Description: Daniel Jack wants to warn Cammy that she is not who she thinks she is, and succeeds in annoying her.
Daniel Jack had a date.
Well, it wasn't a date. It was business. That is what the detective told himself as he sat in the busy Pao Pao Cafe, dressed in his Sunday best. Naturally, his Sunday best was his usual: Orange Zoot Suit, Black Porkpie Hat. Daniel really looked like he was out of another time and place. But despite his eccentric apperance, Daniel Jack only meant serious business. THe trouble was, of course, was who he had serious business with.
With Cammy.
Daniel Jack removes his hat, and whips out a comb. Swiftly brushing his hair, he handles the long, slick locks with the dilligent care of a true model for a romance novel. Daniel Jack didn't want to give Cammy the wrong impression, mind you. Sitting at a small table for two near the bar of the resteraunt, he waited, trying to look -smooth-. This was strictly, in every sense of the word, a discreet, intimate dinner with someone who would crush you between her thighs. Now, some people might pay good money for that kind of service.
Well, some people were just downright perverts.
Not Daniel though.
Honest.
Cammy has no idea who the email came from, but talk about her past piqued her interest. Especially as Colonel Wolfman has been so reluctant to talk to her about just what she's been doing this past few years - 'I'll tell you when I think you're ready' is the sort of thing that an impatient eighteen year old doesn't easily put up with, and if she didn't respect him as much as she did, maybe she wouldn't.
In any case. Southtown isn't exactly off the beaten track for a fighter, and so it was easy enough for her to accept; she didn't even tell anybody about the email in question. Still, she's not acting casual or anything, as she walks into the cafe with her Delta Red uniform on, and looks around for suspicious types, people who might be responsible. Someone in an orange zoot suit certainly counts, so she heads over to him.
As for the thighs. It's not nearly as pleasant as it sounds, as many will attest.
%How should Daniel speak with her? Casually? 'Why hello Cammy. I heard you were a trained assassin for Shadaloo. Also lets have an appetizer. Do you like artichoke dip' Mysterious? 'Why Cammy... it is good for you to come... but the truth of you shall wait... until I order my two for one Mojito.' Maybe he should be seductive. Like a living James Bonds, Sean Connery style. "Why yes, Cammy, I did stop you from murdering children. That probably makes you wet and wild. Here is where I live; let me dry your tears, so to speak."
ROh crap there she is.
Daniel Jack waves as Cammy shows up. It was just so weird what a little charm, a little initiative, and a little email could do. Cammy really was a damn nice woman, now that she wasn't a horrible brainwashed assassin. Rising up, he tips his hat. "Why, I do declare. Hello, Cammy. Let me get you your seat sweetheart. I got a ton to talk with you; but lets, start with something to eat." The detective pauses, considering what a British servent of Shadaloo might enjoy.
"You like burgers, right?"
Oh god. It's the addled hobo!
Cammy does her best to not look outright disappointed. She just looks - a little distant, as slowly walks over to him, peers at him for a moment (yes, it really is him) and then settles down on the chair opposite, giving him a slightly wary look as she stretches out a bit. "Hello. Nice suit." she offers, in a feeble attempt at small talk.
"Burgers? I don't know. I guess? Captain Guile eats them, so how bad can they be?" she wonders. "I had a kebab before, they can't be much different.". In truth, she can't actually remember eating a burger before, but they look like junk food to her and junk food usually tastes good at least.
"And some tea, I guess.". Some stereotypes exist to be upheld.
Daniel Jack may look disappointing. But that might be because, uh, reputation may have gotten around about that whole Ikari business. And Cammy might remember him as the crazy detective that was stalking her. Aaaaand the interview where Daniel nearly jumped the interviewer. Aaaand the fact that Daniel, in his many NDP matches, might come off as just a bit unhinged.
But as he adjusts the seat for Cammy, he is nothing but a gentleman.
