your good reptuation? Never! ...But scare the other Masters? Oh, probably." She gives out a giggle. "You know how it is... never want to miss the opportunity for a little fun!" She throws Tron a 'V' is for victory, then, asks, more seriously, "Isn't it weird hearing your own voice from the outside?"

Gemini Man chuckles slightly. Then, he looks to the real Tron, and his voice becomes all-business. "When you left the Masters so suddenly I was forced to finish our programming project on my own. Yet, she functions, all the same, and more reliably than we originally even imagined. You might say I'm proud of my work, and yet..." He smiles at Tron, "No where near your level of computer expertise. I'd like to learn a few more tricks. Breaking security. Altering programming. Things I'm sure you can teach. So while 'Miss Tron' here appeases the other Masters' bloodlust, you'll be safe and sound, teaching me."

Tron /blinks/ at her other self... and then can't help but laugh! She laughs almost histerically, dropping onto the track again and shaking with fits of laughter, both relief and shuddering emotion that is ripped from her for all of the worry that Gemini put her through. Softly she begins to contain herself after a while, however... before raising her eyes and looking intently at Gemini... then a blink as she listens to the rest. "...That... Quicksilver?" Tron pauses, then smiles softly. "...I'd make that deal, Gemini... ...and i'd stand right now and hug you... ...but I don't think I should move right now or I'll just fall over..." Tron sighs... before looking at Gemini. "...Deal struck, Gemini Man..."

Gemini Man pushes another button, dismissing the holographic Tron and storing her for later use. Then, he walks over to where the real Tron still lies, and gets down on his knees. "Did I scare you?" he asks, with an almost child-like curiosity backing the question.

You turn off your holographic projection of Tron Bonne.
Tron Bonne has left.

Tron Bonne pauses, then /stares/ at Gemini. "...Yes, Gemini. You did." Tron just sighs in slow relief, her head drooping... half collapsing. Tron sighs, just rubbing her forearms softly...

Gemini Man nods. "Good. Then I am still well-capable of performing my primary function," he says, closing his eyes and straightening his head, as he entones this, almost robotically. Then, he stands up, not bothering to offer Tron a hand. "Prepare whatever lessons you think are appropriate...when you've got your brain screwed back in, anyway."

Tron Bonne just leans back and onto the track, her eyes closing slowly... a nod given. She sighs. "I can do this. I'll have some programming discs for you to run within a few days if you want them... it'll take a while to learn it all. But I'll need your current capabilities detailed to me on it." Tron sighs. "And yes, Gemini. You are very much the Terrorist... ...if you want anything, a Servbot can get it for you... ...or something... ...I think I need to go lie down."

Gemini Man nods at her. "Yeah, you probably should. Bet you need it. Should I tell the Servbots to set 'er down?" he asks, stepping toward the door.

Tron Bonne smiles a slow smile, and nods. "Or you can get a Drache to take you anywhere... or to where this new base of yours is. I'd like to be admited there, one day... ...but no matter." Tron opens her eyes, then sits up, looking to Gemini. "...Thank you, Gemini."

Gemini Man grins at her. "Hey, no problem. Heck, you're pratically family. And, as for the newest base, you'll be admitted soon enough." The door opens, and Gemini steps out witout looking back. "See ya soon, Tron... really soon." The door closes behind him.

Tron Bonne smiles softly after Gemini, a gentle, loving smile... and just collapses back and sighs out her relief. Gemini will never know how much good those words did...

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