USH'S MATRIX GAME: SECOND ASSIGNMENT: 'Ghost Hunt'

"That is where you are incorrect," says Melitus. "I am your only means of finding him. You will discover no other."

"We have run in to him once, we might run in to him again, if that is what ment to be than it will be so. But indeed you are most likely the only lead we have on Jericho"

"Jericho and myself will not allow such accidents to happen again," says Melitus. "It is no mystery to me that you have no other..."

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"... leads to follow else you would not have taken absurd risks like going to Ni Zhan or myself. So now I find myself faced with a very interesting choice."

"Maybe we are just all insane and combat addicted?"

Cloud stands quietly against the door looking around the room.

"No," says Melitus, "I have no reason to believe that you behave in such a way and would seek a fight when an alternative was possible. You..."

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"... have no other options other than what I can offer you. Which leaves me with two unattractive alternatives. Either..."

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"... I give you Jericho's location, and betray one group of Mercenaries with whom I have a working arrangement, or I stay quiet, and aggravate another group of mercenaries who are with me at this very moment. Difficult."

"I am wondering from the momenth I saw you, why is most of this place so luxurious, I doubt you can enjoy much of the other rooms"

"I find the enjoyment of pleasurable things transcends my ability to merely observe them," says Melitus. "A person in my position learns to have a different perspective."

"But for all you know everything in the other rooms is gone"

"No," says Melitus. "My employees tell me, or I can be moved. And as you have noticed, I dwell in a very controlled environment."

I would only trust the second option, no existence without verification

"Yes, that is very obvious. What is it that you suffer from?" Mors asks.

"I think," says Melitus to you, Fire, "that shows a certain lack of understanding about the situation. Not to mention a certain amount of absurd paranoia."

"I hate to sound tiresomely obvious but the mechanism is designed to aid with breathing," he then says to you, Mors. "Now. I must return to the matter of my choice. Can you give me any reason to chose the first option rather than the second?"

"I know what the mechanism is for," Mors says. "I was just wondering why you have to use it..." Mors thinks about Melitus for a second. Melitus is as dependent on this machine as the machines are dependent on him... he thinks wearily.

"It is very urgent that we find Jericho. He knows something that should not reach other ears."

"I do not underestimate your need to find him," says Meltius, "and the not unlikely prospect that he will kill all of you when you try will not dissuade you, I am sure. My concern..."

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"... is on what option creates the least inconvenience and possible harm for myself."

"I hate to sound cocky, Mr. Melitus but I highly doubt that we could not handle any Mercenarys that you may anger. With this in moind, I propose a deal, If you give us information and maybe set up with a meeting with Jerico and we will protect you rom any mercenarys you may piss off."

"And I hate to sound like I have no faith or confidence in you," says Melitus, "but the mercenaries I am talking of are Jericho's followers and I do not rate it at all unlikely they can deal with you."

"I was afraid of that."
(any ideas?)

"There are more of you," says Melitus, "but Jericho's purpose is clear where yours is confused. And besides, you are without..."

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"... your leader."

(wow...I missed a lot yesterday, apparently...I'll post something later when I've got a chance to read through a little more thoroughly then just skimming the posts.)