Sitting himself down, he holds up a menu. "Hamburger and tea? Well, what kind of burger?" The detective mulls. "I mean, I am gonna go with the Swiss and Mushroom. And a coke." The detective considers. Definately Swiss and Mushroom. As the waiter arrives, Daniel Jack looks that waiter right in the eye, and tell him. "I would like a Swiss and Mushroom Burger, and a coke. And a nice pot of tea." He adds at the end. The detective looks at Cammy, inspecting her. It wasn't her body that Daniel was eyeing, mind you. It was her eyes. Her face. He was trying to read her thoughts, her inner monologues. There was, however, only one clear message
That she was disappointed.
"There are swiss and mushroom burgers?" she asks, mildly interested. She's only seen ones with bacon and cheese. And varying amounts thereof. "Well, you're the expert on the subject I guess. Whatever." she says magnanimously, lifting up her spread hands for a moment as the waiter takes the order.
It doesn't take too long before she realises that he's staring at her - something which, naturally, causes her to just stare back at him quietly with her blue eyes, a slight frown developing. Now she is playing over their last meeting in her mind - and it's not really a good memory. There was a lot of staring going on then, too.
She shifts a little in her chair, and clears her throat. "So, uh... You wanted to talk?".
Daniel Jack folds the Menu, nodding. There were a lot of ways he could approach this. He could be subtle. He could be cautious. But the detective's personality called for a few things. Raw intensity, hot-blooded relentless questioning, and finally, an air of resourcefulness. "Yeah. Cammy, I'm going to lay it to you straight."
"You are an assassin."
"Well, WERE an assassin. I got a complex thing to lay on you, and honest to god, I can't stand to see you being on the battlefield." Leaning over the table, the detective raises an eyebrow.
"Tell me, Cammy, what do you remember. From your past. I'm not asking about personal stuff, I mean the general stuff. What are the holes?"
Well, she's not that naive. She's sure Delta Red have need to kill people sometimes. It's not like a government, even a relatively benign government, is necessarily a force for good all the time, and she thinks she's loyal enough to do what is needed - within reason of course. She's sure if Colonel Wolfman wanted her to do something, it would be for the greater good, at least.
And then there's the issue of her fighting style, she's obviously been trained to hurt people real bad. As Captain Guile found out. But then... she's in army. Hurting people real bad is what they do.
So she merely shrugs. "Okay." she replies, unfazed. "You... do realise I'm in the army, right? And I don't really remember anything before waking up in the hospital a couple of months ago. I had been rescued by NATO forces in China, from the debris of that nuclear blast that you may have heard about.". She smirks a little. "Apparently I'm not going to turn into Godzilla or anything though, so Southtown is safe." she adds, a little drily.
Daniel Jack leans back, looking just a bit nervous. If Cammy truly forgot everything... this might be the trigger for Cammy to return to Shadaloo. On the other hand, Vega was dead. For now. If Cammy had to face the truth, now was the time.
It was so much better than many alternatives.
"I don't mean that, Canny. I mean... Cause, uh... look, I am going to pay for dinner, lets work to the end bit." The waiter comes around with the tea and soda, and Daniel scoops up the soda sipping it. "Don't you remember anything from before then? Childhood memories. War stories. When they begin. When do they begin. I mean, don't you find it weird about what you do and do not retain?
*Sluuuuuurp*
"I already said no!", she replies, frowning again. "Nothing at all.". Really, this is something of a sore topic for her, not something she enjoys dwell on unduly. "I wish I did, but I don't! Nothing at all. I didn't even remember my own name, but Colonel Wolfman told me what it is.".
She takes a deep breath, and finally pours out a cup of tea. Tea is always good. "And obviously, I can remember some things, like how to talk, and how to fight, and such, but thats not really conscious on my part, I just know.". She smirks a little. "The first fight I was in was a very odd thing, I was certain Captain Guile was about to kick my ass, but he didn't. Well, not that time anyway." she adds a bit ruefully.
