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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 13:23:41 GMT -5
Asri eyes widened in surprise.
"DEAD?!" he yelled, "she's dead? Dead angels are dead, they can't do anything then, much less tampering with archives! Could someone... be using her name?"
He sat there in silence, then glanced down at Selice's ledger and the files spread across the counter.
"What's strange too, is that the information in the ledger is inconsistent with the archives," said Asri, "the ledger says that everything's legit and alright, that she had the proper, reasons, authorization, everything! But the archives say otherwise - no authorizationm wrong judgment, wrong reasons... What's going on?"
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Casey growled at Michael.
"I've spent the last, what? Half an hour? Trying to convince her to give it up," she said, "Asri's better off with a man. At least they don't die or suffer a fate worse then death as often. And he's had more succesful relationships with them then with women. I remember him mentioning a male lover he had on Earth several decades ago when he last visited me."
She yanked at her chains, as she raised her voice.
"Leave him be, Selice!" yelled Casey, "that man is cursed! He wants a wife, but as part of his torment, that dream is often stripped from him! I'm begging you..."
She cried out in pain as the manacles on her wrists dug into her skin.
"Archangel, help me!" she said, "I don't want Selice to suffer the same fate as I... especially as Asri's probably gotten fond of her as well! She's his type... and he falls in love easily... please..."
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 13:33:39 GMT -5
Jasper chuckled. "Yes, dead angels are dead. Someone had to have been using her password. Hmm...Ethos? Would he really have sunken down that far because of her?" He mused softly, typing rapidly. "I might be able to track what computer accessed the database, so hold on a sec" he said softly.
"As for that ledger, it has to be right. The Holy spirit and Selice are usually the only ones who ever see that book. And I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit isn't trying to frame her" Jasper said softly.
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Michael nodded softly. "Selice, she's right. It never ends well for those Asri set his eyes on. You cannot let yourself fall in love with him" He said sternly. "I cannot stand by and let you fall in love with him. How have you agreed to pay back His contract?" he asked.
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"I'm paying him back by serving him on earth. Thats final" She said softly.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 14:23:29 GMT -5
Asri nodded, getting up from the table, stepping towards the angel and leaning over his shoulder.
"Hmm, yeah. The Holy Spirit one of the Trinity, a part of god," said Asri, "now that you mention it, the court definitely wouldn't question it. Not without god's wrath. So we have an advantage in that sense. The ledger basically says that Selice did nothing wrong."
He stared at the screen, watching the angel work.
"I hope you find out where it was accessed from," said Asri, "I'm not really a computer wiz." _______________________________________________________________________________________________
"Correction, Michael," said Casey, "it's mainly his relationships with women. His relationships with men mainly end due to separation rather than a horrible death."
Casey sighed and watched the two as Selice said the method of payment that she was using to pay back Asri. Servitude? Good joy. Asri had enough servants already, of the Fallen that were either spying for him in Heaven, updating him on the current events, doing his bidding in general, searching for the artifacts that he wanted... he didn't tend to demand too much, but they had their uses.
"Apparently she's one of the virtuous types," said Casey, "she refused to hand him the (preferably untainted) human souls that he wants. I don't know what he needs them for, but I'm damn glad that some women before have chosen that option. Once the payment is made, both client and lawyer go off on their own seperate ways. But your lady here, she's chosen to bind herself to him!"
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 14:30:45 GMT -5
Michael turned and shot Casey a look that told her to be quite for a bit. He turned back to Selice, his look not changing one bit. "Selice I forbid you to serve him. I shall pay him his price and souls but I cannot allow you to become his servant on earth" Michael said flatly. This was his chance. Pry Selice away from her budding love of Asri and perhaps she would redirect that love to him. _______________________________________
Anger flooded Selice's eyes. "Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do Michael? You are not my keeper. I shall pay Asri back as I have already said I would and that is final" she growled at the arcangel.
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"here we go. exactly what I thought. Her log in code was used from Ethos computer back at the Warrior headquarters. Ethos has framed Selice....that bastard" Jasper said softly, looking through the files that Ethos had tampered with. He clicked on the print button, the cyber evidence printing for Asri.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 15:03:56 GMT -5
Casey gave the archangel a defeated sigh as she quieted down and watched, helpless, sa the two chatted on. She shook her head. She didn't need to be a an expert psychologist to tell that he was jealous. This was going to get ugly. Asri, a valuable resource for Heaven and a charming jewel in the eyes of many women... versus a powerful archangel. Who would win? Casey didn't know, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to.
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Asri smiled at the angel warmly.
"Thank you so much, kind sir," he said, "you've helped me immensely. Perhaps how we have a chance of freeing Selice."
The thought of seeing Selice free made his heart flutter... it made him feel... better... more cheerful... Was was wrong with him...?
"But why would Ethos want to frame Selice?" asked Asri, "why would he want to do this to her? What's he planning? Does he know about her ledger?"
He sighed.
"So many questions... but where to find the answers? I admit that I'm not too fond of improvising a story on the spot."
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 15:13:25 GMT -5
"Who knows. Ethos could hold a grudge against Selice about Larsia. After all she was under Selice's command in the great war. I don't think Ethos ever forgave Selice for letting his sister die. She couldn't have stopped it though, and it certainly wasn't Selice's fault, Ethos has just blamed her for it all these years. But I don't think he's smart enough to come up with this all on his own. There has to be something else here" Jasper said with a thoughtful look on his face.
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"Selice I will not allow you to place yourself in harms way for Asri. I will pay your price to him, and you will remain here in heaven" Michael said plainly. The topic was not up for discussion, and Selice would have no choice. After all, she was locked up and hardly in a place to stop him.
