UnMasked Nomad

28

^^ S.O.F.I.A.S. T.R.E.E. ^^

Sentient Opus on Functionally Integrated Axiomatic Synthetics in Tactical Review & Existential Exposition

— Erin —

I sighed slowly, letting my head rest back. "You're not very skilled with subtlety, are you, Lady Shiva?"

She shrugged. "No, I suppose not, not when I have no reason to be subtle. Your business with us is entirely legitimate, and therefore requires no subtlety."

"While I agree wholly, you'll find the people here much less accommodating to that perspective. Also, whilst this is my property, you girls will not attack a guest of mine." I added to the Girl who was 'stealthily' gathering magic around her hands. I registered the red stone on her forehead, and assigned her as 'Raven', who hadn't taken part in the earlier sparring.

She relaxed, and I nodded to Lady Shiva. "Now, as for our business, I assume you came in reference to it? What seems to be the issue? The agreed-upon time-line was six months to proof of concept and then beginning production of a mass variant, was it not?"

She nodded. "It was. I brought you some volunteers for the prototype." She flicked a hand, and four Ninja stepped from the shadows, bowing to her. One of them held her clothes awkwardly, to my amusement.

"Ahh, thank you, I'd thought to test them myself, but this is far less dangerous. For me, at least. I'll return them, outfitted in my proof of concept, -or dead from unsuccessful tests,- within a week." I nodded.

She smiled and relaxed into the baths. "Good... also, may I inquire as to the nature of your fascination with Japanese Culture? First a Tea House and Meditation Garden, and now an Onsen?"

I smiled. "I do have a love for Japan's Culture, plus China and India as well. I find their beliefs to be outdated and misogynistic, but their skills in creating Beautiful and Lethal Martial Arts are undeniable. Hence why a group of Saudi Assassins uses them, instead of Raqs al-Ardh, the Saudi Cultural Martial Art, besides the fact that it is almost exclusively focused on swordplay, and as such does not teach Hand-to-Hand combat, the far more useful modern style of warfare." I smirked at her, raising a valid point.

She bowed her head briefly. "Indeed, Dr. Erin, I concede the point... though I'm still curious where this interest in Asia originated."

"Mm... well, to give you some backstory, I suppose it was my Marine Brat Childhood. My father was a Seal, and my mother was a Marine, so we bounced around quite a lot. Our postings were Japan, Greece, Portugal, and then Texas, like a revolving door until I was twelve. Then, my parents retired, and we all moved back to our home state of Texas. Japan was the prettiest, though Portugal was a close second, and Texas had the funniest durn' accent." I grinned.

Diana grinned. "Japan, prettier than Portugal and Greece? I protest!"

"Thou doth Protest too much, my dear, Japan's forests and mountains are the stuff of legend, and Greece is only beautiful if you like white stone. Everywhere." I snorted derisively at her.

Canary smirked at the stricken look on Diana's face. "I think you broke her! Ha! But I agree, I prefer a natural landscape, not one flattened and made 'perfect' with marble and statues."

"Indeed... well, I'll be back in a week, Dr. Erin, do take care of my ninja? They're fragile." Lady Shiva climbed out slowly, and dried off with a towel one of the ninja held out respectfully. She then dressed, and nodded to me, before bowing sarcastically to the rest of the ladies, and disappearing behind a rock without a sound.