*Sluuuuuuurp*
Daniel Jack drains the soda. And just in time too. The order comes up between the two, the two burgers being brought before the pair. "Thank you." The detective states to the waiter, taking his plate. Digging into the burger, Daniel takes only one bite before chewing it silently. Swallowing once, he looks at Cammy, utmost seriousness in his eyes. "Well, then, this might be a bombshell. I, uh, don't know how to put this best. But let me make this clear, I know that you aren't one now..."
"... You, uh, you are a Doll."
Daniel Jack pauses, considering how to clarify this. "Were a doll is more accurate. Uh, see. I don't even know how to approach this." The detective leans back, incredulous. "Yeah, see, the memories you don't have? Those are memories that involved you working for Shadaloo; as a mindless puppet. I know this, because I have dealt with a LOT of Shadaloo dolls. That's why I confronted you. You... for most of your public life, you were an enemy to the free world. And now you aren't. You don't even think that way." The detective pauses.
"And let me make this clear? That's a good thing."
Cammy licks her lips. Well, Adon was referring to her as a doll - this is true. She tenses up, the tensing quite noticeable given her muscle (and everything else) hugging attire. "Maybe. I might have just been undercover for all you know." she tells him, as that was her first assumption. "Colonel Wolfman and many others already knew me, I had worked with them before, I don't remember that either but there are too many involved for it to not be true." she counters.
And really, on balance, the word of an addled hobo in a bright orange suit doesn't count for /that/ much. "I'll talk to some of my friends about this. I do have them, you know." she finishes, her tone challenging.
Well, she wasn't killing him.
Daniel Jack tries to keep this on that balance. But Daniel Jack just shakes his head. "No. No, you weren't. I know dolls, Cammy. I knew one personally, for better or worse. You lose your personality under Vega. I spoke to him, I met Vega in person. I babysat one of his dolls, for crying out loud. You don't go undercover as a Doll. In fact..."
The detective hems and haws, trying to find the best way to approach this.
"... That's what I am worried about. You need to back out of fighting. Let me put it like this. Suppose you remembered everything, and the old you was a servent of Shadaloo. What would happen when those memories came back? What if Shadaloo made those memories come back. I don't think you are undercover for the military, Cammy, but you might be an unwitting sleeeper for Shadaloo..."
Daniel Jack locks up, unable to say anything more for the moment. Staring at his burger, he forces himself to take a bite. Finally, he mustards up enough courage to continue. "Cammy, I think you are a ticking time bomb. You don't know what will happen if you remember; but what you will remember is why everyone looks at you in fear. While children quail from you. You.... you were with Shadaloo, and I suspect, willingly so."
"And if you remember the details of your past, it could come right back."
"If that was true, Colonel Wolfman and Captain Guile would have told me by now. They both know who I am, I am sure of it. I worked with them. And we were a great team! No! I would never work for scum like Vega. I just spent a whole month in Myanmar rooting out ex-Shadaloo agents! And believe me, they were up to no good alright; that was time well spent I can assure you. So you are wrong about me.".
She's about to go on, a strange mix of anger and nausea driving her on, but she's distracted as the teacup in her hand finally gives up the ghost after being clenched too hard, and shatters, sending bits of porcelain everywhere, and hot tea all over one of her bare legs. "Gah!" she hisses, throwing bits of teacup onto the floor as she abruptly gets up, knocking the chair over in the process. At least she didn't mess up her leotard, as she starts rubbing at her thigh with a napkin. Making the napkin go camo green in the process.
"Would they now?"
Daniel Jack screws up his nose, disgust rising. As Cammy grows more intense, so does the detective. "Aren't you one of the strongest fighters in the world? The best soldier? Wouldn't it serve -their- interest to make you a happy, loyal soldier, who just so happens to know how Shadaloo and Dolls work? I'm not demeaning your work, Cammy; I think it is great you helped break up Shadaloo!"
"You just ruined a lot of lives before that."
