poly_chromatic | action / audio / needlessly complicated

[open contact]

[Those who know Chekov might find his behavior this weekend peculiar by virtue of the fact that he seems to have disappeared. He's not tinkering with various "projects" in the living room, working at City Solutions, out running, or popping in on various acquaintances. Maybe it's time to try sending a message...]

[action; closed to Korra]

[In truth, Chekov has been busy planning. Those gaps in his memory have been something of a concern and, after nearly a day of navigating and hacking his way into various servers in the City, he knows the cause.

Korra has little to do with it, but she seems to be the only person his target has any attachments to (aside from the cat, perhaps, but a virus should be taking care of that). Chekov already has what should be enough to keep his target in line long enough for him to get what he wants; Korra is just insurance. When hopelessly outmatched by an opponent on a physical level, a little extra leverage is a necessity.

Midday on Sunday, Chekov walks up to Korra's apartment. They're friends; he doesn't need to complicate this with subterfuge. She should be home alone, he has checked to ensure that Naga isn't present, and she won't have any reason to suspect that he has a hypospray loaded with a neuromuscular-blocking drug on his person.

He knocks on the door.]

[private message to Hei // unhackable]

Li, Hei, BK-201. I know who you are and I am prepared to make my knowledge public if you fail to meet my demand, which I will share in person. I will give you until 20:00 to find me.

[Short and anonymous, but Hei will find it ridiculously easy to trace this message to a location in one of the City's more ominous areas, full of conveniently abandoned buildings.]

[ooc: Morality reversal curse! Chekov has an agenda and may not be amused by calls; feel free to contact him anyway.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Reckless and lucky. Those are the two words that define Korra's life. She watches him release the tension into the air, the wolf-look leave his eyes. Whatever he has planned, Chekov should be fine. Her limbs start shaking as the adrenaline leaves her system. No, not yet! She can't afford to collapse yet.

Chekov's voice catches her attention, giving her another boost of adrenaline. A small part of her is absurdly grateful, and the rest of her is just fucking pissed off. It's been a bad day. It's been a bad weekend. It's been a bad fucking week. The anger too helps keep her standing, and helps her lash out at Chekov. She's closer to him than Hei is, can get to him first.

She slams his wrist, knocking the trigger out of his hands; in the next breath, she slams the back of his neck, knocking him to the ground (and possibly unconscious).]

SHUT UP, CHEKOV.

[ Hei is mid-stride when Chekov pulls out the remote-trigger. His eyes maintain a cold unblinking stare, but part of him is already set off into action -- whip out a wire, snag his wrist, send that stupid device flying. Except Korra gets there first. Convenient. Since she seems to be venting frustration, not contemplating murder, Hei simply picks up and pockets the fallen device. The crisis has passed. All that's left now is to handle the fallout. He makes his way to Chekov. Kneels to put a finger to his neck, check his pulse. He seems unconscious, but it's just as likely he's faking it. ]

[ Hei would rather french-kiss a rattlesnake than exclude all possibilities at this point. ]

[ Steady pulse. Deep breathing. Otherwise unresponsive. Perfect. Hei utilizes the spool of wire in his coat to bind the younger man's wrists and ankles tight. Preventive measures; just in case. Only then does he straighten to regard Korra. She's operating on pure adrenaline. But there'll be an inevitable crash. Hei's not in the frame-of-mind to offer kindness or assurance just yet. Not when this mess is partly his fault. Quietly, he says, ]

Head back home. I'll deal with this.

[ No killing Pavel. But when he regains consciousness, Hei will order him to restore Mao's virus-ridden server. Subject him to a meticulous Third Degree, in case he's left other easter eggs behind. Then dose him in scopolamine and leave him in the park, alongside an anonymous tip to City Police. In addition to hysterics and hallucinations, another effect of the drug will persist long after the surface wildness fades. Pavel's memory of the last two days will be largely erased. ]

[ Beyond figments and fragments, he won't recall anything at all. ]

I'm not leaving him.

[It's not suspicion. She's just not the type of person who can back out in the middle of the story. Leaving now would be too much like quitting.

Besides, Chekov is her friend. She's not leaving him until she knows he's okay.]

[ Hei has climbed down off the ledge of lethal force. But his look is a concrete wall, barbed wire for eyes. He understands her desire to see the situation through. But he knows it's motivated by concern, not practicality. She'd be better off going somewhere quiet and non-reactive, to regain her equilibrium. Dosed in nerves as she is, her mindset is too volatile to handle the interrogation he'll subject Pavel to. The coldness, the questions, the measured doses of violence if he's non-cooperative. ]

[ She's neck-deep in his affairs as it is, ]

Not your choice. He's interfered in other parts of my business. Now he's needed for damage control. [ Kneeling, he scoops Pavel up, slinging him over his shoulder. Meets her gaze calmly, ] I won't kill him.

[ The inflection can easily be interpreted as You have my word. The word of a liar, a killer, isn't much. But hey, beggars, choosers, etc. ]

I said I'm not leaving him.

[He's going to be so scared when he wakes up. Scared and hurt and he's going to need a friend.]

Korra. [ In a tone that owns no patience, that warns her to step down. Not for his sake. Her own. ] The concern does you credit. But waste it on yourself right now. You'll see him when you'll see him.

[ That's as much of an explanation as he's willing to commit to. His legs are already in motion, propelling him and his unconscious passenger away. ]

[Yeah right no way. Where Chekov's going, she's going.

Except her body has decided enough is enough. Her legs give out under her and she tumbles to the ground. She tries to pull herself up, but she can't, and she slams her fist on the ground in frustration. Damn it!]

[ Hei's one idée fixe is dragging Pavel to his Underground safehouse. Cleaning up the detritus the curse has left in its wake. When Korra drops, there's an impulse to check on her. (She's still drugged; it wouldn't do to leave her alone in this shady place). But self-interest overwrites the luxury of concern. ]

[ Maybe later -- if she's still willing to see him -- he'll let all that stymied softness out. ]

[ For now though, he just glances at her, considering. Makes his choice and carries Chekov off. (The slash on his arm is starting to throb. It radiates a pulsebeat that goes I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry if only in his mind). ]

[Don't worry, Hei; she won't be down for long. Mind over matter et al. She'll be down just long enough for him and Chekov to make a clean getaway. She'll crawl home without incident -- lucky again -- and lick her wounds.

Whether she'll see you again after this depends on the condition Chekov is in when they meet again.]

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