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Selice took several steps away from the bars, keeping her eyes level with Michael. "You cannot force me to do anything. I will not stay in heaven and I will not change my mind about serving Asri. You have no right to try and make me your prisoner Michael" she said sharply.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 15:26:33 GMT -5
"Yes," said Asri, "while I know little of her personal matter, I do agree. Someone else must be behind this, but who? I'd name Lucifer as a suspect, but how could he have influence Ethose to do his bidding?"
He looked at the angel, worried.
"If Lucifer manages to get Selice down to hell, who would replace her? And what ties could he have to Ethos? What kind of deal could they have struck? Oh dear, if the court believes this, Ethose himself will be prosecuted for treason."
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 15:37:50 GMT -5
"any number of things. Power, offered to bring back his sister. Even though he can't I'd bet on that one. Like I said Ethos isn't the smartest, he'd fall for it" Jasper said as he bit on his bottom lip.
"I think we can more than prove Selice was framed. So I think she has a fairly sporting chance of getting out of prison and all charges dropped. What do you think? You are the ace lawyer and all. Selice speaks very highly of you, and you know what, I can totally see why" Jasper said with a laugh.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 15:57:13 GMT -5
"I'm partly one of the best lawyers for being able to help Fallen without getting killed," replied Asri, chuckling nervously, blushing slightly at the compliment. No one had ever called him the ace lawyer. "Partly because I know how Heaven's legal system works and what can sway the judges in our favour. They don't always buy the truth. Oh, and I can pull a few strings every here and there if necessary. I'm not the best, though. I've been bested a few times by better lawyers."
He smiled and went back to the ledger, continuing to flip through it. This book was truly fascinating... who knew how much time Selice spent recording down every single detail? Asri couldn't believe himself, really... what he going to go this far for her?
"Besides the more supported and detailed our story for her is, the more likely the court is to buy it," said Asri, "we'll have to make the most of the time we have left. Try to piece this together. The court won't acquit her of all charges if they only have a half-written story. They won't totally believe us, but they'll probably give her a lighter punishment. What evidence can we get of a deal that Ethos made with Lucifer. If it can't be found online, I'll have to snoop aruond his huose myself."
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 16:01:46 GMT -5
"No way am I letting you into Ethos' home on your own. Get an expert" Jasper said with a smirk. He got up and walked to the backyard, opening the glass door to let Requiem back into the house. The German Shepard bounded into the house and ran into selice's office, stopping at Asri's feet. Jasper ran after him, trying to grab the dog's collar. "Requiem here is a master of breaking and entering. You want proof, we send him in" Jasper said with a bright grin.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 16:27:18 GMT -5
Asri chuckled.
"Cute," he said, "we'll try it, and hope that Ethos doesn't catch us. If he shows up, I won't be able to fight him, Jasper... it really depends if we can talk our way out of this, which won't be easy as we can't feign ignorance. We'll have to look everywhere for evidence - a diary, a contract, something used to summon a portal to Hell... We might not find what we expect. It is possible that while Ethos may not be smart, his contractor may be. We may be dealing with a proxy contractor as opposed to Lucifer..."
Asri looked at him, worried. Proxy contractors were contractors contracted or paid to make contracts on other people's behalf. It was an indirect way of influencing events. It was a way to strike illegal deals with less chance of being detected. Asri knew about them, because Kiel was not above illegal proxy contracting itself, if it could get away with it.
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 16:41:04 GMT -5
Jasper laughed. "No, you don't understand. Requiem here is all we need. Then we can't technically get in trouble for breaking and entering" Jasper said with a bright grin. Jasper stood and walked out of the office.
He returned several long minutes later with a small bag. He took his spot back at Selice's computer and opened the bag, emptying the contents onto the table. "See this? It's a camera. We hook it to Requiems collar and set him off to Ethos' home. Requiem is smart enough to find what we're looking for, no problem" Jasper said with another smile, hooking the small camera to Requiem's collar.
He leaned down and began to whisper things into the dog's ear. When he finally pulled away the dog barked loudly, as confirmation it understood what had to be done.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 9, 2009 17:06:40 GMT -5
"I've heard that german shepards are smart, but Requiem is rewally something," said Asri, smiling, "shall we go now? We have no time to waste."
He headded for the door, leaving the ledger at the table, but taking the papers that he had been lent from the archives.
"Think it's safe to leave the ledger where it is?" asked Asri, as he stopped half-way to the door. "Without it, our chances of freeing Selice are crippled."
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Post by Selice on Dec 9, 2009 17:19:33 GMT -5
"no need to leave" Jasper said, walking Requiem to the door. He opened it and the dog took off at a sprint. Jasper ran back to the office and began to type. Images shot up onto the screen, showing off everything Requiem saw.
"Ok, Requiem is on route to Ethos' home. He knows what to look for. All he has to do is get in, and find whatever it is we're looking for" He said with a laugh.
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Post by cyansky on Dec 10, 2009 11:02:02 GMT -5
Asri smiled at Jasper.
"I know that german shepards are intelligent, but that dog's really something," said Asri.
He walked over the computer, watching the screen over the angel's shoulder.
"Are you sure that Requiem can unearth anything useful, though? It can be anything, and the clues can be very, very subtle."
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Casey chuckled from her spot in her cell. She stood, fully revealing her stick-like emaciated frame. What was once beautiful, was now a shadow of its former self... just as Selice might be in time.
"Careful, archangel," said Casey. "Angelic lawyers are contractors - their real power is in the contracts they right and on the fools that sign them. If you want to pay the price for Asri's services, you'll have to ask him to modify it before it reaches completion. I know him... he knows me... He'll understand."
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