[locked to DATS Command]

[tricksterpriest]

Greetings and salutations!
I realize it has been awhile since we have communicated, but there is a small, teensy, tiny little matter that has come to my attention.

I wonder if you might humor me regarding it?

Comments

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Hm. And what would that be Xellos-san?

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Well, it has come to my attention that you have had a certain captive cooling his heels under DATS custody for quite awhile.

I believe there may have been a slight misunderstanding~

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Mmhm. And what sort of misunderstanding would that be?

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Mr. Sky-Byte. As you may or may not have realized, Mr. Bowser's forces were there at my behest. A far better option than Mr. Parrotmon's local thugs would have been, I am sure we're all agreed.

Mr. Sky-Byte was simply going along with my attempts to gain their trust, you see! I had not realized he had befallen his current fate.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

You presume that's enough, and that if you were not, err, you, you wouldn't be in the same situation as he is.

So why should we accommodate your accomplice?

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Oh, Mr. Suguru, surely by this point you have realized where our respective goals intersect.

But, were Mr. Sky-Byte not involved in my subterfuge, he wouldn't have gotten captured in the first place.

And certainly, you cannot deny the effectiveness of my actions.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Maybe, but I can certainly comment the effectiveness of his. I captured him preparing a base from which to launch attacks on D'Ango Forest.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Ah, that little chestnut.

You cannot make an effective mole if you don't comply with the tasks you're give, you realize.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Xellos.

Cut to the chase. Why do you want him?

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. I suppose my usual response to such a question would not get me very far, in this instance~

I will, however, say that certain types don't do any of us any good behind bars.

And, well. It would assuredly be only a matter of time before someone would rather have their minion at their side, rather than wasting away in a cell. That could create quite the nasty situation, and it would be terribly inconvenient, for you and I both.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

If we released everyone that had the potential to be broken out, we wouldn't have any prisoners.

No Xellos.

You're gonna tell me exactly why you want Sky-Byte in particular.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

It is in everyone's best interest for certain forces to be at full fighting capacity, I think.

Certain things are inevitable. The more time you take on certain projects, the more some people might get antsy.

Quite frankly, I'd rather see DATS and Mr. Bowser at throats other than one another's. It'd be very distracting.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Hm. An intriguing offer.

But I think we're going to need more, Xellos. I'm not afraid of fighting dirty, you know.

[xtrnlmonologue.livejournal.com]

Commander, if I may?

Sky-Byte has been useless to us as a prisoner, but if Xellos wants him, perhaps we may exchange him for a favor to be determinated at a later date?

A Mazoku in our pocket, even if only a one time thing, could prove far more valuable to use than a belly-aching giant robot shark with no information on the turtle.

[Locked]

Besides. He's given us a hint that we need our respective forces in tip top shape for something coming soon. Such forthrightness is nigh unheard of, and I'd rather not be the one to say that I overlooked Xellos's offer of free information.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, an exchange!

I should, of course, not put it past you to make a deal with a demon, Mr. Ivan~

[xtrnlmonologue.livejournal.com]

Xellos, you wound me.

When the devil is down on his luck, he makes his deals with ME.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

I remember now why I like you.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

You'd be surprised, Xellos.

But that would be... ideal.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Oh, would it now?

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, the idea of you being indebted to us is too enticing to ignore.

[digitalhimitsu.livejournal.com]

Well, if that's what gets you going.

So then, Mr. Suguru. Do we have a deal?

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Of course we do.

Sky-Byte will be released.

[lyricalmagical.livejournal.com]

[locked]

And unfortunately, he may just have a point. Figuring out how to deal with the situation with the Syndicate or Neon City is a big enough problem... It feels like we can only go so long before the shoe drops there.

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Coincidentally, Ivan had the exact same idea I had.

To be honest, Sky-Byte is more useful to us out there than he is in here. I just wanted to see what we could get from Xellos on top of all of it.

[xtrnlmonologue.livejournal.com]

I had a feeling.

Isn't having an unhinged strategist such a wonderful advantage, commanders?

[lionheartfather.livejournal.com]

Heh, well, I like to think I can show a bit of guile too.

[oni-no-ikkatsu.livejournal.com]

You say that as if we weren't already aware of that.

[xtrnlmonologue.livejournal.com]

We're all sneaky bastards, Sirs. I just like to think that my particular insanity gives me an edge.