Another 'Disciplinary' Talk (Vic)

[pinefresh]

Pine needed to talk to Victoria. The only problem was that even though Pine had a run of the school he couldn't just walk in there and talk to her. He was the little spy that thought about double dealing with some little blond creature that hides in the library. By far not his best idea. He had misplayed his hand and now with the school on the brink of war, he needed to make sure certain people were kept in check or eliminated. For this to happen Pine was required to go above the school captain and straight to the authority. For him that was Victoria, affectionately known as the 'Boss lady'.

Pine had been sitting in class wondering how he would get into the office to talk to her while spinning his pencil between two fingers. Being in charge of the schools hall monitors and working hand in hand with the security made that difficult. Pine could essentially do whatever the hell he wanted and get away with it. There had to be some way to get sent to that office. Then it dawned on Pine as he sat in math class. He needed a teacher to send him there.

Pine almost jumped out of his seat and shouted Eureka when it came to him. Which was exactly what he needed to get the ball rolling. The ancient lady that taught math was not a fan of the scarred red-head. In fact, she hated him. Pine spent more time sleeping in math than he did listening. It was a constant back and forth of snoring and the smash of a ruler on the desk. Today there was no snoring just the crack of the ruler. Pine looked up at her a small smile on his face as he ripped the ruler from her hand. He then jumped up on the desk and began to yell.

"You have let your guard slip ancient one! For now I have the...the...shit I forgot what I was going to say!" With that Pine broke the ruler into three pieces and tossed it at her feet. "What now you old bag?"

The teacher looked at him calmly, it was her turn to smile. "Go to the office." She said the smile still held on her wrinkled face.

Pine was confused but he didn't feel like going without a little bit of a fight. He still wondered what she was smiling about. "Or else...?" He inquired.

"Or else I make a wager with the students. I give whichever one that takes you down an A in my class."

Pine looked at all the hungry eyes looking at him and realized he had just been outplayed by a woman who was maybe 3 years away from retirement. "Touche teacher, well played." Pine jumped off the desk and quickly left the classroom.

After Pine turned the first corner he put his back against the wall and breathed a deep sigh of relief. That was the closest he had ever been to getting lynched. He would be sure never to sleep in her class again.

Pine casually made his way to the office. He was greeted by the smiling face of the secretary who let him know Victoria was ready for him. Pine walked in the door and stood behind the chair on the receiving end of the principals desk. Pine could not help but smile. "Been a while Boss Lady. Many, many things have happened since the last time I have seen you." He was sure to slowly put the Genaht armband on his left arm as he spoke.

[Victoria Alexander]

Watching Pine as he made his entrance she put down her pen and wondered just how he got sent to her office. The thought of him tearing another student a new one seemed to be fitting but it took very little any more to frustrate teachers enough to have them sent to her to deal with.

“It has, Please have a seat.”

She waved to the chair in front of her desk, directing her eyes towards Shuya’s desk as she spoke her next statement in a matter of fact tone.

“I believe we have a little time for a discussion since Principle Katsumoto has taken a lunch break outside of the school. It seems the dinning is not what he is accustomed to.”

She paused leaning back into her leather chair feeling the cool material touch her skin. Victoria closed the folder in front of her that she was working on and looked quite curious towards her student spy. She was more than eager to learn what he had for her. It was always a pleasure knowing she wasn't going to be left behind. Not this time.

“Im sure you as well as the whole school knows the situation between Hircine and Paragon. The fact that the school board has a nerve to shut down one over the other without little notice on our improvement seems to be irrational. They should just admit their stupidity for building that school and quit with the games. But again that would be too simple.”

She then extended her hand in which to retrieve as well as input new information within the phone she had given to Pine upon their first meeting.

When handed she would take her hand and move it just inside her blouse. As she withdrew, a key emerged within sight. Taking the key she placed it on the desk before taking another key from her pants pocket.

"One could never be too cautious."

She briefly explained as she unlocked the desk drawer with one key and then withdrew a small box from within which was unlocked with the smaller hidden key. Withdrawing a small black box she then retrieved a cord hooking the phone to the box. Flipping the menus finding the appropriated setting she entered her password and let the phone download into the portable hard drive.

She smirked.

"So lets hear what you have been up to."

[pinefresh]

Pine took a seat and listened to Vic as she talked about Shuya. He was sad to say that getting information about Shuya was way out of his league. The fact was he could not get close enough to get anything off of him. The man had his own posse of students to protect him and Pine was not going to get Genaht involved over it. Though he had more men than Shuya it would be a losing battle to say the least. It would be too difficult to take on a principal, especially as one as smart as Shuya.

