35:1:26 - 8 pm
A few hours after Fox's chat with Merlyn, Swift arrives at the medical facility via the tunnels. He looks surprisingly well, better than in recent weeks, with a spring in his step.
He speaks with Merlyn first, getting permission to talk to Fox, and then strides over. He hands Brown Fox a gift basket. “Good afternoon, Fox. You're looking better. I thought you might need something nicer than “hospital” food,” he chuckles.
Looks like he did some research, and came up with some authentic, tasty Shistavanen treats. success, 1 threat on Xenology
Brown Fox opens up the packaging. Candied Jerky! This was his favourite treat from when he was a pup. His face splits into a large grin as he pops a piece into his mouth. The sweet and saltiness floods him with memories of home. Playing with the Brothers and Sisters, snuggling with his mom, just sitting by himself and watching the moon rise.
He recalled how he would get candied jerky once a year on his birthday. It was an annual treat. Grandfather would take him to the market to buy it, and they would go to the south perimeter. From there, they could see the spaceport beyond the wall a watch the ships land and take off. Grandfather would always…
Fox stops mid chew. The morsel suddenly becomes tough and stringy and bitter. He swallows it, then sets the basket aside with a polite smile, trying to hide his disgust.
Swift speaks as Fox eats. “When you were dying on the floor of the Reactor Core, I realized that while I know your file, I do not really know you. I know about you, but I want to understand you. Who do you say is agent Brown Fox? Who is Kova? And have you changed since your near death?”
Fox looks down, absorbing the request.
The diplomat seemed genuinely interested in him, but if so, he was clearly unaccustomed to dealing with the intelligence community. Dangling a spy's secret in front of his snout is no way to show friendship; its how you threaten.
Fox felt the muscles around his eyes tense involuntarily. He forced them to relax again, slowly. He knew that Swift had information on him, though the depths of that intel was unclear. The only reason he was sitting here in this bed across from the man was because of the intel he possessed. The only reason he possessed that intel was because of his relationship with his sister. Fox understood that bond all too well.
Still, the line of questioning seemed off colour. Did Swift actually expect straightforward answers to such probing questions? People in his industry aren't expected to tell the truth, so they are seldom asked point-blank questions. He was left uncertain how to answer.
He began speaking while playing with the corner of his blanket, wrapping it around his fingers, not looking up. “I don't know how much you know about me, Swift. So, I can't label how much I've changed from what you knew.”
Fox furrowed his brow and took a moment before speaking again. “I didn't have many coherent thoughts while I was on the floor of the bar, besides the agony my body was in. But the one thing I held onto was my mission. I knew, whatever was happening to me, was worth it, because of the mission.” He then dropped the blanket and looked Swift in the eyes. “I would gladly lay down my life for the mission. There is nothing more important to me than that. If I've changed in any way, it's an increased focus on what I need to accomplish here on Balmorra.”
Brown Fox then relaxed a bit and leaned back in his bed. “I guess another important revelation was the team I've found myself a part of. If there was any questioning the bond that holds this team together, it was erased that night. None you owed me anything, and yet you all stopped at nothing to save my skin. I understand that kind of commitment.” He opened his mouth, as if to say more, but paused, then closed his mouth again.
“I don't know what more to tell you, Swift. I'm a wolf on a mission, and I'm very lucky to have fallen in with your crew. You all saved my life, and I'll do whatever I can to repay that. I know that the rebellion is very important to you. I get that. Despite what my ear says, I'm no Imperial. I'll do what I can to put a thorn in the paw of the Empire, but I hope you understand that my mission will always come first.”
With that said, he heaved a sigh. “And if you have any doubts to my authenticity with you, I'm sure Damaria is concealed behind one of these curtains, reading every thought that I'm not saying. But she'll tell you that what I'm saying checks out. I'm here to help, and I'll do that in whatever way I can.”
“Does that answer what you wanted to know?”
