[D4 MA] A Desolate Discussion

[Hotaru Sakura]

The Firefly's confession doesn't seem to faze Kioku - there's much more of importance going on there, after all. She keeps quiet for a while after her words, thoughtful. When she finally speaks again, her brow is somewhat creased.

"I... there is one thing I would like from there. If... it still exists." She shakes her head. "It... it isn't much, but I know my child would have loved to see it happen", she says, a small, painful smile on her lips. "It... would be a small thing I can do for her memory, at least."

Small thing or not, the way she reacts when saying it, it seems like it would bring some peace to her spirit, at least.

Then, looking at Sakura again. "But... the way you say it, it seems like you are very interested in the laboratory yourself. And still you say I would have first choice on whatever is found." She seems somewhat suspicious, looks at the Drake protectively. Two other Drakes come around and perch on her shoulders, which she acknowledges with a gentle nod. "What is in this for you, Hotaru-san?"

Sakura eyed the drake still, with fondness in her eyes. "Some selfish gain, perhaps. I know that some genework was done in the lab...but no more. I have no specific idea what can be found, but I know I am currently serving in a War of Shadows among the clans, Great and Minor. Anything and everything that could help the Firefly imrpove their footing is of utmost importance to me." She raised her eyes to Kioko. "But I have standards. I know my contribution to such a venture is going to be minimal, and perhaps, the least important. I do not presume to run off with a bevy secret research, or koku, or anything. But I know that the Desolation holds more than just dangers, it holds some riches." She smiled sadly. "And perhaps, if I help you in some way, perhaps the Fortunes wanted me to talk to you."

She turned back towards Trouble. "Nor am I doing it to get my own little troublesome meddler. I will earn any such joy and reward, or I won't."

[Soshi Kioku]

Sakura eyed the drake still, with fondness in her eyes. "Some selfish gain, perhaps. I know that some genework was done in the lab...but no more. I have no specific idea what can be found, but I know I am currently serving in a War of Shadows among the clans, Great and Minor. Anything and everything that could help the Firefly imrpove their footing is of utmost importance to me." She raised her eyes to Kioko. "But I have standards. I know my contribution to such a venture is going to be minimal, and perhaps, the least important. I do not presume to run off with a bevy secret research, or koku, or anything. But I know that the Desolation holds more than just dangers, it holds some riches." She smiled sadly. "And perhaps, if I help you in some way, perhaps the Fortunes wanted me to talk to you."

She turned back towards Trouble. "Nor am I doing it to get my own little troublesome meddler. I will earn any such joy and reward, or I won't."

The Scorpion woman keeps her eyes on Sakura as she speaks, somewhat wary, perhaps, although the fondness in the Minor Clanner's eyes does not go unnoticed. Her left hand is instinctively raised towards her shoulders, petting first one, then another of the two older drakes perching on her, and now and then she eyes Trouble - and also Flare, who was causing its own ruckus behind where they were speaking.

She considers Sakura's words for almost a whole minute.

"I believe I understand the Firefly's interests, Sakura-san. And..." She considers the next words. "If I understand you correctly, what you - or the Firefly - are hoping for is to mine something of interest from the old laboratory." She grins slightly, shakes her head. "I will be perfectly honest with you, Sakura-san, as I believe you are being. If you do help me search - or have someone search - the laboratory, I do not think you will stumble upon top-secret research or mine much that might be of great help in this shadow war you mention." Another shake of her head. "Even finding what I'm hoping may be found... it is rather tentative. Maybe wishful thinking, even." She closes her eyes. "With all that's happened..."

She looks down, then back to Sakura. "That said, if you do..." A long blink. "If you do find a way to retrieve that sample... if I manage to recreate it..." Emotion threatens to overcome her, but with some effort she holds it off. "I'll be eternally grateful, Hotaru-san. As will my child's spirit".

The story remains untold, for now, but it's clear she's slowly opening up.

"And... if you happen to find other things of interest..." she tilts her head. "It would still be the company's property, I suppose. But depending on what it is..." She looks into Sakura's eyes again.

"Kindness repays kindness. I would be glad to find a way to repay yours."

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura nodded. "If it's something useful, it was worth it." She smiled, petting the drake. "Do we have a deal Soshi-sama?"

[Soshi Kioku]

It takes some time before she answers, but the woman finally nods, with a smile that seems coloured much more by hope than pain.

"I should probably tell you what it is I hope you may find, then. And... maybe some more about the lab."

She looks down, wondering where to begin.

