An Unholy Trade (attn. Dentora)

[New Amerik]

The small, short Legion officer Mary Signor sneered and spat at her charges as she stood in the meetinghouse on the fifth floor of one of Sadevko City's many, many buildings. She was here, not by request, but because the orders was to secure the trade goods and await diplomacy and trade offers from one nation or another. As she stood, bored out of her skull, she stared at the trade goods as they shuffled around.

In one line, there stood upwards around fifteen criminals, all convicted of various crimes and of various builds. They had been classified according to several classes, from "incredibly thick muscle" to "probably innocent but framed foreigner". All had shackles and security drones pointing guns at the backs of their heads, and as Mary turned her generous hip their eyes followed the EPEP pistol hanging by her side. In another line, there was instead an unresponsive group, distinguished from the others by their various mechanical and biological implements. One young man yawned as his feeder-tentacle arm twitched, while an old woman stared blankly ahead as a robotic eye watched the surrounding area and chattered it's butcher knives eagerly. Finally, a small group of cages contained around four individuals, with big red S's splashed across their foreheads. These people were guarded by a small group of nine soldiers, each with their EPEP rifles on guard for any trouble.

Mary sighed, and waited for the other reps. She wondered what the undead looked and acted liked. However, she didn't wonder too much. This was simply business.

[Dentora]

And so they came...The wooden ships, looking more like ghost ships than trading vessels, moved with unnatural speed considering the medieval-tech used with their construction. Hiro Dark couldn't come himself, being the ruler of the empire and all, but in his stead was one of the higher ranking Necropriests, as he figured that it would be less unsettling for the other people to be talking to another human...Even if there were several skeletons and soldiers on board. They finally arrived on port, the skeletal soldiers merely jumping off the the ships and onto the dock to begin securing their boats. The Necropriest got onto the dock, and made his way to the soldiers, with a small envoy of five skeletons, who wielded axes and swords. Compared to the other nation's soldiers, they were truly primitive...but then again, they didn't need such weaponry-or even, for that matter, technology-in their own nation. Each of these skeletons were wearing a suit of armoring, not shiny by any means, but not TOO rusted. The priest, on the other hand, wore black robes, with a green trim. He walked with his escort to the female who seemed to be in charge here. He bowed before her, and the skeletons stood at attention. "I understand that our leaders have made a agreement to a exchange, but that the details haven't been totally worked out, correct? But before we get onto the business details, might I ask for your name?"

[New Amerik]

Mary was shocked. Not mind you, at the nature of the undead, but at the fact that they were still using medieval technology! However, she felt it more prudent to carry on the conversation instead of gaping like a fish.

"The name's Mary Signor, officer in the New Amerik 1st Legion and representative for New Amerik. Welcome to the capital. Our interest is in the trading of information. More specifically, our doktors are wondering how to raise the dead. In return, we can offer you some of our prisoners for conversion or other such purposes, and maybe other, more material goods as well."

After this, Mary drew her sword and pointed it at the first group. "That's the normal prisoners. They're ordinarily the ones we use for heavy labor, but we have had more than a few come in for a while."

Pointing to the next group: "Here's some of our Genetiks. They've been changed with various 'improvements', but we feel you might be interested as their metal implements and biological additions are grafted directly to the bone."

"And finally, the cages hold the.... superheroes," and at this Mary spat at the nearest one, "If their powers can still be used beyond death, they could quite possibly be a valuable asset. Just let me know if you need any of them dead for closer inspection"

At this, she turned and looked the rep. straight in the eye. "We've contacted you, so we'll let you ask an initial price or exchange. Don't worry about quantity either. These UnAmerikans just represent the tip of the iceburg."

[Dentora]

"Information, hm? This might be a bit more difficult than I'd thought at first. Not because its a heavily guarded secret, it would be my pleasure to allow your nation to do something productive with the 'lives', but more because it isn't a science per say. A few of our priests might be able to teach the art of Necromancy to some of your people, but the rites to become a Necromancer-and eventually, a Necropriest-is not something so easy; our art of Necromancy is a part of our theology itself. I do think it would be possible to teach a few of your people, but it will take time, and more people than just me." He said, looking around at the prisoners. "Hm, it would depend upon the modifications done to the skeleton...and I may have to consult the other Necropriests; Im not sure if modifications done to the body before death would make the reanimation a case of Abominationism, and that wont be tolerated. We could still get some use out of them, but if it is a Abomination, we'd have to destroy the undead being." He mumbled this part, seeing the modified prisoners. He didn't think it would be abominable; a creature made by those tainted rites were things like zombies that had intelligence(a zombie is not yet considered a citizen of Dentora until the flesh has completely rotted, as for some reason, the more flesh zombies made by this particular method of undeath, the less intellect. They are still considered to be unholy creatures, and thus are protected by their theology and are not to be disturbed in their endless journey, unless it is to give them humans to devour), or giant deformed undead. Besides, thy were still lives; who knows what may happen concerning them? And finally, he got to these 'superheroes'. "What interests me is, from what I have gathered from other nation's definitions, a super-hero is a being with extraordinary powers, be they magical in nature or otherwise, and are held in high regard by the populace. The fact that you are giving us your champions-and openly mocking them-into slavery and eventually undeath has me surprised. Its only a matter of curiosity, of course, but why do you wish upon such as this? Have they broken some law among your people?" As he walked around the cages, he poked some of them with a cane, in a attempt to annoy them. He seemed to be enjoying himself with pestering the people, though not making a move to harm them. The transaction hadn't been made, after all; they were not property of Dentora, not yet.

[New Amerik]

Mary answered immediately to the reps. question, "Champions? Champions? These superheroes are not our champions! They are the ones who destroyed our previous country, who caused New Amerik to be, but they are... not... our... champions." This last part shespoke through gritted teeth.