Daniel Jack chews up the last bit of the burger, chewing silently before swallowing, continuing on with his intense triad. "Look me in the eye, Cammy. Look at me in the eye. I am not wrong. You ask Guile and your Colonel. They will have an answer to keep you living the lie. But listen when people fight you, demanding revenge. When they talk about memories you don't have. You may claim you aren't a doll."
"But you really are."
"Also are you okay?"
"I /am/ a happy and loyal soldier! And the only things I know about Shadaloo are what I've read in Delta Red's files. And you shouldn't say things like that about Guile and my CO. Guile is one of the nicest men I've ever met, he practically radiates compassion, and has no doubt rendered great service for the free world; and yet here you are insulting him, calling him a liar.".
She glowers at him, and then crouches down to right the chair again, flopping down into it, though she's restless now, not sitting quietly, but looking all around, and especially at the door. "What would you have me do. Sit in a hospital for the rest of my life? I don't think so." she tells him. "Not fight? I don't fight much at all, only for Delta Red.". She sullenly wipes her damp hand on the tabletop, and shrugs. "I'm fine, no thanks to you. I'm not going to take lectures on being crazy from a crazy person who is wearing an orange zoot suit!".
Daniel Jack was peeling back the layers of the Doll, keeping his ground. A happy and loyal soldier. The detective half expected to get a polite knock on his apartment door, and a team of Delta Red to 'speak with him' about troubling their Killer Bee. Cammy was clowering, bringing an air of terror around her. Daniel Jack should be backing by now. He should be recoiling from pushing through this frightening line of thought.
But Daniel wasn't good at backing down anymore.
"You called yourself a happy and loyal soldier." The detective begins, taking his napkin and passing it across the table, offering it. "That's not what a soldier says, that's what a weapon says. The I'd bet you probably tried to kill Captain Guile and Colonel Wolfman. I'm not knocking them for forgiveness; hell, you were brainwashed at the time. -I- forgive you for what you've done. I'm not even saying you are crazy. I'm saying that when run out on a battlefield, those memories could come back. That brainwashing could come back. I nursed a doll back from the cusp of dead, and she rewarded me by constantly trying to kill me. You don't just break through that kind of mind control, Cammy. I honestly believe you need to stay off a battlefield. A hospital might be a bit much, but I don't even think Colonel Wolfman knows what happening in that head of yours." The detective pauses, considering Cammy's words a second time.
"Did Colonel and Guile tell you were always Delta Red?"
"Maybe it is what a happy and loyal soldier says!" Cammy replies hotly. "I think you're reading just a little too much into every nuance you pick up. I'm sure Guile is a happy and loyal soldier too. Probably most soldiers are! And pff, kill Guile?". She is about to retort, but then remembering kicking him in the throat the last time she met him, she coughs a bit instead. "Pff, I didn't kill him." she eventually says in a small voice. "He just didn't really block very well is all. Accidents do happen, even in friendly matchups.".
"And I'm not on a battlefield anyway. There are no wars going on right now, are there; actually I'm en route to talk to someone is all, and it's not even official business, but personal. As far as I know there /is/ no official business right now, not as of my last visit to our offices in London at least.".
She sighs, and gives him a bleary eyed, rather unfriendly look. "Well obviously I didn't work with them always. I must have gone to school at some point, right? But they know me - they definitely know me. They are my friends, and all you've really done since I sat down here is insult them all.".
"So they didn't tell you how long you were in Delta Red."