Swift looks away, his eyes have a faraway look. “Thank you… I am no spy or assassin, have no advanced ops training, but when I am not focused on my own selfishness I am a decent listener - and I appreciate honest answers. Some would say that you and I could not possibly have anything in common, with the vast circumstantial differences between us. When I first met you, however, I sensed that there is something we share, and hoped you would truly join us.”
He looks back. “This group is not a team of operatives to me. We are not a resource, a collection of talents and characteristics tabulated numerically, 'Empirically.'”
A wry grin, and he continues. “This is my family - we were thrown together by chance, or by the Force or Fate; and yet it is a family that must be accepted by each one. Maybe all families are really that way, at least healthy ones. I want you to know that if you want, whenever you want, you have a place here.”
He takes a deep breath, tosses Fox a datachip.
Fox allows himself a half-smile as he examines the data chip.
“I realize you're no 'spy or assassin', so you probably don't realize that in my circles, when you expect an honest answer from someone, it comes with the price of giving an honest answer.” A touch of playfulness flashes behind his eyes for a just a moment. “We're almost family, so I'll let you have that one for free, however…” He let the sentence hang for just a moment, and when he spoke again his tone had shifted to sincere again.
“Via is a powerful and intriguing woman. I think she may end up being useful to me in my mission. I've been sorta strapped to her, and I don't think that's a bad thing. But I also feel like I'm running around with this barrel of firepaste: the fuse has been lit, but I don't know how long I have to get it in place. If I'm successful, the explosion will be magnificent. But if it blows up before the right moment, I feel like things could go very badly for me,”
“Clearly you two have a unique relationship. If there's anything you know about her that will help me prevent getting my fur blown off, I hope you'll forthright with me.”
OOC: I'm not even 100% sure what Via will do next, I just know her character, and you're right, one wrong spark and BOOM! ~KF
Swift visibly sighs, and he arches an eyebrow. “I feel like I should be asking YOU about Via. It feels like Compatriot is the only… predictable… one in my current circle. As far as I know, Via either is quite attracted to me, or believes that displays of affection are a good way to manipulate me, or she is just having fun teasing me and making me blush. And I honestly have no idea which one it is. And Damaria is pretty much the same way, except I know she isn't trying to manipulate me. I think.
Swift reddens just thinking about this awkward situation. “In any case. Via. Well, I think it will be in the open shortly anyway, but she is working for Merr-Sonn, and that is confirmed by my sources. Merr-Sonn is friendly to the Alliance, and is a major arms supplier.”
“So, apart from business, any chance you have any women advice for me? Friend to friend?” He runs his hand through his hair, frustrated, but grinning at the same time.
Fox sighs with resignation. “Wolves mate for life. It's not something we rush into. As such, I don't have any pearls of wisdom for you. Sorry.”
“I guess I'll leave it to the Force, then,” Swift replies with a shrug, looking a little bemused.
“And this,” he says, flicking the datachip upwards, “I suppose telling me what it's about isn't nearly as fun as letting me figure it out for myself, right?”
“The datachip is a gift - I hope it helps you recover speedily.” Swift bows and makes his way out of the infirmary.
'Well, I guess I can't fault him for theatrics…' Brown Fox settled himself back down in his bed, valiantly trying to evade thoughts of the south perimeter wall. He failed each time.
The next day Fox ventures out a little further from the medbay. His feet takes him to a little hole in the wall cyber junkies like to visit when they need a discreet use of technology. Some of the patrons eye him suspiciously as he casually walks in. He half hopes one of them would try to make trouble, itching to test his limits. No one does.
He drops a few credits with a one eyed Gank then settles at a terminal that would read the datachip Swift had given him. The screen lit up…
OOC: Old habits… I had no way of know if you were going to infect my datapad with a virus after all. ~AF
Suprisingly, Fox hears the hauntingly familiar tones of a Zeltron lute, and the song Swift first played when he arrived on Balmorra. Looks like a playlist. A collection of folk tunes.
Apparently the Baron is rather sentimental.