"... I suppose you must have questions of your own. Maybe we should start with those... questions on the laboratory itself, what you're hoping to find. Other things you would want to know"

She gets a slip of paper and starts drawing a small map.

[Hotaru Sakura]

Sakura pondered. "Do you there is something useful for a planet that is being terraformed and settled?"

She titled her head.

[Soshi Kioku]

The Soshi pondered for a moment. "Hm... I suppose it depends on what you would find useful for that. The laboratory dealt mainly with genetic research, mostly thingsthat could be used for practical purposes in health and at times other fields." She looks at Sakura. "If improvements to the health of your personnel would help, then you could possibly find something useful." A long blink. "Assuming what you find is intact, that is."

[Hotaru Sakura]

The Soshi pondered for a moment. "Hm... I suppose it depends on what you would find useful for that. The laboratory dealt mainly with genetic research, mostly thingsthat could be used for practical purposes in health and at times other fields." She looks at Sakura. "If improvements to the health of your personnel would help, then you could possibly find something useful." A long blink. "Assuming what you find is intact, that is."

"Perhaps it is better to ask what kind if experiments were going on there that Spshi-sama was aware of?" She licked her lips nervously. "And is there anyone Soshi-sama thinks should be involved? I am not jealous, and would gladly welcome any expertise ypu think relevant."

[Soshi Kioku]

"Perhaps it is better to ask what kind if experiments were going on there that Soshi-sama was aware of?" She licked her lips nervously. "And is there anyone Soshi-sama thinks should be involved? I am not jealous, and would gladly welcome any expertise ypu think relevant."

The woman seems to consider Sakura's question for some time. "Well... mostly genetic research, as I said. Gene therapy. Some experiments in gene editing - for health treatments... and other practical uses. There were some joint projects in material science, I think..."

She drifts off - whether due to memories, discretion or simply because she isn't sure, it's hard to say.

"As for others... well, Sakura-san mentioned you probably wouldn't visit the laboratory yourself, ne?" A long silence. "I haven't mentioned much about this, or my past, to others... although I... might trust some others. Depending."

Some more pondering.

"Susumu Sumiko-san... the Oshidama tournament you and Susumu Yamako-sama won? She was there as well. I... have been talking to her, not exactly about this, but..." her eyes fall to the ground, the rise again. "She... might offer to help. Maybe. I... might ask her." Some more thinking, her comm in hand. "Did you have someone you trust in mind, Hotaru-san?"

[Hotaru Sakura]

The woman seems to consider Sakura's question for some time. "Well... mostly genetic research, as I said. Gene therapy. Some experiments in gene editing - for health treatments... and other practical uses. There were some joint projects in material science, I think..."

She drifts off - whether due to memories, discretion or simply because she isn't sure, it's hard to say.

"As for others... well, Sakura-san mentioned you probably wouldn't visit the laboratory yourself, ne?" A long silence. "I haven't mentioned much about this, or my past, to others... although I... might trust some others. Depending."

Some more pondering.

"Susumu Sumiko-san... the Oshidama tournament you and Susumu Yamako-sama won? She was there as well. I... have been talking to her, not exactly about this, but..." her eyes fall to the ground, the rise again. "She... might offer to help. Maybe. I... might ask her." Some more thinking, her comm in hand. "Did you have someone you trust in mind, Hotaru-san?"

"I fear my presemce might pose more of a risk than aboon, but I am not sure..."

She trailed.off for now. "There's a ronin by the name of Delvin Dai, who.is an expert on the Desolation, sort of. I have a few friends I might trust. Susumu Sumiko...I can talk to her, I think."

[Soshi Kioku]

"I fear my presemce might pose more of a risk than aboon, but I am not sure..."

She trailed.off for now. "There's a ronin by the name of Delvin Dai, who.is an expert on the Desolation, sort of. I have a few friends I might trust. Susumu Sumiko...I can talk to her, I think."

The Soshi nods. "I understand, Hotaru-san. And... I would not want to expose you to unnecessary danger, of course. Again, I'm thankful for your offer."

Then, hearing about the Ronin's name. "I'm... not sure I have heard of him? But... if you trust him or others, I'll trust your judgment."

She then nods again. "I'll talk to Susumu-san... see if I can reach others, too." Some silence, some pondering.

"Hotaru-san... these news, they have given me hope the kind of I had not dared hold onto. This... is really important to me."

A nod. "Again, thank you."

Then, looking at the drake in front of her and chuckling slightly, taking off at least some of the seriousness of the situation. "I see you've been hitting it off, ne?" She whistles to the drake, it looks towards her, but soon turns its attention back to Sakura. "She even seems to like you more than me, now!"