As too the other names he had received Pine only had intel on a few. Most of his interest was facing Valencia. Especially now with a war about to break out Pine needed to know what she was up to at all times and whom she was giving information too. His report on her spanned a total of 13 pages of information. Pine handed the phone over to her and took a deep breath.

"Shuya is almost untouchable. I can't get anything about him. The man has his own posse of students to protect him. I would have to take them out before I could get anything about him. I'm not going to lead Genaht on an internal war with Paragon coming to knock on our door." Pine said as he cracked his neck before continuing.

"There is a new student to keep an eye on. He goes by the name Evek."

Pine watched while Victoria reached into her blouse and pulled out a key to her desk. He understood the need for caution but inside her shirt was probably not the best place. The chest area is not exactly the most stable area to hide something and the second place Pine would look for information. In his opinion she would be better off putting the key in her shoe.

"As to what I have been up to. Let's see now..." Pine stroked his chin with his left thumb and forefinger before continuing. "Thinking of selling you out. Brought back Genaht to Hircine. The gang now has the backing of the school pseudo-captain and the school security staff. Oh and keeping tabs on Valencia your loving school librarian. There is a 13 page report on that thing that goes into detail. The short of it is that she sells information between the schools. I currently have Genaht tracking down and her contacts in both schools on Ein's request. We are trying to gain control of the information network so we can use it against Paragon. Likely hood of success is low. Best option is to eliminate Valencia. Problem is that she is linked to Revelation and rumors are that they are coming back. Hell, with Kyu gone Seth might just take the title of Captain for himself. Genaht does not have enough men between schools to take them on head to head. Even though I have personally seen to it that every one of my 45 fighters is now trained in combat, we simply do not have the numbers. There is also no guarantee at my level of skill I could beat Seth one on one in a fight. My suggestion is to remove Valencia with a much prejudice as possible. With her gone and not peddling information we stand a chance at beating Paragon."

[Victoria Alexander]

(Ooc-Im going to place this time frame after my meeting with Shuya’s thread)

She let Pine finish before speaking. Updated her on her findings even raising her eyebrow towards the comment about selling her out, she hoped he was joking. The mention of Genaht told her that Pine wasn’t wearing their symbol on his arm for no reason. It seems Ein had come out of retirement, so to speak. With Pine as her ally and with Ein focused on Paragon, it seemed as if things were in motion a lot quicker than she had estimated.

“With the current situation Katsumoto has lost my interest in being a threat.”

Her mind couldn’t help but replay their meeting. The way Shuya looked at her, not looking around or beside her, but making direct eye contact made Victoria actually believe he wanted Hircine to survive the ordeal they were facing now. It bothered her that even his un-beating heart could show that much care for something he outwardly showed little interest in. Sure he did the work that needed to be done. But it was in a non chalant manner.

“Im sure with Gilson’s intelligence he will only do what’s necessary. After all I’m sure he wouldn’t want to waste the time either. He was always a productive person. With your expertise to guide Genaht’s troops Im sure they will be well prepared should the worse happen.”

Flipping through the phone options after the information had been downloaded, she continued to upload the information he would need. Also the student file for Evek as well as Valencia’s current work history which involved her schedule of when she was at each school. She knew Valencia was playing both sides she just could never prove it. Ever since their first meeting when she tortured the student and was forced to pay for the broken window, Valencia never seemed to favor her. The thought of Pine taking her out seemed a bit harsh but it had to be done. If she wasn’t going to play for Hircine, then she wasn’t going to play at all.

“I will need a little time for any updated information on Valencia. I will send it to your phone once I have the necessary documentation. You will have to make do until then.”

The thought of Seth trying to take the Captainship was being tossed in her mind. She would rather have Kyukaku back but it seems as if she wouldn’t have the time with what’s been happening. She knew Alkyser wouldn’t let that happen.

With Damien Blaze turning to their side she could have him do a few favors over at Paragon, at least to help out should Pine need some man power, not to mention his declaration of him wanting to take the Captainship position from Tia Yang over at Paragon. It was a long shot but should he lose she still needed him.

Tia Yang. God she wished she could slap that boy around to fix his attitude. His plan to turn on Paragon was nice but she didn’t like the price of the terms. Selfish bastard.

Things were moving so quickly Victoria’s mind seemed to be filling at an accelerate rate. She was used to street wars but this, this was a new playing field. She seemed a bit overwhelmed but knowing what needed to be done made her want to strive more.

“You’ve done exceedingly well but I shouldn’t have expected anything less. Specially with someone of your stature and connections. You will have to give Ein my regards and tell him that should he need anything from me I will be happy to contribute but I wish to be spared the morbid details.”

She then unhooked the phone and placed it on her desk sliding it to the other side for Pine to grab.