Daniel Jack was analyzing every nuance. It was what he did. Every subtle stroke of the brush, every thing say and unsaid, the detective was watching for. "I'm not gonna ask about the details on your operations; that sounds classified. What I will ask for is that you go into every special mission knowing the truth about yourself, not some half-assed delusion about where you come from. Captain Guile might be working hard for you to keep that dream up because he DOES care about you. I mean, this is what everything you believe is based on. What 'should' be if you were a happy soldier. Guile and your company are friends to you, so they SHOULD be old comrades. You can't remember if you went to school, but you SHOULD have. A strange, well-dressed detective comes out of nowhere, and tells you that you used to be a well-trained assassin puppet of the fiercesome Vega, and that SHOULDN'T be. But let me ask you this. What does it mean if I am telling the truth, and everything you tell me about Captain Guile, your comrades, the whole of Delta Red is also true? If you truly were a weapon of Shadaloo... why is it that your Colonel Wolfman and Captain Guile make you feel that you were always part of Delta Red?
The detective begins to rise up.
"You have a lot of mysteries about you, Cammy. I don't know the answers to most of them. The fact of the matter is, though, is that what you see in the mirror isn't all there, you dig? If you are so confident about your past... ask your friends about it. Let them lie to you; I can take more comfort with them lying to you than they try to keep up this half-assed illusion that everything you did, did not actually happen." The detective looks at Cammy, lips tightly pursed in a scowl.
"You deserve more respect than that."
"It isn't just those two." she says wearily, though bristling a little, just working up the energy perhaps to get into a rage. She isn't really an angry person by nature - but being an amnesiac takes its toll even on the most placid of individuals. "And I'm not a complete fool. If they were all lying to me, I would have worked it out by now. There is no way that these people are lying to me. No way! I've lived with them for a few months now.".
She scowls at him when he gets up, as he inadvertently brushes into another sore topic that she has. Really, it's fortunate that at least he calms her down in between riling her, more of an emotional rollercoaster than an express train to hell. "What would you know about how I feel? And how stupid do you think I am???". She points to the scar on her cheek, as she gets up herself. "I'm quite aware when I look in a mirror that I've forgotten my entire life, you know! You are REALLY not helping me with your screwed up paranoia!".
"Don't email me again dammit. I've met you twice now and it was a waste of my life both times. Maybe if I just ignored you the other day everything would have been fine, rather than try and be friendly. No good deed goes unpunished." she mutters, as she climbs out of the chair, a bundle of pent up frustration and anger.
"Living with a few months now. Oh, yeah, that's a great way to trust someone."
Daniel Jack's caustic tongue was lashing out now, his cynicism boiling out. This meeting had fallen apart now. Daniel Jack might find himself with Guile knocking his door, ready to give him an AMERICAN adventure. But the detective was ready for that, in the least. He had gotten under Cammy's skin now. If she wasn't going to find the truth through Daniel... the seeds were planted so she could find out herself. "Screwed up paranoia? If it takes a NUCLEAR EXPLOSION for you to forget yourself, then I'm pretty damn paranoid. If you aren't a complete fool, Cammy, then why are you missing the truth right in front of your nose? You know what? I think you do worry. You do think about it. But you just don't make that choice to think about it. You are afraid, Cammy. Afraid of your past. You prefer the happy little soldier life of your happy little friends, then anything that was before. You are choosing to ignore your past. Yeah, I won't email you again. Get out of here. I'll pay your dinner, but get out of here!" The detective reaches into his jacket, fingering for his wallet. Once he paid, he was going to storm out himself.
Dames. Can't live them. Can't live without them.
Cammy is storming out first dammit! It's just as well he's off paying for the food and drink, as otherwise there'd probably be a shove involved, at the least. After she's slammed the door suitably vigorously, making everybody in the cafe look up if they weren't already, she walks away a few steps, before going still.
She spends a moment staring down at the ground, and reaches up to finger the scar on her cheek again - it doesn't actually feel noticeably different from the surrounding flesh, but she knows it's there, exactly where it is in fact. But she has no idea how it got there. Not that it hurts, or even looks that unsightly in truth, but it is a reminder, something that eats at her, as Daniel had suggested.
One last scowl at the cafe, and then she's off. Brimming with things to do, questions to ask, friends to interrogate.
Log created on 04:42:11 04/21/2012 by Cammy, and last modified on 18:22:33 04/21/2012.