"Let me tell you a story. It began.... oh, about ninety years ago. When the planet was on the brink of a great and terrible war, known to us as a "World War Two", these superheroes first appeared. Our country was the greatest! But then, these superheroes all came to us. And the government let them! Years went by, and Science and Progress was lost because these superheroes gained power, and made the ordinary man on the street feel like they could never do better! Years passed, and our country, the great and noble Former America, stopped advancing.

Our Emperor interacted with them when he was still a young man, and against his righteousness they refused... refused to believe he could triumph against their Social Darwinistic principles! The Emperor recognized that all men were equal in potential, though perhaps not in ability. The superhumand drove out the Cult of the Watcher of All, and turned them against us, made them nuke our cities, destroyed our country!"

At this, Mary stopped to control her anger and frustration, and eyed the caged people with hate before continuing. "But, the glorious Emperor founded New Amerik. And he saw that those who had once lorded their random power over the citizenry were trying to... help them. He would not stand for this hypocrisy! He ordered them killed, slain so that they might be shown as the abominations of humanity they actually are! He showed us the truth, that they are UnAmerikan, and deserve the most agonizing death possible! KILL THEM ALL! DISSENSION IS UNAMERIKAN!" With a snarl she pulled her pistol, and switched it on to the 7nth setting. Not even waiting for it to fully heat up, she aimed at the nearest superhero and shot a bolt of blindingly green plasma at him. The plasma impacted the cage and the man, burning a gooey, messy hole straight into his head. The man screamed as he felt the heat cook his skull and brain, the runover plasma dripping down, searing directly onto his eyes, before finally and mercifully dying.


Mary panted for breath, winded after her outburst, before turning back to the representative. "We.. can always... find another rat like him scurrying around trying to hide. But... enough of that.... You could potentially send some teachers or priests of your necromancy to teach at the New Amerik Hall of Unorthodox Science. Plus, the doktors might be able to 'improve' the designs a bit to compensate for any troubles. Genetiks are a whole 'nother bag, they might or might not be able to work, though I'd have to ask what wouldn't work and what would.

If you like, I can bring a dead version of an average Genetik, who was killed in battle."

[Dentora]

"Ah, I see...I apologize for the misunderstanding. Hm, perhaps if their powers may be retained after death, they could be used to round up their former allies, and thus giving them a true purpose within your great nation. As for the 'genetiks', that would be something for me to take up with the Undeath Judges and the High Necropriest, concerning whether or not they'd be abominations of the Undead. If so, we'd be able to still make use of them...Just not after death. If not, they'll make fine Undead, I think. I do think that we have a deal. We shall send priests of Necromantism, and in exchange we shall take all criminals and disinters that you wish out of your nation. I do believe that this will be a good partnership. But!" He said, walking back to his ship, with his escort,"We are not without honor. If you do not mind holding onto them for a little while, two weeks at the most, we shall send for them with the Necropriests on board the ship. This way, you can rest assured that we are not merely taking these criminals without holding our end of the bargain. Is this permissible?"

[New Amerik]

"Of course." Mary replied, before giving some commands to the guards, who began leading the UnAmerikans back to their prisons. "We shall retain some of our criminals for now of course, or at least the ones who only have to serve the government for a few years before being declared Amerikan again, but we shall make a initial shipment of one hundred and fifty normal prisoners, twenty five Genetiks of various types, and all of the superheroes we can round up to you when you return. After that, we can work out a regular supply schedule and payment agreements, and eventually even perhaps treaties and negotiations later on. We will await your return. Thank you for talking with us."

She began to walk back, but turned and called, "We are mostly a benevolent dictatorship, and we do not fear the unusual or terrifying races like other countries might. But be warned! Fear can help you succeed in some cases, but against others it won't be enough. If you should need some of our technology or weapon designs, don't be afraid to ask!"

OOC: I think that, not now, but later on I will continue our trade agreements. I feel it would be easier to use this thread again, so when I next post it will be "when our two nations next meet again."

[Dentora]

"I shall keep that in mind, and I do suppose that this is true, but I do not expect our King to listen entirely. He's a bit...Traditional. I wish for you all the best, new allies. Long unli-er, sorry, old habits. Anyways, long live New Amerika, and long Unlive Dentora. May our two countries smite all those foolish to oppose us." He said, getting on the ship as it left the port.

OOC:Sure, no problem with me.

[New Amerik]

Two Weeks Later.....

It was time for the ships to return. At least, that was what had been reported to the Emperor by Mary Signor after the meeting with Dentora. Now, she stood on the rain-lashed dock, the ocean of the Imperial Shores raging at the sky and land. It was a stormy day, but Mary had a job to do.

She stood, looking out of the corner of her eye at the UnAmerikans standing in line. Three lines of fifty people each were the initial 'normal' prisoners: tough, muscular men and women grumbling and slouching around, guarded by, well, the Guard. These weren't normal prisoners; they were the murderors, attempted terrorists, and private insurance salesmen: in other words, the scum of the earth. Next to them, 25 Genetiks of various varieties waited in silence, accompanied by ten doktors. These doktors were here by the Hall to welcome the incoming 'teacher's'. Finally, five superheroes - including the dead one shot earlier, were packed in their cages.

All Mary had to do now was wait.

[Dentora]

OOC:Scum of the earth? You forgot the lawyers! XD No offense to any lawyers.

The ships came again, this time with less soldiers. After all, they needed the space for the necropriests. They docked again, and the same Necropriest as the first time came down, followed by a few others. "Ah, it is good to see you again. I trust that you have been well?"

[New Amerik]

"Yes, we have been well. All the prisoners are here, for your viewing disposal."