“I know this might be a little more on your plate but I need you to keep an eye on Tia Yang Long. Im sure you are well aware of his status over at Paragon and already have him on a watch. Another student by the name of Damien Blaze plans to confront Tia Yang on his title. I know of Tia Yang’s background and feel that should he win or lose Damien might need backup. Its clearly up to you how much ‘backup’ to extend but I wouldn’t put it past Tia Yang to play dirty.”

[pinefresh]

"Paragon's school Captain?" Pine inquired, interested in where this conversation might go. It all became clear on what Victoria meant by keep an eye on. She did not want him to keep an eye on him Vic wanted to make sure he did not win his up and coming fight. Of course he would help but he would need to pass everything with Vince though. Paragon was his territory and for that Pine needed more information on the situation.

"Okay this sounds interesting...I will have to pass it with the Genaht leader in Paragon for obvious reasons. If I may ask, what is the reason behind this? If I'm to risk my men on a suicide mission I need to know all you know on the subject so I can allocate resources accordingly. I don't doubt I will be given the okay from our group in Paragon but you understand why I ask."

Pine then took the phone back and turned it off. There was no need for it to be on right now, it had fulfilled it's purpose for the moment. Pine put it in his pocket and looked back at Vic, there was still information to be heard and passed on. He would finish his first.

"If you want to get your own information about Valencia use only men you trust fully. Make sure they cannot be linked to you or me. If this get's out to her we are going to have a very large problem on our hands. If she runs to Paragon we're screwed. I can't take all my men to siege the library leaving Hircine defenseless. Not to mention I am still waiting on Ein's verdict on what to do about her. I have heard she may have done much good for this school. For that reason I am unsure of what will happen to me over this whole thing. I'm playing this one really close to the heart...so to speak." Pine leaned back in his chair before asking his final question.

"Also, just out of curiosity why is Shuya no longer a problem? "

[Victoria Alexander]

"I wouldn't want you to go on a suicide mission I merely want to make sure he plays fair. Damien has informed me of his up and coming challenge and he like us would rather see paragon faulter before Hircine. I am merely offering assistance to a situation where he might need it. As I said it is clearly up to Genaht on how much. In a way I am keeping my word to help him when he came to me in trust. I would march up there myself to lend a helping hand but you and I both know my job would be at stake and I prefer to not go over my bounds, that is of course if the time calls for it."

"As for Valencia you are the only one I am able to trust within this city and therefore leave her up to you. You do what you wish but I will continue just to keep tabs on my employee. I will also have a friend from back home keep on eye on the school network should she feel like using Hircine property to do anything she isn't supposed to."

Victoria replaced the cord and the flash drive into the box, locked it with the key and then placed both within her drawer and locked it. Replacing keys in their places she settled back against the chair and rested her hands on her lap. She contemplated how she would answer Pines question about Shuya.

"I feel that Paragon is a bigger threat. Once things are decided and the dust clears we will see where Shuya stands. But for right now I any resource must be directed towards the current predicament."

She kept her eyes on Pine the whole time she spoke with the last statement, her tone unchanging compared to what she addressed earlier.

"Anything else?"

[pinefresh]

What a fucking relief. It felt like a weight had been lifted off his chest. With Victoria putting resources into the network he could focus more of his somewhere else. He had to put most of his contacts to work tracking the information highway. The contacts weren't even that useful and usually brought back only bits and pieces of information. He had however made a few contacts inside the network who were key on gaining information on Valencia and her actions. It wasn't overly hard to find people that didn't like her.

Pine however did not like the idea about being present to make sure Tai played fair. He didn't even know where to begin when it came to how he might cheat. After meeting the kid once and listening to his mannerisms, there was no telling how far he would go. Pine would not put it past Tai to have the kid shot in the middle of the fight. Not to mention it wasn't like he would go unnoticed. His short stature, battle scars, armband, and the fact every fighter from Varron knew him by sight, made him stand out. He would be like a giant walking target. This would take great planning to pull off. The only reason he even considered doing it was because Vic trusted him.

A smile had crossed Pine's face when Vic told him Val was his to deal with. He wondered how he would do it. Perhaps he would just put her in the hospital for a few months and then destroy the network while she was gone. Or maybe he would just keep her scared of him. Just like he had been checking up on her he was sure she had been doing the same to him. Pine was waiting to see how she would act. He had her backed into a corner of sorts the only question was which side did she run too in order to escape him. Would she fight him head on or would she have others do her dirty work. Pine already knew the answer to that one. When she moved he would be sure to react accordingly.

"Not that I can think of Boss lady." Pine said and got out of the chair. He placed the armband back in his pocket and gave her a small bow. "Until next time." With that he turned around and walked out the door of the office.